A lot of things!

This week has gone by so quickly:
We have done so much, and yet it doesn't feel like it. We have all had a cold, and mine and Rykers was not going away. So I took the kids to the doctor and had me and Boba (Ryker) checked out. We both had "gunk" that was not leaving us. So, we both got fun medicine to take, and hopefully get over this stuff. Ryker got on a breathing treatment again, I hope we are over this soon.
We also made valentine cookies, and took them EVERYWHERE!!! Hailey had two valentine parties, one of which Ryker and I went. Holidays are so much fun with kids. Ryker has dressed himself lately, he was wearing his swimsuit over his pants, and had goggles on, the safety ones that come with the cute real looking tools....bright orange....yep, he belongs to me. All weekend long, even to church. I remember the advice pick your battles?




We also tried to get all the valentines done, and we did it, they are all done, and given to the right person, hopefully.
Yesterday I ran 12 miles, my doctor said because of my sinus infection, I should run inside....so I did it all on the treadmill.....yes you read right...on the treadmill. I was focused, I ran 6 miles, took a break to stretch, eat a power bar...(I am experimenting on what I like to eat, power bars not my favorite, I like the gummy gels the best), I took a long drink, and went to the bathroom, for those of you who run, you know why!
Then I started again, 7 miles came, and Hailey was running around the house "I'm going to get your gina",what? did I hear that right? well, Mike was laughing, so I stopped for a minute to put her in time out and explain why we don't say that kind of stuff(wow)...fixed my shoe(it was rubbing on my middle foot) put Vaseline on it and got back on.
I never slowed down, I paced myself at a 9.30 mile, and at the end I was running a 9.15, to finish it off. I was soooooo proud of myself. I have told myself in the past that when I get up around 7 or 8 miles, I tend to add 30 seconds, well, I cannot tell myself that anymore, this time I took away 30 seconds. I ran 12 miles in 117 minutes, and finished 12.25 in 120 minutes. (That is a little under 2 hours!!!!) I know this is nuts, but I am so proud of this. I can't wait to run outside again, and see how far it actually is.
Happy Valentines Day to everyone, hope it was magical!!!

Eleven miles...and more to go!?!

Yesterday was my 11 mile mark...wow, to think last time I was training for a run, I was training with three other amazing women and this was our longest run. Now, I am training alone, and this is not the end, only the beginning, really. I am kind of worried about getting up there in miles, and being able to hold my body up and keep my energy up. I am doing push ups and doing pilates to cross train, but I need to lose some extra pounds...to really let my body conquer this silly goal of mine. The problem, running makes you soooo hungry, and I LOVE to eat...but, is it really worth it, or is training up to 20 miles a better feeling, than to just feel full for awhile. I was thinking a couple of days ago, why do I eat? My answers are different than that of 7 years ago, I eat to fuel my body, and to comfort,sometimes, which is what it always used to be. I need to get to the point where I eat to live, not live to eat, there is a difference.
I think the devil created all the yummy food in this world....I just can't stop sometimes.
Yesterday I was running in a drizzle of rain, on a road without sidewalks, livestock, skunks dead and alive, birds that did not fly south, pebbles in my shoes that hurt, but I didn't want to stop to take them out, and my mind was thinking. You would be amazed what goes through your mind on these long runs, no where to turn, except the turns on the long winding road, no one to talk to, and hopefully no one sees you.
I was trying so hard to have a good time, as in a good mile time, I was having an awesome experience, but I stopped to stretch halfway through, drink water, and eat some gels, mmmmmm, yummy, nothing better on a long run, and to tie my shoes, and situate the tongue of my shoes, it was digging into me, and of course at stop lights, I wish that you didn't have to do that, shouldn't people think, wow, that runner is at the speed she wants to be at, let's not have her stop at the light, let's stop for her? Ya, to good to be true. I am just glad that no one came to close to me, cars are scary, and they are big, and people don't watch, I've learned to look them in the eyes to make sure they see you.
I guess these experiences are why you train, and keep training...these months have been so amazing in my running life, I have accomplished so many things. I feel that I am a better person because of running, it has helped me to know that I can and will do hard things. I have taught my children that health is so important, and moving is vital. Hailey was running a couple of months ago at the gym with me, and she said to a much older person running too, "you need to run, or your going to die." Now that is extreme, but I'm glad she knows that exercise is key. That is something I wish I knew growing up. My parents had me in sports, but I thought it was to be the best....not for just overall good health.
Good healthy habits, are what I want to teach my kids, and I think showing them an example of that is key. I also want them to know, that we don't always have to win, I think that will take a lifetime to teach, but I will start young. I want them to know more, but that is a LONG and much more spiritual post.
Thanks for listening and reading, here's to many more miles....12 next Saturday!!! I encourage all of you who read my blog, to keep your personal goals and love doing them!!!
To all the runners out there, keep it up, the finish feels so good, better than In n Out...and yes, that is possible, for those who are wondering.

my "pit crew"

I just wanted to do a post about the people in my life that encourage me to do everything I do, and when I am having a hard time. My pit crew can "pump up my heart", "change my oil" and help me remember to put "fuel"in my system and they are the BEST pit crew I could ever ask for.
Ryker, Hailey and Mike are key players in my pit crew. They are so great at encouraging me when I need it, they are always asking me when and how far I am going to run. They give me the best hugs and kisses on my way out the door on long runs, and make sure I have my phone, bagel, and water, and "lippy" (chap stick). They are on best behavior when Mike is "watching" them, while Mommy is out, and they even let me shower when I get home!!! That is always a plus, running clothes get wet, and then it gets cold wet, when you stop moving. That might be too much information, but it is really nice to take them off and put on regular warm clothes after a shower.

