I'm BAAAAACK!

Long time no blogging. Honestly, I hate blogging from my iPad and our laptop is painfully slow and the screen is all jacked up. Michael and I toyed around with buying a new laptop, but then we decided that we do have a perfectly good Mac Mini that was hooked to our living room tv. We rarely used it. I didn't like sitting on the couch and blogging with the tiny wireless keyboard while looking at the huge screen....Im just picky....

Anyway, we got a little 19" tv to use as a monitor and set me up a little computer area in James's room....which is now Joseph's room. Yes, we switched their rooms in the process. Joseph LOVES his new bigger room. They are playing fairly peacefully now while I type.

So, where to begin....

This winter is about to kill me. I hate it. I hate snow. I hate ice. I generally hate cold. I don't find snow days fun. I don't want to sled. I have managed to get some runs in. However, I started having some weird lower leg pain last week. My trainer urged me to see my doctor...who I hate (the doctor, not my trainer...she's fabulous). So I went to the doc and he said it was just muscle strain and to take a week off from running and doing anything that aggravates it. That was easy to do since I came down with a stomach bug this weekend and couldn't do much of anything. Seriously, I wanted to die. I still don't believe that it's just muscle strain....but I hope I'm wrong as that is the easiest fix.

The boys are good. Life is crazy. I try to stay busy.....sometimes too busy. I will attempt a couple of miles running tomorrow...hoping to be pain free.

It's good to be back. I look forward to blogging more. I will be getting my pics all organized soon so I can post with pictures. Time to put the wee one down for nap!

Iron Horse Half Marathon 2013

Horses running to meet the runners. Beautiful! (Photo by Mike Zimmerman)

This past Sunday I ran the Iron Horse Half Marathon in Midway, KY. I have heard about this race for a few years now. At first, I was in the "I can't ever see myself running that far" camp. Then at the end of 2011, I decided that running the Iron Horse would be my goal for 2012. BUT...I found out I was pregnant the day after Christmas and that was out. YES, I know you can run while pregnant....YES, I know it's "POSSIBLE" to be half marathon ready 6 weeks post partum.....for some people....but not for me. I won't go into details of what happened when I tried to run when pregnant with Joseph....let's just move on.

Anyway, this year was the year. I registered the day registration opened. For 3 reasons:

1) Entry fees are the cheapest

2) The race ALWAYS sells out...usually 2 months before the race.

3) If I spend the money on something, I'm dang sure going to be ready.

I had wanted the Iron Horse to be my first half. However, my friend Katie talked me into running the Nashville Women's Half Marathon a couple of weeks earlier. Hopefully, I will recap that one soon. So this was my 2nd half. I was more scared because of running the other one, actually. I really fell apart at mile 11 in the last one. BUT, it was a good learning experience. This time I was better prepared.

Michael and I went to the UK vs Alabama football game the night before and didn't get home until after 11. Then I had to get everything ready for the next morning. After that, I had trouble going to sleep. Luckily, for the first time, James slept through the night. He ALWAYS wakes up a bunch the night before I have a long run or a race. I got up at 6, grabbed a banana and a zip fizz and was out the door.

I was worried about parking since Midway is a very small town and there would be 1500 runners coming. I got there really early though and had no trouble parking. Then it was just a bunch of waiting around.

The weather was cool and it was a beautiful day. I really couldn't have asked for better. I felt good. I took a GU about 20 minutes before the race and was ready to go. 

The course was hilly but beautiful. There were plenty of water/sports drink stations. My goal was to run the first 8 miles. The worst of the hills (in my opinion) were in the first half of the race. I felt good though and took another GU a little after mile 5. I passed by the 8 mile sign still feeling ok. So I continued on. However, the hill from mile 8 to almost 10 was relentless and I walked for the first time a little before mile 9. I accidentally paused my MapMyRun app somewhere between 10 and 11. Grr. So I just started checking my clock at each mile to see how I was doing. At mile 11, it was 10:20 so I was at 2:20 gun time. I wanted to beat my previous time of 2:57 so I knew I had 37 minutes to go 2.1 miles to tie it. I could do that walking....and I wasn't planning on doing much walking. I trudged on and enjoyed the nice downhill from mile 11 on. I honestly didn't feel terribly tired until about 12.5 miles. Then my hip started hurting. But the turn to the finish was in sight and that kept me going. Then I saw my boys close to the mile 13 marker. They all gave me high fives and I had the pep to run strong to the finish. The clock said 2:48ish, but my chip time was 2:46:34!!! That is about 11 minutes faster! I love a PR!

