Ski Away

Jacob had been asking me all season if I would please take him skiing for the first time.  I kept saying yes and then 2 weeks ago when he asked again I realized I better pick a day or the season will be over.  Yesterday was the appointed day.  He was so excited all week he could hardly wait.  We took Brandon and my nephew Nathan along as well.

The morning was a little chaotic trying to hurry and get out the door and deal with a very sick Jonah who Bryan got to spend the day dealing with.  We got up to the resort and I realized that Jacob had brought these little green garden gloves for his gloves, he couldn’t find his.  Great, well it won’t be very cold so it will be alright.

We started out on the bunny hill a few times and he was getting the hang of it.  We then decided to head to a bigger hill.  The weather was pretty nice, but it was freezing on the lift.  Poor Jacob sat shivering with his soaking wet gloves.

 

At the end of the lift Brandon fell getting off and whacked his pole in Jacob’s face which made him fall as well.  They stopped the lift and I tried to hurry and get them both out of the way.  They both were crying as I got them all put back together again.  Jacob now had a bloody nose, which is nothing new, and could not stop crying.  I tried to hold on to him and steer him down the mountain.  He kept crying, “I hate skiing and I am never coming again”.  I finally was the nice Mom and put my gloves on him and went the rest of the way with no gloves for me.  I somehow got Jacob down to the bottom of the hill.  The boys were hungry so I said go to the car and start eating and I will go and pay an arm and a leg to get Jacob some new gloves.  I just kept telling myself I had to do it, there was really no other option. (If you know me well then you know this really is a big deal to me)  So I went and bought the gloves and we all warmed up and ate lunch.

Second half of the day, different story.  Right off the bat Jacob wanted to go with Brandon and Nathan on a lift that goes all the way to the top.  O.K. so we did.  He was happy as could be with his new, very warm gloves.  I thought this is going to take us forever to get back to the bottom, but no.  Jacob immediately picked up on how to really ski and he made it the whole way with no help.  We would get to the top of a fairly large hill and he would say, “let’s do this thing” and off he went.  It was hilarious.  By a few more runs he was going through the trees and off jumps.  He would hit a jump and go flying tumbling down and get up laughing.  It was great.  We had such a good time.

I hadn’t been with Brandon in a few years and he did great as well.  It is funny how some things you are able to pick right back up.  I hadn’t gone in 3 years, but  I had no trouble getting back into the swing of things.  Too bad it is so expensive and way too cold on the lift or I might be going much more often!

So for all my complaining what a difference a warm pair of gloves can make! Brandon and I wear the same yellow gloves that my Mom and I wore 18 years ago, maybe it is time to invest in some new warm gloves for us as well.

Tuacahn Duathlon!!!

3 mile run.....24 mile bike.....3 mile run

This will be a much different post than if I had written it on Saturday or even Sunday. The race was HARD and why was it hard? Because I was not prepared. The website describing the race said, “a fast and flat race through Ivins and Kayenta”. So that is what I prepared for. Flat racing. I did 3 long bike rides, the weather didn’t allow for much more. I knew I was fine with the running because I run 3-4 times a week.

The morning of the race I was pumped and excited. I changed my clothes twice before I left the house, I couldn’t decide what the weather would be like. The first 3 mile run was great. Down a sloping hill from Tuacahn, right past the house we were staying in (where Bryan and the boys were cheering me on), turn around and back up the sloping hill.

As I ran to my bike I checked my cool watch and let out a cheer, 29 minutes!!!! I have never run a 5K that fast before. Quick debate about the clothing situation again, changed shirts and off we went. Down the hill again and cruising along a flat road in Ivins, where I thought I need to get out my jacket it is pretty cold, I will do that soon. Circle around and soon I was starting the part I was unprepared for, UP 2 1/2 miles of Snow Canyon. All I could do was keep adjusting my gears and try to figure out what was best, I was roasting, no way am I putting on my jacket now. The last stretch to the turn around was STEEEEEEEP. I got to the top and debated about whether or not to take off one of my shirts, no I better just get going. Down the mountain and I was FREEZING, why didn’t I put on that jacket and gloves?

