Day 6 – Cloudy Weather…
So not only is it blustery with rain today outside, but I’ve had this partly cloudy feeling myself lately. I’ve finally realized that I’m just not breathing well during my workouts and in between both. My allergies are kicking into high gear and I’ve got moderate to severe congestion, which is draining into my lungs, which is constantly making me cough. Not being able to breath is keeping me up at night for coughing fits, and making me pause my workouts for a minute or two here and there. Not breathing is making everything feel undesirable, which is the blah feeling I’ve been talking about for the last couple of days.
I’m getting through it…with the help of some over-the-counter congestion meds, and cough drops with a cough suppressant in them, but I can’t wait for it to be over with. I’m hoping I can just get better sleep tonight and cough less!
One of my victories today though is that we got to sleep in for two hours (we decided ahead of time last night we would because we were both so worn out), and still get everything done. I still had time to spend with my family after brunch for family conversation, and I was able to cook brunch for them as well.
I was also able to complete my Valor Challenge, which is a required part of the Deliberate Discomfort Challenge. So I completed the Valor Challenge in 28.5 minutes which is a pretty long time, because I was super tired after my morning workout, and sit-ups are hard when coughing regularly. But I got through it, and it was all in honor of a fallen soldier. This is the information I received for the Valor Challenge this week from Jason Van Camp, CEO of Deliberate Discomfort. The person talking is Jason, not myself in this description:
Deliberate Discomfort
VALOR CHALLENGE
Staff Sergeant Rob Pirelli, U.S. Army
As you go through the challenge, please think about Staff Sergeant Rob Pirelli.
Rob and I served together on Operational Detachment – Alpha (ODA) 072. I was his commander and he was my 18C (Engineer Sergeant). During a day-time operation on August 15, 2007, to kill or capture high-value Al-Qaeda targets in the Diyala Province IVO Lake Hamrin (Iraq), Rob gave the ultimate sacrifice and was killed in action.
Pirelli, 29, of Franklin, Mass., enlisted as an infantryman in Dec. 2003. He later attended the Special Forces Qualification Course, graduating in 2005, and was assigned as an engineer sergeant with 10th SFG (A) Fort Carson, Colo. He had recently begun his first tour of duty in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula.
Pirelli’s military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Warrior Leaders Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers’ Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, and the Arabic Basic (Modern Standard Language Course).
His awards and decorations include two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
Pirelli is survived by his parents, Robert and Nancy Pirelli; brother Shawn, and sister Stacey, of Franklin, Mass.
All in all, I had a pretty decent day for a Saturday. Outside of challenge tasks and a few basic household duties, it was easy, mildly quiet (as quiet as it can be with 4 children at least), and worked out well. Let’s hope this provides a little clearer skies for me in the coming days and not so much…Cloudy Weather!
God bless you all today!