December 28, 2010: Back to the grind...

Heaveno!

... and the doctor's office!

Ali woke up with a temperature again today, and that makes it 3 days + , which earned her a trip to the doc's office!  Soonest they could see her was 4pm, so we hung out at home and she was a total trooper, because I am SLAMMED this week with work, work, and some more work!  She was really understanding that I had to work in the office, and that while I was here, it didn't mean I was always available.  I really was impressed with a) what a good mood she was in today compared to the past 2 days and b) how well she played and colored by herself for large parts of the day.  When we got to her doctor's office, she still had a temp, and as soon as the doc looked in her ears, we knew part of the culprit... double ear infection!  On top of that, she has a general winter flu which she could have easily picked up on the planes to CO or on the Polar Express.



The sweet moment of the day was when her doctor, at the end of the appointment, awkwardly gave me a hug out of nowhere, and looked in my eyes all teary eyed!  He didn't say anything, but I got it.  He's a little younger than I am, and he has small kids at home, too.  He is really sweet, but a little timid/shy socially (actually a lot, but we LOVE him dearly).  He also took the time to call me in MN right after Bella died to offer his condolences.  Again, an awkwardly delivered but heartfelt conversation.  I have so much respect for him, because he clearly doesn't know what to say, but he gives it his best, and it's just so authentic and honest, that it just comes out beautiful, despite being rough around the edges.



That's all any of us can do... our best.  I think that when we lead with our heart, we may not get the words out like we hope, but people hear our heart, not our words.  When you are being authentic, I think people can feel it more than hear it, and it's that feeling - that connection - that we all love and crave.

In other news...

I'm going to place a new page on the blog here starting in the new year for the fundraising game for Bella's Birthday Bash!  Anyone is invited to participate in any fashion they choose.  All are welcome.  Stay tuned!

Also, now that skiing is checked off the bucket list... I need something tangible to keep me active.  So, starting on Monday January 3, I am embarking on an 18 week journey called "Transformation," by best selling author Bill Phillips.  I have had the good fortune to hang out with Bill in his home on a couple of occasions now, and I am reading his latest book by the same name.  He was knee deep into the manuscript the first time I played guitar in his parlor, and now, that book is being released, well, I think the soft release was actually today!  That's funny.  I didn't even think of that as I started writing this.

Anyway, Angelique both had great success with Bill's "Body For Life" program, so I am ready to let him take me to a new place in my health and fitness once again!  Bill really has got it figured out.  His first book, "Body For Life," was designed as an "outside-in" approach to wellness.  However, he found that many of his readers struggled with maintaining an external program of diet and exercise due to some internal issues that were holding them back.  His new book, "Transformation," takes the opposite approach.  It is more of an "inside-out" strategy where as you break down and break through the internal barriers to your own potential, that frees you up to achieve and maintain the results on the outside you've always wanted.  This way, his readers now have a roadmap that takes opposite routes to the same destination, thereby giving EVERYONE a shot at it!

I really think very highly of Bill, and I am putting myself through his new program also because he has created an AMAZING online community over at www.transformation.com and I want to be a part of that community!  When you get a chance, if you want a breakthrough in your health, fitness, and/or vitality, go over to www.transformation.com and see what it's all about.  Better yet, go watch this story about my new friend Marty.  I met Marty at Bill's house in November, and Marty and I both have something in common.  We outlived one of our kids.  Watch this guy's story and you'll see why I am throwing myself into this challenge.  Marty is my hero.

Plus, now that I have "outed" myself to you, I gotta follow through!  So, please, no more candy!  Only fruit as gifts!  Please!  LOL.

God night.

Ali took the following two pictures today in my office... figured they'd be just fine... Bella's photo of the day... through Ali's eyes...