What doesn't kill you...

Makes you stronger.  The Kelly Clarkson song Stronger, while is not about being this kind of strong, fits completely. " What doesn't kill you makes you stronger/ Stand a little taller/ Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone/ What doesn't kill you makes you fighter" So, today, 2 days later I am finally feeling the affects of the steps.  I am not complaining, it actually feels good to know that something is working on making me a better, stronger runner.   I found this picture today, and thought it was perfect..

http://www.positivequotes.us/

I will have to remember that when I hit the steps again next week.  I know that these steps will help me in the long run and while I was disappointed I couldn't run all of the steps 10 times, I did take that first step and I did run them 10 times. That is huge for me. And crazy me, is looking forward to doing it again next week. I had every intention of going to the gym this morning, but Makayla had other plans. I went to kiss her goodbye and she said "Hi, Mommy!" She wanted nothing to do with me leaving so instead I just held her and we nuzzled and hung out. I made breakfast, she wanted breakfast. She wanted my cereal with milk, so I gave her cereal with milk.  I have to say, I really enjoyed the time we got to spend together this morning even though it meant I didn't get to go to the gym. I am sure there are going to be days when she wants nothing to do with me, so I will hold onto these moments forever.  While I am hoping the pain in my calves is only temporary, since I have a 5K tomorrow. It is the Quiet Valley Rooster Run. From what I read, it is mixed terrain and cross country. I have no idea what to expect tomorrow, but with a name like Quiet Valley Rooster Run, it has to be fun right. Stick around tomorrow, I will sure to tell you all about it.

Speaking of tomorrow, my sister J and her family is coming in from Chicago tonight, er um tomorrow for the weekend. I am finally going to meet my month old nephew for the first time. I am sure the kids are going to be up to no good, and I cannot wait! Have a great Friday!

Today...

Was the start of something beautiful. I went for a run and it felt great! It was only 2 miles, as I know I have to take it easy to get myself back into shape and ease my muscles back into running again. But I did it.

And then I found this, and remembered why I started. This sign was perfect, and wish I knew a website where I could make this sign a real sign.
But, I am going to go, I need to get some sleep...430 will come way too soon.
Happy Thursday

Running

I am slowly returning to the running world. I ran 5 miles pain free on Sat, and I only have 2 more scheduled visits of physical therapy. Hopefully things are still healing well, I miss running. I will have to figure out how to run before work, although right now getting up at 430 is really early. Looks like it is heating up quickly and running in the afternoon is starting to get not safe.  When I go to my 10 hour shifts, looks like I will be utilizing the jogging stroller, I just hope Makayla enjoys it as well. I will be taking my bike to get serviced, hopefully this weekend, so I can start training for a triathlon. But back to running. Remember when I won the contest to have a professional run any race with me (she ran my half with  me), well part of the requirements were that I was to get friends to run.   Well, since my half, I have introduced running to 2 friends, one of which I believe I got addicted. ;) She loves it so much, she is even already planning a 10K race, and talked about running a half with me. I am currently cheering on 2 more friends who are getting ready to run their first 5Ks and I have another acquaintance, whom I just met, who wants to run 5 miles with me on Sat so she can see how it goes and decide if she wants to run a half with me.  I am humbled by the people who tell me that I inspire them, I just have to find that spark again in me. I am missing running, it is hard to not run, but I also know that I need to do this slowly in order to stay healthy and be able to accomplish all the things on my bucket list for this year. I love how running makes me feel, and right now I am missing those feelings, but I know that as soon as I am cleared to, I will be running at least 3 days a week and that those feelings will get better and I will start too see the weight loss kick back in.  I also have to make sure that while it is awesome to introduce all of these people to running, that I start to push myself, I NEED to get stronger...I have a time goal I need to beat for my next half.

Happy Wednesday! I hope every one has a great hump day!

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day. It is my second mother's day, and actually, being blessed with Makayla really truly makes every day feel like Mother's Day. This year, I did something special. I ran in a race called The Monarch 5K Run and Walk. It was in honor of a sweet child, that I did not know, who drowned in his family's swimming pool. There was a large turnout, and it was very emotional for me seeing the child's family there, in matching shirts, on the back telling you who they were to that sweet boy. Anyway, the race was a challenge, and my time not the greatest, but the cause was reason enough to do it. I hope they do it every year, I just hope they change the course next year!  Hopefully this will be a tradition to do every year, what a way to celebrate motherhood than by running, it is after all the reason I started running.

If I can be so bold, I have the best mother in the world.  I hope to be a fraction of the mother to Makayla that she has been and is to me. If I can achieve that, then I know I am doing something right. She always tells me that there is no other love like the love of a child, and she is absolutely correct. I am glad she tells me that every now and then, because, quite frankly, we all need to hear that. So mom, on this Mother's Day, I hope you know how much you mean to me.  You have helped me grow into a beautiful person, woman, wife, and mother, and while I know the road before me will not always be easy, I know I have you by my side no matter what. I love you today, tomorrow and always.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

What did you do today? What traditions do you have?

Reflections...

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday. 32 years ago my mom was preparing to give birth to her third child, her second in a little over a year. Here I am 2 days before I give birth to my first child. While yesterday was a sweet day, lunch with my folks at the local casino, then shopping the local TJ Maxx Homegoods Store. We finished off the day with some time with my grandparents. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, it was just another day, and for that I am thankful. Last night the hubs and I made our "delivery favors." It was something I always imagined doing, it just always depended on the time of year our sweet babes would be born. I will take pictures and post them after she is here. I have realized this morning that there are several reasons why I am keeping myself so busy. It is not only because I want to save all of my time off for when the babes gets here. I am petrified. Scared. Anxious. Nervous. You pick the adjective, and I am sure I can tell you how I am feeling that way. Petrified- yes, of the whole birthing process. Scared, I wasn't scared until the hubs asked us what happens if she doesn't like us. I know it is crazy, but that is in the back of my mind now. Anxious to meet her, anxious to see what kind of mom I am going to be. Nervous...the whole process makes me nervous. Don't get me wrong, I am excited beyond belief, but at the same time, nervous. While I am ok with working at a hospital, I don't like being in one. First I have to get an IV, then they are going to give me some medication that might stress out the baby. What if that happens?! What if something goes wrong? What if I labor all day?! Then, they are going to put a foley catheter in me, but not for peeing this time. (Well, maybe there will be one for that too) I asked a cousin who is a labor and delivery nurse and said that they will fill the balloon in the foley to massage the cervix to make it dilate. The whole idea perplexes me. Perplexes me to the point that I need to go to confession. It's not a matter of want anymore. It is a NEED. I need to go and confess my sins so that God will watch over us both on Tuesday and keep us both safe and healthy. Yes, I know that women have been doing this for thousands of years, and I am sure that after she comes I can look back on this post and see how crazy I am being. In the meantime, I will keep myself busy. I will go to work on Mon, then the doctors, then have and early dinner and take a nap. Then, wake up and head to the hospital to welcome the birth of the babes. Please, keep us in your prayers this week. Thanks!

Have you ever

Eaten so much food that it gave you the hiccups?
Had the hiccups so bad it made you gag?
Gag so much it made you puke?
No, you haven't I have. And.it.is.not fun!