CAMPING 2011

First in regards to my last post, all is okay. I am feeling better. Tests all came back negative and I am back running. In fact, I ran 6 miles today to test the body out and it was fine. My pace was even a bit faster than normal. Now if I can only be consistent in my workouts .... CIM might be a slow marathon this year but it will get done.

Over the weekend we went on our annual camping trip. Normally a big group of us go to DL Bliss but this year we camped at Donner Lake instead. For a recap and photos from 2010 ... go here ... amazing how much the kids have changed in a year!

Here are some photos and a recap of our 2011 adventure ...

Squeaker's first camping trip!!! She is so chill.

The Peanut and her BFF Lil REI "help" us blow up the air mattress.

(FYI first time we've ever used an air mattress when camping)

ALL the little people helping me set up our tent!

The kids love to "help." Here they are "helping" the Dem family building their tent.

This two-some was inseparable the entire time.

How many kids can we fit on this scary rock?

(FYI I was dying inside each time one or more climbed on here)

Aerial view of our crazy campsite!

Vans was given the job of "appetizers" which he handled nicely.

Another new baby was added to our growing group!

Lil Baby Dem! (as in Democrat).

Mr. REI brought this cool toy which had the kids (and adults) entertained for hours!

Squeaker was enjoying it all as well.

Dude! It is marsh mellow time! Giant marsh mellows too!

Want some Vans?

They were quiet for a few minutes while stuffing their faces with sugar.

Then it was dark and time for headlamps!

Peanut in her sleeping bag ready for bed!

The view from our tent the next morning.

She was the ONLY one who had a great night sleep ... and she looks like it too.

From how many on a rock to how many in a hammock?

Cute father/daughter moment.

Off to the lake! Jersey Girl's family brought a canoe!

Which really excited the Peanut! Her first ever boat ride!

Beautiful Donner Lake!

Squeaker and I watched from the shore.

Overall it was a great trip as usual. Squeaker slept wonderfully as did the Peanut despite going to bed a bit late because she was laying there listening to all the adults have "fun" while she was told to go to bed. 

We packed up from our time at the lake and hurried home to get ready to celebrate Poppa's birthday! The Peanut made him a card and was super excited to give it to him. 

We also were excited to welcome Debbie the Great Aunt from Idaho! She came down to visit for Poppa's birthday, see our new home and of course Squeaker and visit with the family.

She is probably my biggest fan in terms of reading this blog and reminds me when I have not posted or updated in a while. She keeps me and this blog moving! This is for you Debbie!

Um, it is really hard to get 3 kids to stay still. 

HOME

The Trailmomma family is home from vacation. I had planned on blogging from our trip but the internet connections were not so great and then I also realized, um, I have TWO kids now ... did I really think I'd have time to blog?

We went to Tahoe for 4 days and 3 nights. We rented a condo in Incline Village (that place has my heart for so many reasons) and spent two wonderful days at two different beaches. Van's birthday also was during this time and we went out to dinner one night ... which is hard to do with two kids under the age of 3.

I didn't run once but had a wonderful time with my family.

Peanut jumping off our diving board before we left

Vans on his BDay morning. The Peanut made him that necklace.

The Peanut playing at the beach in Tahoe.

Pure awesome exhaustion.

Tahoe was awesome. The weather was perfect. The condo was decent and the girls shared a room together for the first time and the Peanut loved it. After 4 days in Tahoe it was time to come home ....

and put on your best Princess dress!

I mean it was time to come home, do laundry and then pack up again and head to San Francisco! The Peanut had never been there before so we booked (on a special deal) two nights at hotel located in Nob Hill. Upon being put in one room that was WAY too small for our family, I called the front desk and some how lucked out in getting us a huge SUITE ... for the same price as our previous small room. The Peanut had her own bed, Squeaker had a nice crib and Vans and I had a luxurious king size bed all to ourselves. It was great.

We succeeded in taking the Peanut to all the awesome places around San Francisco. Like ...

Golden Gate Park

Squeaker didn't like the cold so much

It had the coolest play structure

Not so fun for someone under the age of 1 though

We went to the Exploratorium!

Such an awesome place.

Someone is tired of us taking pictures

After the Exploratorium we hit the Pacific Ocean!

Due to the birds, I was off hiding under a park bench

Then we drove down Lombard Street

Did some shopping around China Town

Rode the trolley cars!

And had a very happy girl.

