A Deer In Headlights

Goodness... where to begin? First and foremost, my family has been sick for 3+ weeks, at least. We just can't all get well at the same time. Isaac is probably immune to Mucinex and humidified air by this point. We have been trying to get as much rest as possible.

Like mother, like son. Naptime!

On Wednesday of last week I turned 35 years young. Wow. The good news is that I got some new running sunglasses and a huge assortment of Gu!!!

Thanksgiving feast at church. Notice Isaac's turkey!

Chasen again cooked us our own Thanksgiving feast this year (well, 4 dishes... but that is a feast!)

"Mommy, I do NOT like pureed turkey and cranberries."

Isaac has gone from zero to sixty this past week! I am a bit in shock. Previously he was sitting up a bit here and there, but preferred to lie down and play.

Not anymore! He is now a sitting champion. That is quite enough for me, but...

The next thing I knew, he was starting to pull up on his crib! And teeth on it! STOP!

Heart attack for Mommy... he's all the way up. And so proud of himself!

Proof! I was in shock. Wasn't he just born yesterday?

Not even two minutes later, he did it again.

My head is just spinning. My life is in the process of a dramatic change here, folks! I feel like a deer in headlights.

On the running front, I had a "light" week. I ran 3 times. I did well! But then I had to skip my longrun because my head was about to explode from some sinus nastyness. John wants me to focus on being as close to 100% healthy as possible for Rocket City, which is 12 days away. 12 days! Oh my. Wish me luck!

One For The Books

Upon returning from Chicago last Sunday, I set right into a whirlwind week. Isaac still had a bit of a cold, so I bumped up his 9-month checkup by one day to Monday.

"Levi J has nothing on me!"

He's fine, no need to worry. This was, however, the first time that I took him to the pediatrician alone. So I had to hold him while he got shots. No fun! But a mommy's got to do what a mommy's got to do. Speaking of which... right when I got home and Isaac was napping I hopped right onto the treadmill for a 4-miler at 3:1. I just don't know what I would have done for the past 9+ months without a treadmill!

On Monday night I had to attend a dinner on behalf of my women's philanthropy group and distribute some gift cards to some needy children. While there I accepted a plaque of appreciation... which meant that there was no way I could skip my group's monthly meeting the next night. Aaaack!

There I am in purple, thinking "I am sooooo glad I got my run done this afternoon."

Tuesdays are meant for challenging track workouts. With no childcare, I had to use the treadmill. And since I had to go to that pesky meeting (which I thought Isaac may also have to attend) I had to somehow accomplish 6 miles whilst keeping Isaac somehow happy next to me. On a wing and a prayer, it happened. He fell asleep!

By Wednesday I was just pooped. But life goes on! Other than running, a priority was grocery shopping. This presents a challenge because I can no longer plop Isaac's infant carrier on top of the buggy (which is what Southern folks call the grocery cart). Moving him to the big boy car seat has thrown a wrench into a lot of things! I had no idea if he'd stay upright, or for how long, in the kiddie part of the buggy... but we needed groceries! Chasen was to work late (story of my life these days), so I had no option of going alone later. So off we went, Clorox wipes in hand. Once I scoured the buggy I put on Isaac's cart cover/activity center.

I wedged him in with my coat and other stuff. He did great! Here he looks very stoic in produce.

After that we came home and I did another 4-miler on the treadmill before getting another shower and heading to church - just the two of us. *sigh*

Thursday and Friday presented the biggest challenges of the week... but in a good way! You see, through the women's group I applied for and was selected to be part of the Leadership DeSoto Class of 2010. I was stoked! From the website: "Leadership DeSoto is a program sponsored by the DeSoto Council and directed toward individuals in DeSoto County who demonstrate leadership potential. Leadership DeSoto provides participants an opportunity to learn more about the community in which they live and work and to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing DeSoto County." Cool, huh?!?

