The Official Unofficial Diagnosis

Because stress fractures don't typically show up on an x-ray, and because I can't justify paying 1000.00 for an MRI, I am going to rely on my wonderful doctor's opinion that I am indeed dealing with a hip stress fracture.

It looks like the role of JD will now be played by me... at least for 6 to 8 weeks. San Antonio is out. Sunmart is questionable, Rocky, probable, but not 100 miles. TIR is safe, baring any more unforseen difficulties.

I'm ok with this. I figure I need to learn to train smarter and this will certainly show me how.

In the end, this is about being healthy to be there for my family. Now I just get to spend some more time with them and try more bike riding and maybe even swimming (e-gads!)

Here's who I'll be spending more time with....



And these will be waiting for me, oh so patiently, in their box, in my closet...gently calling my name...



aren't they purty???

Ready for September to end

We started the month with the dreaded 7 day stomach virus of our two-year old, followed by a visit from Hurricane Ike. As soon as the debris was cleared, well actually, the debris has yet to be cleared, the power has yet to be restored to many of our friends, we packed up and headed for our trip to Colorado.

While we have been in Colorado, my dear husband has developed a very scary condition, HAPE. While he is okay now, it was a very scary experience and until we leave, he must use oxygen. (the embarrassing pictures will follow...)


We did make it to Garden of the Gods and Pike's Peak yesterday. It was beautiful and exciting, minus the treacherous driving of my beloved brother-in-law who seems to think that because he can drive well in Grand Turismo, this translates over into the real world.

At the top of Pike's Peak, I was able to take in the site that Katherine Lee Bates did before she was inspired to write America the Beautiful.
.

I had to pause and wonder if anyone in Washington even cares about America anymore. Or are we just an opportunity for the corrupt politicians to become wealthier and more corrupt leaving the good people behind to deal with their messes.

We, as a country, are more concerned with who is left on the island, who is in the semi-finals of American Idol, or who is going to dance themselves to a trophy on Dancing with the Stars. How much do we know about what is destined to be the possible end of our economic freedom as we have known it?

I don't pretend to have the answers or even to understand it all, but I do get that this is serious. When lawmakers agree to work through a weekend, it is serious.

We need leadership in a big way. Instead of telling us about the change you are going to impart, why not show us? Why not show us that you care enough to have a say in the very issue that will be first on your plate when you take office? Let's stop pointing fingers and start working together, please!

Obviously, I am not running, so I have lots of time to let things stir in my mind. Too much. I have an appointment on Monday to find out what is going on with my hip. I think it may be a stress fracture.

Now I need to go figure out if I have any money left in my Washington Mutual account...

Photo Essay

A few photos from today.



We are staying at a lumberjack's abode!





Yes, this is a stuffed, fake moose.



Boo and I



From the back porch


Playing in the woods! Foo, my 13 year old, is officially taller than me!

We Survived - part 2

As you all know, we survived Ike and now I can report that we have survived the 22 hour journey to Copper Mountain, Colorado. 5 kids, 2 adults, not much sleep, yucky food, but we had a great time getting here! The only drawback was the excessive gas problem two of the boys had... Bean was not very happy about that as she was stuck sitting next to them!

Lem took great care of Boo and Fish for most of the journey. She is such a great helper. Actually, all of the kids were fantastic. Boo sat in his seat for almost 10 hours straight yesterday without one complaint.

The house we are staying in is incredibly beautiful. I will post pictures later, but for now, take my word for it. Breathtaking views of the Rockies out the windows, dirt trails to run on out the back door.

Now about the running. This is my 3rd trip to Colorado in 2 years. The past two times I came, there was no time to run as I was in seminars all day and had an injury that prevented my from really getting out there. I had high hopes of running lots while here this time.