We also saw the Sea Lions at Fisherman's Wharf and all that goes with that area of San Francisco. Although I never ran once, I carried the Peanut (all 30+ pounds of her) up some pretty steep streets in San Francisco.

We arrived home on a Saturday evening leaving me time on Sunday to squeeze in a run. I ran 8 miles on Sunday over near Beal's Point on the bike trail. I needed the motivation of other runners out there to keep me going. It was a tough four miles back but it felt great. Although I am not where I want to be mileage wise yet, I am definitely getting stronger.

However, yesterday something happened that has changed a few things for me. I won't go into too many details but let me just say it involved me calling 911 for the first time in my life (don't worry, it had nothing to do with the girls). I have a new found admiration for our local fire department and medics as well as those in the emergency rooms of our local hospitals.

I will say that I am in a holding pattern and not allowed to run until after this Friday so it looks like it'll be another week off from running for me. I am okay with this and will actually listen to the doctor's orders because I realized yesterday while riding in an ambulance, that life is short. Too short and things can change in the blink of an eye. Having lost my own mother when I was 17 years old, I've always known life is short but some how, in the mix of life and being busy working and raising kids, I had forgotten. Now, a mother myself, with two beautiful girls, I am reminded and I realize how precious time is and how we should not sweat the small stuff and to hug the ones we love. Daily.

A person's health is an important thing but when you have children your health is not only important for your own sake, it is important for those of your children and your children's children ... if you want to see them grow, go to college, get married and have their own kids ... you have to take the necessary measures in your own life to make sure you're healthy and doing all that you can to ensure that you will not miss out on life's amazing treasures. Your children.

STATS

Squeaker had her 2 month check up today and that means she received her first round of shots. I know for them the pain is bad but for us mothers (and fathers) it is heart breaking to watch your baby scream and look at you with such big trusting eyes ... oh man how I hate the first year shots ... and even now when the Peanut gets her flu shot ... ugh.

But the Squeaker is one healthy girl!

So happy ...

Her official stats came in at:
Weight: 12 pounds 4.5 ounces
Height: 23 inches

To compare (not that I do) the Peanut's 2 month stat's were:
Weight: 11 pounds 3.3 ounces
Height: 23 1/4 inches

Not too bad. They are right on track following each other! Looking at the Peanut's 2 month photo I am still so shocked to see Squeaker and vice versa. They are practically identical.

A smiling Squeaker

That photo is before she received her shots. She was so happy and coo'ing up a storm for the doctor today. She had no idea what was coming. Poor bug.

The after. Puffy red face. :(

She cried just as much as the Peanut did and even more so. Breaking mom's heart but I know it is necessary. I know vaccinations are a personal decision and a very tough one for some parents. I know how important they are but I always have the autism connection stuck in my head. I have read too many stories and studies from parents that say their kid "changed" after receiving their vaccinations due to the "cocktail" or combination of vaccines etc. I was scared with the Peanut and I am scared with Squeaker but at the same time, not getting vaccinated opens them to a world of terrible diseases and illnesses that are just as scary and life threatening.

I was however approached today by a nurse before Squeaker's shots. She wanted to know if we would participate in a study whereby they would combine some of the shots the Squeaker was to receive today. She was scheduled for 3 shots. They wanted to combine some drugs thereby only giving her 2. In return, they would give me 50 bucks upon each visit where she gets these shots (basically each visit for the next year). The "catch" is that we would have to take her temperature for 5 days after each of the shots. I looked at this woman and said "is this experimental?" and she said "yes, it is." Um, I don't care if you give me $500 dollars each visit ... I am not experimenting with my 2 month old! I am sure it is "safe" and I am sure she would have been fine but I said "No thank you. I am going to follow the same path my oldest went in regards to shots." Wow. Now I am not judging anyone who may have participated in this study. To each their own of course but for me/us ... not what I wanted to try out today.

In other "stats news" the official stats are in from my race on Saturday.

Official Time: 25:10
Official Pace: 8:07
I was 5th out of 61 in my age group.
I was 45th out of 461 overall.

On Sunday I was reading about some new exercises (lunges, squats, lifts etc) so while Squeaker was napping I decided to just try the moves out. Not a real workout but mainly just seeing how I feel doing each of the moves. Um, I am still in a lot of pain and soreness from these moves. My bum and my legs are shaking! I take that as a good thing? That these moves are effective? But I ask you, how do you go about exercising the rest of the week when you are THAT sore? I did these moves on Sunday and I am still really sore. I took Monday off entirely ... but I have a speed workout planned for today ... what should I do? Run and hope that the soreness subsides?