The orientation was all day Thursday. My dear friend Sharon drove 145 miles one-way to stay with Isaac that day. She is such a blessing! When I got home and still had her here for a while, I headed to the treadmill for another challenging 6-miler... which turned into a 2.91 miler. You see, my trick ankle started to hurt. Not discomfort, but pain. I stopped immediately. With Rocket City three weeks away, I was not about to push it. I called it a night.

On Friday Chasen had to be to work super early, so I had a hectic morning getting Isaac all ready and packed up to go to our favorite in-town sitter's house. Once I got him dropped off, I headed to the "ropes course" for Leadership DeSoto at a hospital. From the website: "Parkwood’s Challenge Ropes Course offers organizations the opportunity to provide a unique training field in such areas as problem solving, communication skills, understanding diversity, trust, conflict resolution, and resource management by offering challenging events that relate to day to day living." Oh what a day! We had to do some things blindfolded with a trusted partner, and we even swang from suspended tires (as in from one to the other). That was tough! I am still sore, but proud to have mad it, since some people did not complete the tires! The best part, though, was that we really got to know each other. There are 30 of us in this year's group.

I was supposed to do a 4-miler on Friday, but I opted out in light of my ankle and the fact that I was just exhausted, and had felt so pretty much all week. Rest is a beautiful thing. Little did I know, though, just how much I'd be getting. Chasen announced that he'd have to be at work at 7 AM on Saturday and be there until night. Whaaaaa? What about my 18 miler? Given the circumstances, we decided to skip church on Sunday and just do it then. He can rest (much needed!) with Isaac and I can run. God will have to understand.

So today Isaac and I are making up for some lost time that we missed on Thursday and Friday.

Isaac has one tooth and one on the way! Both are his upper front teeth.

He even kinda-sorta pulled up this week. Oh my!

I just don't know what I'd do without my little man! He keeps me hoppin' all the time. My quote for today is [insert frustrated voice] "Poop goes on your BOOTY." Generally after one says that, much laundry washing and bathing occurs. I'll let you use your imagination! Ha.

Stay sane, people. I know sometimes it is a chore around here!

Sorority Girl Runs 13.1 Miles!

You may find this hard to believe, considering all of the stereotypes in the world, but I was in a sorority. I went to college at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where there are about 4 guys for every girl. That sounds great in theory, but in reality it makes for very few girls to be friends with by comparison! So when I arrived at college and met some great gals from Kappa Phi Delta Sorority and was asked to join, I jumped in head first. Oh the good times!

Back in 2004 I went back to Chicago to attend the 100th Anniversary celebration. It was quite the soiree! One of my closest friends and I decided that we'd go back to the annual reunion every five years. This was that year! So Chasen, Isaac and I headed up there (by car) on Thursday night. We drove half way (4 hours) and stayed the night in Mt. Vernon, IL. On the way we stopped for dinner at Lambert's Cafe -- home of the 'throwed' rolls. They literally throw delicious rolls to/at you.

"Where is MY roll, Mommy?" asks the big boy in his new, snazzy booster seat.

On Friday we made the rest of the drive. Isaac did really well, I must say. Thank the Lord!

This empty water bottle kept him occupied for quite a while!

Aaaah - in the hotel at last.

We stayed in the south suburbs because that is where the reunion was to be held on Saturday morning. Upon arriving I met up with my fave girl Martina, as she was staying there, too. She snapped this photo of the very happy Isaac.

You can see his first tooth (a little bit)! It's his right, front top tooth.

On Friday night more old friends who would not be able to come to the reunion were able to stop by our hotel. We had Giordano's pizza (the best pizza ever!) and I even drank half a martini. Look out, world! We all stayed up gabbing until 11:30 PM, which is NOT the way I usually approach the night before a long run.

By 6:58 AM on Saturday morning I hit the start button on my Garmin. I was running in Tinley Park, IL -- although I would ultimately pass through several 'burbs. John wanted me to run 13.1 miles continuously. Wha???? AND he wanted me to maintain a 12:20 pace. Double wha???? I set off saying "Let's do this thing."

