Back to the start...

Originally I started this blog to document my journey to a marathon.  Two years later I have yet to run a marathon and my blog has transformed into more of our family life, it's highs and lows.  So, how has my running been, you may ask??

I started back running as soon as the doctor released me post-delivery.  It was very slow and I wasn't anywhere close to where I left off.  But it felt great to be back at it.  We (my two running partners and I ) had a few months of outside running before it turned off to a typical Iowa winter.  We moved indoors and did treadmill runs 5 or 6 days a week.  Not my favorite.

Over the last two months we've had more outdoor runs than indoor. It's been cold, but that's why we layer up.  The fresh air is very nice :-)  Our runs have been split between running in Montezuma and New Sharon.  Our runs in New Sharon are easy and fast, as there aren't many hills.  Our runs in Montezuma include Diamond Lake, a.k.a Killer Hills.  There's nothing mundane about it.  It also helps we talk the whole time.  You'd think we'd run out of things to talk about, yet we don't.

Our runs have been early... very early.  Due to time restrictions with jobs, we start at 4:50am.  You read that right.  If we're lucky we can wait as late as 5:00.  Even on weekends we go that early.  Life is so jammed full.  On days we run in Montezuma I leave at 4:35.  It's awesome to have pounded out 5 or 6 miles before most people get out of bed.  I also have no excuse to not go.  I can sleep when I'm dead.  Isn't that the saying?

One other challenge was I nursed until now.  There is no way I could have ran without pumping.  So, I would wake up at 4:10 to pump two bottles worth (usually half asleep), throw on clothes, pop in my contacts, and rush out the door.  I was lucky my supply stayed strong.  I worried about that at first.  Lately it's been the opposite.  My body is taking longer to quit producing that I thought it would.  I enjoy the extra 10 minutes of sleep nowadays. 

I have a few races on the horizon.  First one is Market to Market.  It's a relay race from Jefferson to Des Moines.  I'm running it with 7 other gals.  Two of which are my mom and sister.  I'm excited for it, yet nervous about the unknown.  This will be my first relay race.  Second is Dam to Dam.  This year it's a half marathon instead of a 20K.  It's a personal goal to do a half post-Sawyer.  Third is Warrior Dash the weekend of Sawyer's birthday.  There's a group of us doing it.  I have only done it once since I was pregnant the other two times.  I"m sure I'll pick up a few other 5K's before the year is over. 

I've thoroughly enjoyed running again.  If it wasn't raining and storming right now, I'd be tempted to go for another run after I post this. 

Happy Running!!!

First race of 2014.  25:44 and the first woman to cross the finish line.  Too bad it wasn't timed or have awards. 

2014 so far...

Time to catch up on the ol' blog...

January: Kincaid participated in the North Mahaska wrestling tournament (previous blog post).  He did awesome and we're proud of how much he improved this year.  He continues to excel in school.  He isn't a fantastic reader, but he works hard with few complaints.  He does very well with spelling, math, and social studies.  He continues to run over a mile in PE and is excited to tell me how many laps he ran.  He was outside as much as possible.  The cold weather was giving him cabin fever though. Kincaid also lost his first tooth on January 1st.  Exciting day for the Mitchell's!

Sawyer at 5 months

Sawyer turned 5 months.  He was still exclusively breastfed (or frozen milk).  We switched daycares.  He now goes to the daycare center.  Both boys are within feet of each other.  Sawyer could look out his window and see Kincaid playing at recess. 

Michael's dad, Mike, had a heart attack.  It was very unexpected.  Who thinks their dad/father-in-law will have a heart attack at 60?  Since, he has changed his diet and started tracking his blood sugar (also diagnosed with type II diabetes). 

February:Kincaid and Sawyer got to have some grandparent time.  Michael had training in Tennessee so I tagged along.  Michael's mom stayed with the boys from Monday through Thursday.  From Thursday night through Sunday they went north to stay with my parents.  The time away was awesome.  We drove so we had a lot of one-on-one time.  I've always said I love being in a vehicle with Michael.  No other distractions.  Just us.  We were in Nashville so we soaked up the nightlife downtown most nights.  Over the weekend we went a little further south to see a friend.  Tennessee is one state I think I could live.  I can't wait to go back.

Enjoying the Nashville night life.

Michael and Scott

I switched to 10-hour days.  I work Monday through Thursday and have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with my boys!  It gets a little long and nights feel rushed, but Friday makes it worth it. 

























We went to Minneapolis to celebrate Zeke and Kincaid's birthdays.  First stop was the Historical Center, followed by snow tubing at Elm Creek Park.  Kincaid and Zeke would have tubed all night.  Of course the "magic carpet" took us to the top of the hill.  Not much exertion.

That's an impressive plank, Sawyer.

Elm Creek tubing hill

March: Kincaid turned 7!!!  Where has the time gone?  I cannot believe he is so old!  I feel like we just brought him home from the hospital.  I love the boy he has grown to be.  He is so tenderhearted and sensitive.  He cares about others.  He loves having fun.  He is the best big brother to Sawyer.  He had his first friend party at The Jumping Station.  He and 6 friends played hard for a couple hours.  He has really nice friends. 

Kincaid is 7!!

Kincaid's friend party

Sawyer hit 7 months.  His biggest change... he became mobile.  He went from planking to crawling in a week.  He loves exploring Kincaid's room or the bathroom.  He crawls up to the tub expecting to get a bath.  He weighed in at ~21 pounds.  Still chunky, still cute. 

That's one cute set of buns :-)

My 7-Month Baby

Michael and I got another night out.  We got tickets to Jim Gaffigan at the Des Moines Civic Center.  He's my favorite comedian.  When Kim was sick we'd watch his clips on YouTube.  We would laugh and laugh.  My parents and good friends, Bishops, went with us.  Jim did not disappoint. 

Kerri and I at Jim Gaffigan

I hit another milestone... 34 years old.  Every birthday is bittersweet.  I have hit 3 more birthdays than Kim.  I have outlived her.  Does that mean I'm the older sister now?  In Heaven will she always be 31?

The boys love playing together!!!

I think I'm caught up.  I'm sure there is more that I missed, but these are the highlights.  

Wrestling

This was started a looooong time ago, but I never posted it.  I'm so proud of Kincaid I'm still going to post it. 

Kincaid participated in wrestling again this year.  This is his 4th year.  The first two we didn't have him wrestle in any tournaments.  Last year and this year he did the North Mahaska tournament.  I didn't get to watch him last year so I was excited for this year.

His first match he lost by points, but wrestled hard.  I was impressed with his moves.  He must be paying attention during practice.  His second match he pinned his opponent!!  It was so awesome to see his excitement and pride in himself.  His third match he was pinned.  Overall he placed third in his bracket.  I was very proud of how well he did and his sportsmanship.