...and making a renewed effort to post. Yes, there has been almost a two year break since my last post, and so many things have happened. Let's see if I can briefly catch you up with my life over the last two years:
*David did get better, we didn't know what it was, we think it was a very mild form of West Nile Virus. He is currently at summer camp, preparing for his last year at St. Joe's as an 8th grader.
*Mackenzie and I got into a minor car accident in late September of 06. It messed up my training schedule and the marathon I was scheduled for in November of 06 became a half- marathon. Fortunately, Mackenzie came away completely unscathed.
*I continued training for my marathon through winter 06/07. Damn hard to do in Idaho when the high for the day is 8.
* Keith's grandmother passed away in mid-February 07, about three weeks before the marathon. Keith went down to be with his Mom for a few days.
*That is also about the time I began dealing with an absolutely miserable case of plantar fascitiis in my right foot. I coddled it, talked to my physical therapist, iced it every day, and severely cut back on training -- I was in taper mode anyway.
*We went to the L.A. Marathon because I knew my body was ready, I just needed to see if I could get my foot to cooperate. It did, until mile 12. I may post about the actual day in some future post, but for now, let's just say it wasn't how I had envisioned my 40th birthday. The next nine months were spent getting my foot back to a place where I wasn't doing the 'grandpa' shuffle every time I walked. Lots of physical therapy, custom orthotics, and a couple of cortisone shots later, I'm pain free, but extremly cautious.
*My dad passed away in June 07. We were long estranged and found out from the only family on my dad's side that we still have a relationship with. The story was kind of in pieces, and I made the decision to fly to Zacatecas to pay my respects to my dad's siblings. My brother didn't go with me, his choice. I am very glad I went and had a chance to catch up with family. But the event was fraught with high drama that I am now glad has passed.
*Keith was kicking around the idea of selling his business. Then, he got an offer. A really good offer. Within three weeks of the final offer, the sale closed and the little blueprint shop was no longer ours by the end of September 07. Considering everything currently going on in the housing market and credit crunch, the timing could not have been more perfect for us. He took some time off before looking for a new job, and hung out at home, drove the kids to school, chaperoned a couple of field trips, met more of the kids' friends, and had time to work on his health. He has just gone back to work, as an area manager for an HR company. He likes it so far.
*I had stopped running because of the pain. But as soon as I could, I started back up again, with the extra 30 pounds I had previously lost. Boy that extra weight sure makes it harder! If I don't have a goal, I don't run. So I chose possibly the hardest thing I could, the Race to Robie Creek in mid-April. Billed as the toughest half marathon in the Northwest, I won't dispute the title. I trained for it, cautiously, and while I did not set a land speed record with my time, I finished it, earned my technical tee (which looks just like the first place guy's tee) and the bragging rights that come with running up and down that mountain. The 30 pounds are still here.
So here I am, with my family. Blessed that we're all here, safe and sound. Glad to be back.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Still not good here
We're still struggling with something here. I don't know what it is, but it's making David do things he normally doesn't.
Monday night he went to bed at 6:30 p.m. His dad came and picked him up at 2:00 p.m.; I was hoping he could get David to eat something, no such luck. I tried when he got home, but all he would take was a little water. He fell asleep on his bed trying to read a book. I pulled the covers over him and let him sleep.
I was up at 6:00 a.m. (I went to bed at 10:30 p.m.) Mackenzie at 7:30 a.m. (She went to bed at 9:30 p.m.) David at 9:00 a.m! 14 1/2 hours! In the summer! I know my son isn't feeling well.
Breakfast was a Carnation Instant Breakfast shake. Half of it anyways. He went back upstairs while I ran Mackenzie to preschool. I came back to sit down and do some work and didn't hear him. He said he was OK, but not feeling well. I asked him to come downstairs with his book and relax on the couch so I could keep an eye on him while he read. OK.
He was asleep again by 11:00 a.m. His physical was previously scheduled for Tuesday, the day before school started, and his doctor said the same thing, a virus, can't give him anything. Oh, and certain viruses can push a person into Type I Diabetes, so we better schedule a three hour glucose tolerance test, since it runs in the family. Later that night, I got the phone call from St. Luke's, the two day strep came back positive, we're calling in an antibiotic for him. Got two doses in him, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to go to school on the first day.
