Finally, I'm getting some down time....

This past week has been extremely hectic! I working six 12 hour shifts in the past seven days and yesterday was a much needed day of rest for me. But I couldn't stay in bed too long because on my days off, it's my time to "be up to bat" with Rufus.

Rhadi and I have a well-oiled machine going on over here....he takes care of Rufus most of the days and when I'm off, I take over and give him time to catch up on his blogs, on his research and his projects. Because I don't get to spend as much time with Rufus as I'd like to, I try to make the most of our days together. So since I had a few minutes alone in the office...Herman (our new house guest) is reading to Rufus in the living room....I was able to download some pictures of our most recent adventures.

Earlier this month, Rufus had his first visit to the dentist. The office staff was incredibly friendly and the place was decorated more like a playhouse than an actual dentist's office. Rufus was a star patient....I'm not just saying that because I'm his mother....the dentist actually said that this was the first time a toddler Rufus' age did so well during the whole cleaning process. To tell you the truth, Rufus just likes the taste of the baby toothpaste.

Here's a picture of Rufus coming home from his first dentist's visit.....the animal balloon was his gift for being such a great patient!

Rufus has five teeth now and can't wait to start chewing on something with a little more substance than mashed food.

Last week I knew that I wouldn't be able to spend any real quality time with Rufus....aside from feeding him dinner and giving him his bath before he goes to bed, so we took a trip to the Museum of Science and Discovery in Fort Lauderdale. Rufus was probably the youngest kid in the place but you surely couldn't tell. He had a ball. We started out in the ocean section looking at the tanks full of coral, eels, tropical fish and even sharks.

He's still in the stroller...just getting started.

He's actually watching some high school kids ride up the escalator.....

Then we went to the toddler area where he went from computer to computer tapping on the keyboards, climbed up stairs to chase after another older boy and even went orange picking in the grove. Here he is on his own very John Deere tractor---this brings back memories when I was growing up. I'd love to sit and watch as my grandfather drove his John Deere tractor across the lawn transforming it into a well-manicured piece of art. I still love the smell of fresh cut grass....well, that's the old country girl in me!

After taking a spin on the tractor, we headed to the science area where Rufus could literally see the sound waves transmitted through a vacuum of beads as he played on the piano, saw how the burning of our garbage can turn steam into an energy source to supply electricity and even got to see the sketelon of a T-Rex.

We ended the day with stroll in the air park where Rufus thought he was a fighter pilot behind the controls of a jet. I could have spent hours trying to navigate my jet off the ground...or trying my best to stimulate a smooth take-off. After about 3 tries I finally got the jet off the ground!

He was concentrating so hard to guide his jet :-)

Once I finally got Rufus in the car I knew he'd had a long day because even I was tired! When I turned around as I exited the garage, I had to take this picture....he played soooo hard and had so much fun that he just tired himself out.

Once we got home and I put Rufus to bed, he slept for the next 12 hours straight!!!! Now that was a great day!

We're going to be heading up to Maryland next week to visit the family so I'll be sure to take the camera along so we can catalog Rufus' trip.

Take care,

Traci, better known as Rufus' Mom

P.S. Downtime doesn't mean downtime from exercising because I'm still on my 3 days or more a week schedule to keep in shape. I've got to stay in bathing suit ready at all times. The Backyard Workout is what I do....it's hard but fast!

One out and one coming.....

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One Down, One to Go
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My client Taraje is leaving today to return home after and intense training camp and when he leaves, we have to clean up the room, change the bed linens and get ready for our little friend Herman.

Herman is about 11 years old and we keep him sometimes. Herman and my son Rufus have on heckuva time. Herman plays basketball so we usually have to pick him up from practice and make sure he gets him homework done at night.

It's cool practice for when Rufus gets older.

Last night was also cool. I had an opportunity to try and help my cousin Jasmine prepare for her math test. I really love Jas and would like for her to spend some more time with my wife and I but we're just sooooo busy. Goodness gracious, sometimes it seems like my wife and I are like two ships passing in the night :-) Jasmine is a real cool kid who I would really like to take to Howard's Homecoming with me later on this year so that she can get a real cool view of black college life and college life in general. But really I want her to see why we say, "Ain't no party like a HU party." :-)

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Like Two Ships
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I usually have to get all of my work done between the hours of 10pm to 4am and then I'm up and on the stairmaster, in the gym or working out at home at 5:30 or six. I take a nap during the day when Rufus does and then I keep running.

