Running for the goal

So I took up running. I always enjoyed walking, but felt like could do more. After watching my step dad, Mom and sister running, and hearing all about Bob , my step dad, finishing the Boston Marathon, my mom telling me how great she felt with running, and my sister being super fit.. I was finally inspired to try it after I returned home from visiting there this past summer.

I started off already working out lightly, and watching what I ate, so decided to just jump right in. I did research on the internet, on how to learn to run, and learned all about interval training.. basically mixing running with walking. My ultimate goal is to be able to run during the Relay For Life this coming summer.

I found a program that I liked, that got me running sooner, and would be easy to remember when to switch up running and walking.. then I loaded Anna up in the stroller and out I went. That first week, was walk for a minute, then run for a minute, 7 times, for a total of 14 minutes. By the ime I hit the 5th or 6th time, I was wondering why I was doing this. I did it 3 times that week, and by the third run, it was a bit easier, so I moved to the second week when it came around, walk 1 minute, run 2 minutes five times.

I am working on Week 10, walk one run 10, and this is my 11th week doing it. I have felt my body strengthen, my lungs be capable of carrying me through my runs. From smoking 11 years, quitting for 3 and now running maybe they will forgive me for all the abuse I gave them. Today was my first day of running for 10 minutes straight, but I wanted to try something a bit different, and go for two sets of 20 minutes, and I was able to do it! I am a whole lot sweatier then normal, but the feeling of accomplishment, combined with the super endorphins, is incredible!

I never thought I would be a runner, it is a lot of work and a lot of alone time. I worry when I become pregnant next time that I will take the easy way out and just not go, because I need to rest, or just don't feel like it, but hopefully, if I can continue running as long as I can, that it will be so ingrained, that I won't have any other way to do it but go.

Bits and pieces

It's been quite a long time since I have updated this, especially with how things are going. I was in BC for 5 weeks, have taken up running, and Anna has already started school again.

So first off, the trip back home. i went up, with the intention of staying through the last weeks of one of my favorite Aunts, to see her again before she passed from liver cancer. She had been progressively getting worse, and had slipped into a coma in the couple days prior to my leaving. I got the call that she passed away an hour before I was due to get up to go to the airport for our trip, about 2am. It was a long day, holding in my grief, running on next to no sleep, while taking a 3 yr old through 3 layovers/plane changes and a 12 hour travelling day by myself. We did great up until waiting in Vancouver, where we both melted down, had a cry, then a donut.

It was a long trip, with a lot of emotions going on, but we had a wonderful visit with all of our family, getting time to go to Prince George top see Dad and Laura, as well as staying in Vernon and seeing all of the family in the area there. The funeral was beautiful and emotional, she would have approved.

I also started running after I got back last month, and am currently working on my 6th week of it. I am following an interval running program that is designed to get me ready for a 5k, not that I have any idea where ne could be around here or when, but it wil l get me ready for one. I love it though, I love the feeling of my runners on the pavement, listening to my my music, feeling the sweat pouring off me. I can breathe easier each week, as I push myself, and my emotional health has increased tenfold. I feel wonderful afterwards, happy, optimistic, and that life will be okay, despite how hard things have been.

Anna was coming with me during my runs, making it all the more hard while I pushed her in her stroller, but now that pre schoolhas started, and shes in 3 days a week, I can drop her off and go to the track down the road before coming back home. It's very convenient.

She is enjoying school already, today is her second day, and we are now "upstairs' in the big kids class. The kids this year are encouraged to invite their friends to birthday parties and playdates outside of class. I am nervous about this, worrying about what if noone invites her to anything, what iud someone does invite her, whats the etiquette, do I reciprocate? A million things to worry about, to think about, to deal with another day.

Still loving eggs

My little egg lover

My eggstra special eggstrordinairy egg loving kid.

Some more of the room

Here is some more of the room

New bedroom

Anna's new bedroom, courtesy of Oma and Auntie Katie!

Happy Halloween!

I'm a day late but Happy Halloween! Anna had a blast, dressing up as a bumblebee. She insisted on practicing over the last 2 weeks, since we got her costume. After the 3rd practice run trick or treating Daddy, I finally hid the costume and the candy bucket to put it out of her mind.

Anyways yesterday. Poor munchkin was blind yesterday, having broke her glasses Thursday at her Mom's Day Out. We had her replacements ordered in, and over-nighted but they wouldn't be ready till Friday afternoon. So we had to wait patiently for 4pm to get here. Jamie had a chili cook off at work, and had forgotten a couple things. So i decided to dress up Anna, and we brought her around the different buildings at his work, stopping in to see all the women in the various departments who haven't seen her since she was about 3 months old. Quite the change! She managed to cop about a third of her bucket full by the time we left there and headed back home. She ate about half of it in the car on the ride home before I smarted up and took it into the front seat where I managed to keep some will power and not help her finish off the last half.

Finally her glasses were ready, and she couldl see again! Everyone at the optical center loved her costume, and thought she was just the cutest thing ever. We are so lucky to have such great ladies helping us there. They actually gave us the replacement frames at no cost, and they really take amazing care of us there. Definately worth the money to go through them for her glasses needs.

7:00pm finally rolls around, and we get Anna bundled up. The temp has dropped this year, so she got stuck wearing thick pants and a sweatshirt under her costume. Yes 14 degrees c is cold thank you very much! Anna did so good, walking up holding my hand, and in barely a whispered breath saying Trick or Treat, holding her bucket out, then a tiny bit more audible Thank you. As we turned to walk to the end of the driveway, she woudl see Daddy, and yell to him to let him know she was coming. Then she showed him her bucket, and proudly proclaim "I got lots of candy!!" Every. Single. House. But she was the cutest thing ever.. seriously.... no bias....

She had a fantastic time though, despite the neighbourhood being especially quiet. We only saw 2 other small groups of 3-4 kids, and maybe hit tops 8 houses in teh neighbourhood. It did qwork out well since it was pretty chilly once the sun went down. Anna was allowed to have one lollipop, by far her most favorite candy this year. She sat sucking it while curled up on the floor with a blanket watching Dora, for about an hour before bed. It was left on the floor, sticking to my carpet, in all it's red sticky glory, once we called for bedtime and teeth brushing.

She did so well, had such wonderful manners, and was in awe with all the lights, pumpkins and other kids costumes. It was such a treat watching her last night, be such a sweet girl, such a big girl.