Double checking...

I went on the website for the Crim just to double check my registration, along with check times, and check where packet pick up is...which happens to be where Dan and I got married...River Front Character Inn...how cool is that!? Anyway, I found out that my number is 824. Now, those who know me, know that this is a really good number for me. No anxiety wearing this one. For starters August 24th was the day Dan asked me to marry him back in 2002. It's an even number. Eight divided by two is four. Four times two equals eight. It's just good all around. :-) I am a freak, I know.

I decided to click on race rules. I figured it would be helpful to know what I can and cannot do during my ten mile. Like I will be breaking any rules...I will be just trying to keep moving. I started reading...no dogs, no strollers, no....no Ipods or earphones....what? Did I just read that right?! I read it several times over thinking that I had made a mistake. Nope, still said no ipods or earphones. If there ever was a time to hyperventilate, now is the time. I NEED my music. I am telling myself I can't do this without my music...but, then another part of me is saying, "another challenge...I will show you".

Countdown : 10 days

Wednesday morning...

Loaded up my three kiddos in the triple jogger and brought the dog along. Total weight of my kids : about 95 pounds. I don't know what the stroller weighs (Oh, Hollie or Jeremy, if you are reading this, do you think you could put air in my tires sometime?). I remembered to bring a watch to see what I could do. First mile I looked down to see 9 minutes and 15 seconds. Second mile was a little slower at 9 minutes 37 seconds. Overall, I was pretty happy with it. Looking forward to a long run tonight.

Interrupted

I interrupt this regularly posted to blog with the goings on of family life and bring you The Crim Countdown. For those of you who would choose not to hear about my last week and a half of training leading up to my ten mile race, I will be back again around the end of the month with blogging as usual. Until then, here is my running journal.

On my run last night, I started thinking about where I was about a year ago. I had just had my angel boy. I had this crazy goal of running a ten mile race, never even running half that distance in my life. I was 35 pounds heavier. I was breast feeding. I was tired. I was determined that where I was in my life wasn't going to stop me from achieving my goals.

Then I started thinking about he first time we ran the route we did last night. The first time, I stopped with a mile to go. I couldn't go any farther. Then, when we went out and I finally made it all the way, it was huge. Last night, it just was a reminder of how far I have come. I am in the best shape of my life. I can run 5 miles now with no problem. I can run seven and not crawl to the finish.

In a week and a half, I am going to be where I set out to be a little over a year ago. Don't get me wrong, I don't set goals and then along the way forget about them, but I really can't believe I am here already. I think this may be the hardest thing that I have ever done up until now (I won't say ever have to do in my life because I would like to run a marathon in the future when the kiddos are older and I have way more time to devote to training). Running is a lot like labor without drugs for me. Toward the end of a long run, you really just want to stop and catch your breath, but you know that you can't. You have to keep going because there is an end in sight. It's such a rush. I have been trying to imagine what The Crim will feel like...what finishing will feel like. I know that I have a lot of work to do in this next week and a half. There will be a lot of firsts, maybe some disappointing runs, but I am running after my dream. I can't wait to be in downtown Flint on the morning of the 23rd and take it all in...it's the day I have been dreaming of, anticipating, working hard for. I am going to stand there and take it all in. I can't wait!

The day after...

For Landon's birthday yesterday, we ended up getting him a 16" bike. He started riding a bike two wheel bike with training wheels a little before turning two. He has grown so much that his bike has gotten a little small for him. Daddy found a closeout sale and got his new bike for a great price. Here he is on his bike with his new horn, new helmet, knee pads, new shirt, and new hulk underwear! He loves his "new racing bike".

My Big Three Year Old

On August tenth, three years ago, I became a mother of a little boy. Until you have one of your own, you can never fully understand just how different they are.

Landon keeps me hoppin. He's a big ball of strong-willed energy. He loves motorcycles, snow boards, guns, poppy's tractor, and his baby jack. :-) Two was the year he "turned into" a real boy. He wants to be just like his "Gaddy" and likes to pretend that I am his "honey". Surprisingly, he will sit still forever to listen to a good book though. He loves cuddle time and enjoys helping.

