One Step at a Time

…if you’re planning to go to the RBF gathering in Vegas in December …

1. Our houseguest’s basketball team won the silver medal in the Master’s Games in their age group. We got to watch the semi-final to a London, Ontario team, and then the final. It was great basketball. (Estonia won gold. Never, ever go into a dark alley the next time you vacation in Estonia … yeesh! They all looked like Keifer Sutherland to me. And if anyone from Estonia has stumbled upon this blog and is translating this … not that Keifer Sutherland, silly.)

2. My husband got a new job!! Still with the same company, but he is now working as a Planner. That kind of makes me giggle, because most of our marriage spats have to do with his planning skills. Or perhaps they have to do with my compulsion to plan. That aside, I am thrilled for him, and very, very proud. This career move has been a long time coming, and I’m happy he’s gotten recognition for his skills at work. And … no more night shift! We will have a normal, Monday-Friday life. Yay, yay, yay!

3. We said g’bye to our houseguests today. It went incredibly well, but it is always nice to get your house back to yourself. Just a little elbow room at the table, you know.

4. I was heading out for a run this morning, before the whole house was completely awake, and at that EXACT moment, my neighbour/running partner Tara was heading out for a walk. We did not plan it, and yet we left the house at the same second, and both needed to talk. We ran in the direction of a local coffee shop (doing my clinic run of the week), and then got coffee and walked home. Was that amazing timing or what?!?

5. I learned so much about the personality of our Derek (age 6 and A HALF) this weekend. He broke his arm, doing a circus-style act on the swingset. Don’t ask. He’s one of those completely fearless children that other moms at the park shake their at, and give thanks to God that their child isn’t so crazy. Yep, you’ve seen him. This was in the middle of a celebration barbecue, and it was a complete schmauz. A back flip off the swing that he’s done 2 million times before successfully, and this time, the landing went badly. This kid is the bravest person I know. He cried initially, and then just stopped. He tried so hard to be brave for the doctor, and I actually had to tell him, “Derek, it’s OK to cry” when we were getting the x-rays. He broke his radius, and he’ll have the cast for a few weeks. My poor boy, with a cast in the middle of summer. And it’s his right hand, so a lot of daily activities are difficult for him. I’m hoping to get him a waterproof cast, as we leave for holidays in BC in two weeks. There is no way this child cannot be at the beach, when our friends whom we’re staying with live a block from the beach. Sigh. Oh yeah, I’m re-reading the title of the list…. He did come home and discover he could still play with his Lego. Whew.

6. My run is getting stronger. My quads are getting stronger, and I’m feeling that in everyday life. That’s just cool to me.

7. My house is so completely clean from having houseguests. I love it this way.

8. My daughter has gotten over the fact, mostly, that she has no penis, and is now sitting on the potty to pee. It’s so much less messier for me.

9. We’re going away on Tuesday night for our 10th wedding anniversary, which is on Friday.

10. My husband planned #9. Did I mention he’s now a “planner”??

It’s a long weekend here … happy weekend, everyone!

We’ve had houseguests for a week (and have them until Sunday), so life has been hectic here! Hosting another family requires a lot more laundry, cleaning, and cooking! However, our kids get along wonderfully (thank God … can you imagine if they didn’t!??!) so the time has been nice. Derek did ask me this morning if these people still had their house in Calgary, ie. “Are they living with us or what??” It was cute. The four adults got out last night for a lovely Greek meal, which was great. Yes, we hired a babysitter …

The “mom” of their family is competing in World Master’s basketball, so we’ve gotten to catch some of that. My running instructor’s husband is doing the half-marathon this weekend, so I think I’ll catch that for a good dose of inspiration. She was describing a 85 year old who did a 10 k, and her story had me blinking away tears. Okay, that doesn’t take much, but it was still very touching!

The running has been great. Everything just feels like it’s clicking, and I haven’t had the ankle pain back, which is great. My quads are definitely feeling this concentrated commitment to running … iy yi yi! I’ll run with Tara tonight … it’s a nice time to catch up, and get away from my houseful for awhile!

Just thought I’d briefly check in … hope everyone is enjoying their summertime running …

…. that I LOVE summer?!?!?!

