Chug-along-chica!

The last couple of days I have walked a mile for exercise.  My dear ol' ankle ends up just a teensy bit sore by the end, but every day it is a little better.   I'm also doing a couple of exercises that the doctor recommended for strengthening the ankle.

You guys wanna know something fun?  I have a hobby/obsession with at-home pregnancy tests.  I've taken...hmmm...probably hundreds over the course of my marriage.   I always feel like such a little scientist looking at the line slowly appearing--staring so hard that I can *almost* see a second line.  It's fun.  And rewarding, er...  OK, it is a complete waste of time, but for the most part harmless.  Anyway, for the past year and a half I have become increasingly annoyed at all these pregnancy tests that always come back negative.  Only one line.  Ever.  But just over a week ago, I finally convinced one to give me the result I wanted: TWO lines!   So, I am not quite at the point where I am announcing that I am pregnant.  When you tell people that you are pregnant, you are basically saying that you fully expect to have a sweet little baby in your arms in 7 or so more months.  That's not where I'm at.  I really shouldn't even say ANYTHING for several more weeks, but DAH!  Who can wait several weeks with news like this?  I am almost ready to burst from not telling and it has only been, count 'em, 8 days!  (But they were quality days...)

Anyway, at this point many people don't tell others because of the possibility that things won't work out.  That's why I'm NOT telling you guys that I'm pregnant.  But...is there anyone out there who would like to help me celebrate TWO LINE DAY!?!

I ran a mile today!  YAY!  There is such a HUGE diference between one and zero.  Think about it, one kid, versus zero kids.  That's a big difference.  One hubby versus zero, one language, one day of rest, one sport you participate in, one reason  to vote etc. etc.  So one mile can look pretty little on a runner's blog like this, but it is just a beginning.  It's a comeback!!!  from the world's most ridiculous and pointless ankle sprain (meaning, of course, I don't even have a cool story to tell about the ordeal).  I felt great on this little run, and I can't wait to get out there again on Monday.   I think next year I should sprain my ankle in June, and come back in Sept. when it begins to broil less.  I feel so fresh and excited about running through this...er, these next 7-8 months (avoiding the "p" word still).

My oldest son Samuel was baptized today.  He looked like such a little angel in his little white jumpsuit, and he was so happy!  Every time I looked at him he was giving someone a big hug.  This is one of the biggest days in his life, and probably the most important, other than possibly the day he gets married.  

What really made it special was having James' parents come all the way from North Carolina.   His Dad gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, and his Mom sang a beautiful duet with James.  I played the piano for the whole thing (there were 4 kids getting baptized).  Now do a quick calculation and figure out how many adults that leaves in the pews to guard, I mean, take care of my 6 year-old and my 3 year-old.  Zip.  That is how my 3 year-old ended up on the stand, wandering around during the songs.  But overall, it was just such a sweet experience for me and my family.

In other news, I had an ultrasound yesterday.  Everything looked completely normal and healthy--sac, placenta, yolk sac, except for this tiny little detail that they couldn't find the baby.  I measured 6 weeks 4 days.  Usually they can see the embryo and the beating heart at that stage.  The doctor said we'll check again in 2 weeks, in the meantime don't worry, it's probably just too early.   Hmmmm.  Why is it that as soon as a doctor tells you not to worry, it is about the only thing you can do?  Probably because I am a stinker.  Not the most obedient patient here!  (I've already planned out how I'm going to flee the scene the next time they try to draw my blood.  That phlebotamist must be at least 60--she probably won't be able to catch me if I make a run for it.  The only reason she got me last time was because the nurse headed me off.)  Happy Saturday, all!

Oh, and I've been poking around on the blog a little bit today.  Man oh man, I am really feeling for Lucia (Argentine Rocket) and Walter (Wall-E), and the rest of you injured bloggers.  Get well soon!