For the first three miles I felt so heavy... like my legs just wouldn't move. I thought to myself "Well, even if you go slower than prescribed, maybe you can still just run the whole thing continuously." After three miles I took a gel, and the next thing I knew I was speeding up. It was just easier on me to try to run a little faster. I was to my halfway point before I knew it. I beat Martina (my pit crew) there! In fact I turned around and met her at about 7.12 miles or so, where she gave me a new G2, more gel and she showed me some awesome motivational signs that she had printed off for me. What a gal, that Martina!

When traveling, I like to do an out-and-back course so I do not get lost. Well, I have no idea how, but I managed to get off course -- and my cel phone had died. I asked a local runner that I spotted for the best way to get back where I was going, and we determined a public running trail would be the best way. That trail was hilly as all get-out. My heart rate was soaring, so I actually took a break. I finally exited the trail, and was still off-course. This time another runner pointed me in the right direction. Oh the kindness of runners!

I knew I was behind schedule for the morning, so I really had to hustle to finish up so I'd be able to get both Isaac and myself ready to go to the reunion. Martina had planned to meet me a ways away from the hotel and run me in... but as it turned out, I was too far away thanks to my missteps, so she just picked me up where I finished and we zoomed on back!

Here I am after finishing 13.1 miles.

John wanted me to run 12:20 miles, as I said before, which would have made the finish somewhere around 2:40 - 2:42. Here are my splits: 12:28, 12:41, 12:30, 12:07, 11:49, 11:52, 12:11, 11:43, 12:06, 11:46, 11:50, 12:04, 12:46, 1:00. That makes for a grand total of 2:39:01!!! Wow! The average was 12:09. Yay! Who knew?!?

I had to run the majority of it on concrete. OUCH. My hip flexors hurt for the rest of the day. Our hotel room only had a shower, so I had to take a "poor man's ice bath" by letting cold water pelt my sore legs. After that, I was off to the reunion!

Here we are, so of the ladies of the 90's!

Isaac is still under the weather, so I really dreaded the 8-hour drive home. All things considered, he did really well. The trick was always having one of us always sitting in the back seat with him. There's no better entertainment than Mommy and Daddy! Considering our stops, we made it home in 9 1/2 hours. That is such a long drive for a little one... so needless to say Isaac has been ecstatic to be able to lay down, crawl around, etc. Now I have a mountain of laundry to tackle. I feel like Kate Gosselin. *smirk*

This week will be extremely challenging, both running-wise and life-wise. Wish me luck!

My Strawberry Banana 18-Miler

Oh what a run I had this morning! Whoo hoo! It was awesome. I woke at 5:05 AM, ate a good breakfast, then hit the start button at 6:02. And we're off!

I stashed a supply of Gatorade and banana halves behind the entrance sign to my subdivision. This was to be a "dress rehearsal" in terms of nutrition, so I finally got off my duff and got some gels. I really want to be a gel person. I mean, you can't get much more convenient than gels: easy to pack/carry, easy to discard/store on the run, no preparation time. So I hoped for the best. I purchased PowerBar Strawberry Banana Gel, which was all that was available at my local grocery store. YUM.

Today I was to use the 7:3 method (run 7 minutes, walk 3 minutes) for the first time. I ran west for 3 miles, then turned back towards the stash/neighborhood entrance. I took a gel at 3.65 miles. When I got to the stash I ate a banana half and replaced my Gatorade bottle. Then I headed east. When I got to 9 miles I took another gel. I got back to the stash at 12 miles and again had a banana half and replaced the Gatorade. Easy as pie! The miles just clicked away. I headed west once again and easily made it to 15 miles, which was gel time. I also stopped to use the restroom at a convenience store. I didn't have to go, but I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea. The stopping stiffened up my legs a bit, but I got home eventually. When I sent Chasen a text at mile 15 he responded "Almost home. Keep going or I'll get my spatula!" That is a reference to the movie "Run Fat Boy Run," which I find to be hilarious (and about running).