…running at 10 p.m. in the light …. no coats, boots, or mitts to organize … being able to ride a bike anywhere …. swimming without bundling up afterwards …. reading on the deck while kids squeal in the sprinkler …. guava, papaya, mango, and pineapple that I don’t have to re-mortgage our home to buy …

Yep.

I LOVE summer.

I run my fastest when I run with Tara. I don’t know if it’s a bit of competitive spirit, or more that I don’t want to be responsible for slowing her down. During our run tonight, I had so much to say as we haven’t connected for a few days, but I was getting ticked off at how laboured my breathing was.

Tell me, RBF guru-type-friends, how much SHOULD I be able to talk? Should it be a strain? Can I be panting at the commas?

It was an awesome run, by the way. One of my loveliest, where everything just clicked. And I was blessed with awesome company.

1. I like this pace. It’s comfy.
2. How do I check pace on my Forerunner when it’s on intervals?
3. There is no way I can fiddle with this thing and run.
4. And not run into things.
5. I need to read the instruction manual.
6. When I got it, Kevin told me to read the instruction manual.
7. I read part of it.
8. Then I went for a run.
9. I’ll need to go back to that manual.
10. In private.
11. If I was running with a partner right now, could I keep up a conversation?
12. Probably, but I’m not sure.
13. Maybe I’ll say my ABC’s outloud, just to see.
14. Because, really, I want to go a bit faster.

A, B,C,D … E, F, G ….. H, I, J, K …..

15. What is that man staring at?
16. I’ll just run faster to get away from him, frankly. Forget the idea of being able to talk comfortably.
17. Bye, bye ….

Week #3 of running clinic tonight. I am sooooo looking forward to it. My husband invited his Mine Rescue team over for drinks tonight after work, and truth be told, I’m grateful to be getting away from people for the run. I am generally a social soul, but I get “people-ed” out from time to time, and am truly in need of some time on my own.

Not much of that this weekend! We’ve had a busy one with Troy’s family birthday party, and getting ready for our friends from Calgary to come and stay with us. Our friend is competing in the Master’s Games in Edmonton, so this family of four is coming to stay for about 10 nights. I’m looking forward to it, and hoping that our kids do well together.

I can’t say enough about how incorporating rest days in my life have changed things about my energy level and fitness. Now my body just yearns to run. I feel stronger, and am sleeping a lot better ( a huge bonus for me!).

A personal confession … yes, even after my loving tribute for Troy’s birthday. My sons are driving me nuts! They’re constantly nit-picking at each other, and it’s argument after argument all day long. We seem to go in phases with the rivalry between them, but I have to say, this bout is getting to me. How can this be normal?? I don’t parent so well with this! I can’t wait for Troy’s new room to be done so that we can give each of them more space. We went for a long bike ride this morning, even in the wind and rain, because they just seem to have energy to burn right now. They’re going to a daycamp program at our church tomorrow through Thursday, and I’m hoping the change of scenery does us all good! I will tie this last paragraph into running (oh yeah, it’s a running blog!) by saying that running provides such a stress reduction syrum for me when things get chaotic in my house.

My oldest son, Troy, is eight years old today.

I once tried to explain to this amazing boy, when he was having a bad day, how much I loved him. “You made me a mom,” I said. “And that’s huge.” I remember a grueling 36-hour labour ending with a child with the brightest, almost spooky, huge eyes being placed on my stomach. He had a serious expression on his face that said, “What’s going on here, people?” He still has that expression.

He is serious and silly all at the same time. One of his teachers said to me, “I have never seen a child love the scientific process as much as Troy. He is literally excited to the core by it.” He loves doing experiments, and he loves studying bugs and animals. In fact, he and his best friend plan to head to Africa to study animals in a bus that they’ll decorate. Kind of a travelling Kratt brothers deal, if you will. He also loves being silly with his friends. Knock-knock jokes, anything with the word “but(t)” in it, will send him into fits of giggles. Captain Underpants was written for Troy.

He is creative, and has been writing books since he was five. He’s a huge Harry Potter fan. He is intense, and I’m afraid that comes from me. He’s excited and completely animated about something, and in three minutes might be crying about something else. He is mechanical like his dad, and often explains to me how our DVD player works. As a big brother, he is many things. With Derek, he is competitive and loving and emotional and silly sometimes very manipulative. With his little sister, he is affectionate and kind and entertaining and amazes us with his caregiving.