Two was the year that you gave up your beloved ya-ya and you were potty trained at two and a half...way to go little man! You have amazed me with how quickly you pick up on things, how thoughtful and kind you can be, and what you do around here to make us all laugh. It's neat to see you becoming more interested in learning...maybe Mommy can have the patience to "do school" with you too. You look like your Poppy and I have heard you act a lot like your Mommy. We will get along just fine in the coming years if you only remember that I will always win. :-) I love you Landon Paul! I thank God for how you bless our family and pray that God will give me the wisdom to mother your little heart and teach you to follow after Him. May you grow up to be a godly man. Happy "Birthgay"!

I think it was the shoes (or at least it was part of the problem)...

I think my foot is finally back to normal. I took it easy last week. I cut out the hills and speed training. I made sure to stretch, massage, and wrap my foot. I took two days off and to top it all off...my wonderful husband agreed to let me get some new shoes! I ended up with my first pair of adidas shoes. They have the fit foam in them and they feel really nice and light weight. I can't believe that for the second time in a row, I decided on something other than Nike. After running in them for two days, my foot felt pretty good. I decided to get up this morning and run 6 miles. I was a little nervous about it since it was my longest distance since injuring my foot. I kept a good pace and my foot felt fine the entire way. With the pain gone, it's time to start getting serious. The Crim is two weeks away!

Little Hands

Their little tiny hand print...that's what I want to remember.


I like to capture as much of a special moment as I can. It all started with Kaitlyn. She was my first and every milestone that she hit was BIG. Landon was coming soon after her first birthday and I felt like she was getting too old too fast. Her hands and feet were so tiny. I loved them. They were so soft, compact...I just wanted to bite them...find a way to preserve them forever, or at least try. So, on her first birthday I got a little tin to make a mold of her hand. It was a huge pain and took a few tries, distractions, and my Mom and I to hold her still, but I am so glad that I did it. And what I started with the first, continued on with the rest.


With Collin turning one, the last hand mold was made. A bit sad. The last one year old hand I will ever place into a mold. Another thing to add to his memory box.

Anyone else do anything special like this to preserve a 1st birthday memory?

Wanted to let everyone out there know that Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife will be on Good Morning America Wednesday, August 6th and then on Larry King Live (CNN) on August 7th.

Dear Dan,

I am trying to be content, I really am. But, I am also in some serious pain. (read the following, picturing head hung low and puppy dog eyes for the full effect)

This is me begging, Dan, for all of the world to see. I am making my case for a pair of new shoes. Please take time to read and reconsider.

You know I have a high pain tolerance, higher than most. I have been accused of being a little over dramatic at times but this time, this is the real thing. In case you are thinking in your head right now, "you need to go to the doctor", I am not going to the doctor. Afterall, if he says that I can't run anymore, I won't listen to him anyway. It will be wasted gas and a waste of my time. I think the real solution to my problem would be a new pair of shoes. I know we have insurance but with no new addition, I haven't meant my deductible. That means, I can either pay $70 for a doctors visit or $70 for a new pair of shoes (believe me, I found a pair for much less...well not much less, but I do get free shipping) Please, pretty please, I really would appreciate new running shoes. I know I bought my current pair to wear in The Crim but I think I didn't calculate my mileage right...humm...lets see...

I got them May 17th.
I do no less than 2.5 miles everyday
I have had them for 79 days
At least 20 of those days I have done 5 miles or more
With that being said, by my calculations, I have about 277 miles on these babies.

My arch is killing me and there is shooting pain up the right side of my leg. It's not good. Reconsider??

FROSTING!

Collin's first birthday party was a success. Even though he didn't have a clue it was all for him, he really enjoyed being sung to and getting his very own cake to play with. Now on the the next event: Landon's 3rd birthday!

Happy Birthday, Angel Boy!

It seems like just yesterday but yet it seems like forever ago.

It seems like forever ago that Dan was rushing me in to the hospital. A Holy Moment was playing and I was trying to focus on the song. Dan was driving about 90 and talking to our police officer friend to let him know we were breaking the law so I wouldn't have the baby in the car.

