Since I suck at coming up with ideas

and my life is fairly boring, tonight I bring you random blog musings. Yes, brought to you by a random blog topic generator. I feel like rambling but I have no idea what about.

Workplace Wellness Programs

Sweet, we are just kicking off the next phase of ours. I think these are a fantastic idea if done properly. I do like how ours has approached ours, it would just be nice if they could get a bit more participation. Back when they were giving out gift cards for completing monthly goals it was much higher, but it was insanely easy to cheat on those. And you know people do.

We have discounted options for many solo programs out there (That still cost a chunk, but the company eats a lot of it). Not only are our physicals covered, but we get $100 for getting it done (speaking of, I need to schedule one). We get half back on gym memberships. Our current program that kicks off right after the holiday is just simply a walking one- counting daily steps. $15 to enroll, plus a free pedometer (probably a cheap one, but whatever).

Why is our company willing to shell out this cash? Because it saves them money in the long run, and they recognize that. We had a massive jump last year in claims and our insurance company would have given us a huge jump if it wasn't such a difference from prior years and one other condition- corporate has to push preventive care. Too much was being caught down the line. We got a small increase with a fingle waggle threatening a big jump this year if things didn't improve.

I am fortunate that I have a company that recognizes the need for preventive care and that exercise/wellness programs can help promote that.

And as a prize for reading my random babbling (or if you just scrolled to this because my topic was boring): j cuteness.
Oh yes, at his 6 month appointment he was 27 1/2" (I disagree), 18 lbs 2 oz. Got all his shots and off we went. We are now the proud owners of a nebulizer that our stupid insurance (don't worry, it isn't my company- we are on J's insurance) paid 4 times the going price for. Need to call the pediatric urologist to get the ball rolling on his penis repair.
Now cuteness.

Slowly but surely

my back is getting better. Seems as though I just popped it and didn't tear anything, which is a plus. At this point it's just tender and I don't need to push things. Sigh. A year off and 3 workouts in and I get hurt. Joy.

And some stupid bug has invaded our home. Unfortunately it's not the kind that you call the exterminator for. All afternoon yesterday I felt pukey, but I fought it even long enough to workout. When I went to pick up j from my aunt, I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I wasn't sure which end it was coming out of, but it was coming. I got home and popped a couple Tums and hoped for the best. I had a horrible "poop" (is it still poop when nothing is solid?). Still wasn't going away. And to top off the fun, I was bloated to high hell (I looked about 6 months pregnant). I decided it was time and shoved a couple fingers down my throat. Oh sweet relief.

The rest of the evening was spent praying j wouldn't get crazy fussy while we waited for J to get home and running to the bathroom. I did get some sleep, but ended up staying home today. There's no way I could have made the drive to work. Plus I have been dragging ass all week. It seriously reminded me of late 1st trimester fatigue (which it is not- I think I ovulated yesterday). The sleep was welcome.

Except J came down with it as well. I took j to daycare an hour late and shortly after I got back, J pulled in. He has an interview tonight. That should be entertaining.

Ow ow, fuck me, ow.

I haven't done this in a few years.

I started working out this past week. Monday was squats, Tuesday was just some light recovery stuff, Thursday bench, and yesterday deadlift.

I hate deadlift. It ruins a perfectly good powerlifting meet. I can do good at squat, decent at bench, but I suck when it comes to deadlift. By suck, I mean my best pull in a meet is 370. Sounds like a lot, but for my weight class and competitive level, it sucks something fierce. I hate the workouts, pretty much I hate everything about it.

For some reason, yesterday was a little different. I had a couple little things pointed out to me and holy crap- it was going awesome. Especially for not having lifted in over a year. 175 for 5 went life it was nothing, 195 like it was nothing. Next up was 215 for 3+. They went like a feather. It was great. I was thinking maybe we might turn me into a deadlifter after all. I pulled my 5th rep and a small voice said "Put down the weight. You are done". And the crazy part of my brain- the part that led me to powerlifting in the first place- said "Whatever. You have at least 8 here, maybe 10".

