One month out

It hit me today that the half marathon is exactly a month away.

It also hit me that my training has taken a bit of a hit the past few weeks, at least my ability to run during the week.

I successfully completed 8 and 9 miles with a  good friend.

9 miles was really hard for some reason.  I don’t know why, but it was a hard run for me and a hard recovery. I ended up with HUGE blister on my big toe after which was so annoying (and ouchy). But the internet is amazing and gave me lots of awesome suggestions for running socks (who knew!), body glide and good old Vaseline between my toes (works AWESOMELY!).

But I pushed through and did 10 miles last weekend.  It was much better than 9, actually. I ran a steady pace at about 11:45 min/mile, which is juuuuust fine.  I didn’t hurt too badly after, I pushed myself when I needed to and my recovery was much better than the week before.

I am still a bit amazed that I ran 10 miles, actually.

A little less scared to add the next 3.  I am hoping to do 11.5 this weekend and 13 next. EEP!

I am trying not to feel like a slacker that I can’t get in 5 runs a week like my training app says I should.  I have to just be comfortable with what I CAN do and how well I can do it, right? I do everything I can to get those long runs in. But my motivation is waning a little bit – so feel free to cheer me on over the next few weeks, I think I am going to need it!

It’s getting real up in here, friends!

Wordless Wednesday

dreaming of somewhere warm

The great K debate

Never in a million years could I have a) imagined 4 years of parenthood could or would FLY by so fast or b) that where to send my oldest girl to school would be such a hard decision.

Mike and I both went to public school and it was fine – never really thought that we would send our kids anywhere other than public school, honestly. I’m not sure how the question arose for us, but within the last year we started talking about other school options and what might be the best choice for her/us.

Originally, we were unsure of the public school district we live in but we were assured that the level of education was nothing to be worried about. But somehow, we (me, mostly) still weren’t sure if that was the right place for her.  She’s a little hyper (yay, age of 4!) and easily distracted sometimes, she totally shuts down when Mike or I try to work with her on letters/numbers/anything education related really (and we do it just in everyday conversation, not in a “sit down and learn” kinda way!) and it turns out she does the same thing in preschool too.  The idea of sending her to school with 24 other 5 year olds to learn, when she doesn’t want to sit and learn, made me nervous.

Nervous that she would not pick up what she needed to, that she would get frustrated, that she needs more structure and even discipline in the classroom, if you will. Her prek teacher is a little…relaxed in the classroom which doesn’t do much for G. She pretty much requires structure to operate, and at the very least a regular predictable routine.  Sure, she adapts, but not easily or quickly as we have learned.

We are blessed to be able to afford the option of private school and we finally decided that catholic school was going to be the best fit for her. Maybe it will only be for one  year to sort of mold her and prepare her for what is expected of her at school, maybe not.  But we are all excited about it, nervous, but glad to have finally made a decision that we are comfortable with.

It’s going to be a big transition, there is no doubt about that. And we are hopeful mandatory uniforms will cut down on the morning escapades that often occur regularly.

BUT ALSO – my baby is going to Kindergarten! Hold me, tightly please.

8 mile

I can’t remember where I left off in regards to this crazy half marathon training, but I am at mile 8 right now.

I did 8 miles at an indoor track about a month(ish) ago and ran faster than I have ever ran before. 

My training took me back down to build up my endurance for a few weeks and then winter just never ended.

I had to eek out a slippery snowy three miles, instead of a planned five miles, the other day.

I ended up getting in a few longer runs, five, six, and seven miles over the past weeks in the midst of madness (sick kid, crazy work, just random life stuff). I have felt great after each run, for the most part.

I did seven miles after not running for 7 days and it was just slow – again, time isn’t my goal but I would be lying if I didn’t say that was a little disappointing after having made some good progress with speed work in the past few weeks.  But the sun came out during my run that day and that was wonderful!

I ran 8 miles with a friend this week – again, after not having been able to get any training runs in all week.  It was faster than the 7 miles the week before, but it was crazy.  We planned to run on a trail that was still covered in ice, obviously we didn’t know that(!), and ended up running through some neighborhood roads.  I did NOT want to do that long run this past weekend but having someone to push me through it was just what I needed to get back on track.

My random running related questions for the week:

1) I keep getting blisters on the bottom of my feet, what gives? Is that normal?

2) My phone died right as I hit 8 miles, any tricks on keeping my iphone 4’s battery in check during these longer runs?

