Today's Challenge

If you're looking for the at-home workout challenge, you've come to the right place. Remember, this is just an example of something you can do. Feel free to go beyond this list and push yourself even more. If you can't fathom doing this list, pick one thing and do that! Remember, the important part is to move; it's not important how fast you move!

Here is my workout for today:

25 Pull-ups
50 Box Squats with Smith Machine
50 Curls with Barbell
50 Tricep Extensions on Cables
50 Box Jumps
50 Lat Pull-downs on Cables
50 Straight Arm Pull-downs on Cables
50 V-ups
20 Decline Sit-ups with rotation using medicine ball

25 minute walk

Be sure to do something active this weekend. Challenge yourself, you won't regret it!!

Choking Hazard

**At-home exercise challenge: 30 minute walk

Figured I'd put it out there that I know this is a choking hazard, and although I was extremely careful, this still wouldn't qualify as a "best in practice". Irregardless, we thought it was cute and maybe you guys would too!

Thankful Thursday: Grilling & iPhones

**At home workout challenge**
5 minute warmup walk
5 minute run
2 minute walk
5 minute run
2 minute walk
5 minute run
2 minute walk
5 minute run
2 minute walk


Don't think you have to do this exactly. Try running for 5 seconds and walking for 2 minutes if you have to. Or not running at all and walking 15 minutes. The point is to do something. If you get up and try, I promise you'll go further than if you sat on the couch :)



It's thankful Thursday time! We all have so much to be thankful for and we love to take this opportunity just to write down each and everything that comes to mind. Please take this time to share with us what you're thankful for as well. If you have a blog expressing your thankfulness, please share the link! Without further ado, here's what we're thankful for:

Mandi's List:

I'm thankful for family friends. Our family friends, the Giblins, were in town this last week and it was great to see them. They are my parent's friends, but have become like an aunt and uncle to Josh and I...and now Chrissy and Ronnie, too. It was so fun getting to spend time with them. 

I'm thankful for a new phone. Ronnie and I switched to iPhones from Blackberries a few weeks back because our phones were acting up. I totally love the fact that our new phones have great cameras to catch more on the fly moments of Kenna and I always love learning and playing with new phones!

I'm thankful for earlier bedtimes. Mckenna has been awful at night (we'll take any and all suggestions at this point so bring them on). But we figured we'd take this opportunity to adjust her bedtime a bit earlier. So we've been inching it back. It is so awesome to have an extra hour together in the evening without lady love around!

Ronnie's List:

I'm thankful for the shortest stay in the Hole that I've had for quite some time. I don't think I've had a 13 day stay for over 10 years. There were a variety of factors that contributed to this, but one of the most major is my wife's support. She keeps me on task with my health and because of that, I don't go into the hospital super sick and needing it, I go in kinda sic k and wanting it. Thank you babe!

I'm thankful for great running weather. Today was a great day for a run. It wasn't too hot, it wasn't too cold and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It actually made it kinda enjoyable to run. And I mean in the very slightest of ways. Still, I'm so thankful to live in a place that provides great running weather nearly year round.

I'm thankful for my brother-in-law's grilling skills. We had the pleasure of gobbling up some of his grilled chicken, shrimp and vegetables last night and it was excellent. We are very blessed that they live only .4 miles away and that they are always willing to have us over for some grub!

So, what are you thankful for today?

At-Home Workout Challenge

Thank you to all who participated in the Hospital Exercise Challenge! It was such a success and I got so much great feedback, that I wanted to be sure to continue a little something at home. Here's the problem though, I'm not exactly sure what to do.

I need some ideas. What would be most helpful to you guys? Should I design a workout that I feel would be beneficial? Should I just report each day what I do and then you guys can try to match? I want to do whatever you guys feel would help the most. I'm down for whatever!!

If your curious, my workout today was...

50 leg squats on Smith machine
50 box jumps on 24" box
50 V-ups
50 pushups
50 pull-ups
50 barbell shoulder presses

I try to do all of those exercises as at quick of a pace as I can so it is not only an great muscle builder, but also a great lung workout. I'm huffing and puffing pretty much the whole way through, but it feels SO GREAT when it's all said and done.

Think you can match that today?

