Two years ago a day like this last Saturday would never have crossed my mind. Never. Husband and I had started to run so I could start losing the baby weight and help deal with stress of losing my dad a few months prior. About two weeks in I broke my leg. A stress fracture of serious proportions and I was subsequently diagnosed with osteopenia (the precursor to osteoporosis.)
What a crazy time.
I was just trying to heal, build bone mass back up, and gain confidence not only in myself but also in the bones that carry me along.
Finally, this last January I had enough. I had to start doing something. I was the heaviest I had been. Ever. Time do something about it. For my family is nothing else. So, I started walking (Husband was still running and doing SO well) and we changed how we ate. Good thing started happening. Husband ran in the Pat's Run (4.2 miles) last year and wanted to do it again. He encouraged me to do it, too.
I was scared. For so many reasons. But finally I said I would do it and stepped up my time working out.
My goal going into the run was to NOT have 20 minute miles. Most of my workouts I averaged a 15-17 minute mile so I felt pretty good going into the race. Husband and I started together but because he runs I knew I would just find him at the finish line. It was a good challenge. Husband beat his goal time of 40 minutes by 2 minutes! I was so proud of him. I finished in 1 hour and 7 minutes. YAY!! I was pretty excited and may even attempt to do it again next year.
Our kids want to do the kids run next year. That will be fun.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
The Brain is a Curious Thing or The Morning We Called 911
Wednesday morning started like any other morning. Or so I thought. About 10 minutes after getting out of bed my vision became blurry, I was dizzy, and as I tried to say any words they wouldn't come. My husband was in the shower and I had to communicate my distress to him so I tried the best I could to say something and my failed attempts at communicating anything of significance alarmed my husband. I layed back in bed and Husband called 911. The thoughts of a possible stroke ran though both of our minds. I kept trying to tell Husband about the alarm in the house but I could only call it the "thing" and he had to turn it off. The things we think of in crisis, right?
The paramedics came bounding in rather quickly and started asking me questions. I started crying because I knew the answers to their questions but could not actually say the words to answer them. For example, they asked if I knew where I was. I did. I knew that I was in my house but I could NOT say the word house. However, I COULD say the numbers in my address. Go figure. My language started to come back to me after awhile as the paramedics checked to see if I was currently having a stroke or heart attack. I passed their tests but they gave me the option of either taking a ride in an ambulance to the ER or get in to my primary as soon as possible. I opted for the later.
My children were not scared during this time but found it fascinating that the fire department was in our house. The girls informed them that our neighbor was a firefighter which one of the men tending to me actually knew. They took the girls out into the truck let them climb around and let the siren go once. If our neighbors were hoping to enjoy sleeping in over Spring Break that was the morning it was NOT going to happen. HA!
I was able to get in to see a nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic (where my primary doctor is) and given orders for a complete blood work panel and an MRI of my head and neck that was completed on Thursday evening. This morning (Friday) I was called and told that everything came back clear but they are going to send my MRI and reports over to the neurology department for a consult.
So, what does all this mean? Well, we know that I didn't have a stroke. I could have had a TIA (read about that here) or a possible seizure. Yes, you can have a seizure and be fully conscious. Now we wait to hear more from the doctors and hope that the symptoms do not occur again. I am so thankful for my husband who did not hesitate because all of my physical symptoms were that of a stroke, while rare in thirty-six year olds, are not unheard of. I was pretty worn out after everything and I had a pretty normal day today but still tired. It's hard to fully know if small things I experience are connected to my episode or not. I am trying to be "normal" but also observant of what is happening with my body.
The paramedics came bounding in rather quickly and started asking me questions. I started crying because I knew the answers to their questions but could not actually say the words to answer them. For example, they asked if I knew where I was. I did. I knew that I was in my house but I could NOT say the word house. However, I COULD say the numbers in my address. Go figure. My language started to come back to me after awhile as the paramedics checked to see if I was currently having a stroke or heart attack. I passed their tests but they gave me the option of either taking a ride in an ambulance to the ER or get in to my primary as soon as possible. I opted for the later.
My children were not scared during this time but found it fascinating that the fire department was in our house. The girls informed them that our neighbor was a firefighter which one of the men tending to me actually knew. They took the girls out into the truck let them climb around and let the siren go once. If our neighbors were hoping to enjoy sleeping in over Spring Break that was the morning it was NOT going to happen. HA!
I was able to get in to see a nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic (where my primary doctor is) and given orders for a complete blood work panel and an MRI of my head and neck that was completed on Thursday evening. This morning (Friday) I was called and told that everything came back clear but they are going to send my MRI and reports over to the neurology department for a consult.