David dragged himself to school on the 23rd. I didn't want him to go, but he figured since it was a half day, he'd make it. I talked to his teachers later (it's middle school, he has seven or eight different teachers now), some remarked about his color and his lethargy, like he had 'tuned out'. He was ready to call me at 10:00 a.m. to come get him. He wound up not going the next two days. He was just someone we didn't know. Then he was at his dad's for late Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
He came home tonight looking like David again, still moving slow, appetite coming back slowly, but the color had come back to his face. Something's up here. My research is telling me that he's got a moderate case of West Nile, but the doctors don't seem to think so. I realize my Mother's Medical certificate won't hold up against theirs, but that's the feeling I've got.
Monday night he went to bed at 6:30 p.m. His dad came and picked him up at 2:00 p.m.; I was hoping he could get David to eat something, no such luck. I tried when he got home, but all he would take was a little water. He fell asleep on his bed trying to read a book. I pulled the covers over him and let him sleep.
I was up at 6:00 a.m. (I went to bed at 10:30 p.m.) Mackenzie at 7:30 a.m. (She went to bed at 9:30 p.m.) David at 9:00 a.m! 14 1/2 hours! In the summer! I know my son isn't feeling well.
Breakfast was a Carnation Instant Breakfast shake. Half of it anyways. He went back upstairs while I ran Mackenzie to preschool. I came back to sit down and do some work and didn't hear him. He said he was OK, but not feeling well. I asked him to come downstairs with his book and relax on the couch so I could keep an eye on him while he read. OK.
He was asleep again by 11:00 a.m. His physical was previously scheduled for Tuesday, the day before school started, and his doctor said the same thing, a virus, can't give him anything. Oh, and certain viruses can push a person into Type I Diabetes, so we better schedule a three hour glucose tolerance test, since it runs in the family. Later that night, I got the phone call from St. Luke's, the two day strep came back positive, we're calling in an antibiotic for him. Got two doses in him, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to go to school on the first day.
David dragged himself to school on the 23rd. I didn't want him to go, but he figured since it was a half day, he'd make it. I talked to his teachers later (it's middle school, he has seven or eight different teachers now), some remarked about his color and his lethargy, like he had 'tuned out'. He was ready to call me at 10:00 a.m. to come get him. He wound up not going the next two days. He was just someone we didn't know. Then he was at his dad's for late Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
He came home tonight looking like David again, still moving slow, appetite coming back slowly, but the color had come back to his face. Something's up here. My research is telling me that he's got a moderate case of West Nile, but the doctors don't seem to think so. I realize my Mother's Medical certificate won't hold up against theirs, but that's the feeling I've got.
Monday, August 21, 2006
White Spots
David came home last night after being at his dad's since last Tuesday. It's that whole divorced-parents-sharing-vacation-time thing.
Last week, while on vacation with his dad, they had friends in town and did the whole touristy thing, floating the Boise River, rafting the Payette, they were out in Twin Falls for a day. Apparently, he woke up on Saturday with a sore throat. David and his dad stayed home and the friends took off to do something. He had a fever and chills, his dad gave him Tylenol, etc. He slept too, and complained that the sore throat was getting worse. He came home Sunday night, 5:15 p.m., looking yellowish green to me. I took a flashlight to his throat and found white spots in the back of his throat, I had never seen anything like that before. Asked Keith to confirm what I was seeing and by 5:25 p.m., I was running him to St. Luke's (Dad apparently doesn't have a flashlight), where they checked for all sorts of things, West Nile, Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, Scarlet Fever, and he didn't have all of the things he needed to have one of the big viruses. They ran a rapid strep and it came back negative. So after the standard, "It's a virus, can't do anything but ease the pain" speech, we came home.
David has never been so sick in my life. He's sleeping fourteen hours, then wakes up and won't eat or drink a thing, no matter how hard I try, and two hours later he's asleep again.
What are those damn white spots and what are they doing to my kid?
Last week, while on vacation with his dad, they had friends in town and did the whole touristy thing, floating the Boise River, rafting the Payette, they were out in Twin Falls for a day. Apparently, he woke up on Saturday with a sore throat. David and his dad stayed home and the friends took off to do something. He had a fever and chills, his dad gave him Tylenol, etc. He slept too, and complained that the sore throat was getting worse. He came home Sunday night, 5:15 p.m., looking yellowish green to me. I took a flashlight to his throat and found white spots in the back of his throat, I had never seen anything like that before. Asked Keith to confirm what I was seeing and by 5:25 p.m., I was running him to St. Luke's (Dad apparently doesn't have a flashlight), where they checked for all sorts of things, West Nile, Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, Scarlet Fever, and he didn't have all of the things he needed to have one of the big viruses. They ran a rapid strep and it came back negative. So after the standard, "It's a virus, can't do anything but ease the pain" speech, we came home.