 I got my medal (love some bling) and grabbed some food.....I was starving! Joseph loved playing on the caboose that was downtown and James was scoping out people who had ice cream.

 I loved this race. It is very well run. The volunteers are amazing. The course is beautiful and there is plenty of after race snacks and drinks. I will definitely be doing this race again. Michael even said he might do it with me next year.

I LOVED this sign! (Photo by Ruby Cline-Eaton)

A Farewell to Smokey

 

I've sat down numerous times to type this blog entry. I gave up each time when I couldn't seem to find the words. How do you say goodbye to a dog? A dog that was like a furry child to me. I still don't know, but I'm going to try.

We adopted Smokey 2 years ago. He was 7 months old and every bit a puppy. He was not always a good dog. We went through the normal puppy things like chewing, accidents, etc. There were many times I just wanted to take him back to the Kentucky Humane Society, but I made the commitment to Smokey and I do not take that lightly. Like I said, my dogs are like children to me...and you can't just "give them back."

In the past few months, Smokey had gotten so much better. He was good about telling you when he wanted to go outside, reminding you that it was time to eat, and he didn't stray too far from us....unless he was after a squirrel....or a cat....or basically any small creature. He was a tremendous running buddy. I never felt unsafe when I was running with my Smoke Dog. He would take down other dogs and I'm sure he would go after shady people too, but I haven't had any problems. In fact, Smokey could care less about other people....and generally didn't care if people were walking in front of our house...but there were times he would go ballistic about people around our house. And I would get kind of a weird feeling about them too. I think Smokey was a good judge of character. I don't think dogs "profile."

He really was a good dog.

That all ended this past weekend while we were in Tennessee for a visit. I had gone in the house to give James a bath and put him to bed. I let Smokey and Shelby out to do their business. It was dark and Michael was working on the horse trailer at my parents' house across the road. So, naturally, the dogs went over there. I was going to let them back in once I got James out of the bath, but before I got done with him, I heard very loud, very hectic barking...not Smokey's normal bark. I went to go let them in and saw Michael laying Smokey down on the carport. He said he had been hit by a truck. I got a phone and started calling our vet's emergency number, but Smokey was gone before I could get a hold of the on call vet. The truck was probably going 60 mph in front of the house...way too fast. And they didn't even stop. I think it's common courtesy to stop. You don't hit a 35 lb dog and not know something happened. But that's neither here nor there. 

We buried Smokey out back next to Chloe. I still can't believe he's gone.

He was very close with Joseph and it was very hard to explain it to him. I have always been very straight forward when it comes to death. He cried a bit. I don't know that he fully gets that Smokey isn't coming back. He has spent this week in Tennessee so I don't know where he is on the situation. I wasn't much older than him when our family dog, Belle, had to be put down. I remember it being hard, but I handled it ok. I sometimes think we don't give kids enough credit.

Shelby seems to be doing fine with it. We are having trouble getting him to eat just like we did before we got Smokey. He doesn't do as well running either without Smokey to pull him along.

I will miss Smokey. I have cried over him even when I thought I was done crying. I cried when I put up his crate and vacuumed all his hair up. I cried when I washed his bed. I cried when I read an article about a dog running a half marathon by himself. I cried when I took Shelby for a walk and realized it was the first time in 2 years that I have only walked one dog. I cried when someone emailed me a listing for a dog that needed to be adopted (WHO DOES THAT?! I'm in mourning...I don't want another dog just yet....I'll get one later, but I need some time). And I am crying now as I write this.

I'm going to leave this with some pictures of Smokey....I don't have many....he was very camera shy.

Relaxation

Beautiful sunset view from the back porch

One of my best friends, Joanie, is turning 29 again this week and since she will be on a cruise during her birthday and can't be bothered to party with me, I threw her a little birthday party at Kentucky Lake last weekend. My Aunt was awesome enough to let us borrow her house on the lake. It is an amazing place to stay. Perfection. It was a small group of Joanie, our friend April, Joanie's sister in law, and me. I had looked into renting a boat, but they were too pricey for me. Maybe next year. We had an awesome time relaxing, eating good food, swimming off the dock, having a few cocktails, reminiscing and making new memories. Hopefully we can make it an annual trip. Thanks to April for the pics!