I just wanted to say thank you to them, we are getting geared up, 10 miles on Friday!!! Can't wait. It is sooo satisfying to look at how far you run, and know that you did that. It makes you think, hey, I can do anything!!! I will let you know updates, but really, maybe no one is interested in running....I don't know. Doesn't this apply to life though as well?
Dr. Berry says:
"If I can do the hard things I choose, it makes me believe I can do the hard things I don't choose."
Or something like that, but you get the picture.



Something NEW for 2010!!! YES, we cut Rykers' hair!!!
Just one question:
Have you laughed today? I have many times!!!!

Are you ready?

Here's what I was thinking on Saturday....

8 miles....16 degrees....who's with me?

Oh, yeah, no one is this crazy!!!

Then I saw people along the way, awesome, and I thought how many miles are they doing today? What race are they getting ready for? Did they see that BEAUTIFUL sunrise?
Then a thought came to mind, it doesn't matter how many miles, what race, if any, it matters that they are out, and doing something they love.

Here's to running in freezing weather!!!! (Or really, here's to doing whatever you love, in whatever weather!)

I hope this all makes sense, because it's on the Internet!!!

It has been too long!

Well I really don't know where to begin.
We ate too much food at Thanksgiving, and saw a lot of family, and had a ton of fun. We had a lot of laughs, and not a lot of sleep.
Christmas came all too quickly, and left too soon as well. It was so much fun to see their little faces on Christmas, when Santa did come, and they got all they wanted. The highlights were: Elefun, Hungry Hippos, Trucks, and Drill for Mike, and a Treadmill for me! We had a great time.
I signed up for a MARATHON, on May 15, 2010!!! I am so happy, and thrilled to do this. I am up to 7 1/2, I am feeling great, and loving every run. I can't wait to do this. Hailey is running the kids mile run, and she is soooo excited also.
Pictures to come!

He's getting sooo big!

Ryker is 2 today! I can't believe how fast (looking back) it has gone, and so slow at the same time. He really loves his sister and always watches out for her, and wants to make sure she is taken care of. He is the sweetest little man I know. He always hugs me, and when life is rough, I can always count on him to cheer me up with that smile of his.
I am so glad that Ryker is in our life, he sure adds a lot. I don't know what I would do without him, and his little personality.
His nicknames are: Boba, Bobes, Prancing Princess (he wears Haileys' princess shoes, lately tap shoes, and won't take off her "Dorothy shoes".)
We got him a plasma bike, and motorcycles for his birthday, hopefully him loving girl things will pass. Oh, he throws fits, to wear the most sparkly things you ever could imagine. I hope we are just raising a well rounded little boy, who someday will shop with his wife, be sensitive, and understand women.
I could dream couldn't I?
As I write, he came in and tapped me on the shoulder and showed me the red "Dorothy shoes", he is always making me laugh.
He now says most of the abc's, counts to ten, and because of my discipline ways, he even counts backwards, he is talking all of the time, loves to read, loves to cook with me, and in his play kitchen, loves to throw Haileys' babies in the air, and then catch them, loves any kind of sports, and loves to run, he also loves to play and wrestle with anyone who will. He always jumps on me when I am exercising, he thinks it is time to wrestle. He is such a good little guy, and I love him.
He is getting so big, here is a picture of him, and to answer your question, no we have not cut his hair yet!!!

We are back, and going strong!

These last couple of weeks have been CRAZY, and soooo hard on my mental, emotional, and physical state (s).
October 13: hailey threw up 9 times. (2 in her bed)
October 14: everyone not feeling good, no more throw ups, but fevers, chills, coughs, you name it. We went to the doctor, yes we were the ones in the waiting room, with the MASK. They were out of Tamiflu, down here, so they didn't check us for the swine, we were told had the flu, and to stay in until we feel better.
October 15: Ryker starts throwing up. (in his bed)
October 16: I crawled everywhere, BAD, body aches. No throw ups.
October 17: Ryker threw up, but we are all feeling a little better, and we are able to eat a little.
October 18: Ryker took a turn for the worse, instacare here we come, we thought he had pnemonia, he has Type A flu, we got the kids Tamiflu this time.
October 19: We are all doing a little bit better, and we are looking up, fevers even broke. Ryker threw up tonight, late, in his bed.
October 20: Meals were brought in and Mike returns to work. A hard day, but we are all feeling better.
October 21-24: We all got a little better, and then Mike got worse again. We took him to the instacare on the 25, and he had pnemonia. He got on Doxycycline, and that seemed to work great.
Well, on October 29, back to the doctor, this time for Ryker, his cough was bad, and causing him to really have to work at breathing, and with the whole sleep apnea thing going on, I didn't want to mess around. He got on breathing treatments, and they seemed to work great along with azithramycin.
We are all doing better, and swine free. I have even began to exercise again. I was so depressed, no exercise, TONS of laundry (26 loads), and sleeping or not sleeping on the kids floor, just waiting to catch throw up.
I am so glad that we are better, and that we are all breathing.
I hope all of you are doing well, and swine free. That is the worst thing that I have ever been through, oh, the body aches.