I ran 2 1/2 miles today and fast walked another 1/2 mile! IT FELT SO INCREDIBLY GOOD!!! I am not exagerating when I say that it felt every bit as good as the massage I got the day I was able to get out of bed. Thank you endorphins, I have missed you dearly.
Kelcie had a day off today, teacher in service day in her school district, the other kids did have school. So, she and I went to the gym to play basketball after we dropped off the other kids at school. We had so much fun and she taught me some things that I did not know, she is a good coach. We were running a lot in the gym and she was creaming me all over the place so we decided to go to the track and time her running a mile. That was so funny because she shot off of the start line like a bat out of you-know-where, I mean she was really fast. She was able to sustain that for 3/4 of the first lap and then she started walking. I had to laugh, and I did. When she got to me I told her to run with me and I would teach her a thing or two about running for distance. So we ran at a much slower steady pace and I talked to her about how to gain endurance for running and how to breath properly (that is the hardest part of running for a lot of runners).
I was no match for her speed and agility and she was no match for my endurance she had to stop and walk and then run again. We ran a mile, without timing it. I was so sad at how much the menengitis set me back, I really am no where near as strong as I was. But, with some time and perserverence I will be back to where I was before, and beyond, and my Kelcie will be keeping up with her old slow mother and going far beyond me.
After running we went to pick out a Halloween costume for her, that was a lot of fun too. I had already taken the other children out to pick thier costumes while Kelcie was practicing basketball after school. I will post pictures at Halloween because she is not sure where she is going to go with the dress she bought, there are a couple of different options, she is still mulling them over.
After this we went to the Bishop’s Storehouse in Tempe to pick up a food order for someone. That was also really good for Kelcie because she had never been there and had all kinds of questions about where the food comes from etc. It was also good for her to help me deliver it, to see the some of the fruits of the tithes and offerings that she willingly donates to.
Then we went to Pei Wei and got some yummy lunch together, then we both folded a mountain of laundry together. I am so happy to be well and to enjoy these things with my daughter. This is what truly makes me happy. When we go out to do things like this together and there is no stress or outside pressure and we can just joke and have fun, and talk about important things, oh, this is what makes life so sweet!
I went back to the gym today to walk a bit today. It felt good but it wore me out, I came home and took a long nap. It was wonderful to feel a little taste of physical activity. I met up with some of my gym friends, so refreshing to see them.
Kelcie has her first game against another school’s team today.
Our basketball star. We have had so much fun watching Kelcies games. She is doing really well learning the game and playing with her team mates. She has played 3 scrimages and has an official game on Thursday. We have all had so much fun going to her games and cheering her on.
Randon was just gone for several days hunting in the Kiabab National Forest. He went with several of his buddies. It was an archery hunt for deer. They had a really fun time. BTW, that is a 70 lb. compound bow, it takes a lot of strength to pull it back like that. I can’t do it.
So did the kids and I. We went to Emily’s house with Randi and all of her kids and two of her neices. While they were gone and we had a perpetual party. We swam, played video games, watched movies, ate pizza and just had a good time in general. Randi, Emily and I have 16 children between us, and with Randi’s 2 nieces that was a total of 18 children!
I am feeling much better. I caught a cold the day that I finally started feeling like myself again. So, other than a nasty head cold that I am now trying to get over, I am feeling good again. I am still trying to get all of my energy back, that is not normal yet, but, I am able to take care of our home and children again. You know that you have been desperately ill when you get up from your convelesence and ENJOY doing your normally mundane chores again.
Our baby is now 5! WOW!! Randon and I are just amazed. Our baby really has grown so fast.
In this photo she is holding her stuffed dog from G.ma DeMarco, she named him Waffles, and a stuffed tiger from G.ma Johnson which she calls tickles.
Charis is a joy to all of us in her family. She is such a bubbly happy creative child. She drew me a picture of me flying on the back of a red bird into a cherry tree the other day. She is in love with cherries and takes great pride in having a nick-name ‘cherry’ and consequently loves all things cherry.
Just look into her eyes in this photo, you can see her joy.
The other day while one of my friends and I were talking on the phone I was telling her about this strange thing that has been happening to me since I have been ill. I was telling her how I have been just crying spontaneously at the silliest things. This is not something I really do, usually (she shares this phenonmina, of not being the typical girl with tears and water power, we just don’t have it). She said that she has been particularly tender lately too. We both thought that perhaps this is because we are moving on in our 30’s? Later I was reflecting upon this and I thought somehow everything just seems to mean more. There seems to be so much more to pour out my heart for now. So there it is lots and lots and lots of tears during this time!
Also, as unimportant and impertinent these reflections may be I have had a few other thoughts during this time:
1. I never want to go to a nursing home. Hesper and I made one of our pacts that we will not let that happen to one another, whatever the cost to eachother. Love those girlish pacts we still make, I love that girl.
2. I want to die suddenly an unexpectedly. I do not want to linger in sickness for any amount of time. I want to live in such a way that at every moment the people who mean the most to me know it beyond a doubt. I want to go on living life to the fullest until the last minute. Grandma says that she wants time to say goodbye to everyone.
3. Everything just means more to me now. I want to savor things more.
4. I can hardly wait to run!!!!! That is one thing that is keeping me going. I can’t wait to feel that burning in my lungs and push myself to my physical limit in the way that only athletics can for me.
BTW, I have had two very bad days this week and one very good day and two very neutral neither good nor terrible days this week. I have lost MOST of the physical weakness, and I am mostly struggling with crippling headaches on my bad days (I think they are official migranes). On my good days I am at about 70% of my normal.
Michelle
Randon
Kelcie
Morgan
Scott
Addison
Charis