Different Hospital Stay

**If you're here for the exercise challenge: 30 minute walk, or 30 minutes of 5 minute walk 1 minute run cycle; 25 box jumps; 20 push-ups; 3 sets of wall sits. Also, I need suggestions from those who are up for the challenge. What's the best way to present the challenge each and every day. I want to do it in a way that works for you guys!!**

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

You know what one of the best feelings in the world is? Your first shower after getting discharged from the hospital. I don't know if it's the confining space, lack of water pressure or ever-changing temperature - but hospital showers just don't compare to home showers.

Anywho, wanted to give you guys an overview of the strange hospital stay that I just had. I say strange because it felt different and was shorter than any stay in the Hole that I can remember for quite some time. I don't have any official numbers on this, but I don't believe that a 13 day hospital stay has happened for me in at least the last 10 years. And I've got to say; Man, it feels good!

One important thing to point out is that I didn't go in super sick. Rarely do I wait until I feel super sick, but this time I was even more proactive. Sure, I had increased sputum, increased fatigue, increased cough and darker mucus, but...as always, I gave them a call when my workouts just didn't have the results that they normally do. Even if I pushed it, it was so much harder to get through my daily routine. For me, that's a sign that I'll be in sooner rather than later, so instead of waiting for later (and inevitably getting more sick), I chose earlier. They say my baseline FEV1 is about 75% (up from 60% 3 years ago) and going into the stay it was at 67%. So as you see, I wasn't exactly "suffering". But my doc agreed, get in and get out before I get worse (I love those guys).

My first week in the hospital is always the worst. I think it's a combination of the antibiotics causing me to have an upset stomach as well as being sore and achy all over my body. This generally leads to more rest, which leads to little exercise, which leads to more achiness, which leads to less exercise, which leads to a drop in lung function. Get that? Almost every single time I'm in the Hole, my lung function drops the first week that I'm in there. It's not always a severe drop (usually not more than 10%), but always a drop nonetheless. Well this time, I actually had a 5% increase! Yeah I know, weird. But there may be an explanation...

I only felt like a truck ran me over for like a day and a half. Instead of the normal 7 days, the antibiotic blues were only with me for about 36 hours. We're not exactly sure why this happened, but I have my theory. Now, it could have been mental. It could have been the fact that there wasn't as much time to sit around now that I have a daughter. It could have been the fact that I had to go and walk around with Mckenna attached to me so she would go to sleep. I guess it could have been a lot of things, but my guess is...a switch in the antibiotic schedule.

I'm always on the same cocktail of drugs when I'm in the Hole. IV Vancomycin, IV Meropenem and oral cipro. They kept that exactly the same, but this time, switched the delivery time of Mero. Usually it's given 3 times a day for 30 minutes, but this time they gave it 3 times a day for THREE HOURS (they said more would be absorbed and not peed out)!! Yeah, I know. I was hooked up to my IV line for all day everyday pretty much (when you include my 2 hour Vanco sessions), but I really think that was the difference for me. Other than working out a time I could get unhooked in order to exercise, I loved the new antibiotic schedule (because I think it worked)! I could be proven to be wrong, but for now, I'll go with it.

With my antibiotic blues time being so much shorter, I was able to get up and out of bed quicker and onto my exercise routine faster. It also helped that I walked Mckenna around in her carrier for multiple hours per day! Since I was able to move around more, I coughed crud up daily and quite a bit of it. I think this all snowballed on itself and was the reason I had such a short stay. I'm already crossing my fingers and hoping that it works out this way next time!

So in summary, why do I think it was such a short stay this time?
1. Change in the med schedule
2. Shorter antibiotic blues
3. Hours of walking per day with a weight attached to my chest
4. Getting to my workouts sooner in the stay
5. Daily prayer that I would continue to get better :)
6. Not waiting until I was sick to go in

So there you have it! It feels so good to be home and back with my girls. I want to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for your kind words of support while I was in the Hole, and you'll never know how much it they mean to me.

THANK YOU!!!

Hospital Exercise Challenge - Day 6

Hospital Exercise Challenge - Day 5

Mckenna Rolls Over in the Hole

...and if your checking in for the Hospital Exercise Challenge:

30 minute walk
30 box/standing jumps
30 Push-ups

Great job to all who have been knocking it out!!!

