Happy Birthday to my little spook!

In honor of Shoo's birthday, here are a few random facts about him:

He's never been in the hospital.  If you've met him, you know just how amazing this is.  (Yes, he was born at home.  Yes, it was intentional.)

He'll climb anything.

Yes, he's standing on my table.  Yes, he got there on his own.

He loves his big brother.  For a few minutes at a time anyways...

There may have been some hair pulling moments later.

He's ready to protect us all from burglars, bad guys, and zombies.

He's got his own sense of style.

He can turn anything into a weapon.  (See above about protecting us from zombies.)

Happy birthday to the best Halloween surprise ever!

Why, yes, he did decorate his own cake LOL!

Snow? Seriously, Virginia?

Yes, I do realize our scarecrow looks like he's hung over LOL

That time of year again

I love photo cards.  I love seeing pictures of friends I don't get to see very often (although between facebook and blogs, really how many people do I only "see" at Christmas anymore?)  I do have one little quirk though.  I strongly prefer pictures (or collages) of whole families.  I'm not a fan of cards with just the kids.  (Your kids are cute, but how are you aging? Yeah, I'm shallow LOL.)

Every year, for I can't tell you how many years, I go through all of our pictures desperately searching for that magic picture where we are all looking at the camera and I look good.  (Did I mention that I'm shallow?)  Once I find that magical picture (or pictures), I head over to shutterfly.  I'm pretty sure I've used them for the majority of Christmas cards we've done since we had kids.  Really.  Here are the last four years...

Sadly, I never got around to sending this one.  Wonder what I can do with 100 copies? LOL

Time to go looking for that special picture.  'Cause as soon as I get done with that, it's time to make the annual calendar for the Grandmas.  (Yeah, I use Shutterfly for that too!)

Disclaimer:  I'm getting 25 free cards for writing this, but really I'd write it anyways.  I've bought calendars and cards for at least the last four years and got my dad a coffee mug with a picture one year.  So, yeah, I'm a fan of Shutterfly.

Jewish Mother's Split Pea Soup

This has been one of the more miserable falls that Virginia has had in a while.  We seem to be getting rain at least a couple of times a week.  A lot of us are beginning to wonder when Virginia got placed just outside the *other* Washington.

For most of October, my mood has matched the weather.  Adding a layer of stress over what is already my craziest month of the year and then throwing a ton of rain on top of that?  Yeah.  Depression was rearing its ugly head, only held at bay by a few really awesome runs.

It's raining again today, but all is sunny in me.

I went for a lovely run in the rain in my new Skirt Sports skirt.  (Love!  Will review later) Nothing hurt!

I got final closure today with my primary physician that everyone agrees 100% that things are benign.  For good measure, she verified my pap smear was normal (I couldn't remember actually getting the results.)  Then her nurse gave me a flu shot and a tetanus shot.  My doctor recommended doing pushups to make the soreness end faster.  Excellent!  My chiro has me doing squats and my dr. has me doing pushups.  I should be looking awesome soon.

Tonight for dinner, we are having my favorite soup.  When I was in college, my boyfriend was Jewish.  Once when I was visiting, his mom made split pea soup.  It was awesome.  Seriously, I could eat it every day for a week and not be tired of it (it also makes a ton, so there's probably enough for a full week LOL).  I make it even better by throwing in ham.  (She is no longer with us, but she had an awesome sense of humor, so I'm sure she'd find the ham addition amusing.)

Hope all is well in your world too.

Split Pea Soup ('cause I know you want the recipe)

13 Cups Water
1 C split peas (I usually throw in a whole bag)
3 T lima beans/barley (I use only barley because I never have lima beans in the house)
1.5 T beef bouillon
1 t. celery salt
1 large diced onion
2 stalks celery, sliced
4 carrots, slices
1 T salt
noodles (about half a package of egg noodles, but I've used broken up spaghetti and fettuccine before)
(Optional: ham.  Whatever amount looks good. I like Black Forest Ham.)


Put water + split peas and barley in large pot.  Bring to a boil. Lower temp. Skim off any foam.  Cover and cook until split peas start to fall apart.  Add all other ingredients and cook for approximately a half hour until veggies are done.

Tastes even better as leftovers.

Too close for comfort

Did you know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month?  Unfortunately, I got to spend the month a little too aware of it.  I'll skip to the punchline because I know firsthand just how stressful waiting is: I'm fine.

The long story...

