Housewife, Desperate to Run

Just to let you all know that:

a) I haven't given up (had my butt handed to me in the middle of E3N St)

b) I am alive and well! Kicking up dust, actually.

Today started week 5 of Couch to 5K. I would like to say that it is easy and that anyone can do it, but that would be a lie. Many of my close friends (and family) know that I am the kind of person who finishes what I start....even if it kills me! Something about pride? I don't know. I would also LOVE to say that each week it gets better.....BullS***!!!! Every week the amount of time you are suppose to run increases and not just little by little. You gotta think that if this program works in just 9 weeks, you gotta work for it. At first I totally believed that I would advance quickly (which I have) and that one day I would just start running like Forrest Gump and keep on going the whole 3 miles (which I have not). Not going to happen. I have, however, come to learn that this whole running thing is totally mind over matter. Even when your legs feel like rubber and your lungs are about to explode, don't stop until the "little man" says so! And, if you got it in ya, keep going. Your body will let you know when you absolutely have to stop. Possibly by shutting down completely or by projecting puke. ;) Today my run consisted of run 5 minutes, walk 3, run 5, walk 3, run 5, cool down. I did it and even ran at least an extra minute at the end (mainly cause I was ready to get home and running gets you there much faster). I will say that I feel great! I have yet to loose any weight, but have also yet to gain any. Although I weigh the same, all my clothes fit differently...better. My legs are much more toned and I can tell I am stronger. Whether it be chasing Ollie around or walking up stairs with bags of groceries and without getting winded. Anyway, I hate to go on and on. I just hope to inspire you to give running a try. Be strong! You have to, cause this defiantly isn't a program for the weak.

Peace Out & again I say:
Eat My dust!!

Lynsey

Wally & The Dream Park Adventure

 I recently had a long talk with my dear husband about the lack of quality time he spent with me and O. Laying around the house watching cartoons does not count as time well spent. I spend all day with Ollie and try to come up with fun things for us to do. Those fun things must fit somewhere between treatments, naps and my study time (I am going back to school and currently taking Anatomy, but that's another story).  All this being said, John started working on his "family time" this Saturday morning by taking us to Dream Park. If you have never visited the Dream Park, you are truly missing out. This is an amazing play place for children. Heck, I even enjoy playing and climbing and sliding (note the leg shot below).

Ollie and I have visited once before and our experience wasn't all that grand. Besides the fact that it was very hot and I had no help, I discovered some, u-hem, "leftovers" from a teenage night of fun....YUCK! Anyway, the trip this Saturday was a lot of fun. Ollie found a playmate in a 4 year old little boy named Ashton.

He was super cute and oh so sweet to her. I can still hear him calling her, "Wally, I'm over here!

Wally,Wall-eeee!"

They played together for at least an hour before little "Wally"  ran out of gas.

Overall it was great! Can't wait to see what John has planned for next time!

Spaghetti In My Pocket

Tonight we had spaghetti. John fixed Ollie a plate and put it in the freezer to cool. We do this so often that I think O actually believes her food is "cooking" in the freezer. Although John didn't want to give her the plate (he thought it would be best of he fed her), I wanted her to enjoy her meal like the big girl she is. Ollie loved it! She used her fork and smiled and ummmmed through the meal. She drank her tea all by herself too. We actually thought she had eaten everything on her plate, only to find the majority of it in the pocket of her bib. Oh well. She enjoyed it and so did we!

The following is a little video of dessert. Yum!

Cooking Up A Cure

For Cystic Fibrosis

The Ollie's Army Cookbooks have finally arrived! Yay! They are super cute and have recipes from all our friends and family. The book also has pictures of our many supporters-mostly Ollie's "little" friends. I have several books and would like LOVE to sell them ALL! You can get your cookbook by stopping by my house (when someone is home) or going by Salon Utopia or Vicki Popwell Photography (both in Andalusia). For those in Elba, contact Beth (mother-in-law). She has several available for purchase. For those who want a book but are unable to visit any of the places listed, you can order online. Books are just $15 and shipping is an additional $5. For more information on how to complete your order, simply press the "buy now" button on the left, under the picture of the cookbook. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. Until then, Let's all cook up a cure!

Love to all!
Lynsey

Introducing R E T

Rowland Edward Thorn

My beautiful nephew entered the world today!

My phone rang at 5:00 this morning and although it took me a while to reach it, I knew exactly what was going on. My sister, Lesley was in labor! 2-3 weeks early! Row was ready!

Being that it was so early in the morning, it took a little while to find a volunteer to come watch Miss O. Luckily I have some great family and cousin Beth Covin (Pebworth) came over. As soon as she arrived I was out the door fearing that I could miss out on something. (Isn't it silly how we forget that babies take forever to get here).