Thankful Thursday: Increased PFTs & In-Laws

**For you that are doing the Hospital Exercise Challenge today - 30 minute walk for beginners. 30 minute walk plus 3 sets of wall sits and 10 box/standing jumps for moderate. Alternating 5 minute walk with 1 minute jog for 30 minutes plus 3 sets of wall sits and 25 box/standing jumps for advanced**


It's thankful Thursday time! We all have so much to be thankful for and we love to take this opportunity just to write down each and everything that comes to mind. Please take this time to share with us what you're thankful for as well. If you have a blog expressing your thankfulness, please share the link! Without further ado, here's what we're thankful for:

Mandi's List:

I'm thankful for in-laws! Am I the first person to ever make that statement? Quite possibly...ha! I have spent a lot of time with Ronnie's mom these last few days and I've really enjoyed it. She's a great mom and grandma.

I'm thankful for sleep. Mckenna has had a few really awful nights' sleep the last few nights and it has made me realize how much I love sleep...you never know what you have until it's gone, right? 

I'm thankful for girl scout cookies, but my butt and thighs are not. I case you didn't know, it's that time of year again, so go indulge your taste buds and support the (girl scout) troops. MMM Thin Mints, how I love thee!

Ronnie's List:

I'm thankful for increased PFTs. Generally speaking, my lung function always gets worse after my first week in the Hole. There are probably a variety of factors that contribute to this, but less exercise and heavy antibiotics are probably the leading cause. I'm happy to report however that my FEV1 actually improved by 5% after week one. Sweet!

I'm thankful for an easy baby. Mckenna has been quite the champ during this stay in the Hole. She's been shuttled back and forth I'm sure more than she would like and I know that she knows that she's out of her element. Even given all that, she's still been the happy and smiley daughter that captured my heart almost 4 months ago.

I'm thankful for a do-it-all wife. When I'm in here, Mandi has to pick up even more of my slack. I'm not sure how she handles it all, but I do know that I'm very lucky, grateful and thankful to have her in my life. I love you honey.

So, what are you thankful for today?

Hospital Exercise Challenge - Day 3

Hospital Exercise Challenge - Day 2

Happy Valentines Day!!



Hospital Exercise Challenge - Day 1

Hospital Exercise Challenge - Day 1

Wall Sit:



Box jump (or you can use anything 6 to 60 inches high that's stationary):



Standing Jumps:



DO NOT however, do this!

Not Sure If She Misses Me

Babies are so hard to read sometimes....

Thankful Thursday: Skills & Support

It's thankful Thursday time! We all have so much to be thankful for and we love to take this opportunity just to write down each and everything that comes to mind. Please take this time to share with us what you're thankful for as well. If you have a blog expressing your thankfulness, please share the link! Without further ado, here's what we're thankful for:

Mandi's List:

I'm thankful for new skills. Mckenna has mastered the art of rolling front to back and I love it. She is always so proud after rolling and it cracks me up! I'm thankful for the new entertainment for both of us.

I'm thankful for a proactive hubby. I am so blessed that Ronnie takes such great care of himself and does so many treatments, exercises, and goes in for tune-ups willingly. I know it may get to be a lot sometimes but I know he goes in for us and for that I am thankful.

I'm thankful for iPhones. Yes, I did just say that. We got new phones last week and they have FaceTime. I LOVE being able to webcam anywhere with Internet!   Way cool!
Ronnie's List:

I'm thankful for the hospital. I'm thankful that coming to the hospital and getting good care is even an option. There are many places in the world where people suffer because of inadequate or non-existent healthcare. So happy to live in a place that it's an option to be hospitalized.

I'm thankful for a supportive wife. This is my first hospital stay as a daddy and there's no doubt that this will be the toughest one yet for Mandi. She has to be a "single mom" when I'm in here and while there's no doubt in my mind that she'll do the best ever, it's still not something that I like putting her through. She's never wavered in her support of me being in the Hole as she feels that I need to be in here as much as I do.

I'm thankful for technology. Even though we're separated by 100 miles, it can still feel like we're next to each other at times. Between iChat, Facetime and Skype Mandi and Mckenna never feel too far away.

So, what are you thankful for today?

Question by Reader: MRSA

Got this question a few weeks back and I figured that many of you could relate:

Question: My son is 17 months old and swabbed for mrsa at his 15 month visit. We did 6 weeks of bacterum, 2 wks of rifampin, a body wash and nasal cream and his mrsa did not go away. We are especially clean and practice great handwashing. I'm blessed to be a stay at home mother so I have the extra time to be extra clean. I know some things are obviously out of my hands though. Anyway, he hasn't had ANY lung issues in life. I'm very nervous about the mrsa and the nurses and doctors just kind of say they don't know if it is bad or not and not to worry because he's healthy right now. If you know any solid information on mrsa and the fact that he's never had any symptoms but obviously carries it, please let me know. You don't have to sugar coat or hold anything back. I just am not sure what lies ahead, but I suppose we never are sure. I will appreciate any info or advice you have. Also, the doctors said they will not try to get rid of the mrsa again. They say they give it one good shot and then leave it alone. Do you think this is a good idea or should I push for something else?