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I went in recently for my first mammogram.  I found out a few days later that "something" showed up in my left breast.  Approximately one in 10 women need a follow up mammogram, but only 8-10% of that 10% need a biopsy.  Statistics were on my side.

I "failed" my second mammogram and got to have an ultrasound.  Via ultrasound, the radiologist was able to determine that the mass was indeed solid, as opposed to a fluid filled cyst.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to biopsy.  Except the next opening wasn't for another week. 

The biopsy itself was no big deal.  It involved some numbing, a big needle and a good looking doctor with a sense of humor.  It was kind of amazing to watch on the ultrasound as he took the samples.  The mass was apparently so deep in that at one point he explained the potential risk of nicking my lung.  (Thankfully, he didn't.)

And then we waited again. 

I spent the last week avoiding Dr. Google, but thinking about what was important to me.  I filled the time running, eating frosting, and just trying to stay present with my kids.  I made some small decisions: I was keeping my long hair until it started to fall out.  I made some big decisions:  if there was ANYTHING at all that pointed towards mastectomy, the boob was going.  And maybe taking its partner.  But mostly, I just tried to stay positive and leaned on my family and a few close friends to stay sane.

And finally, I won the lottery.  I met with a breast specialist today and the mass was benign.  I'll have a followup in 6 months and then my annual mammogram in a year and if all stays the same, I'm back to my regular annual checkups.

I got lucky.  And I know it.  But I'd go through it all again in a heartbeat.  I would not have felt the lump any time soon.  It's too far in and back. 

There's been a lot of debate recently about the effectiveness of mammograms and whether women should wait longer for their first one.  There is a fairly high rate of "false findings" that require subsequent mammograms, especially in women in their 30s and 40s.  Yes, these two weeks sucked (some of that was exacerbated by communication issues that I'm working to resolve.)  No, I did not enjoy having my stress levels that high.  My body in no way appreciated me alternating between being unable to eat and eating junk.  But given the alternative of NOT finding a mass that ended up being cancerous?  Give me the two weeks of stress.

And the bottle of Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout that I'll be celebrating with this evening.

Did you know...

that all the layers in the forest can be represented in a Lego structure?

Here we have the canopy, understory, and herb layers...

As well as the shrub layer and the forest floor.

And for good measure...

The bacon layer...

Running with a client today for the second time since last spring.  She's nearly ready for her first marathon, New York City.  I'm so excited for and proud of her!

Counting my blessings

Life is a bit stressful for me right now.  Not much I can do about it.  It is what it is.  But that doesn't make it easier.  In fact, for me (and I'm sure for many of you), stressful things that just have to be lived through are much harder than stressful things where you can actually do something.

So, in my continuing battle to stay upbeat, today I'm looking at the positives in my life.

1. My family.  You all know how much Beer Geek rocks. And my boys.  Oy, they may drive me crazy, but they amuse me on a daily basis.  My parents are the best parents ever.  Not because they are perfect.  Not because we never disagree.  But because they are always 100% there for me.
2. My friends.  Both IRL and in the computer.  They have my back.  And my beer.  And I have a few who'll go gangsta for me if that's what the situation calls for.  ;o)
3. My jobs.  Seriously, recently I've been paid to help at race registration, to go for a run with someone, and to figure out all the ins and outs of a password protected google site.  Really?  You want to pay me to do something I'd do for free?  You crazy, but I'll take it LOL.
4. My run.  It's come back to me.  It may be slow and it may lack endurance, but three easy runs with NO PAIN lead me to believe I may actually be moving in the right direction again.

It's raining out this morning and I've decided to let that be my excuse to take it easy on myself today.  (Heck, I'm still sore from a three bike rides and a run on Monday + a run yesterday.  And I won't talk about my current hatred of burpees.  WTH was I thinking?)

What are the blessings in your life right now?  Do you stop on a regular basis and think about them? 

Pulling my s#@% together

I woke up this morning in a crabby mood.  Perhaps "woke up" is the wrong term.  That implies I slept.  I'm dealing with a bit of stress related insomnia right now + post nasal drip from a mild cold.  The combination meant that I had difficulty falling asleep last night and that I woke up frequently.  Not a fun combination.

It was also really gray out this morning, although the radar showed no rain.  I just wanted to curl up in a corner with coffee, a book and a lot of chocolate.

