A Brief Health Report

It's been a good day because Rich got his cast off.  Yeah!  Now he has four weeks of rehab therapy to strengthen his arm up.  The doctor said that his arm will be stiff and hurt for awhile because he's middle-aged.  I don't think he liked the doctor's assessment of his age.  They've given him a small brace to wear when he's having pain, and he's supposed to keep his wrist elevated if it swells at all.  After four weeks, he gets to return to his regular job.    Okay, just gotta hang in here for another month.

My personal health issue has improved just in the last 5 days.  I'd say I'm at 90%, holding out for 100%.  The way things are shaping up, I may not need that colonoscopy after all.

Things around here seem to be looking up.  Thank the Lord.

Oh, The Places I'll Go

So how many miles do you think I'll get out of these babies?

This picture was taken right after I finished my big run yesterday.  (Go ahead.  Click on that link and see what you missed yesterday.)

The Challenge!

This was a scheduled running day for me.  And since running has sort of become an obsession with me, I put out a challenge for myself.  I decided to throw out the training schedule for today and set a goal...something I've been dreaming about since December 2007. 

I knew I could not take all of you out for this exciting excursion, so I decided to bring it to you via video.  (Amy Beth, the princess of video blogging, is my inspiration for this media presentation.)

This is so exciting!  Take a look at what happened...

 

... And They Brought a Friend

I'm in charge of the kiddos this afternoon.  My sister's kiddos, that is.  When I first arrived here, all four of them were gone to friends' houses.  Friends' houses with pools.  I was told that they would probably be there all afternoon, and I most likely wouldn't see them...because who could tear a kid away from a friend's house with a POOL?

Guess what.  Two of the youngest kiddos came home within minutes of their mom leaving me here all alone by myself to supervise...and brought a friend.  Did I mention I'm here all alone and left to supervise?  I'm keeping an eye on them playing in the backyard now. 

First they were working on creating a water slide out of their swing set slide by hosing it down.  That didn't seem like such a good idea to me, so I nixed that one.  Then their game turned to throwing a bubble maker toy up and down the slide about 100 times.  They laughed every single time, which puzzles me.  What is so funny about that?  I was concerned for moments that they were going to stand on a Frisbee and slide down the slide, but I guess I jumped the gun on that one.  They were just going to slide the Frisbee down the slide.  Can you spell P-A-N-I-C? 

Looks like maybe they're going to run through the Blue's Clues sprinkler now.  Nope.  Guess not.  I just saw the hose disappear.  Hmmm.  Wonder what they're up to?

Say a prayer for me.  Having the friend here is stressing me out.

Unbelievable!

Oh, you guys!  I just had to post my little blog this afternoon to let y'all know.  I've been talking to myself this afternoon.  Just kept saying to myself for half an hour the word Unbelievable.  Over and over again.  Do you know what was so unbelievable?  That I ran for 5 minutes today...and did it 4 times.  That's 20 minutes of running!

You have no idea how that thrills me.  I didn't even feel motivated to run today.  I just sort of pushed myself to throw on my running clothes and drive to the park.  I had every intention of only running 3-minute intervals.  But then I got there, and I told myself I was gonna do 5.  And I did.  Almost as if someone else took over my body.  It sure didn't feel like me.

Do you know what this means to a girl who stunk at sports, was always picked last in gym class, was last to finish running laps around the soccer field, and was told to run faster or we'll lose?  I tell ya, it means A LOT. 

I AM an athlete.  I CAN run.  Just watch me...