Joanie was worried about drowning....

Loving the hammock

Joanie and I.....love this girl!

I said we had some good food while we were there. Calories didn't count this weekend. Here's what I made:

Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta

Crack Rolls (I generally don't like food with the work "crack" in the name, but these were amazing)

Fudge Pie

Flirtinis

I really didn't want to leave. But I had to get back to my boys. If you want to see what they were up to while I was gone, check out my mom's blog!

Mercer County Run for the Pets 15K

Yesterday I ran the Mercer County Run for the Pets 15K in Harrodsburg, KY.  It is my longest race to date. I had seen the course route info earlier in the week and it made me very nervous. It was super hilly. I'm weird...I like hills...to a fault. I don't like 9.3 miles of relentless hills. I was really excited that 2 of my friends were going to ride with me to the race. I ran it with my friend, Katie. She is quite a bit faster than me and I was really worried about holding her back. She said it was fine though, so we did stick together. I ran my first mile in less than 11 minutes. My normal distance pace is 12:30 to 12:45. I knew I was going faster because my shins and calves were really starting to be felt early. Coming out that fast in the beginning probably did hurt me some, but in the end, it was just a really difficult course....and over 2 miles more than my longest run prior. I finished in 2:01:30 (I think that's what the clock said). I had really wanted to finish in 2 hours or less, but I really crapped out on that last mile and a half. My Map My Run app didn't save my run, either...GRRRR! The race was beautiful though and the other runners were so friendly and supportive. Runners tend to be really nice, but these took it to another level. I will definitely be doing this run again.

Be sure to check out Katie's blog for great pics of us!

My legs were super tight the rest of the day, and I was really sore this morning. I actually felt hungover all day yesterday. I got home and didn't really get too much of a chance to rest and recharge. I'm feeling much more normal now.

We will be out of town next week for one of my best friend's birthday party, so no race next weekend. I think the next one I've got on tap is the Mill Creek Run on September 14. I'm hoping Michael can do it as well. I know he's been itching to see if he can get a below 30 minute official 5K. I'm thinking of doing the CASA Superhero 5K on September 21st and then I have my first ever 1/2 marathon in Nashville on September 28th!!!

Manic Sunday?

Sundays are my least favorite day of the week. With the exception of being at church, it's just a stressful day for me.  There's the hustle and bustle of getting 2 small boys ready for church and trying to make myself presentable as well. And while I'm happy to not have to prepare lunch, dining at a restaurant can turn into a lot of: "Joseph, get out of the floor." "Joseph, sit up, please." "Joseph, eat your food!" "James, get your hands out of the beans!"

It can be exhausting.

Then we get home and I usually have housework piled out the wazoo. It's enough to make me want to just sit in a corner and cry.

Today was not so bad though. I ended up taking the boys to Luci Lou's for some froyo. Joseph picked pink lemonade sorbet topped with fruit loops, these pink pop rocks type candies, liquid filled little balls in green and purple....basically any candy that was colorful....and cherries. He was so funny...he kept eating and saying, "This is really really good, mama!"

James had peanut butter. I may or may not have had a few bites.

After that, we went over to my Father in Law's house to pick up my stuff that did not sell in there yard sale yesterday....which was most all of it. I made a whopping $9. I sat outside with them and let the boys play for a while. Then Joseph wanted to go home and watch Mega Mind. So off we went. On the way, I stopped at Staxx, spent my $9 and bought some pulled pork for supper. We got home and I realized that this was the best Sunday I've had in quite a while. I still have lots of housework to do, but it was nice to step back and spend some time with my little ones while not worrying about what needs to be done.

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day! We don't have any plans. I'll be cleaning. 

Happy Birthday, JAMES!!!

 One year ago today, we welcomed our sweet little James into our lives. Life has gotten much harder, but I wouldn't trade him for anything.

Some of James' favorite things:
FOOD!!!
Water
Mud
Daysie
Any toys with wheels
Balls

He's not walking yet, but it won't be long. Joseph will really be in trouble once James starts walking.

My big boy!

I will be taking some 12 month pics of James next week one day while Joseph is at school. He's so photogenic, I know they will be great!

Our plans for the day include going to the Mexican restaurant for a birthday dinner and then having CUPCAKES!!! Yum! Joseph didn't like cupcakes on his first birthday, but I know James will dig right in!
So Excited!