I've been battling lots of hip pain for several weeks now. I finally got the spasms in my psoas muscle worked out and now realized that it isn't just muscular. I believe I may have a hip stress fracture. I am trying to be in denial about this. But typing it here will serve to remind me that I need to listen to my body and rest the hip to see if it gets better. The consequences of not doing so are great. I haven't run since Tuesday and the hip doesn't feel much better. I am taking 1500 mg of calcium to help heal the fracture if it is indeed there.

If I feel like I can run later this week, that is, if I have no hip pain, I will run. If the pain comes back, I'll know that there really is a problem and will investigate it further once I get home.

I had many goals for this running season and it looks like they may be squashed. If that is the case, I'll accept it and spend some time reading and listening to what His will is right now. I vascillate between acceptance and frustration, but I need to count my blessings. There are too many to name, too many to count.

Running is something I enjoy, but I fear I may have let it become something that I am and that is not good. Perhaps this bump in the road will serve a higher purpose.

As a side note, I have a fake Moose head hanging over my bed... yes, pictures will follow...

We survived!

We just got the internet back and I have much I'd like to share about the past few days, but for now, just a quick update to let you all know that we are okay.

We had minor damage compared to others around town. We are grateful to have power back, especially after only 4 days. We were expecting 2 - 4 weeks.

I'll post pictures and more thoughts later. Right now, we are packing to head out on our family retreat.

Hurricane Check In

After hearing that some of our family was coming to stay with us to ride out the storm, I made a mad dash to the bedrooms and bathrooms to get them in order. With as much running and working as I have been doing, dusting hasn't been high on the priority list.

We are also taking full advantage of this time at home to catch up on laundry. It's truly amazing how much of the stuff our home creates. We wash clothes every single day. I mean, every single day. And yet, we still managed to get in about 6 loads today and I still have 3 more to go. This is all of our towels, all of our sheets, shower curtains, rugs, etc.

I think we have most things secured. I guess we'll know how well it was secured soon enough. I didn't take down the trampoline. We used our bike locks to chain it to a pretty large tree. My theory is that if that tree goes, our house is toast anyway, so the extra trampoline in my kitchen won't make a big difference.

I was even able to get a nice 10 miles in today. My hip has been really giving me trouble. The psoas muscle to be exact. I've done the chiropractor, massages, advil, rest, and nothing was helping. I finally looked up Julie Donnely's number and made an appointment to see her. It was scheduled for today, so unfortunately it got canceled. I did download her ebook, however, and was able to carry out the stretches on my own. I was shocked at how easy yet how effective these stretches are! I highly recommend getting a copy of her book, Pain-free living. It's worth every cent.

My psoas started spasming again after the run. I did the stretches, and it feel fine now. I am sure I'll be having to do this for a while, but just having that kind of control over my own pain and health is very empowering!

Now we are settling in for a long, bumpy night. We have the 5 kids, Mark and I, and my Mother in Law (who is folding all of my laundry!!) and her sister. My father in law is staying in Spring for now. His brother in law, Ted, drew his last breath this evening. He had been very ill with cancer and now, he is resting in the arms of Our Lord.

May you all be safe tonight and tomorrow.

Out of one storm, heading into another

It looks like we are heading out of the storm of the stomach virus and straight into the path of another pain in the butt, Ike.

Boo is looking better, though his poor backside is still reeling from it all, it seems the worst is over. Unfortunately, Fish is headed down the same track. Good news, he doesn't wear diapers! Plenty of Cottonelle on hand though.

Speaking of Cottonelle, good luck trying to find any right now. It's flown off the shelves of the stores along with water, bread, and other necessities required in the aftermath of a hurricane. And why is it that the lemmings seem to ingest way too much of the stupid pill before heading out to prepare for the dreaded storm.

I swear, the most dangerous part of the storm occurs way before the thing ever makes landfall. Rather, it is most deadly when the Land Rovers, the Land Cruisers, and other Land Yachts decide to make their projected tracks to the local markets, running over anything in their paths, leaving no stone unturned, no stop light paused at, no grocery clerk left verbally un-assualted! I just want to bring along my megaphone and shout out,

BREATHE, PEOPLE, BREATHE!!!