I wanted to be there. Lesley is my baby sister! My best friend. I had to be there!

As it turns out, her water had broken around 3:00 this morning. All of this was totally unexpected. Lesley was so calm, laughing and joking throughout the day. She handled labor like a seasoned champ. Around mid morning her contractions became stronger. It wasn't until around 11:00 or so that she finally reached 5 cm and was given an epidural. Once I knew she was comfortable and resting well, it was off to the cafeteria to grab me and mom some lunch. We'll just like the old trick in restaurants, if you want your food to come, get up and go to the restroom, babies work the same way. Go grab a sandwich and bet your bottom dollar that before you can even get a bite in, the baby starts making headway-literally. As soon as I got back her contractions became closer and the ball really began to roll. This same thing happened to me while in labor. My doc decided to go eat lunch only to be called back to deliver O before he had the chance to eat. CrAzY!

Moving on and push came to shove and Row made his debut at 2:15PM. He weighed exactly 7 lbs and is 20 1/2 inches (Ollie was exactly 7 lbs and was 21 inches). Almost the exact same size! CrAzY again!!

It's a sister thing-we're cool like that!

Fortunately being "cool like that" got me a first class ticket in the delivery room.

I LOVED every minute.

Row is the most beautiful baby. He melted my heart the first moment I saw him and I am totally in love. I am so grateful to my sister for allowing me to share her moment. Today was the second best day of my life (right behind Ollie's birth).

For those of you questioning my wedding-BOO! Great day too but this is a new life people!

I am so happy for Lesley and Mitch and so happy that mom and baby are doing great!

Thank you, Lesley, for being such a amazing sister. I am so proud of you!

I love you!

Ollie loves Row too! She was so curious. She gave him a kiss and called him bebee.

The following is a short video of Row being cleaned up by the nurse.

Sweetest sound in the world!!

Jogging Momma

I just wanted to take a minute to post a quick update on the "Couch to 5K" status. Although most of you probably don't care (check back later for Ollie news), some of my readers are genuinely interested in how the training/torture is going. This week started week 3 of the program and boy did it start off with a bang. Throughout last weeks runs/walks I was only up to running 90 seconds and walking 90 seconds (the first week was run 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds). Beginning yesterday I was to run 90, walk 90, run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes then repeat. 3 MINUTES!! Whoa! I was not expecting that. Some of you may be laughing at my inability to run long distances but I challenge you to make snide remarks once I complete the program. Even though I huffed and puffed during the 1st week at just a mere 60 seconds, I am proud to say that I ran the WHOLE 3 minutes both times! Apparently it works! I feel good and am starting to understand why running is so addictive. I am so excited about the weeks to come! Stay tuned for more info on  my training.

Peace out and eat my dust!!

Couch to 5K

For the most part this blog is dedicated to family life.  I will start off by saying that Ollie is great. She is growing, talking and getting into everything (to be expected of a 1.5 year old). I wanted to take an opportunity to blog about myself and the goal I have set and hope to accomplish. I am really hoping that by putting it in writing for all the world to see, I am not able back out....we'll see.

As most of you know, I have been an avid walker for many years now and have always enjoyed the time to myself. Being a stay at home mom can be pretty stressful at times and a walk around town gives one time to think and process thoughts without the usual tug of the shorts or Dora song blasting loudly in the background.  Although I have always been a walker I have never quite mastered the art of running. Secretly, I have always longed to be a runner. I have always been jealous of people that could run long distances and appear to actually enjoy it. I have even read that running gives one a high and I believe it! Although I have yet to experience that so called runners high, I have received the same endorphin effect from chocolate....it basically makes you genuinely happy. Until now, running did not equal happy! It equaled knee pain, shortness of breath and the urge to puke. Although I still experience those negative feelings, things are looking up. I recently started Couch to 5K. Let me start by saying it should be named experienced walker to 5K. I am only on my second week and it is tough! Basically, it is a 9 week training program that conditions one to run. At the end of 9 weeks, one should be able to run a 5K (3 miles). Each week your running time is increased until you are able to run continuously for 3 miles. For those that have an i-phone or an i-pod touch (what I use) there is an app on i-tunes available for purchase. The cost of the app is just $2.99 and it completely walks/runs you through the program. You are able to easily download your own tunes to the app via i-tunes. The app tells you when to walk and when to run, when you are halfway there and for how long to warm-up and cool down. It is awesome! Although I am pushing my way through it right now, I feel confident that it will be worth it in the end. Hopefully I will become a "runner" and get that so called high from doing it! I am thinking that after this blog, I am unable to back out! I love a challenge!!