So, what does all this mean? Well, we know that I didn't have a stroke. I could have had a TIA (read about that here) or a possible seizure. Yes, you can have a seizure and be fully conscious. Now we wait to hear more from the doctors and hope that the symptoms do not occur again. I am so thankful for my husband who did not hesitate because all of my physical symptoms were that of a stroke, while rare in thirty-six year olds, are not unheard of. I was pretty worn out after everything and I had a pretty normal day today but still tired. It's hard to fully know if small things I experience are connected to my episode or not. I am trying to be "normal" but also observant of what is happening with my body.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Reflections | 2014
While many were glad to be rid of 2014 I found myself thankful for a year of healing and moving forward and basically peace. Now, all those words have different meanings to different people. But I would say those words for this last year. I was thankful for an ordinary year. Let's me be perfectly clear there were bumps, and shoves, and things that I wished we didn't have to deal with. However, they weren't significantly life changing and in comparison to things that happened in recent past they were relatively small. In comparison to things that many of our friends and family have endured they were merely blips on the radar. Ordinary. I am SO thankful for ordinary...not dull or boring...but ordinary.
2014...
...was the year we got to know our neighbors. After about five years in this house we finally know the people that live around us. Not just, "Hey, good to see you" know them but enough that some of them are letting us really enter into their lives with them. We have walked through divorce, death of a parent, cancer, and more. One has even come to a new faith in Jesus and we are hoping to be a further encouragement to them. It's been a good year in this regard especially in a time when many just drive in their garages, close the door, and never know the people that live next door.
...was the year that we changed churches not once, but twice. One we left on good terms and the other closed its doors. We are not church hoppers and this situation completely drives us all bananas. We have landed in a place that seems to be a good fit for us now, while not perfect (no church is), we can be happy and bloom where we are planted. This situation would be what I would consider a "shove" that I would prefer not to deal with. But we must press on.
...Miss L started 1st grade and learned to read. She made tremendous strides in her reading during our Christmas break. More on that in another post.
...We went on vacation to Seattle for the first time since I was pregnant with Miss L. We had such a good time there as a family. Miss L is convinced that we should move there. So much so that she prays for it every. night.
...was the year that we plugged in with other homeschooling families with children in the same age range as our children. It has been fun to adventure out and learn together about variety of things. New friends with different backgrounds. Um, no... I am not worried about socialization. My kids will start up a conversation with just about anyone.
...was the year that we saw the end of the diaper stage in our home. Miss S potty trained (quickly) in June and we have never looked back. It's a new freedom and a little sad sometimes, too. Although the toilet paper consumption has gone up exponentially, it's still cheaper than diapers.
...was the first year that I intentionally read the bible from cover to cover. I'm sad that it was not anything that I ever did while I was in full time ministry. Sure, I studied most of the bible but I am not confident that I had read the WHOLE of the bible. It will become a yearly endeavor from here on out. Such a fruitful thing to do.
See? A pretty ordinary year... love it.
2014...
...was the year we got to know our neighbors. After about five years in this house we finally know the people that live around us. Not just, "Hey, good to see you" know them but enough that some of them are letting us really enter into their lives with them. We have walked through divorce, death of a parent, cancer, and more. One has even come to a new faith in Jesus and we are hoping to be a further encouragement to them. It's been a good year in this regard especially in a time when many just drive in their garages, close the door, and never know the people that live next door.
...was the year that we changed churches not once, but twice. One we left on good terms and the other closed its doors. We are not church hoppers and this situation completely drives us all bananas. We have landed in a place that seems to be a good fit for us now, while not perfect (no church is), we can be happy and bloom where we are planted. This situation would be what I would consider a "shove" that I would prefer not to deal with. But we must press on.
...Miss L started 1st grade and learned to read. She made tremendous strides in her reading during our Christmas break. More on that in another post.
...We went on vacation to Seattle for the first time since I was pregnant with Miss L. We had such a good time there as a family. Miss L is convinced that we should move there. So much so that she prays for it every. night.
...was the year that we plugged in with other homeschooling families with children in the same age range as our children. It has been fun to adventure out and learn together about variety of things. New friends with different backgrounds. Um, no... I am not worried about socialization. My kids will start up a conversation with just about anyone.
...was the year that we saw the end of the diaper stage in our home. Miss S potty trained (quickly) in June and we have never looked back. It's a new freedom and a little sad sometimes, too. Although the toilet paper consumption has gone up exponentially, it's still cheaper than diapers.
...was the first year that I intentionally read the bible from cover to cover. I'm sad that it was not anything that I ever did while I was in full time ministry. Sure, I studied most of the bible but I am not confident that I had read the WHOLE of the bible. It will become a yearly endeavor from here on out. Such a fruitful thing to do.
See? A pretty ordinary year... love it.
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