We are staying put for the storm. No sense in getting out in the traffic and going nowhere fast.

If you are unsure of what to have on hand to prepare for Ike, check our Mr. JD's blog. He's got your back...

On to more important issues, today is Patriot Day, certainly not to be confused with Patriots' Day, which is what I grew up with in Massachusetts.

I pray that all the families truly feel the support of our nation behind them today and everyday, that our troops know how much they are appreciated and admired, and that those who hate America understand that we will never forget!

32 diaper changes and climbing

32 diaper changes, best we can remember. The hours between 2 and 5 am this morning are a bit foggy.

Stomach bugs stink. Literally and figuratively. Boo has learned two 5-word sentences though...

"Mommy, NO MORE DIAPER CHANGES!!!"

and

"Daddy, NO MORE DIAPER CHANGES!!!"

He also know say with great ease...

"Me no like it!"
"Oh, no! Poopie again!!"

I'd say he is very advanced for his 35 months of age...

I am off to the ol' chiropractor. I've had enough of this resting business. I wish I could get a chiropractor to go. Do they even offer that? I mean how hard can it be to figure out how to put my child-bearing hips back into place??

And has anyone see the special on Fox News about Sarah Palin?? She is quite the go-getter! She was back in office 1 day after giving birth to her daughter, Piper, and 3 days after her son, Twig. Normally, that type of woman would drive me crazy. She makes me look bad! I like to take my first 6 years, er I mean 6 weeks, post-partum period very seriously. No driving, no activities out of the house. I know once I start back up again, all bets are off and I am on my own.

Seriously, the woman has some drive. She has even run a sub-4 hour marathon. Not that this guarantees my vote, but it is an admirable quality. And one I hope to attain someday.

Off to the chiro. For the sake of my family, it better work.

Thanks to JD for the Petty Mix. I have some new tunes to download for our trip coming up in a few weeks to Colorado!

Another mileless day

We were up most of the night with a sick little Boo. He appears to have a stomach bug. Several diaper changes since early this morning, (up to 8 so far today!)

I'm sure there is a reason I am not supposed to be running right now, but I want to understand one thing. Why is it when I add an extra day or two of training in, it doesn't seem to make a difference, yet when I miss a day or two, or three, it seems devasting...

I know there are much bigger problems out there, so I can't allow myself to feel too bad about this.

Are you kidding me??

I walked out the door this morning and actually said, "Brrrrr!" The cruel joke for me today was the decision to not run and instead ride the bike for the planned 18 miles.

My hip and calf have been uncooperative this week. Not sure if it is the new shoes, the higher mileage, the faster pace, or the slope of the shoulder last weekend. Most likely it is a combination of all of these things, but trying to figure out the worst culprits may take some time.

I hope to run some trails tomorrow, in a neutral shoe, at a slower pace. If the hip holds up.

Fall is in the air! I pray it's here to stay, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this is just "teaser" weather.

It was nice to ride this morning, but I would much rather have been hitting the road with my own two feet.

Another sign fall is here... Starbucks is now serving Spiced Pumpkin Lattes!! Woo Hoo! The only time of the year I step foot into Starbucks. It's worth the wait!!

I had a chance to meet Christy, today! What a sweet lady! Hopefully we can meet again at another run where I am actually running...

Labor Day Run

A nice night for a run with a few friends... I wasn't lucky enough to see the Bigfoots running around the Woods.

A little humid, but Gustav provided a nice breeze to cool us a bit.

A bit of a tempo run...

Total Miles: 4.92 Total Time: 46:50 Avg Pace: 9:31 Avg HR: 166

Mile 1: 9:16
Mile 2: 9:34
Mile 3: 9:08
Mile 4: 10:49 (walk break)
Mile 5: 8:44