I have a lot of awesome traits that I hope to pass on to the boys, but I have one that I hope stops with me.

I am terribly afraid of storms.  This is not a healthy, normal fear.  I get frantic.  My heart races.  I can’t sit still.  I am one hot mess.  When there is even a chance of severe weather, I check the radar 5,000 times.  I have 4 radar apps and 2 weather radio apps that alert me when a watch is issued from the National Weather Service.  One of the apps also sends alerts for my parent’s house, Aaron’s parent’s house, school, and the hospital.  Yeah, I know that is a little excessive.  I learned this behavior from my Dad.  My Dad learned the behavior from his Mom.

When Evan was an infant, I was freaking out about an approaching storm and Aaron told me to chill.  My erratic behavior was upsetting Evan and making him scared.  I was crushed when I realized I was teaching Evan to flip when it thundered.  I had to do something.  I had to change my behavior or I was going to pass this fear on to the next generation.

I started taking note of my actions when storms are in the forecast and ways I could calm myself down.  This may seem silly to some of you, but if I know storms are coming the next day, I start praying for peace and calmness the day before.  I have to totally fill up my calm bank before I start making the massive withdrawals on storm day.  I find a magazine or book to read and leave it on the coffee table.  I also pick out a movie to watch from iTunes and make sure the laptop and iPad are fully charged.  When it starts to storm, I have to make sure I stay busy and cut down my obsessive radar checking.  The craziest thing I have been known to do, is plan a few hour trip.  When the radar starts firing up, I just load up the kids and head the opposite direction.  We will go out to eat, walk around Walmart, anything to fill the time until the storms pass.

I hope you don’t think less of me, but I have to figure out a way to stop the chain of fear.  Is there anything you are deathly afraid of or do you have a certain trait you don’t want to pass down to your children?

Ok, I realize it has been FOREVER since I blogged last, but I have a few really good reasons (excuses).  Get ready for a super quick catch up.

First, this semester is finally over! This was one of the longest semesters ever and I have spent the last two weeks in beast mode trying to complete all the papers and ace all the tests all the lovely professors pile on us at the end.  I am proud to report I passed Ecology, Comparative Anatomy and Evolution of Plants, Organic Chemistry 2 Lab, and my last upper level University Writing class.  Here is the scary part: I only have 14  hours (4 classes) left!  I will graduate in December and I am playing my last bit of school a little different.  I have decided to take summer school and complete Microbiology and Organic Chemistry 2.  This fall I will only have to take Plant Physiology and Aquatic Ecology (an elective).  Basically, I am taking one class at a time to reduce my stress load.  I am not sure if I am going to apply to grad school or just get a job.  I have a little while to think about that…

Second, after the semester ended last week, I needed to get a baring on what was happening in the rest of the world.  Over the two week study-a-thon, I lost all contact with reality.  I had no idea what was going on in the world.  I just needed to breathe and recover for a day.

Third, I read a book.  I actually read a book that was not related to school.  I bet you can guess what it was about. Yep, running.  I suppose if I can’t actually run, I will read about people who can.  I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  It was very good, even if you don’t like to run yourself, it is a very entertaining story about some super great runners.  Also, it gave me some inspiration.  The author had been plagued by injury and learned a new way to run that allowed him to complete a really hard 50 mile race.  That makes my heart happy.  If he can do it, maybe I can too…

Forth, I celebrated Mother’s Day.  I didn’t do a darn thing.  Well, we did go over to my sister-in-law’s house and help with dinner.  It was nice and she did a great job of planning everything and getting us all together.

Well, that about sums up the last two weeks.  Pretty busy, but not that exciting.  I have absolutely nothing planned for the next two weeks.  I am going to catch up on housework, catch up on reading some of my favorite blogs, and spend some time outside.  I am headed to the orthopedic surgeon this afternoon.  Hopefully, I can get some good news and not have to have any surgical procedures.  I just want to ride my bike for now, but maybe I can get a timetable for returning to running.  I am afraid I am going to lose all the endurance, I worked so hard to build up.  I am doing good counting my calories, but I would love to get a few extra by doing some cardio.

What have you been up to? Have I missed anything super exciting?

The last few days have been quite a blur.

Friday I went to the doctor for my foot and walked out with strep throat.  My throat was hurting before I went, but I didn’t think it was that serious. I was running fever when they routinely checked my vital signs and the rapid swab test came back positive! Good grief!  I did get some good news regarding my foot.  The doctor said he thinks I just bruised it and to not run until it quits hurting.  He checked all my tendons and ligaments and they were fine.  JUST A BRUISE! Yippee! He started me on some antibiotics for my strep throat and I went to class.

Saturday I still felt fine, so I rode 15.85 miles on my bike around Lake DeGray.  It was a beautiful day and I had to get out and enjoy it. I started running a low fever when I returned home, so I spent Saturday night on the couch lounging.

Sunday I woke up feeling awful.  My head was stopped up and I just felt like I was going to die.  I literally spent the whole day on the couch in a little fort.  I tried to study, but I kept falling asleep.  Sunday night I took a decongestant and it knocked me OUT!  I can’t handle taking medicine.  It always makes me feel funny far longer than it should.  It is Monday night and I still feel foggy headed.

I went to class today, but I honestly cannot tell you what we discussed in any of them.  I was a total space cadet.  I took a two hour nap after returning home and thankfully Aaron cooked dinner.

I am not good at being sick.  I think after the marathon my body was so beat down, I picked up every germ in my vicinity.  I am tired of being sick.  I would like to return to normal. Maybe tomorrow…