Training Continued

Yesterday I ran for the first time since the half marathon.  It was just six miles and it's very strange to me that I'm at the point in my training that six miles is an "easy, short run".  It wasn't too long ago that six miles was a long, scary run to me.  I've got two months left of training for the full marathon and now the long, scary runs are really starting.  Next week I'm up to 14 miles and it only gets scarier from there.  Thank God the sunrises are so pretty!

Best Friends

 I love that my kids love dogs just as much as I do! 

Savannah Rock n Roll Half Marathon

I ran my first half marathon over the weekend.  On Friday Trent, the kids and I drove two hours to Savannah and picked up my race packet from the convention center and then checked into the Holiday Inn at the airport (at $175.00 a night it was the cheapest hotel I could find for race weekend!).  The hotel had an indoor pool and jacuzzi so that made the kids happy and it had a Cracker Barrel across the street so that made me happy (Hello carb loading pancakes!).  After swimming and eating, we settled in our beds for an evening of rest and TV.  In the middle of watching Sponge Bob Squarepants, Currier stands up on the bed, pulls his pajama bottoms down, waves his hand in front of his penis as if presenting a five course meal and says, "Hey Everyone, feast your eyes on this!"  Trying not to burst out laughing I said, "Currier, that's inappropriate where did you learn that?"  He said he just saw it earlier in a movie preview except the kid bent over and pointed to his butt. "I thought it would be way funnier to pull my pants down and do it to my pee pee!" he said.  He was right!  The next morning Trent and the kids slept in while I got up at 5AM, ate a high protein breakfast and took a shuttle with twenty strangers to the start line.  Hardly a word was spoken on that dark and early ride into the city but the van reeked of Biofreeze, nerves, adrenaline and fear.  Once I got to the start line I met some members of the Tri Sports run club for one last pep talk from our trainers, Shelley and Peggy, and my nerves seemed to calm a bit.  "Just have fun", they said.  "You trained four months for this race.  The hard part is over.  Now just have fun!"   

And that I did!  Who would have thought running 13.1 miles could be so much fun!?  There was a live band at every mile and the spectators were an absolute riot!  Some held signs that read, “Don’t stop—that’s what she said!” & “This is the worst parade ever!” & "If running were easy they would call it your mom!" & " Go complete stranger Go!"  Since this was a marathon to benefit the American Cancer Society, many of the runners ran in honor of or in memory of loved ones and many cancer survivors themselves ran—the motivation and inspiration was too awesome and emotional to describe.  I ran this one for my mom who battled a brain tumor for five years before it took her life at the age of 43.   

Crossing that marathon finish line was an incredible feeling.  My time as 2:46 which I know isn't a record breaker but not bad for a first timer with a knee injury.  I followed the trainers' advice and took my time at a 12 minute mile pace, hydrated at every single water stop and even stopped and waited in line and peed at mile five. 

 

The kids thought I won the race since I got a medal (I'm okay with letting them think that) and Trent couldn't stop telling me how proud he was of me (I'm also okay with that!).  After a few race beers at the finish line, we headed back home to Charleston.  On the way home, I was talking on the phone with my friend Stacey and telling her all about the funny signs that spectators were holding and Currier was obviously listening and taking in every word because after I hung up the phone he said, "If running were easy they would call it my mom!"

Tante Auguri Bruco

Bruco turned 9 years old today and we threw him a surprise party.  We've been planning this party all week and you have no idea how hard it was to keep this a secret from Bruco.  It all paid off though because I really think Bruco was genuinely surprised.  Look at him!  Doesn't it look like he had no idea it was his birthday?  Buon compleanno my pain-in-the-ass-neurotic-Italian-Greyhound. We love you and couldn't imagine our family without you, you naughty naughty dog. 

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat was another success this year.  The kids came home with over flowing buckets proclaiming, "We are rich!"  Those riches have turned them into giant cracked out assholes today.  And it's turned me into a powerless PMSing bloated mess.  Yay for Halloween! 

More Seizures

On Saturday Currier had two seizures.  He complained of having an upset stomach and went into the bathroom and a few minutes later Trent and I heard a loud crash.  I found Currier on the floor with his head propped against the wall and his eyes rolled back into his head.   He woke as soon as I lifted him and then he turned pale and clammy.  As I was wetting a cold cloth and Trent was getting a thermometer, Currier face planted into the bathroom door and passed out cold again.  He didn’t lose control of his bowels and he didn’t have convulsions this go around.  So although still scary it wasn’t the full blown seizures like he’s had in the past so we felt comfortable caring for him at home and not taking him to the ER.

Today I got a call from the school nurse saying that Currier wasn’t communicating normally and he complained that his brain hurt so Trent rushed to pick him up and we all met at doctor’s office.  After an exam, blood test and urinalysis, Dr. Davis still thinks these are febrile seizures and not epilepsy.   Currier should grow out of these episodes just as I did as a child.  So permission granted to carry on and TRICK or TREAT!   

*At the doctor's office, Currier was obviously getting a lot of attention so Rya interuppted Dr. Davis and said, "Hey when everyone is done talking about Currier can we all talk about me?"  She is her mother's daughter.  

Calling Penny

While Hurricane Sandy was pounding the Northeast, Rya was concerned for Penny's safety.  She had Paolo call on the Barbie phone and thank goodness Penny was safe and sound in Beverly, Massachusetts. 

Halloween Festivities 2012

We kicked off Halloween season by making carmel and candy apples and carving pumpkins.  This is always way more frustrating than fun but a holiday staple that needs to be done. 

Then Ariel and the Grim Reaper attended our Planter's Pointe community Halloween party and gave their costumes a little trial run before the upcoming trick or treat. 

 

And Lizzy Tish did her best Ariel impression over and over and over again! 

Rock You Like a Hurricane

This morning was our last group run before the Savannah Half Marathon.  We met at 6AM in the dark, cold, rain of Hurricane Sandy and ran 6 miles of pure HELL.  One week till marathon! 

Viva la Paolo

Yesterday Paolo was yelping whenever he stood and then this morning Paolo was unable to walk and refused food (Paolo NEVER refuses a meal!).  I thought the worst and brought him to the emergency vet.  It was a sad ride to the ER as I prepared myself and Paolo of the possibility of having to put him down if his back was broken again.  It turned out to be a pulled or torn muscle in his shoulder since he over compensates in his front legs.  He was prescribed an anti-inflammatory and a McDonald's cheeseburger and referred to a doggie acupuncturist.  It worked because Paolo is walking again and already back to his happy self! 

Aunt Carrie

Aunt Carrie came for a weekend visit so she and I could go through some photographs and brainstorm for Mimi and Papi's upcoming 50th wedding anniversary in January.  As always the kids adored having her here. 

Feeling Good About Yourself?

Currier made this necklace for me and it almost made me cry.  It's gestures like this that help disolve all the times that kid drives me crazy.  And then...

Feeling good about yourself?  Ask your child to draw a picture of you!  Currier is back on the shitlist! 

Almost Half Way There

This morning I completed my last double digit run before the Savannah Half Marathon in two weeks.  Now it's time to tapper off and give my body a rest for the race.  And if my knee holds out for the half marathon I'll continue straight into training for the full marathon in January.     

Soccer Season Finale

Tonight was Currier's final soccer game.  They had a great season and Currier did well.  I'm secretly thankful it's over.  I'm not cut out to be a "soccer mom".  Practice was twice a week at dinner time and I struggled to "do it all".  My family had a lot cereal for dinner these past two months.