At our house, he is in charge of spider and other bug removal. He’s been doing that for me since he was two, and takes great pride in it. Now that he’s eight, some eye-rolling (“Oh puh-leeeeeze, Mom … it’s just a spider?!?!?!”) has set in ….

As a mom, Troy has taught me so many things. To truly savour the day, as I see this child literally grow before my eyes. To realize that all things pass, as he took forever to potty train, and to gain a confident sense of independence. He cried at pre-school drop-off for half of the year when he was four, and I remember sobbing in my journal that I feared he’d never be able to do things on his own. Literally, I pictured a high school student that wouldn’t answer the phone. Two and a half short years later, this boy was flying to Calgary on his own to stay with friends … and going to overnight camp for two nights …. ?!!? He’s also taught me a lot about faith; he is so much more wired than I am sometimes about inviting God into daily life.

He’s an amazing kid.

Happy Birthday, Troy-Boy. Love you to the moon. And back. Fifty trillion times. Plus one.
(That’s our bedtime routine. It used to be singing the “Skinamarink” theme song. It has to get “cooler”, the older they get. No eight year old can hear his mom say “Skinamarink-a-dink-a-dink without splitting a gut laughing. )

It’s really summer mode around here these days, and I like it. I like it when a kid gets to wear a bathing suit all day, just in case the sprinkler calls his name.

I’ve had the kids in swimming lessons for the past two weeks, and I have to shake my head at some of the moms that I seem to get paired up with in activities. I attract strange people, I swear. It’s parent and tot lessons with my daughter, so we’re all in there together … one big happy family! Ha! This one mom talks constantly about her son, even through the instructor’s attempt at singing little interactive songs with us. And her conversation always includes her addressing us, and then her son, with the exact same sentence. See example:

Annoying Mom: Have any of you been to that new sprinkler park?

Us: No, not yet.

Annoying Mom: Timmy, have we been to that new sprinkler park? Have we?

Timmy is cute, but is the strong, silent type and doesn’t have much info for us on sprinkler park hours, driving directions, etc. Yeesh, woman. This type of conversation carries on for the WHOLE class. I’m sure the instructor goes into the staff room to have a drink when she’s done with us. I have to work on my poker face, as I am sure I squint with confusion at this woman the whole time she speaks.

Braggy mom time! (Advance to next paragraph if you hate when people brag about their kids. You have been warned!) My lil 2-year-old angel is going off the diving board. Jumping in to a pool noodle, held by me. Going under, completely and propelling herself up to catch that noodle. With water pouring all over her face and a big, big grin. It’s just simply adorable and frightening as all get-go at the same time for me. She’s proud as punch, though, and I love that look in her eyes.

I’m feeling good. Running in a pattern of three days on, one day off, which seems to be working. Ankle isn’t swelling. Swimming a couple of days per week. Done my work project (yay!!!) except for a meeting I have to go to next week to clarify some things about the curriculum … so I feel that “summer relief” phenomenon that my boys are feeling.

Heading out for a bike ride with kids, as my husband is on night shift and those two days of his shift pattern get a bit long for all of us. My boys get so rambunctious together (is that a real word?) and it gets under my skin in a big, big way. We all need a physical outlet!

I get that now.

Tonight, on my run, I got a little hint of a true glorious feeling when I run.

It was just a moment, really. When I wasn’t looking at my watch, and I wasn’t looking at my company, or even really listening to them. I wasn’t fiddling with my hat, and I wasn’t staring at my feet wishing the interval was over.

I was looking at the horizon, and for a moment, I felt taller and stronger. And capable and truly proud to be out there.

Does that sound funny to you? Are you wondering why I pursue this if I am not rewarded by that great feeling all of the time?

I thought it was just me. I thought that because I wasn’t “naturally born” (whatever that means?!?) into running, that I wasn’t going to experience that feeling. I thought that feeling was for a more elite athlete.

But nope. I felt it. Unmistakenly so.

And tonight, I really fell in love with it.