Big Sur Recap

What can I say except Carmel is amazing, Monterey is fantastic, and Pebble Beach is EXPENSIVE!

My great friend from grad school used to live in Pacific Grove and was an amazing tour guide.  We started off in Carmel by the Sea. Everything I have ever read about Carmel was true. I would love to live there but couldn't even afford a shack. Wine tasting rooms, amazing seafood, beautiful views, and the people are wonderful.  I loved Carmel.

Then we moved on to driving Big Sur and checking into out Monterey hotel. We managed to do our packet pick up early and found out that about 65% of the runners were female for this race.

As for race day.  This was a whole new feeling.  Not having to park and having the race end behind our hotel was amazing! It seemed so easy I would do it again.

The race had hills.  The big sur 1/2 is advertised as "gentle rolling hills" they are only rolling as you are not in San Francisco.
Miles 1  my phone range and it was the security company! I didn't answer I figured they would call 1 of my 2 back up people.
Mile 2-3 were flatter and great. It involved running in a tunnel that was an amazing view and there was a guy playing bagpipes.
Mile 4 My phone rang again!! Security company so I finally answered, gave them a back up number and called my mom.  It was a little hard to run up a hill and talk.
Miles 6-9 were tough as the road was something I have never seen before.  It was larger rocks that were sealed onto the road and they were actually painful on the feet.  This was the consensus of everyone around us too.
Miles 10-13.1 were great. We were back by Lover's point and there was packed sand to run on. This was a relief to the feet and I got some of my wind back.

Overall a finish of 2:44 Better than what I had planned after 5 months of physical therapy and basically 5 weeks to train.  All my running before that had to be 3-5 miles.

Now that the race is done my PT and I agree, 6 weeks to shut down the leg and then hit the running mechanics again. I can run but back to 3 miles to ensure no flare ups, no KT Tape, and no Lido patches. Our goal is to get me running with no items to "get me through".

The trip as a whole was amazing. I cannot say enough about these areas.

Heaven!

Bixby Bridge

Monterey Aquarium

Seal Rock

Wordless Wednesday

2 Weeks in, a Gait analysis, and a new generation

I am now almost two weeks into Gluten free. It has been way easier to change at home, however going out to eat or ordering isn't so easy.  I have come to realize I will never be eating gluten again. I tried to eat something with gluten one day. That was a huge fail. Pain within 10 minutes and curled up.

I did order food from a restaurant that boasts a lot of gluten free. However, they didn't follow guidelines as not to touch and mix gluten type stuff as my safe food turned out to be - not safe. This is just going to be a learning process.

As for the running.  I had to take some time off per my physical therapist.  I just had a run gait analysis and that was ackward.  What to say when someone says "well your not even close to being a train wreck" um thanks? I really only have 3 things to fix, and only 1 of them is what is causing my pain.  I call this a win.


I have to say it's odd.  Not my kids of the new generation.  No, I just facetime'd with my grandpa who is 87!! They wanted an iPad mini and I set it all up.  He can text message now too. It is amazing how times can change so fast.  It will be fun for the kids to see their great grandparents more.

Though great grandma has dementia her new medication seems to help a bit more. She has her bad times but those are usually later in the day.  In the mornings she seems to know and recognize everyone.  I hope it can stay this way for a while.

Great Grandpa reading to the kids

Running + bikes ='s duathlons

This is my hope for next year. That being said the bike I owned was what insurance gave me when mine was stolen. It would have been great when I was 16. Not now. 

So to work on training a few friends gave me lots of tips and off we go. A few rides and a few good workouts In I am lovig it. 

A new school year and the end of summer

I have no idea how the summers always seem slow and like they will never warm up in the start, but they always do. I have always believed that once my birthday passes summer flies by and is gone. This year was no exception.

The kids and I have spent tons of time on the playground in our yard this year. They are finally big enough!