Around this time as I started the second loop of the biking portion (the same as the first) I started to notice that not many people were behind us (us being my brother Chris and I). I decided to kick it into high gear on the flat, I left Chris in the dust and counted only 6 people who were behind us. I started to get discouraged. So on I went barreling on the flat until I hit Snow Canyon and Chris caught right up to me. Huffing and puffing and so hot. As I got to the last really steep stretch these 3 (much older) ladies passed me. I said, “no, you can’t do that.” They laughed and on they went. By the time I got to the top panting they were resting and waiting to go done. No resting for me, I had to beat them. Down the mountain I went, freezing again. I was not nearly as cautious as I was the first time down, who cares if I fall at this point. I made it to the last little slope back up to Tuacahn just as Bryan and the boys were pulling out to drive up there to see us at the end.

Hard to tell, but I am smiling so it must not have been that bad. And yes this is the ONLY picture they took of me on my bike.

We got to the transition and racked our bikes, threw down our helmets and just ran. Bryan looked at me and said, “what do you need?” I am sure I looked terrible, I just passed by and waved. There was no way I could have stopped even if I had wanted to. 1.5 miles luckily downhill first while my legs felt like boards. I could not feel my feet and just felt like a machine that someone else was controlling. We got to the turn around water station, stopped for a drink and started back up the LAST hill. We started to notice that people who were behind us disappeared, they must not have done the last snow canyon loop. Almost to the top and here come 2 of the ladies who passed us on their bikes. They just trotted right past us and continued well ahead, I wanted to throw something at them. Finally the finish line was in sight and Chris grabbed my hand and said we can do this. We put as much energy as we had and finished at 2:55:07. One lady finished about 5 minutes after us, we were second to last.

I am hoping my sister in law got some better shots than this! She said we looked like string cheese and Chris said he felt like a baked potato. I had no brain activity so I don’t know what I felt like.

Anyways we thought it would take us 3 hours and it did. There were like 5 bagels left and nothing else, no line at the massage table because everyone else was long done. I was discouraged for about 2 days, until I realized that we were last, but we finished. I know for a fact that 4 people did not finish and there may have been several others. We did what we set out to do and it was hard, but I DID IT!!!

The kids did a kids race, while we were still finishing, which was fun for them.

After hours of trying to warm back up and bring life back to my brain Chris and I decided to do something. So we went to the grocery store and came back and made Si’s Sante Fe Enchilada’s, which take about 2 hours to make and are worth every second! Especially when you have accomplished something great that day.

This and That

****Warning this is very long.  Pretend like it is 3-4 posts.

I feel like my life is in super duper fast drive.  How are we already to Wednesday night?  Every time I turn around it is Friday again.   Anyways I am frantically trying to get ready to leave for St. George tomorrow, but just had to sit down for a few minutes and catch up on a few things.  Hopefully as soon as I post this I will be able to go through and read all of the blogs I haven’t read yet this week.

Today I went to my fabulous friend’s house for a bread making class.  I ate about 3 cinnamon rolls and several slices of bread.  They were so delicious and I have NO self control.  If something tastes good then I just eat away.  All week I have been craving baked goods, but have had no time to bake.  It is a good thing because I don’t need them. 

Anyways I show up to this class with Jonah of course because he goes almost everywhere with me.  I am finally realizing that I am the only one going to things in my neighborhood with a small child.  All of my friends are so great about helping with him.  Yesterday while at a making dresses for Haiti children project Jonah sat by my greatest of all time neighbor Jo and just talked to her and played with her phone.  Today at the bread class she held him and let him drive a car all over her face and body, she was the track.  She truly is the greatest.  All of my friends are so happy to help with him and it really means a lot to me.

After the class we went to a plumbing store to get a part for my never ending bathroom (more to follow on that in a moment).  As we were leaving Jonah ran around to the other side of the van and I am not quite sure what happened, but I heard a thump and then screaming and crying.  I rushed over and picked up a screaming and starting to throw up Jonah.  Major bump and bruise on his forehead and dirt and grease smeared in.  Still not really sure what happened, but he hit something!

