Last Monday IIN released the second of four tests that we will take throughout the course.  Test One was after the first 10 Modules and Test Two after Module 11 to 20.  This marks the half-way point in the journey to become an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.  Not being one to wait around getting nervous, I sat down and took the test on Monday.  IIN is very flexible and allows us the opportunity to take the test twice and then they will use the higher of the two results as our final grade.  I, like many others, took the test twice as I missed four questions the first time around.  I decided to take the second test and see if I could better my average and indeed I did with a 100%.  Nice!  So now I can go back to work with that behind me.

Another milestone was the issuing of IIN sponsored websites and the ability to have business cards made.  I took a look at the website options and will most likely not make use of their website.  My personal history of building and managing websites for others should have given me some idea of how to build my own.  It is different because when working for others you are converting their ideas into reality.  When doing this for oneself, it is much more difficult to have to come up with the ideas as well as do the technical work.

John went to New Hampshire to pick up the grandchildren mid-week and now Jack is off at Camp Wabun for six weeks and Libby is here to stay with us.  My daughter and I drove Jack to Montreal where he boarded an airplane for Toronto.  From there he joined others and took a five hour bus ride north and then a barge to get to the island and the camp.  No cell phone, no internet, no electronics, just a canoe and the water and the clean Canadian air.  A perfect summer when you are 14 1/2.  Libby will stay here with us and attend the tennis, canoeing and swimming and sailing at our small club with all of her buddies that she has grown up with.  At almost 10 she has become quite independent.  This means a change for John and me to have a young person living in the house with us.  We have been lucky enough to do this for the last eight or nine years.  It is a gift to have these children in our lives and to watch them grow.

John will drive me to Hanover tomorrow for my one month check up.  I am stronger and have been walking almost back to my five miles a day.  The biggest thing I am still noticing is how tired I can get.  Nap time is becoming my favorite time of the day.  Otherwise I think I am doing well.  I am very conscious of what I eat and continue to try and add things that are even more heart healthy to my diet (walnuts +10) and to eliminate things that are not on the recommended list (salt and red meat).  I am still trying to come to grips with the fact that I am not immune to health issues.  It’s rough to discover you are mortal!  Also was really blown away by the, what I thought, awful food recommendations that were made in the little pamphlet I was given upon leaving the hospital.  My family tried to tell me that it was written for people who didn’t eat as well as I do but I still have a hard time with a hospital recommending that a person with a heart condition should drink soda and diet soda at that!!!  Don’t get me started on the red jello, I don’t want to add a stroke to my list of health problems.  Oh yes folks, the world of the Health Coach is coming.  Just trying to remember Bio-Individuality!!!

Have a wonderful week all.  We had great, no fantastic, weather last week with almost every day in the upper 70’s.  Today is in the 50’s and drizzling rain.  I have a fire going in the fireplace and am wearing a fleece again.

Louise