Right before school started we picked up Sara's glasses and it is amazing to see the changes already.  Every morning she puts them on and every night she puts them on her night stand.  One morning she said "mommy look at the blue in the tree" I had no idea what she was talking about.  She could SEE the electrical connectors in the tree. I feel bad and wonder how much she has missed out on.  Just glad she has them now.

We have started the school year and it is busy already.  They are now in the 3 year old class and I have had to readjust my schedule for when to leave. Two kids who need to stop at home and school to go to the bathroom takes forever!! I am excited for October as they will start the MacPhail Music Program in the afternoons too.

Along with school they now have swimming again too. There is one big perk. They are 3 and I don't have to get in the pool anymore!! They both talk about wanting to go back the minute we leave. Here is to hoping I raise a couple little fishes.

Kindergarten screening already!

I now know my kids are growing up. Most people choose not to do kindergarten screening until 3 1/2 but Sara has had some issues with speech. Turns out her speech is great... Her vision is not.

She could not see any shapes past the second line. She just kept repeating circle, even when it was a square. I knew this wasn't right as Danyal could read 6 lines. They tried to retest her 3 times but kept getting the same responses. 

I decided I wasn't waiting to get her in for a recheck.  I took her to Pearle Vision and the Dr. was great. He is very vocal that all kids should be screened at 3 and has even worked to try and get legislation passed!

They used a machine and had sara look at a picture way in the back.  They almost stopped right away and said - you know she is going to need glasses right? Um how can you tell so fast.  I guess this machine measure everything inside the eye and does the same as the actual eye exam.  They use both for kids so they can have a subjective and objective test as we know kids can be goofy and silly and play.

Sara even had her eyes dialated. I think her favorite part was when Auntie Ibby showed up to play.  Sara was very thorough about picking out her glasses.  Her main issue is just like her parents - astigmatism.  She is now asking where her glasses are but it will be another 10 days before they are ready.  I sure hope this helps now! Oh and they were so nice and eve gave her bear glasses so she has a friend with glasses.

As for the kindergarten screening - Danyal aced it. He lost points as he cannot write his name.  Duh! They needed 11 points to pass and he got 42! Sara we now know had some vision issues but still scored a 36.  I was informed that  that we are gonna have our hands full with Danyal. She couldn't get over him. I am pretty sure his sister is about to give him a run for his money once she gets her glasses!!

3 is here!

I cannot believe the kids are 3! I had so much I wanted to accomplish this year and I think we are getting there.

• Big Kid Beds - This is accomplished and was a smoother transition than I thought.  Sara moved to her big bed in January and Danyal in March.  It has been a lifesaver when they are sick. Though now they want to come in mommy's bed.
• Cups - I had enough of cleaning the sippys and tossed them all June 1st. That was it. They are onto big kid cups except for in the car. 
• Potty training - Sara has been accident free and dry overnights and on naps since June 25th! Danyal finally now uses the potty and is dry overnight and after naps but still has some accidents (1 a week or so). 
• Languages - They now speak full sentences in French!
• Swimming - We are starting up in September in the big kid class. This is huge! It means I don't have to get in the water!

This morning they knew it was their birthdays and they sang to each other. The things they do these days melt me. I have to say 3 is better than 2, here is why

• When sara gets up at the crack of dawn she will stand next to me as I get ready and the kid will brush her teeth the whole time!
• They hugs they give each other and the "i love you's" oh my gosh!
• Their personalities have gotten huge! Sara is the mommy and nurturing type and Danyal is all boy and all 3. Whoaaa. It is going to be a long fun year. 
• They are more independent. I still have to make sure they stay alive these days but they can get dressed, put their dirty clothes away, go potty by themselves.  

I cannot wait to see what changes the next year brings. I am sure as we move into another year of pre-school Sara will talk more, and Danyal will continue to be the leader he is. 

Sibling Love

The Giggles

my beautiful girl

Big Boy!

She is very attached to her brother!