So what do I know about MRSA? I've had it since about 2004. My lung function is just as high now as it was then. I have had increased hospitalizations, but that could be a result of age and a variety of other factors. I must also note that my hospital stays have shortened since recommitting to treatments and exercise - 3/4 treatments a day plus 1 hour of exercise.

Most doctors in the US only aggressively treat MRSA if symptoms are present. I say US doctors as doctors in Europe are more concerned with MRSA then they are pseudomonas. Our doctors here on the other had aggressively treat pseudo and not MRSA. I'm guessing the difference has to do with the interpretation of different studies.

Anyway, my doctors took the same approach. They aggressively treated it at first, but as it continued to show up, they backed off. My recommendation would be to aggressively treat it for a couple more rounds and see what happens. Chances are that it is here to stay, but you never know. I think regret will always come with not treating something rather then treating it and it still being there. Does that make sense?

Like I said however, what's most important is how he is feeling. Now, at 17 months old, that may be a bit tough to tell, but be sure to pay attention to his symptoms. 

I'm a bit surprised that they don't have you doing any nebs. If anything, it could get him used to what is to come. CPT may be more effective if it is preceded by some albuterol to open him up. With that said however, it may not be needed.

SO HAPPY to hear that thus far there doesn't seem to be much lung involvement! 

It sounds to me like you are doing a fantastic job with your son's care. Don't stress out about these various bugs. Some will happen, some will not. It is not a reflection on how "clean" you guys are or whether or not you wash your hands 100 times a day.

Cha..Cha..Cha...Changes

Ronnie's going in for a tune-up soon, and man, I'm scared. I'm not going to sugar coat it at all. I'm really nervous about it. Wow, nothing like just coming out with it..boom...my insecurities right in your face on this lovely Monday morning. Ha!

We have always been very vocal about the fact that we kind of look forward to hospital stays in the Sharpe household. They have always been a time when we can take a hiatus from the normal routine; spend time "camping" together; reconnect; etc. But this hospital stay with be the first of the NEW hospital stays - now that Mckenna is here. We don't quite know how it will look exactly, but being the planner I am, I've sure tried to predict what it'll be like and how it will all work. Mckenna and I will likely split our time between home and visiting Ronnie, but it will just be during the day, and at night I'll be staying at home or at Ronnie's parent's house. We don't know what nights we'll spend where quite yet, but we do know it wouldn't be in the hospital, as the hospital isn't quite the ideal place for a 3 month old to sleep. And I may be the only person on earth to say this, but I'm sad that I don't get to spend the nights there anymore. I loved sleeping on my little cot, tucked in the corner. I loved calling out, "goodnight. I love you," before bed and waking up to see my love zonked out. But I'm looking at the bright side, Mckenna's sweet face is a close second to wake up to :)

Not only will nights be different. But instead of unplugging a bit during hospital stays, now I'll be increasing my "work load." Becoming a single momma for several days a week, and 7 nights a week, on top of having to work will be very interesting, to say the least. I know I will figure it out, but it will be quite the adjustment to figure out how to navigate being the sole caregiver while working. I know I can manage, but it'll take a little to get the hang of. Luckily my workplace is AWESOME and truly practice what they preach when they say family first. So when I'm down with Ronnie (my office is down there), I can bring Mckenna to work with me, which will be a huge blessing. The real challenge will be sneaking work in during naps, and while she's playing independently. Everything besides Mckenna and work will fall by the way-side I'm afraid.

The nice thing is some of my favorite hospital traditions can still happen. We can still do Dunkin' on the mornings I'm there. We can still get in long, fun walks. We can't still snuggle in his tiny bed - and even better, we'll have a third there with us! We can still walk down and get freshly baked cookies from the cafeteria. We can still listen to John Jay and Rich radio show podcasts. We can still do tons of my favorite things. So I'm trying to focus on that, when I start to get bummed and scared about what this hospital stay will bring.