I usually am able to go for a long time until I crash and burn like I did last week by getting a cold or something. My friends call me an insomniac :-) but I'm not. I'm just living my life the way that I always have. I've been like this since college. I can remember sleeping on the floor in the engineering library at Howard from the hours of 3:30am to 5:30am only to get up and take my toothbrush and toothpaste out of my book bag to brush my teeth and then head up the hill to the gym for wrestling practice that started at 6am.

After practice I'd shower, go eat breakfast and then head off to my 8am class. (I had an 8 am class EVERY semester when I was in college. I didn't believe and don't believe in sleeping ones life away). This is just how I do it, but I do make sure that my son is in bed and not doing it like me.

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What's New
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One of the characters that I've created is really taking some heat from his blog posts. I kinda laugh when I read the posts because people get so caught up in the posts and I want to tell them that they are humorous, yet thought provoking posts to make you think. But people get caught up in them like its a soap opera.

It's cool. But I have to constantly tell them. THAT IS NOT ME. That's a character. Kind of like the actors and actresses you see on television. My personal blog is right here, those other blogs are for what they are for.

If you ever want a good belly aching laugh, tune into www.coachferguson.com :-) You'll get a kick out of it. Coach Ferguson ain't no Don Imus, but he is close. He's like Dr. Phil on 'roids.

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Personal
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Well, I'm going to drop a couple of pounds to see it affect on my blood pressure. Right now I weight between 228-232 lbs. I took my blood pressure yesterday and it was 125/72 and 123/69. I would really like to get the top number in the teens. It was like that at one time and I need to get that back.

So I'll let you all know how its going and what changes I've made in order to get it down.

That's about it for today.

If you want to get in some great shape and stay in shape, I would highly recommend The Backyard Workout.

I Was Watchng The UFC Tonight And......

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Watching the UFC
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Tonight I was watching the UFC with my client Taraje Williams-Murray and Taraje asked me, "Ferg, why don't you jump in there in the 205 lb. division?"

And I sounded like a complete chump, but I told him the truth, with my wife in earshot. I replied, "My wife won't let me." He laughed, but I was serious. My wife put part of her life on hold so that I could pursue my dream of becoming an Olympian and chasing an Olympic Medal and now its time for me to pursue other avenues in my life. And everytime I get the "itch" I have to remember, the we have a deal.

Now that the blood pressure is somewhat under control, I think - "all I need is a couple of fights, and I'll be right at the top of the food chain in MMA - easy..." But I know it wouldn't end there. And I love my wife more than fighting :-) so I'll train with the fellas and hang out like I do now and live vicariously through my clients and friends.

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This Week
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This week Taraje is leaving. His training camp is over and our filming session is done. I really think that my son Rufus is going to miss seeing him. He's gotten used to seeing him around and really like to play with Taraje.

I've received another offer to attend a camp (this time a Wrestling Camp) in Orlando and I have to see, if it will fit in the schedule. It was last minute, but when the $$$ calls, you have to answer. Because the people want their mortage money every month and we've got to give it to them.

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Friday Nite
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Two nights ago I spoke with the Youth at our church and boy oh boy was it an enlightening experience. I think that the youth really enjoyed my "keep it real" approach because I basically let them know I make mistakes too. I think people appreciate it when you're geniune and you don't try to act like you're perfect all the time.

It seems like there is such a huge disconnect between the youth and my church and the older members. I hope that my wife and I can help bridge the divide. I wish I could tell you more about the discussion, but I'm super tired right now.

It's 3:39am on Sunday morning and I have to workout before church and get Rufus ready because Traci works tomorrow. I think I'll just do 2 sets of The Intermediate Protocol in The Backyard Workout and call it a day. And then my cousins are coming over to watch the basketball game.

So, take it easy.

Rhadi Ferguson