Instead, I made the kids bike to school this morning.  Now, biking with them is a stressor in and of itself.  They fight.  We have a busy neighborhood and four stop signs to get through.  I'm not a confident biker by any stretch of the imagination.  It would be easier to herd cats than ride with them. But even though it wasn't really fun for any of us, it got us moving and that's always a better start to the day. 

After I biked home, I went for a 20 minute run.  30 minutes later, I'd completed a nice easy run (yes, I managed to talk myself into extra).  Then I did 3 burpees for the 30 day Challenge at Your Inner Skinny.  Then I did squats, leg lifts, and stretches per my chiro's instructions.

Was this a magic pill?  No.  Am I all sweetness and light?  Not even close.  But at least now, my head is on straight and I can cope with what's being thrown at me.  And some days, that's all you can ask for.

Running old school

I've temporarily retired my Garmin.  For the first time in years, I don't want to know how far or how fast I'm going.  I've found that when I wear the Garmin, I either push myself harder than I should or I analyze the numbers afterwards and feel bad about where I am. 

I planned to run this morning, but it was pouring down rain.  I opted to take a nap instead.  After I woke up, I did some work and then this beautiful bright ball appeared.  The sun?  Really?  So I headed out into an absolutely beautiful day.  I had the best.run.ever.   I ran at an easy pace.  A pace where I could have talked your ear off.  A pace where I could have kept going forever.  I have no idea how fast that pace was.  I have no idea how far I went.  All I know is that I ran for 35 PAIN FREE minutes and could have kept going.  I can't remember the last time I was able to say that.

It is not important for me to run fast or far right now, but it is hella important that I run.  My very sanity is depending on it.

So, the Garmin will sit in the drawer for the forseeable future.

10 years ago

I started the day looking a lot like this...

And ended the day like this...

Even then, you were unpredictable.  And had a mind of your own.  And every day since then, you've kept me on my toes. But who would choose boring when they could have smart, inquisitive, and unique?

Happy Birthday, Jones!  Thank you for putting the "mama" in MCM Mama.

Finding my run

I'm beginning to feel like I've been struggling forever.  It's been almost a year since I started having issues with my ankle, but it feels a lot longer.  And I'm sure the fact that I haven't listened to my body is part of the reason I'm still struggling.

But, I'm feeling stronger.  The exercises the chiro gave me are working muscles that have been lazy for years.  I'm finding soreness in places that I haven't felt in ages.  I'm hopeful that my body will continue to improve each day.

Yesterday I went for a 2.5 mile run.  Why 2.5?  Because that's where I started feeling my upper calf.  It wasn't hurting, but the muscle was making itself known.  I've promised myself I won't push past these issues.  That I'll stop as soon as they come up.  So, I got in 2.5 miles at an easy pace with no pain. 

It's a start.  And every runner has to start somewhere.

Friday Five

1. Yesterday I saw my chiropractor again. I have a high pain tolerance. I've run two marathons and many long runs. I gave birth to Shoo without drugs. When the chiro pushed his thumb into my right hip flexor, I damn near screamed and thought I was going to pass out.  The stuff he did to my knee hurt nearly as badly.  Thank goodness it only lasts for a few minutes!

2.  Pictures are up from the run this past weekend:

Look, ma, no heel strike! And a smile.

Forgot the garmin, so had to look at the clock as I finished LOL.

3.  I got an awesome delivery in the mail.  Enough nuun for a year few days.

 

4.  Shoo has been really amusing me lately (when he's not driving me absolutely insane.)  Some recent gems:
"Mom, monkey farts smell like bananas."
"Why can't my cousin be my sister?"
"Who is the real Cornholio?"  (There's a LOT of backstory to that one.)
"Is that another earthquake?" (as he kicks the table with his foot).

5. Both boys have friends spending the night tonight.  This is either a genius move on my part or the.worst.idea.ever.  Ask me in the morning. ;o)

Have a great weekend and good luck to everyone racing!  I'm going to go for slow, short run to see if the pain being inflicted upon me is making running better.  ;o)

TTT: Boobs, beautiful weather, and new shoes

1.  In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, I got my "girls" squished for the first time.  (OK, really it was because I'm *ahem* 41 and finally got my act together.)  I'd heard all the horror stories of how much it hurt, etc, especially for those of us who are not well endowed.  As it turns out, I've done a lot more painful things in my life.  I would classify it as mildly uncomfortable.  (Of course, I've run two marathons and given birth without drugs, so my view of pain may be skewed. And after nursing two kids into their toddler years, the stretching and pulling was nothing'.)  So, if your time is approaching, just do it.  It's not a big deal.  /PSA

2.  October is my favorite month of the year.  It's a little crazy for us most years with soccer games, cub scouts, and both boys' birthdays as well as races (Army 10 Miler and MCM are this month), but the weather is generally amazing.  The leaves are turning, there's just enough cool in the air to make running awesome, and most of the tourists have gone home.  So, if you are looking for a good time to visit DC, this would be it!