So on to the never ending bathroom.  Our master bathroom is tiny, but that doesn’t have anything to do with the story.  About a year ago, and it really has been a year, we quit using the shower because the tile was leaking.  We kept talking about getting it fixed.  Well finally in November we finally started to demolish the shower, which led to the floor and so then the cabinet and toilet had to come out.   We did everything backwards, we demolished and then started looking for tile and the cabinet and then hired someone to do the work.   I can’t make any kind of decorating decision so the process has been really slow.  Last week we finally got the floor done and the first part of the plumbing done.  It seems as though each day something new arises that has to be done and the cost just keeps getting higher and higher.  Luckily I made friends with a construction worker who I call with each new problem and have him come and take care of.  The shower drywall is causing a problem right now, but hopefully that will be taken care of next week before the shower tile person arrives.  The cabinet was supposedly done last week, but now for sure next week it will be here.  We will see what happens next week.  All I know is that I could never do a major remodel or build a house because I can’t even make little decisions like what shower head to get!

And I never followed up on my small laundry room remodel that took over 50 hours of our time to finish.  I love it though so it is O.K.

OK tomorrow I am off to St. George to enjoy the sun and warmth (I hope) and to race in a duathlon!  I am very excited to go and relax, except for the 3 hours that I am working hard……and of course except for the drive.

Disaster Averted

Jonah and his froggy binky.  Everyone who knows Jonah knows very well that he LOVES his froggy binky.  My sister got it for him once he had been home from the hospital for a few months.  My whole family was going to Mexico and we couldn’t go and she had it sent to me while they were gone.  It has been a life saver.  When Jonah was so little and couldn’t keep it in his mouth for very long, it would fall out but not go very far.  Once he got old enough to handle it he could always find it when he was asleep.  Now that he is really too old to have it, he still can find it in the night.  I try to limit him having his binky to nap time and bedtime, but the occasional he is whining and I can’t take it happens and he walks around with it in his mouth.  He is so attached to it, when I ask him to give it to me he will sometimes hug it first.  Sometimes he grabs it from me to have a couple of quick sucks before I put it in his bed.  I know, it is pathetic, but I am not ready to deal with it being gone. 

We have lost it a few times, but only for a short time and then we are back to normal.  Well last night, bedtime came and no one knew where his binky was.  Jacob is usually our find it man and seems to always know where everything is.  He had no idea, although he sent me on several wild goose chases.  I searched and searched.  Bryan gave Jonah a different binky and said he would have to use that.  Jonah replied, '”no I can’t, that one is broken and too hard”.  Jonah sat in bed playing and crying out while I tore the house apart trying to find it.  After an hour and a half of searching (and the house getting a little picked up) I came to accept the fact that I wasn’t going to find it.  I was so tired and not ready to deal with a night of crying, but I figured this was it.  If we make it through tonight then he will never have it again.   I put Jonah in my bed and said, you can lay here with Momma, but you have to go to sleep.  He was very excited about that.  I then proceeded to get ready for bed which includes getting out my exercise clothes for the morning.  I went to get something out of my top dresser drawer and low and behold, there was froggie binky!

Disaster averted, although it may have been better to not find it and be done with the whole thing.  I really have no intention of getting rid of it any time soon though.  I know it is bad for his teeth and bad to have something to soothe him to sleep, but I really don’t care because it helps him be able to sleep which in turns helps me to be able to sleep!

Surprise Me

I love surprises.  I love  being totally taken away with a gift or any other kind of surprise.  The problem is that very rarely happens.  I always seem to see something that gives away the surprise.  A few years ago near Christmas I was in the garage looking for a box and came across my Christmas presents, I was so mad!  This year Bryan made sure to tell me where my presents were hid so I wouldn’t accidentally come across them, and it is a good thing he told me because I probably would have come across them.  I don’t want to know where the boys have been shopping, I don’t want presents under the tree before Christmas (because then I can tell what it is), I never found out what the sex of my children were,  I just want to be surprised.