While I ran 18 miles in very good form, the half mile or so walk from the stash to my house nearly killed me. My poor legs!

Mile 1: 13:22
Mile 2: 12:59
Mile 3: 13:10
Mile 4: 13:02
Mile 5: 12:36
Mile 6: 12:39
Mile 7: 13:12
Mile 8: 12:46
Mile 9: 12:26
Mile 10: 13:50
Mile 11: 12:19
Mile 12: 12:22
Mile 13: 12:41
Mile 14: 13:27
Mile 15: 12:46
Mile 16: 12:59
Mile 17: 13:46
Mile 18: 12:28
Total: 3:52:58
Average: 12:57 per mile (plenty good to meet the 6-hr limit at Rocket City!!!)

Even though I felt like was eating every 2 seconds, I got hungry out there. I munched on gummy bears along the way, also. Hmm! Any thoughts?

We went to the Memphis Zoo yesterday. Here, Isaac shares Meagan's blanket.

What a crew! We could have a stroller fashion show.

How you doin'???

"I am wearing my Razorbacks jersey in honor of my Daddy."

Now I have some very, very big news to report. Brace yourselves... I have lost ALL of the baby weight! Now I have to attack the torn tendon chub...

Here is my nifty weight graph. I hope you can read it!

Have a great week everyone. I'm on cloud nine!

Broken Skin!

BIG news around here! Isaac has some broken skin! Why is this good? Because it's in his mouth. At just before nine months old, my lil man is officially getting a tooth! I don't know how long the tooth-coming-in process will take, but we have some definite progress going on. Yay!

Family photo in front of our home.

Lil Punkin' sits on a pumpkin, helped by Daddy.

He can stand up really well now now (with a little help, of course).

Bright red flowers - yum! (yuck! not!)

I again was unable to do crack of dawn running today... but thanks to Chasen coming home a little early, I actually got to run outdoors. Hallelujah! Even though the sun was officially going down when I started, I stayed out there for 5 of my 7 miles before retreating to the treadmill.

I ran the first mile easy at 3:3 in 13:22. Fine and dandy! The next three were to be run solid (no walking) at 11:34. I put the pedal to the metal and brought home 11:31, 11:25 and 11:18. Go me! Then I had to walk for 4 minutes, during which I tended to a friend's dog. I am nothing if not a multi-tasker! After that I did one more mile at 3:3 before having to retreat to the treadmill for the final 2 miles. Done!

This weekend I have to run 18 miles. I have a plan!

Failure To Launch

Not all transitions are easy, come to find out. In this case, it's not exactly my fault. Apparently babies do not automatically switch their internal clocks when daylight savings time comes around. Who knew?!?

I certainly intended to switch to early morning running this week. However, it has yet to happen. The reason for that is because Isaac is going to bed too darn early! Then he wakes up a few hours later, which he did not do previously. And poor ole mommy can't get back to sleep! So I shut off my alarm when it seems that I'd be operating on only 4 or 5 hours of sleep. Plus, Isaac is also waking up way too early. Aye aye aye!

[FYI even if Chasen is the one to go tend to Isaac, I still wake up and can't get back to sleep. It's a curse.]

Here we are enjoying a bonfire at our church's Fall Fest on Sunday evening.

On Monday I had 3 easy miles at 3:3 on the docket. Even though I didn't do it at the crack of dawn, I had it done before 10 AM. Good enough.

Mr. Autumn 2009 enjoys a few minutes in the front of our house.

Isaac developed the sniffles on Monday evening, and Chasen has a head cold. Now I have a boy who is fussy AND off his sleep schedule, plus a puny husband who should be resting (key word 'should') and helping with Isaac less. Calgon take me away! How am I going to complete these runs?

Today's 6-miler had to be done on the treadmill. Teddy Tready and I have become the best of friends. I know I should hit the road, but hey -- life happens. So, tonight I did 6 miles at 6:6, followed by five 20-second striders. Mission accomplished.

Let's hope Isaac and Chasen feel better soon! And thank goodness tomorrow is a rest day.