Anywhoo, there you have it. I'm scared, but a tiny bit excited to see just what I can do on my own (gulp - I'm not quite supermom yet). I think the fact that this post is a bit all over the place shows the chaos that is my brain trying to noodle through how it'll all work. Leave some suggestions if you've got 'em!

Mckenna's Big Smiles

My Birthday in Pictures

So my Christmas/Birthday present finally came in on the day before my birthday and I went a little crazy with it. Here is my birthday day from beginning to end.

Thankful Thursday: Trips & Kalydeco

It's thankful Thursday time! We all have so much to be thankful for and we love to take this opportunity just to write down each and everything that comes to mind. Please take this time to share with us what you're thankful for as well. If you have a blog expressing your thankfulness, please share the link! Without further ado, here's what we're thankful for:

Mandi's List:

I'm thankful for great friends. This weekend we went and stayed at our friend's place in CA. Man, was it awesome. We sat around and talked, played games, explored their town, walked on the beach, and played with Mckenna. It was just so fun to get to hang out and spend some time together. What a blessing great friends are!

I'm thankful for my little snuggle bunny. Mckenna is not quite as snuggly as she was when she was first born...you know, the stage where all they do it lay on you and sleep? But she is still a little lover and when she's sleepy she's especially snuggly. I love everything about snuggling her.

And my BIGGEST one today: I'm thankful for my hubby. In case you didn't know, TODAY is Ronnie's 32nd birthday. The world is a better place because he's in it, and I can tell you without a doubt my life and Mckenna's life are so much more blessed, fun and joyful with him in them. I am so thankful for the man that he is, and very thankful for the woman he makes me! Happy birthday my love. Here's to many, many more great years to come!

Ronnie's List:

I'm thankful for safe (and screaming-bloody-murder free) travels. Mandi, Mck and I had a great trip out to Dana Point to hang out with Auntie Kirra and Uncle Tyler (and cousin Louis). We were worried that our little snuggle-bug was going to cry the whole way there and the whole way back, but much to our surprise, she slept most of the time both ways!

I'm thankful for the news from the Vertex camp this week. Kalydeco has the potential to change many lives in a great way, and many of those lives, I know personally. It was 10 years in the making, but for my fibros and cysters rocking the G551D mutation, it was well worth the wait. I'll be thinking about you guys as you adjust to a clearer set of air bags...now go run a mile!! :) 

I'm thankful for 32 years and running. There's a nasty rumor going around that today is my birthday (sometimes rumors are true I guess). The Lord has given me 32 unbelievable years so far and I am prepared to spend 32 more years here on earth if that is His Will. I've been blessed with the best relationships imaginable. Showered with grace. Forgiven of my sins. Couldn't think of a better birthday present.

So, what are you thankful for today?

Workout Wednesday: Strength Training

...for babies. Tummy time, tummy time and more tummy time. Tummy time is all the rage these days to build back, neck and core strength. This is the same strength that will help Mckenna roll over, sit, crawl and walk, so we try to do a lot of it. This may sound like an easy feat, but it was a bit of a chore because she used to HATE tummy time. She is now working her way into finding it tolerable for 5-10 minute spurts.

And it turns out, hard work pays off...even in baby land. Monday night, after a long day in the car driving back from CA, Mckenna rolled over for the first time!! And you know who saw her do it? No one. Ha! We were eating a quick dinner and Mckenna was playing with her favorite toy, Zoey the Zebra, while tolerating tummy time. Ronnie was watching TV sitting on the couch, and I was sitting on the floor next to her and turned to set my bowl down when out of the corner of my eye I saw a hand and leg in the air. She was already on her back by the time my brain told my eyes what they were seeing. "AHH AHHH she rolled over," I screamed like the proud momma I am. We both rushed to her and began cheering, smiling, rubbing her belly, you name it, we did it....I even got a little choked up (yeah I know, kinda pathetic). I'm sure she wondered what was going on, but man did she look proud. She had a big gummy smile from ear to ear. She knew whatever she did made mom and dad VERY proud.

That little one-hit wonder has yet to do it again for us though. She'll roll over if when we set her on her tummy we put her up on her hands. But she hasn't rolled over without a careful set-up by mom or dad. But that's ok. She'll be our little tumbler in no time...which is very exciting and scary at the same time. Rolling means she won't be where we left her all the time...rolling means it's the start of being mobile.

Zoey makes tummy time fun!