3) Has anyone found where spring is hiding?

Giannaisms–it’s been awhile

In honor of Gianna’s 4 year and 11 month unbirthday, I had to share some funny things she’s said recently!

Gianna and I went to the mall and I HAD to get my eyebrows done. While we were waiting in line, she said to me “I’m so glad we came to the mall Mama, your eyebrows are a hot mess”.  Which, was true, but hilarious that she said it!

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We came inside from the car and a very funny little convo began like this:

“I am so cold, my breathe is even freezed.  And, if I was a dragon I wouldn’t even be able to breathe fire anymore. Ya. I’m THAT cold.”

She then put on a hat and wrapped herself in a blanket because we can’t have freezed breath.

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Gianna’s been watching some “big kid” shows on the Disney channel lately and as she was watching one day:

“Mommy, this is Austine Moon he’s a rockstar so don’t laugh. Also mommy, did you know Austin Moon and Justin Beaver? They are the same person.”

I wasn’t really sure where to go from there, so I just said ooookay?? and she went about her TV viewing.

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I can’t keep up with all the funny that comes out of her mouth, but it’s awesome.  We have such fun conversations (and frustrating ones too, naturally) and I can see her understanding of the world around her growing in her own innocent way.

I am also in complete denial that in one month she will be 5.

Cutest Sickie you’ve ever seen

It seems my sweet Aleesia often gets the worst of any germ that crosses our doorstep.  She is pretty regularly fighting some kind of stuffy nose or sniffle.  Right before her birthday she had a long week of high fevers which (thankfully, actually) ended up being Roseola without a presenting rash. 

And then, the latest medical drama began after Gianna brought home a set of her own sniffles from preschool.

Miss Aleesia started off with the same set of sniffles and a cough, but she wasn’t eating and was randomly throwing up. (she’s my puker, she sort of throws up randomly for no real reason) She didn’t eat much on Thursday, started coughing and had a rough nights sleep that night.  Friday was no good at all, so we actually took her to the doctor where they diagnosed her with RSV. Which stinks, but shouldn’t be a huge deal in the end considering her age and that she had no risk factors.  Except Aleesia had some pretty serious work of breathing but worse than that, she stopped eating all together and continued with the throwing up. 

I decided that it would be best to take her to the ER late Friday night because it had been too long since her last wet diaper and I’ve never seen a baby so lethargic, I knew she was dehydrated and my rehydration attempts ended in immediate vomiting.

So, off we went thinking we’d be headed home in 12 hours or so after she started to look up.

Except we ended up staying in the hospital for FIVE DAYS!

It turns out her dehydration was very severe (like, VERY) – which is a little scary because it was really a quick onset. They were going to admit her for observation, mostly because of the time (it was 3am at that point) and that was fine.  Except her bronchiolitis was at the beginning of the disease path and only got worse over that period, leaving her working very hard to breathe and not helping the dehydration situation.  And, add to that her literal refusal to take anything by mouth which continued for four days. 

She ended up with an ear infection and a few moments of energy here and there.

Eventually, when her breathing continued to remain difficult, we figured out that pneumonia was the culprit.  She started eating some (I never imagined I would cheer so much when my 12 month old took 2 ounce bottle in my life!) and things were finally looking good!

This little one has spent 7 nights in the hospital over the past 10 months, which I believe exceeds her lifetime parent-allowed maximum of nights in the hospital.  Both times for pretty random medical issues.  Thankfully, she seems to be no worse for the wear now that her antibiotics are all gone.  I knew she was feeling like herself when she threw some toys in the toilet the other day.

I am so grateful to have such amazing parents and sisters though who helped us take care of the biggest girl in our house – she knew Aleesia was sick and she was sad, but they did a wonderful job of keeping her occupied enough that she didn’t get TOO sad.  And she got a mommy-gianna date to the mall! Facebook, as much as I dislike it (but can’t quit it…), was also a great source of support – it was nice to check in and know that friends and family were thinking and praying for our little peanut.

We had quite the little adventure to end her birth-month and she won the hears of many doctors and nurses, for sure – but next time we visit the hospital I hope it’s to bring some volunteer cheer and does not include an overnight visit!

Wordless Wednesday

Things have been so so nuts around here the past two weeks. I have so much on my mind, so much that I want to say here and just not enough time to do it all.  So for now, a quick sample of Aleesia’s one year pictures by the talented Bella Rose Photography!