Tomorrow is the Peanut's last day of Summer School. She is beyond excited to be done with that place. Next week we're going on a family vacation so I'll take this blogging on the road with us . . .

to Tahoe! Of course

FIRST RACE POST BABY

Today I had my first race post Squeaker (who turned 2 months yesterday).

Happy 2 Months kid!

(thanks to Debbie the Great Aunt for the hat and socks)

Today was also the Peanut's first official half mile kid's race. We have signed her up for kid's races in the past only to be met with a "I don't want to run" or "I am scared of the dressed up mascots chasing me." Now, at the ripe old age of  3 ... the Peanut was ready. She practiced earlier this week with me at our local track. Last night, she said she was ready and excited. Let's recap HER race first and then come back to me later because really, HER photos are much cuter than mine.

Before going to bed last night, I told the Peanut she needed to get a good night's sleep because we had to get up early and because she had a race. I pretty much jinxed myself right there. She woke up THREE times last night and for the first time ... she ended up sleeping in our bed. 12:45 am - I helped her go potty, 1:30 am - I snuggled with her for a few minutes, 2:00 am - she is eerily standing at my bed side freaking me out (this is where I just pulled her into bed with us) and then when I got up with Squeaker (who, ahem, can sleep through the night mostly) at 2:30 am ... the Peanut was STILL awake.

Needless to say when the alarm went off, three out of the four of us were exhausted but we loaded the car and headed to Sacramento's River Park for the Susan B. Anthony 5K run. I have done this run for years because I love the area and I love seeing my old running buddies from Buffalo Chips.

Van's dropped us off because we only had a few minutes to spare before the gun went off for the Peanut's race. Luckily, Van's caught the start to give you the following photo display of the race.

The start

I barely had time to get our goody bag before they started the race

Go Peanut Go!

(she wanted to hold my hand at first)

Vans was left with the Squeaker

On the home stretch!

She sees the finish and takes off!

Finished!

So proud of my girl!

(ignore the puffy sleepy mommy please)

Yea, I own that! I ran a half mile!

The rest of the morning she kept saying "I ran a half mile!" I think she's pretty darn proud of herself. Upon crossing the finish line however she noticed something ... her favorite "something" in the whole world ...

A FREE bounce house!

While Vans let the Peanut bounce, I headed to the start of the Women's 5K. I ran into a few Buffalo Chippers along the way. I love the running community, no matter how much time as passed, it is always nice to see old running buddies.

I had no intentions for this race. No goals other than to run and to see how hard I could run. Today was supposed to be my "tempo" run but I knew that I would probably just run and not focus on my pace. I knew that I was about 8 weeks post baby. Ironically, I ran my first 5K post-Peanut when she was 6 weeks old.

June 2008, 6 week old Peanut

5K 25:11/8:07 mile

Wow, that seems like ages ago but I would be lying if internally, I didn't have the same "wish" of sorts in mind. I had no idea what my 2008 time was until after I ran today's race but I knew how I felt running it and wanted the same for this race. When they blew the horn, all bets were off and I just started running.

The Peanut found a prime spot and just waited for me to finish.

I barely looked at my garmin. I only looked at it when I hit the mile markers which consequently looked like this:

Mile 1: 7:41 pace "What they hell!? Where did that come from? This can't be good."
Mile 2: 8:11 pace "Yup, that's what I thought. I'm dying. How long is a 5K again?"
Mile 3: 8:24 pace "Oh thank god, I see the finish!"

Go Mommy Go!

You did it Mommy!

Unofficial Results - 8 week old Squeaker

5K 25:10/8:02 Mile

The girls post race!

(man I look like I need more sleep!)

I still have a long way to go before I reach my 5K PR (22:27/7:14 mile) which was achieved almost a year after the Peanut was born. Still, I am happy with today. Considering the struggle to get back into running, the lack of sleep and having the two most beautiful girls in the world (I am a bit biased), I cannot complain about today's results. The end result was better than expected.

The Peanut was also extremely happy with her results. We stopped at Grandma & Poppa's house and she happily told them she ran a half mile today. I should have her run a half mile more often ...maybe she'd sleep better ... or maybe not ...

Seriously? How is this comfortable?

When we arrived home, just like this morning, 3 out of 4 of us were exhausted again ... the only one not exhausted was Squeaker.

Okay. We're home. Let's play!