David has never been so sick in my life. He's sleeping fourteen hours, then wakes up and won't eat or drink a thing, no matter how hard I try, and two hours later he's asleep again.
What are those damn white spots and what are they doing to my kid?
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Hindsight
I actually unpacked boxes today!! I unpacked about ten large and small boxes containing food, we had those here at home, and moved into the new pantry. And there is still plenty of room!
I've been planning this kitchen for six years. Dreaming about it for longer than that. Actually working with a hard copy of plans for two and a half years. Now that it's come to pass, I find myself unsure again. Where will I put this? Will that fit there? Is this the best use of this spot? No big deal, right?
I constantly second guess myself, from pantry locations to being a Mom. Is it no wonder I'm making myself crazy? I watch David like a hawk, and when something doesn't go the way it should (by the way, what is that exactly?), I wonder if it's my fault, did the divorce and the subsequent two parent shuffle somehow contribute? (I do that one a lot.) Mackenzie has no fear, always on the go, and when she gets into trouble, a daily occurrence, I worry even more, and then wonder, am I stifling her? And then there's the whole wife thing, Keith is my life. Do I do my best for him, he works so hard for all of us, is there more I could do for my husband?
And that's just the family -- will they eat this for dinner? Should I do laundry today or tomorrow? Do I pay extra on the mortgage or spend on a pair of shoes that will last longer than Payless? Should I volunteer to help with this class project or the school project? Run in the morning or after dinner? Three layers of clothes for the run or only two? Maybe an evergreen in the back corner to replace the hydrangea bush? Faster going down Fairview Ave. or taking the freeway to downtown? Which picture on the wall? What theme for Halloween? Which flight for Thanksgiving?
(Hear it now: cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo)
After the implosion, it gets better. That's when I evaluate my decisions and give myself a grade: choosing Fairview over the freeway, B+. Lasagna for dinner, A- (had I not forgotten the rolls, A+). Good wife, F. Good Mom, F.
Yep, that's usually the way it goes.
To be fair, I think if I thought I was always right, always doing good, I'd miss something basking in my impressiveness. There's always room for improvement, right?
So the baking items in my pantry got moved four times before I was happy with where they were. Canned fruit was good from the get go. Sauces and marinades got moved once, because I had to adjust the height of the shelf above them. And the alcohol? Right where I could get to it!
I've been planning this kitchen for six years. Dreaming about it for longer than that. Actually working with a hard copy of plans for two and a half years. Now that it's come to pass, I find myself unsure again. Where will I put this? Will that fit there? Is this the best use of this spot? No big deal, right?
I constantly second guess myself, from pantry locations to being a Mom. Is it no wonder I'm making myself crazy? I watch David like a hawk, and when something doesn't go the way it should (by the way, what is that exactly?), I wonder if it's my fault, did the divorce and the subsequent two parent shuffle somehow contribute? (I do that one a lot.) Mackenzie has no fear, always on the go, and when she gets into trouble, a daily occurrence, I worry even more, and then wonder, am I stifling her? And then there's the whole wife thing, Keith is my life. Do I do my best for him, he works so hard for all of us, is there more I could do for my husband?
And that's just the family -- will they eat this for dinner? Should I do laundry today or tomorrow? Do I pay extra on the mortgage or spend on a pair of shoes that will last longer than Payless? Should I volunteer to help with this class project or the school project? Run in the morning or after dinner? Three layers of clothes for the run or only two? Maybe an evergreen in the back corner to replace the hydrangea bush? Faster going down Fairview Ave. or taking the freeway to downtown? Which picture on the wall? What theme for Halloween? Which flight for Thanksgiving?
(Hear it now: cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo)
After the implosion, it gets better. That's when I evaluate my decisions and give myself a grade: choosing Fairview over the freeway, B+. Lasagna for dinner, A- (had I not forgotten the rolls, A+). Good wife, F. Good Mom, F.
Yep, that's usually the way it goes.
To be fair, I think if I thought I was always right, always doing good, I'd miss something basking in my impressiveness. There's always room for improvement, right?
So the baking items in my pantry got moved four times before I was happy with where they were. Canned fruit was good from the get go. Sauces and marinades got moved once, because I had to adjust the height of the shelf above them. And the alcohol? Right where I could get to it!
Friday, August 11, 2006
Updated kitchen blog
For those keeping track, the kitchen blog has been updated. The quartz countertop went in today, quartz backsplash in on Tuesday. Some electrical finished, a bit more has to be done. Faucets in; prep sink working, main sink in, but not working. A busy day!