3.  I finally need some new shoes.  Between the minimalist running and the reduced miles, my regular running shoes have not seen a lot of action this year.  In fact, I'm not sure I bought a new pair in 2011 prior to this last weekend.  Since I had a chance to stop at the Mecca of natural running,  I couldn't resist buying my new shoes there.  Please welcome my Newton's to the blog.  Aren't they purty?

Letting it go

In 6.5 weeks, a lot of really cool bloggers will be toeing the line at the Philadelphia Marathon/Half Marathon.

I won't be one of them.  I'll still be cool.  I just won't be there.

I've been in a nasty cycle of injury/running races that are too long for my training for about a year now.  It's time to stop the madness.  It has never been my goal to be fast.  It has always been my goal to still be running in my 80s.  That's a non-negotiable goal and I need to realize that it's time to focus on that long term goal and change my short term goals.

My new goals:

1. Heal.
2. Stay fit.

I'll be focusing on cardio at the gym, strengthening and stretching per my chiro's instructions, and eating healthy.  I will not run if it hurts and will listen to my body if I need to stop a run.  I will be short of 1000 miles this year and I will learn to be ok with that.  (I may even stop keeping track because it makes me feel "guilty". Yes, minds are strange things.)  I have no races on the calendar and I will not sign up for any races until I'm fully healed (this will be hard - I have no self control when it comes to races LOL).

Here's to 2012 being the year of no injury!

State #17: Wild and Wonderful West Virginia

Well, it was definitely wild.  And wet.

This past weekend I was in Shepherdstown, WV for the Chesapeake Watershed Forum.  Conveniently, Freedom's Run was the same weekend and they offered everything from a 5k to a full marathon.  After a full day of conference stuff, I headed over to packet pick up with my parents and managed to switch to the 5k.  (I'm attempting to have as few 5k's as my state races as possible, but I'm not in 10k shape.  Sad but true.)

Pre-race

Anyways, packet pickup was a breeze and I got to talk to one of the guys at Two Rivers Treads, which has the Center for Natural Running and Walking.  We spent some time discussing my injuries and he watched me run.  His verdict?  I run too hard.  So, in addition to all the stuff from the chiro, I'm going to try to focus on not plodding and instead running quick and light.

Race Day

Saturday morning, fall had arrived in a big way.  Friday was shorts and t-shirt weather.  Saturday was long pants, sweater and RAIN JACKET weather.  I put on a random combination of the clothes I had with me and donned a baseball cap.  I opted to leave my phone with Beer Geek (foreshadowing!) and realized when I hit the start line that I'd forgotten my Garmin.  Sigh.  We walked over to the start, hit the porta potty (no lines at all!!!), and it was time.

The Race

I started at the back of the pack with my mom.  I wanted to be forced to start slow.  And I did.  While I don't know my exact pace, I made sure I ran at what felt like my long run pace - slow and easy.  We had a wide path/road for the first mile, so while I passed tons of people in that part, I never felt like I had to do a lot of weaving.  I hit the halfway turnaround feeling like I was just out for a casual jog.  My achilles was fine, but my knee was hurting and the mist turned into a real rain.  I decided to pick it up a little and just get it over with.  I would have negative split the race, but we had to run up a winding ramp back up to the road off of the C&O canal.  I was wet, cold, and crabby, so I ended up walking some of that.  (Doesn't matter how your body feels when your brain decides to give up.)  I did sprint at the very end, but all in all, it was not an impressive race for me, in large part because I chose not to push myself.

The Good:

• It was well organized.
• The course, while challenging, was nice.
• WV is done.
• The Swag:

The Bad

• The patheticness of my actual run
• Never warming up the entire rest of the weekend (I swear I shivered for the next 48 hours)
• Getting turned around on my walk back to the hotel, so I got to walk an extra half mile.  In the cold. And the rain. And Beer Geek had my phone.

Glad I got it done, but this certainly won't win the award for best race in my 50 states quest.