It seems like forever ago that Dan wheeled me up to labor and delivery. No turning back.

It seems like forever ago, I had my out of body experience. I watched myself lay there with my ipod turned on, focused on the song that was playing. Even with my eyes closed I saw the most hilarious conversation between Dan, the nurse, and my friend Erin as they were trying to figure out why I wanted to stand...if only they knew I was only mouthing the words to Rascal Flatts as they sang to me.

It seems like forever ago that in just 27 minutes of being at the hospital, I push out the most precious little peanut. He was blue with the cord wrapped around his neck, but he was cute in a smurf kinda way.

It seems like forever ago that I was able to say his name out loud for everyone to hear. I got to see his little face for the first time and get caught up in that weird, "I know you" moment that I am sure every mother must go through. I got to see the little feet that kicked inside of me and toward the end made me ever so uncomfortable.

It seems like forever ago I was walking down the hallway just an hour or so after giving birth to see my little angel in the nursery with Daddy.

It seems like forever ago that Dan and I laid together in the hospital bed, holding him, just staring at the precious gift, the miracle we were just able to witness making his entrance.

I wish I could freeze it all so I could remember it so clearly forever.

It seems like just yesterday I was holding this precious little guy. How did he get so big all of a sudden? Just yesterday I was sitting in a hospital room exhausted, sleep deprived, elated, excited, emotional...how did I get here so quick?

One year ago, Collin Isaiah, made his entrance...very quickly. Wow! I just can't believe that he is a year old already...that he has blessed us for a year now.

He's becoming very, what's the word, sinful. :-) He has started throwing fits and screaming if something is taken from him or if he doesn't get his way. He has a temper just like the rest of us.

The dog has become his best friend. I wonder if it's just because she will eat the stuff that he doesn't want to and then it is all gone. It's a symbiotic thing they have going on.

He has an incredible amount of teeth! They just kept coming this month. He is a pro at walking now and can even walk in sandals. His shoes are still like bricks on his feet though. He does an excellent job at stairs and so the gate will be coming down.

He is starting to talk. I love his little voice. It sounds a lot like Landon's. Words : Dada (of course), eyes, yes...there are a few more but only I can understand those and so it doesn't count. :-)

His eating has been terrible. He doesn't care for baby food or anything else for that matter that isn't a cracker or a cookie. I had him on strictly milk but with him not eating hardly anything, I didn't want him to shrivel up so I broke down and bought another can of formula. I think he's going to be picky like Kailtyn (and his Daddy).

He loves the water and I really have to watch him. He is into sneaking into the pool. If I have our deflated and put away, he climbs into the neighbors'. He's very, very sneaky.

Little Mr. Social is what he is. He loves to be in the center of everything, putting his two cents in, and seeing what is going on.

My little precious one year old. You make me smile. Please stay this little for a little longer. Happy Birthday, angel boy!

Neat...

It's amazing all that you can tell about a kid (or maybe just my kids) just by watching them play with this toy.

Kaitlyn : She picked up on the whole shape thing right away, even at a year old. She got so good at it that she would put a block up to a different shaped hole and then wait for us to sign no-no to her then quickly plop it in the right one. We knew early on that she was way too smart for her own good. She also likes things neat and in order. When she helps Collin out with this, she usually does all of one color first and then moves on to the next.

Landon : When he was this age, he would sit and try to ram a block in a hole that was the wrong shape. I think he thought that if he tried hard enough and used enough of his super strength and grunting noises that it would eventually fit. Bottom line, Landon is determined and persistent.

Collin : Typical last born boy, I think. He sat down to play with it today. I started by putting the blocks in their correct holes, to which he would nod yes and clap for me (the whole head nodding thing is new and it's so cute!). Then I turned the game over to him and gave him the blocks. He just tossed the blocks on top. They would land on the wrong holes and just sit there and he would go on to another. Oh, while he was doing this, he was looking at me and laughing. Collin is an entertainer and just goes with the flow. I think when he gets older, he is going to have the messiest room.