Go see! Go see!
Go see! Go see!
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Saturday Morning, Day 12
You know, I actually got up this morning and thought to myself "Thank God, I only have a six mile run."
Coming from someone as unathletic as I, this is a huge thing for me.
I changed my intervals today. My walk interval is now 5:30, and my run interval is now 1:30. This morning I had a few times where I ignored the beep when it came time to run, and yet I still finished just under my 15:00 pace. It was already 76 degrees at 7:30 a.m. this morning, but only 81 degrees when I finished at 9:00 a.m. Not nearly as warm as last week, but strangely enough I was much better, or my body was more prepared. My calf didn't even bother me after the run. It's been bugging me for what, three weeks now, after each long run, and nothing today. This has got to be getting easier. I'm hoping that working it this hard in the heat, I'm something close to awesome when the weather starts turning cooler in the fall.
Mackenzie is still sick, better but still fighting the throat. She was grumpy and made herself throw up once, but she was trying her best to get to that birthday party today. We did wind up taking her, and she had a good time, but we could tell that she wasn't at 100% Hoping she has a solid night's sleep tonight.
Coming from someone as unathletic as I, this is a huge thing for me.
I changed my intervals today. My walk interval is now 5:30, and my run interval is now 1:30. This morning I had a few times where I ignored the beep when it came time to run, and yet I still finished just under my 15:00 pace. It was already 76 degrees at 7:30 a.m. this morning, but only 81 degrees when I finished at 9:00 a.m. Not nearly as warm as last week, but strangely enough I was much better, or my body was more prepared. My calf didn't even bother me after the run. It's been bugging me for what, three weeks now, after each long run, and nothing today. This has got to be getting easier. I'm hoping that working it this hard in the heat, I'm something close to awesome when the weather starts turning cooler in the fall.
Mackenzie is still sick, better but still fighting the throat. She was grumpy and made herself throw up once, but she was trying her best to get to that birthday party today. We did wind up taking her, and she had a good time, but we could tell that she wasn't at 100% Hoping she has a solid night's sleep tonight.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
The Half Marathon
Saturday, July 22, 2006. Notable for being THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR!
Oh my God, it was supposed to be 110 degrees today. It only wound up being 107 degrees, but yes, the hottest day of the year so far. I knew it was coming, the entire week had temperatures of over 100 degrees, lots of warning about water, shade, dehydration, etc., and I was supposed to run 13.1 miles.
Now you've got to understand that it wasn't 107 when I started at 7:00 a.m. It was about 73 degrees. By 9:00 a.m. it was just over 80 degrees. By comparison, when I've been running in the wee hours, it's around 50-60 degrees and I've had a couple of mornings that have been chillier. I don't do well in the heat anyways, it opens me up to things like migraines.
And it wasn't just me. David was signed up for the 5K. He would be starting after I was gone, and he had a different route, and the Mom in me was a bit nervous; add to that the heat and I was concerned. I made him start drinking water religiously early in the week, told him he had to eat lightly but sufficiently, and got him a pack to carry water or Gatorade for the run. Following my own advice, I did the same.
We were all up early this morning. Keith was coming to support us and "catch" David at the end of his run. I decided to carry my cell phone because I wanted at least a ring to let me know that David was OK. Along with the phone I carried a frozen bottle of water, which melted rather quickly, two Access Bars, one for the beginning and one for the middle of the race, some hard candies for instant sugar and some Fig Newtons (I have discovered work quite well for me for energy on the route).
At 15 minute miles, I was figuring approximately 3:30 to complete the race, give or take. All I wanted was to finish on my own two feet and injury free. I was nervous, never having run 13.1 miles. Would the ten I had done two weeks ago be enough?
A rousing speech, a crowd ready to go, some music and a big send off and the race was on. From the beginning I broke a rule. I got caught up in the excitement and instead of starting out walking at my pace, I ran with the crowd for the first mile and a half. Then I started my run/walk intervals. I was tired, the heat hadn't done anything great for me, and I wound up slowly falling behind my pace. By the time I got to the pseudo-halfway point (more on that in a minute), I was done, and not just slow, done. Of course, this was about five and a half miles from the finish, so I needed to get back on my own.
I called Keith, because I knew he was going to be looking for me and I wasn't going to be anywhere near my expected finish time. I didn't want him to worry.
It got hotter. I went slower. UGH!
Finally, I got close to the finish, where Keith and the kids were waiting for me. They walked me in, where I crossed the line at 4:07:34. I finished, on my own two feet and injury free.
