Kiersten’s Blog

Remember when I told you about the couch to 10K program I was doing?  Well, I finished it with a bang today.  I ran the Aflac Iron Girl 10K.  The program promised that I would be able to run a 10K in 13 weeks and that I would be able to run the whole thing.  I was a little skeptical, but I did it!  And it wasn’t bad at all!

My goal was to run it in less than an hour and to not have to stop and walk.  I didn’t have to stop and walk (even on the hills) and I even sprinted the last 0.4 miles.  I clocked in at just over an hour.  My final time was 1:02:37.  I’m definitely happy with that result.  I’m more happy, though, that I got off my couch and got running.  Now I need motivation to keep going!

Taylor and the kids came along to cheer me on.  It was an early morning for all, but it was nice to have a support team.  London was excited to see me as I was crossing the finish line.  She has asked me many times since then if I won.  I just tell her, “yes.”  Of course I won!  I finished and I ran the whole thing!  That’s winning to me!

Every year we have a cleft palate team meeting with London’s doctors and every year they tell me how great she’s doing.  Today’s visit was no exception.  They told me that she doesn’t have to go back for 2 more years.  With her team visits, she sees a number of doctors: audiologist, ENT, pediatrician, dentist, speech pathologist, social worker, geneticist (which we didn’t see today), plastic surgeon, and probably more.

At audiology

They always tell me the same thing, that she’s doing great and that she’s just adorable.  Everybody loves her little voice, her big blue eyes, and her curly hair.  Of course, she still has a tube hanging out in her right ear (for almost 4 years now) which may or may not fall out any time soon.  She also still has a bit of nasality in her speech, but it’s hard to detect without the special “listening tube.”  It was amazing how much air I could hear escaping out her nose with the tube.  But she knows what to do to stop it and she does when she remembers.  So I just have to keep reminding her.  We’ll follow up with the speech pathologist in six months.  London does well with the small amounts of therapy she has had and we always get comments on how well she speaks.  According to the doctors today, it looks like she should be okay to never have a surgery again!  Yay!  One surgery at 10 months old was definitely enough for me!  We walked out the door of the hospital with smiles on our faces and covered in stickers, so tired that both kids promptly fell asleep in the car.

Ashton wanted in on the action while visiting with the ENT doctor

It’s been over three weeks and London just can’t seem to stay healthy.  We took a trip to urgent care today to get a prescription for antibiotics.  She has another ear infection.  It’s the second in less than 2 months.  Poor girl.  She has had a fever all day today but she won’t take tylenol so I can’t really help her much.  Taylor was the only one to go to church today.  London will miss school again tomorrow and she missed it on Friday because she was throwing up again the night before.  I sure hope things clear up for her soon and I really hope that all of the rest of us stay healthy.

We paid a visit to the pediatrician today.  We’ve had the same insurance and same PCP for over a year now and I have never met my own.  Honestly, I don’t even know my doctor’s name.  In fact, I’ve never even met my OBGYN and I had a baby less than a year ago.  Sure, I know my certified nurse midwife well, but no doctor.  That said, I know many pediatricians.  Not only have we visited our kids’ PCP many times, but we’ve also visited a number of other pediatricians, just to get a same day appointment in the case of illness.  I think it’s funny how many times I have been to the doctor with my kids, but I myself haven’t ever visited my doctor.  I take that back.  I went once to get my ears cleaned out by a nurse.  Anyway, I took London to the doctor today.  It was a waste of time and gas and 10 bucks.  I should have just stayed home and let her nap (exactly what she’s doing now) but I was worried about her.  She’s had a nasty cough for two weeks now, and this week she has started throwing up.  I know it’s better that the doctor thinks it’s nothing and I guess that makes me worry less.  It’s just annoying.  And it’s not like I wanted to get her on antibiotics or anything.  I just wanted to know what was wrong and what I can do to fix it.  Nothing.  I just have to wait it out.  We just have to wait it out.  I could have diagnosed that myself.

A while back (6 weeks ago) I started a couch to 10K program.  I’m very proud of myself for sticking with it so far.  I’m halfway there now and I’m feeling great!  It started out REALLY easy.  It’s quite a bit harder for me now, but I’m seeing results!  I stepped on the scale today, and it says I’ve lost 5 pounds!  It’s completely possible that the scale isn’t quite right.  I’m pretty sure that’s the case, but either way, I have lost weight.  I feel better about myself and I look better.  I’ve actually started to really enjoy my morning jogs.  I go three times a week and then sometimes on my off days I do pilates.  I don’t feel like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, although it is hard to get up early.  I’m glad I made the goal and I’m excited to continue to get in shape.  Now if I could only curb my sweet-tooth…

Thanks for listening to my self-absorbed ramblings.  But isn’t that what blogging’s all about?

I bought a new app for my iPod yesterday.  It’s called Couch to 10K and I’m pretty excited about it.  I used it for the first time today.  Basically, it’s a 13 week training program to get ready to run a 10K, which I’m planning on doing in May.  I only have to exercise 3 days a week (although I’m planning on doing Pilates on my days off) and I’ll be ready.  Today was my first day and it was SO easy!  I know it will get harder and harder, but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy my workout was today.  I haven’t been very diligent about working out lately, or even getting up early.  My plan is to get to bed early so I can be up before the kids and exercise.  Hopefully I can get into a new groove.  It’s been difficult with all of the changes that have been going on, to stay in a routine.  I miss my walking group.  Today when we left the park, I told London that we would go back on Wednesday and she said, “Can we walk and then go to the park?” because we used to go walking and end up at the park.  Maybe if my stroller was in condition to use for a good walk, I would, but first I need to find a good welder.

1. Is it bad to let my 9 month old clean up after himself after dinner?  By clean up, I mean crawl around on the floor and eat all of the food he dropped.

2. Why do cookies have to taste SO good, and why do I think it’s imperative to eat more than one?

3. I LOVE the way my new house is turning out.  Too bad it’s still a mess.

4. I wonder when it will stop raining so I can start exercising again.

5. Will my stroller be able to be fixed or am I going to have to wake up before the kids every day?

6. I REALLY need to go to Costco and stock up my pantry and my refrigerator again.  They’re looking pretty bare.  Especially the fridge.  I need fresh produce.

7. What are the best fruits and vegetables to juice?  I found 25 pounds of carrots for $5.99, but I’m not a huge fan of plain carrot juice.

8. I should probably be more like Taylor and have smoothies for breakfast.

9. I wish I had a tangerine tree.

10. I wonder if I could grow one in a pot on my patio.

11. Ooh, I want a garden box.

12. Why are all of my random thoughts about food?

13. I think it’s time for another bonfire at the beach.

14. I need to play my violin again one of these days.  I wonder how it will sound in my new echo-y house.

Last year I did a fitness challenge headed up by a friend from college. This year she’s doing another one and I’m committing to it once more. I used to be really good about getting up and going walking or jogging in the mornings. I would push the kids in the stroller. They would be happy because they got out, and I would be happy because I got out and exercised. Lately, though, our routine hasn’t been so routine anymore. I have a stroller that needs fixing. I also have a daughter that hast to be at school 3 days a week. Then, of course, we have moved so I don’t have an established route yet. Anyway, enough with the excuses. I’m jumping on the fitness bandwagon starting Monday (incidentally my birthday). You’re welcome to join us too. Check out the challenge on Jenni’s blog. Let’s all get motivated together!