Hi. My name is Nichole... and I'm a...

Hi! My name is Nichole and I am a choc-a-holic {slash} mental case {slash} unusually hilarious {slash} drama queen!

I thought I should lay that all out there just in case you hadn't caught on to my personality yet. :)

For real though, what do you think has been helping me survive this INSANE time of my life right now? Unfortunately it has been chocolate. Not just any ol' chocolate bar though. Nope. It's the Godiva chocolate cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. It's the chocolate Butterfinger ice cream bars. It's the new strawberry lemonade slushy at McDonald's. Wait... that's not chocolate is it?

Well you're getting the picture of my new dillema.

I have gone from a very HEALTH conscious working out machine to an injured sugar craving mommy monster.

THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!!!

Physical therapy started last week, as did massage therapy. At first I was so excited about these steps leading up to recovery. I had dreamed of luxurious spa like treatment, nice oily rub downs, easy assisted stretching and light work outs.

WHAT WORLD AM I FROM???

Someone had once told me that physical therapists are commonly referred to as physical terrorists. THIS IS TRUE. Apparently you aren't supposed to baby an injury- in my case an injured neck/ right shoulder/ arm. My entire posture has caved in on itself and I am the female version of Quasimodo. It's pretty attractive if I don't say so myself. My physical terrorist... err therapists don't seem to agree. Instead they stretch,

pull, and tug on my arm trying to get my shoulder blade to work the way it's supposed to. I'm not usually so chipper when this is actually happening. :)

Now to the massages. Long, oily rub downs... THEY ARE NOT! Do you know what a trigger point is? Well, everyone has them in different parts of their bodies and especially in injuries. For those of you who have never heard of a trigger point (this was me before the accident), let me explain briefly. They're "knots" in your muscles and tendons. I don't really know anything more medical then that though.

When you go in for a massage for medical reasons- they are not luxurious. Well, that's a lie. They start out luxurious. The massage therapist works his magic rubbing over your back making you believe you are in the ocean and waves are riding across your back. Then he attacks. He finds ALL of your trigger points and PINCHES them until tears come into your eyes.

Now don't get me wrong. I am supposed to say "mercy" when it gets too tough for me; however I have been told many times I don't have a high pain tolerance so I bite my cheeks and close my eyes as TIGHT as I can with out folding my face in on itself. And if you are curious where my trigger points are let me elaborate: my entire Trapezious (sp?) muscle starting from the bottom of my head down past my shoulder blades and up and over my collar bone. That's my back side. My front side? Yup- I have them there too. Awkward much? lol! Right above my right breast all the way up into my collar bone and then into my right arm pit.

Can you imagine having someone PINCH and SQUISH your muscles right there??? IT HURTS!

But complaining aside, these things have REALLY loosened me up and taken away the whip lash migraines. That alone makes my torture sessions WORTH IT! One of my physical therapists even mentioned that my posture is starting to get better. Phew!

Now I haven't been sitting idly by eating my chocolate ice cream bars and reading book after book {cough}, I have also started going on LONG walks with my children in their strollers again. It feels SO nice. I haven't had ANY weight gain and in fact have been complemented that my face is starting thin out again!

WOOT! WOOT!!

I still go to my Monday night Ab Ninja class and leave feeling very wobbly and sore. I'm very careful with my arm, but as of last Monday actually had enough strength in my arm to do some ab workouts involving a medicine ball.

Because triathlon training has been completely TORN from work out regimen I am going to start training for a 5K. With the help of all those around me I think I can really do this. :) I have to believe that so I can stay optimistic and continue this journey with out too many set backs. The Moses Lake Triathlon is this weekend and my heart is sad that I don't get to compete, but I know that there is a bigger picture out there for me. I just have to wait and see what it is.

I hope all of you have a safe Memorial Day weekend and watch out for those teenage girls with five or ten piercings in their faces- they'll get you when you least expect it! HAHA! {No offense to anyone personally!}

Love Nichole!

Where Did I Go?...

I bet you're wondering what the heck has happened to Ms. Nichole, hmm? Well let me tell you! One HOUR after I mailed in my registration form to participate as a relay during my first Triathlon I got hit head on in my car. (Which we had only had for two months!)

Doesn't life sometimes leave you wondering, " WHAT THE HECK?!!!"

So through many phone calls and lots of stressing out, and yes even some injuries later I got an e-mail stating that my check has been shredded for the triathlon.

So here I am, left to wonder what the heck do I do now? I am so tired of all these CRAZY obstacles that continue to pop up in my road to a happier and healthier life. Not only did we have to FIGHT for them to NOT total out the car, I have to wait for all my injuries to heal. And then there is the frustration of the other party that caused the accident in the first place... but we'll let that one alone for now.

And still, after all my ranting I'm in the same spot. Where do I go from here? I guess time will only tell. At least my beautiful children are okay and my injuries are ones I can live with. Because although I am truly FRUSTRATED with this situation; I KNOW that there is a plan out there for me and that I need to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Love Nichole

^ Before

v After

I'm going in tomorrow to get my referral's for physical therapy and massage on my right arm and neck. I'm kind of looking forward to that personally... I've had a whip-lash migraine since the accident. Wish me luck!