Man oh man, this was the first time I've run with Sam in quite a while.  That little dude is WAY to inclined to nearly kill of his momma with sudden surges.  I naturally feel that I should keep even with him, since he is knee-high to a chipmunk, and we run on a road.  Visibility, you know.  But geez!  If we are running 10:30 pace, it actually means we are running 11:15 pace, with some bursts of 8:30 pace thrown in there.  One unexpected benefit is that I was feeling quite nauseated before the run, and though I was certain I'd have to ralf at some point during the run (I didn't) I had ABSOLUTELY NO trace of nausea after and for the rest of the day!  That is a miracle.  Is running a remedy for morning sickness?  

My adorable parents-in-law left today, but not before my beloved mother-in-law, Sandy, took me shopping.  She is always trying to help me get a clue where fashion is concerned.  So today she bought me a Ralph Lauren sweater to wear to church (which is ALWAYS freezing--even in the summer!  The air conditioner is set to actic temperatures.).   She gives me clothes as often as she can, and they always look great and fit perfectly.  I am more likely to love something SHE picks out than something I find.  How in the world does THAT happen?  I don't know.  She is a shopping goddess, I guess.  She informs me that I am drawn to whatever clothes make me look most pregnant, or like a little old lady.  She tries to steer me in the right direction, but I am a slow study.  She, on the other hand, will never age.  That woman looks 20 years younger than her real age.   I really love hanging out with her, although she can out-shop me by about 8 hours--she is like the energizer bunny in high-heeled sandals!   Do NOT attempt to go to a large mall with her unless you have been training for at least a year.   Start by walking a mall for an hour a day and work up to 4 hours gradually.

1 mile on the treadmill and 1.5 with my little boy.  I had no problem keeping up with him today.  He woke up with a cramp in his leg and it bothered him the whole run.  Growing pains?  I hope so, that little guy needs to GROW! 

Are growing pains real?  Does it indicate rapid growth?  One can always hope...  I feel a little bad cursing my kids with my stunted genes.  It doesn't matter as much with girls, at least I never cared that I was short, but I do think it is a little harder on the little boys.

Oh man!  This little tiny run with my young son just about killed me.   He took off like a rocket today, and I was continually trying to slow him down.   he kept drifting toward 9:30 pace, and I wanted to just go 12:00 pace or slower.  I am feeling pretty sick today.  I'm not sure if I am really sick or if it is all just morning sickness, but it took quite an effort just to get out the door.  But my son was bursting with energy this morning.  He saw a butterfly and started chasing it, he saw a bunny, and he wanted to sprint to where he'd seen it.  He kept saying that we should do a 100 yard dash.  Ughnnnn.  The whole world was full of exciting things from his perspective, but from mine, everything was just nauseating.

When I first started running with Sam over a year ago, he was only 6, he would occasionally whine that it was too hard, that he couldn't do it, or that it was too far.  Now a dramatic role reversal.

 Me:  "Ughn, slow down, I can't do it."

Sam:  "Just do your best, Mommy."

Me:  "Groan, not so fast..."

Sam: "You have to believe you can do it."

When we got home:

Me:  "Ug, that was awful!"

Sam:  "Just think how good that was for your body!"

I don't think I'm going to run any more today, unless it is to the bathroom to yak.

This was a confidence building run for me, and I enjoyed it a lot.  I ran alone, no dog dragging me and no little boy trying to break a world record.  This was my longest run since my ankle sprain, and it held up just great!  I didn't bring the garmin, so I didn't know how fast (or how SLOW, I should say) I was going.  I just ran by feel.  It was nice, the only thing that felt a little different than a couple of months ago is that my legs felt a little bit heavier...which is probably true.  (Too many twinkies, well, not twinkies, but I have been eating a LOT because it is the only way to keep from getting sick.)

Ideally, I think I'd like to run about 4 miles a day.  I'll only be able to do it if I run slow, though. 

And just for fun, here are some pictures of my sons trying to make faces resembling their jack-o-lanterns:

 Sam is a bit of a stinker (where does he get THAT from?).

Joey has Bambi eyes.

Adam is angelic.