Helping me along the way were coaches form Boise RunWalk. On bicycles, along the route, they were looking for anybody in distress and BRW runners to offer encouragement. Coach Steve and Coach Raul were the recipients of evil thoughts courtesy of moi, but they kept me going when it was getting ugly.
And then, come to find out the course was actually 13.6 miles long! I had figured out the miles had been mismarked back around mile five or so, but didn't know how much. Keith said they announced the true course at the award ceremony and where they had miscounted.
And then, to add insult to injury, young David came home sporting a first place trophy in his age division. The story is this: there were only three kids in his age division. David was firmly in second place, the kid ahead of him was ahead by five minutes. However, when this kid got close to the finish, he didn't cross the line. He actually jumped some small bushes about 30 feet from the line to get to his parents who were waiting for him on the grass. Well, leaving the course is an automatic DQ -- he couldn't jump back over, run the 30 feet, and be OK. So, David, five minutes later, ran across the line, got his chip turned in, and won.
Maybe it will inspire him to start walking with me. Maybe it will motivate me to not get run over by my unathletic son!
Oh my God, it was supposed to be 110 degrees today. It only wound up being 107 degrees, but yes, the hottest day of the year so far. I knew it was coming, the entire week had temperatures of over 100 degrees, lots of warning about water, shade, dehydration, etc., and I was supposed to run 13.1 miles.
Now you've got to understand that it wasn't 107 when I started at 7:00 a.m. It was about 73 degrees. By 9:00 a.m. it was just over 80 degrees. By comparison, when I've been running in the wee hours, it's around 50-60 degrees and I've had a couple of mornings that have been chillier. I don't do well in the heat anyways, it opens me up to things like migraines.
And it wasn't just me. David was signed up for the 5K. He would be starting after I was gone, and he had a different route, and the Mom in me was a bit nervous; add to that the heat and I was concerned. I made him start drinking water religiously early in the week, told him he had to eat lightly but sufficiently, and got him a pack to carry water or Gatorade for the run. Following my own advice, I did the same.
We were all up early this morning. Keith was coming to support us and "catch" David at the end of his run. I decided to carry my cell phone because I wanted at least a ring to let me know that David was OK. Along with the phone I carried a frozen bottle of water, which melted rather quickly, two Access Bars, one for the beginning and one for the middle of the race, some hard candies for instant sugar and some Fig Newtons (I have discovered work quite well for me for energy on the route).
At 15 minute miles, I was figuring approximately 3:30 to complete the race, give or take. All I wanted was to finish on my own two feet and injury free. I was nervous, never having run 13.1 miles. Would the ten I had done two weeks ago be enough?
A rousing speech, a crowd ready to go, some music and a big send off and the race was on. From the beginning I broke a rule. I got caught up in the excitement and instead of starting out walking at my pace, I ran with the crowd for the first mile and a half. Then I started my run/walk intervals. I was tired, the heat hadn't done anything great for me, and I wound up slowly falling behind my pace. By the time I got to the pseudo-halfway point (more on that in a minute), I was done, and not just slow, done. Of course, this was about five and a half miles from the finish, so I needed to get back on my own.
I called Keith, because I knew he was going to be looking for me and I wasn't going to be anywhere near my expected finish time. I didn't want him to worry.
It got hotter. I went slower. UGH!
Finally, I got close to the finish, where Keith and the kids were waiting for me. They walked me in, where I crossed the line at 4:07:34. I finished, on my own two feet and injury free.
Helping me along the way were coaches form Boise RunWalk. On bicycles, along the route, they were looking for anybody in distress and BRW runners to offer encouragement. Coach Steve and Coach Raul were the recipients of evil thoughts courtesy of moi, but they kept me going when it was getting ugly.
And then, come to find out the course was actually 13.6 miles long! I had figured out the miles had been mismarked back around mile five or so, but didn't know how much. Keith said they announced the true course at the award ceremony and where they had miscounted.
And then, to add insult to injury, young David came home sporting a first place trophy in his age division. The story is this: there were only three kids in his age division. David was firmly in second place, the kid ahead of him was ahead by five minutes. However, when this kid got close to the finish, he didn't cross the line. He actually jumped some small bushes about 30 feet from the line to get to his parents who were waiting for him on the grass. Well, leaving the course is an automatic DQ -- he couldn't jump back over, run the 30 feet, and be OK. So, David, five minutes later, ran across the line, got his chip turned in, and won.
Maybe it will inspire him to start walking with me. Maybe it will motivate me to not get run over by my unathletic son!
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