A week in review plus the BIG 2 0 !!

Well... this week has been interesting.
I have had 2 realtor lunch ins this week that took up a bunch of time and today I have a homeowner get together. Because NEXT WEEK is the SUPER BOWL!!!!
I also have done a TON of research on nutrition and health and have decided after contemplating for a few days that I was going to try the Paleo lifestyle. One of my friends started it about 2 weeks ago and after emailing back and forth and looking at different recipes and ideas I figured this was definitely something I would like to try. So from yesterday until marathon day I am saying no to frozen yogurt, candies, sugar, processed foods, etc. I would consider myself a healthy eater for the most part but I really want to just see if I feel any different (in a good way). I have found out this week that there is such a thing as coconut flour and coconut sugar! I experimented with this paleo pancake... O MY! It tasted like french toast. I had to put it away.
I know that there is a lot of controversy out there on what you should and shouldn't eat but I am pretty sure that saying no to oreo cookies and alcohol is a good thing.
So.. yesterday I went out to the international market in town. What an experience! I was the only white person in there. They had the most exotic fruits and veggies there. They also had full fresh fish. (with their heads on) The produce was very inexpensive. Carrots were 39 cents a lb and cilantro was super cheap too. I decided to buy some plantains and a coconut along with cabbage and some other stuff.
So off to the house I went with some goodies I had never bought before and never researched how to eat/cook them. I learned about frying plantains in coconut oil and how to open a young coconut. Its all very interesting. I had a cooking extravaganza at home yesterday. I made pot roast with cabbage and other veggies, eggs in muffin pans with veggies, coconut pancakes, and then packaged everything for the week. Needless to say, I have been very excited and been reading a ton on recipes and ideas and controversies.
Anywho... on to the most difficult part of the week. The 20 mile run. I had been deciding on what day to run because of the weather. I chose Thursday because Friday am it was going to rain. I went to be super early on Wednesday (like how I would on pre race night) and got up at 645 to get my act together. My previous plans had changed on where I was going to run so I made up my run late on Wednesday night. I chose as flat of a route as I could with sidewalks. I parked my car at Val's house and headed out. Now... let me tell you... driving in a car and running are so different. I had NO idea that this one hill was so long and steep. I ran it, very slow mind you. I ran all over one part of gboro and then back to Vals to get my powerade and shot blocks. From there, I had run 13 miles so only 7 to go. I instantly ate half of the shot blocks. They hit the spot! I ran all in Val's neighborhood for the next 7 miles. I did end up walking while eating but that was it.
I was surprised that 1. my toes did not turn black and blue and 2. I was not more sore than what I expected.
I attribute these things to my new toe socks and also to my foam roller that I used right after my run. I also attribute it to the extra salt in the shot blocks and the hydration that I was consuming. I hurt way more from my nasty fall the week before.
Anyways.. that night (thursday) Alex and Rosalie came over for dinner. I made chicken tacos and also an apple/cranberry/coconut bake with coconut milk on the side. Everything was really good but the bake could have had a little more coconut on it. :)

dog days...

If you can't have one.. borrow one. A dog that is!
Ok... ok.... yes I technically could have a dog but ahhh such a decision to make! A fence would have to be put up, I would have to find a place to store the food, allot extra time for he/she, want one that does NOT bark at all, has no problem staying outside (with a dog house of course... remember we have white carpets and cats) and the list goes on and on.
Anyways.. I drive by this house that has a huge sign out front stating how many dogs they have for adoption. It is one of those signs with the light up arrow and plastic letters that you can change out. I called the gal who is in charge of the process and found out that she does everything by herself. Her husband is always traveling. She works 10-6 every day with the dogs at her home for free! She has so much love in her heart.
Anyways... I asked if I could run with the dogs and she was thrilled! I wanted to start last week but it was so windy that I did not think it was a great idea. So Friday was my first day running with the dogs. My first dog was a Jack Rustle Terrier. He was a good dog but after about 3 miles he had enough. He also was terrified of the cars. The shelter really did a number on his emotions. We made it 4 miles together. Then I took a Shepard mix dog out. She was 1.5 years old. What a ball of energy. She could run FOREVER! She never stopped for the bathroom and just enjoyed everything. Near the end of the run, I tripped over a stick that was in the grass. I fell on my elbow and MAN did it hurt like nobodies business! I was praying I did not break anything. The dog was so sweet and let me take my time getting up and resituating myself. We ended up walking the rest of the way back and I went home hoping I did not see some bone coming out of my arm or bruising or swelling. I have nothing to compare this hurt to since I personally have never broken a bone in my body (obgyn did at birth). Thankfully its just sore. I have better range of motion after 24 hours and no swelling or anything still. Broken bone adverted. Phew!