So I pulled the 6th rep. I was just short of locking out at the top when my back popped. And not in a good way. I have no idea why I didn't just drop the bar, but I didn't. Everyone was laughing at me shifting to put the bar down. Then they realized why. At least I could get up, which was a vast improvement over the last time I hurt my back. We tried several different things to help it out- rolling on a foam bolster, traction with a band, hanging. All kinds of fun. Got it to a point where I can function. I had to baby it the rest of the day, but made it through.

Today? Holy hell. I think it tensed back up overnight. I barely managed to get j out of his crib. Back to more stretching. I think I am moving up my chiropractor appointment this week from Wednesday evening to Monday morning.

Fine.

Since some people have been asking for it, I will give this bad boy a try again.

So what has happened since May? A lot. j has grown like a weed. He is currently about 17.6 lbs, pushing 28". He has mastered rolling back to front, and is pretty proficient at going front to back. He also figured out how to scoot the other day. We are in for some trouble.

He's been hit or miss health wise. He had a nasty cold that just would not let go for months. We went through meds without a whole lot of help. They were great while he was on them, but as soon as they were gone it came right back. He's been doing well for about a week now. Not congested for the first time in a long time. Hoepfully no more trips to the ER (J freaked when he was sleepy, running a temp and then started breathing weird. Turns out j is teething).

This last weekend J managed to talk me into taking up archery. I got a compound bow after spending a few hours in the store contemplating the purchase. I am not sold on hunting yet, but it's something J and I can do together, and I was halfway decent at it (which wasn't a surprise. I've always been a pretty decent shot with everything else I have shot over the years, and the sights being personalized makes it that much easier). And they let us play with a crossbow as well. If you like shooting weapons, try one. Fucking sweet.

I also got back to lifting this week. I am sore as hell, but it is nice to get back to it. I am working with some new people this time- hopefully it will make a difference. My bench and dead lift have been stuck for years. Something has to change.

As for making j a big brother, we may have hit a snag with our original plans. I have a huge project coming up at work, it would be a royal pain in the ass for me to be gone on maternity leave in the middle of it. But it's also a 2 year project, and with J hitting the big 4-0 this year, I don't know if we want to put it off that long. Bridges to cross when we get there.

Some j cuteness for your pleasure.

Oh the changes a year can bring.

A year ago today I was running behind to get to work. I had to stop by the RE's to get J's sperm authorized for thawing, then had to return a couple hours later for the IUI.

Add the $300 it cost me for a new mirror on my car, and that was one expensive day!

And now? Now we have an adorable little boy that I can't even imagine ever not having. It was a long road to get to this point, but I couldn't be happier about how it turned out. We'll see if I feel that way in 13 years.

Unless of course the world ends tomorrow. Then I'm going to be pissed. Though it makes me wonder sometimes if God doesn't handle us the way I handle my SimCity towns. When I start them, it's all fun. Just a few citizens, pretty easy to manage. Then things get growing. It gets harder to keep them all happy. And you have all these fun little tools at your disposal. I can't count the number of towns I have put under a huge sheet of water using the "flood" option because the industries weren't growing the way I wanted. I've burned cities to the ground with the fire and earthquake options (especially when nuclear reactors blow. That's an added bonus). It's fun watching them bow to your whims.

But eventually it gets old. The thrill, the new car smell of it all wears off. You go on to autopilot and let them fend for themselves. Pop in every now and then and adjust the taxes or funding, maybe an alien invasion, then put it on super fast forward and come back when you feel like it. At some point you either give up on trying to save the mess that town has become or start putting some serious effort into trying to change things for the better.

I hope Harold Camping feels like an ass on Sunday.

Late Easter pic

Things have been going pretty well here. j is going crazy batting at toys and has gotten much better control of his head (not an easy feat when it's that size). He has really started to enjoy sitting up more. Looks like a Bumbo may be in store- soon before he outgrows it like everything else.

2 months.

Yep, already. Where the hell does time go?

j is doing great. 13.4 lbs, 23 3/4". 95% for head circumference, 82% for length, and 80 something for weight (that's what I get for sending J alone). And j was apparently not overly thrilled about them either. Right now he's passed out. Tylenol is a good thing.

He's been doing awesome at daycare- the infant room teachers love him. They say he's far more interactive than the little girl that is about the same age. Go j. He eats well and sometimes takes naps. They can't complain.