So Monday evening I was driving home from my sister’s house.  I was facing west on 1800 waiting to turn on my street when what does appear???  Bryan coming up 1800 and turning on our street with a BRAND NEW road bike on his car, for me, for Valentine’s day.   I was so upset.  I pulled into the driveway beside him while trying to keep me eyes closed.  Poor Bryan thought I didn’t like the bike and was mad, but I was just so mad that I didn’t get to be surprised.  He was going to give it to me early so I could ride it, but maybe not just have me see it.  I just couldn’t believe that I was driving home at the same time he was bringing it home. (that will teach him to not call and check where I am before bringing something home for me)

Anyways I love my new bike.  I took it for a little 6 mile ride yesterday evening and was gliding…and freezing.  I am doing a duathlon in St. George in two weeks.  No more being way behind everyone while I hoof it out on a mountain bike, not that I minded doing that.  Bryan has been wanting to get me a bike since last summer and he couldn’t wait any longer.  I am very excited about it, but just wish I could have been surprised, at the right time.

You are welcome

Anytime Bountiful IHC center, anytime you want our money you just let us know.  In the past week I have made 5 trips to your lovely complex.  3 allergy shot treatments and 2 separate strep throat visits to instacare.

I was surprised that no one in my family had gotten strep during my two weeks of not knowing I had it.  Yesterday around 5:30 Jacob started complaining that he was itching and allergic to something.  I thought he was wanting attention because Brandon had just gotten back from his allergy shot.  We sat down for dinner and Jacob literally slumped down in his chair and laid down.  I asked what was wrong and he said, “my neck is hurting so bad and I am itching everywhere.”  I told him to eat dinner and we would figure him out later.  As we were having our FHE lesson he started itching everywhere and I watched hives break out all over his face.  O.K. lesson over something is up with him.  We had planned on going to Target to get the boys valentines for our activity.  I think Bryan could see the pain in my eyes of the thought of going BACK to the IHC building so he said I will take Jacob to the Dr. you take the others to Target.  So while Brandon, Jonah and I were having a great time at Target, Jacob was tested and confirmed with having strep throat.  The hives were a reaction to something he touched or ate, but of course we have no idea what that was, he also got a terrible bloody nose while there.  Poor Jacob, he did not have a good night.

My friend Tiffany who NEVER has sick children cannot understand our medical life.  Really I do not enjoy sick people nor do I enjoy going to the doctor all the time, but it appears that is our lot in life!

Oh yes and Brandon had quite the reaction to his allergy shot yesterday.

Son knows best

Two weeks ago today I started to get a sore throat while at church.  I came home in the middle to get some Zicam so that it would not turn into a cold.  For 3 days I kept taking Zicam, vitamin C, drinking orange juice and the sore throat would not go away, but the regular cold symptoms did not come either.  Brandon kept telling me I had strep throat.

“No, I haven’t ever had it, I wouldn’t get it”

“No, I wouldn’t be able to run 6 miles this morning if I had it”

“No, I would have a fever”

“No, I would feel sick”

After 5 days of a terrible sore throat I was trying every cure I could come up with on the internet.  Man this thing just kept hurting, and I kept eating more and more to try to get rid of the hurt. Day 9 I made a Dr. appointment because I couldn’t take it anymore, then canceled it because I started to feel better and I didn’t want to pay for the Dr. to tell me it was a virus. Day 14, yesterday, went on a 3.5 mile run and 12 mile bike ride, came home convinced I had a sinus infection which was causing the sore throat.  Super busy day, but I don’t care I am going to InstaCare no matter what!  Swab my throat and come back 10 minutes later to tell me,

“You have strep throat”

Next time I will listen to Brandon.  I hope I did not infect the whole world over the past two weeks. 

Amazing, I woke up this morning for the first time in two weeks and could swallow without it hurting, of course now the cold symptoms have arrived so my throat doesn’t hurt, but I have a cold.