Support

So... Wednesday Daniel and I went to our first support group for infertility. We were one of 5 couples there. Each couple had a different story. Each couple was in a different area of grief. We learned that I was the youngest, Daniel and I had been married the longest out of everyone there, we were further along in the process than most, and even though we (I) was emotional, I am in a good place compared to some. The instructor herself had dealt with infertility for 10 years. She then adopted 2 boys in the 90's. Some people there had had IVF, some were about to start it, others were still doing testing, etc. We have 5 more classes left but I already feel like it has helped Daniel a lot. (Guys just dont talk about that sort of thing) Ill now talk to a stranger about it, if appropriate. It is something we live with and something that was unknown for so long. But one guy said it best... If the worst thing that ever happens to us is infertility, it wouldnt be such a bad life. Yes this can sound terrible, but there is always adoption or learning to enjoy living child free. I would take infertility over cancer or being paralyzed from an accident, etc.
Anyways... what I have learned from the class so far is that everyone handles this type of grief differently. Some gals in the class can not go to baby showers, have a hard time with the holidays, and don't like family reunions. Me on the other hand, I LOVE baby showers, watch a baby story on TLC and cry (because I know how awesome of an experience it really is, not in pity), love taking care of Rosalie and seeing her grow and become SO smart, and like to talk about my condition. There have only been a handful of times where I need to divert the conversation. Most of the people in the class have been holding back on life. (myself included until recently) I have learned that no one has done anything fun/interesting/cool because they are all holding back on the what if. Anyways... I was told that our next session will be the most emotional/hardest to deal with (I cant remember what its about).

Something I found

So I was searching yesterday about marathon training and infertility (Even though we have stopped all drugs so therefore my body has gone back to its old ways) and low and behold I found one of the funniest blogs I have ever read. Although her situation and my situation differ, we still have the same emotional battle of infertility.
http://acoursetothefinishline.wordpress.com/
Just thought I would share.... seriously... its really funny.

loosing sucks

Really... who wants to feel the pain of loosing someone? It can be from a break up, death, cross country move, etc. But for me the hardest is death. This past week, my sister Val and her hubby Josh lost Tim. Tim is Josh's father. I was at Val's house when Josh came home in tears because his father called him with the news that he had cancer. It was hard to see how much pain they were both in. They did everything for Tim. Where Tim was living was not in the best area with the best doctors, etc. SO Tim moved in with Val and Josh. (Really.... Val did everything for him!) Over the course of August to November Tim stayed with them 24/7. Val transported him to and from his doctor visits, saw him at the hospital when he was stuck there for various reasons, got his prescriptions, tended to his different food needs since he got a g tube, etc. I also helped out a lot. I saw Tim and had some good talks with him when I picked him up or dropped him off at the hospital. I checked in on him when need be, etc. So when Val go the call that Tim went to the hospital and had 7 liters of fluid taken from him, we all knew the end was near. Tim had liver failure. A week later, he passed away. Val and Josh got the call to leave to see him before he passed and missed him by 5 MINUTES! The doctors were doing cpr to try to revive him for just a minute. Nothing worked. He was gone.
Once again, Val was the rock that everyone held on to. She called everyone, set up arrangements for the funeral, picked up items for the funeral, got the death certificate, etc. Some how she has held it together pretty well. (as well as anyone can).
So Tim is in a better place, a happier place, and a place without pain. As for Val and Josh... well... it will be a hard road but time will hopefully heal some of the pain.

Family part 3

This past weekend Daniel and I went to visit Randy and Jean. The weekend started off on the wrong foot. Daniel had to stay at work late and was cranky because of that. A sales person had an appt for new years eve at 6pm! So.... I got to his work and read a magazine while waiting on him. Then as we were driving, he got a headache, and leg twitch. I drove which helped him take a nap and allowed me to control the radio! We stopped as we always do at cookout to see what the 99 cent milkshakes are. This time it was coke float? WHAT?! Anyways... we just got blueberry cheesecake and shared it. Thankfully we did that because I had no idea that Jean had made dinner for us and they were waiting on us. So sweet! AND it was CHEESEBURGERS! mmmm. So yes... I pigged out on the last day of the year. Milkshake, cheeseburger, cheetos, dunkin donut, etc. It had been a hard year and I was ready to start fresh. (after divulging in my high caloric food.) :)
Anyways.. We discussed my marathon and planning on where to stand, when to go down to the beach, the race course, etc. They both have run the half so I got a bit of guidance from them.
No one but Daniel stayed up until after 12. This is the first year that I did not care to stay up since I was an early teen. I did not watch the ball drop, did not have a party, just good sleep... BECAUSE... I had big plans for the next day. I had to get up early to train! Training was way more exciting than lack of sleep. I had an amazing run. I wanted to run longer than 9 miles but 1. it was not in my training schedule and 2. I did not want to be rude since I knew breakfast was going to be shortly after I was done.
So 9 miles it was. The roads were flat, I had a convenient place to stash my extra water and snacks (the mailbox) and it was just me and the road.
The rest of the day was chatting, eating and a trip to Best Buy. (Jean and I went to target instead) I was able to score some super cheap mittens for my runs and a couple other things.
All in all, it was a good trip. :)