Healing

Post surgery update. I have 4 one inch incisions on my abdomen and some very sore tummy muscles. I am missing a once integral part of my body, but am thankful that it is gone. I was so blessed to have such an amazing medical team at Central Baptist Hospital. Dr. Hagar, as well as all of the other docs and nurses were just wonderful, caring, informative, kind and attentive. The healing has begun. My dear husband has helped immensely! Since my mom was not able to make it, Mike has had the unique opportunity to do all the things my mom usually does when she would come to help, whether it was post baby or post surgery. God has surrounded our family with some pretty amazing people who are helping with meals and entertaining the kids. Truly, we are blessed and our cup runneth over!

Anticipation

Yes- from the title- I know you are singing. It's a classic. Go ahead and sing it loud!

Tomorrow begins my prep for surgery. All liquid diet with a kicker of Mag Citrate to help it all get out the other end more effectively. It is a nasty business. Truly nasty. One that I had never hoped to have to endure again until I was 50 and had to get another colonoscopy done. But alas, I am but 39 and here I go again...

I have been running at a very high state of anxiety as I await Monday morning and my once in a lifetime hysterectomy. Part of me is glad all that childbearing apparatus will be gone, because, thankfully, those days are over and done with. Part of me is super excited to not have to deal with the monthly "present" anymore (disclaimer..if people can discuss their children's diaper habits and potty training events, I suppose it is ok to mention the "present"). But the description that I received last week about what all the procedure involves is, quite frankly disturbing, and has me just a little freaked out. Then to add insult upon injury, they make you sign the disclaimer that makes you aware that brain damage and death (as well as many other undesirable things) are possibilities during the surgery. Nice. My doctor tells me that it will all be worth it in the end, and that I will feel so much better. I wish he'd given me some sedatives last week so that I could make it through the rest of the week like a mellow mushroom. That would have made me feel better, or at least made me a little more bearable to be around.

I keep thinking- if I can run a 1/2 marathon, surely this will be a walk in the park. I know that with Jesus, all things are possible, even peace in the middle of this "storm." All I have to do is keep my eyes focused upon Him and He will keep me walking on the water. If I doubt and turn my eyes to the surrounding circumstances, I will sink. But thankfully, He is always there to lift me up. Lord Jesus...you are so very, very good! So it is with great anticipation and renewed courage that I embark upon this surgical journey, ready to see all the ways that the Lord will provide and ready to praise Him when He does!

Lesson learned

You kow that you have done a decent job in parenting when your 10 year old daughter hits a tower of legos with her brother's giganto blowup bat, pops a hole in it, is told she has to hand over her giganto blowup bat to her brother to replace the one she ruined, and she runs to find the 3m packing tape to patch the hole, makes the repair, and both bats are saved!!!! 3m tape rocks! MK and her problem solving skills rock! Life lesson for the kids- learned. :)

SPRING!!

Spring is finally here! I have hit the road 4X this week- going at least 4 miles each time. It is so beautiful. I could stay out all day! I supppose I will just go for a nice walk today, since rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. Mike is doing 10 this morning. He will run the Lexington 1/2 Marathon next Sunday. Pretty funny guy...I have a surgery scheduled for the 29th, day after the 1/2, and he wants me to run the 1/2 with him. I called the docs office, the secretary said absolutely no runing the day before surgery. Bummer. It would have been a great way to go out before the 4 week recovery period that will follow surgery. If the weather continues to be nice, I am thinking I will sit out back in my bathing suit (no, it's not a bikini) and soak up the rays! What else can I do- no lifting or climbing stairs for a few weeks. I think I may go out of my mind...or blog:)

Kids are doing well. Little spring fever and at times are a little antsy, but considering our living in limbo until Mike finds a job, thay have been hanging tough. Lots of bike riding on their new bikes in the circle of our street with the other kids. No spring sports on tap, just looking to soak in the beauty of Kentucky at a slower pace this year. Smiles!

Fast Pass Fairies Succeed!

We did it! All 9 of the crazy ladies that attended the 2nd annual Disney Princess Weekend and ran the Royal Family 5K crossed the finish line! Those who attended last year (Karen, Kerry, Vickie, Darcy) shaved time off of last year's time to set PRs! For the newbies who attended (Connie, Karolyn, Kathryn, Kris, Kelsey), this was for most, their first 5K and all of them finished in less than 1 hour! I am so proud of each one of these dear women! We are already looking forward to next year's race. I hope some of them will even brave the 1/2 Marathon. Anything is possible!

Perky

I was on the treadmill today, next to me was this young and "perky" college girl. I must admit, I miss those days of looking so young and fit. At first, my competitive nature wanted to kick in and show this chick up. But my old body just wasn't up for the challenge today. As I glanced over at her progress, I saw she would hit her stride for about one "lap around the track" then have to walk. Not sure if she was speed training or not, but I covered the same distance as she did in slightly less time. I am a slow and steady runner (I do use that term loosely). I had just been to Bible study and this whole treadmill deal gave me a clearer picture of what I learned earlier this morning. We have been studying "The Vine and the branches" in John 15. When I try to muscle through life my own way, doing everything that I want to do, when I want to do it and by my own energy- that is living a self-centered life and am not abiding/remaining in Jesus. I am running quickly, burning out, and having to walk, or even have a seat on the curb, when those challenges in life hit. When I abide/remain in Jesus (studying His Word, praying, fellowship w/ others, worshiping Him, etc.), then I am living a Spirit-led life. By doing so, when the time for pruning comes (from God, the gardner, in the form of trials, difficult people, etc) rather than being sent reeling and ending up frustrated and bitter, I am able to realize what is happening and embrace the work God is doing in my life. In doing so, eternal fruit will be produced. It will be displayed in a patient and joyful disposition that awaits the "spring" and the growth of even sweeter fruit. With all that said, running at a slow, steady pace is like living the Spirit-led life. I will not run out of breath. I will have the energy stores to make it up the next hill whenever it arises, and rarely will I have to sit down on the curb. Gotta love that!!

Getting ready

I leave Thursday to head to Disney for a leisurely weekend with some of my favorite running partners- my mom, 2 aunts, 5 cousins, and one who I think is a cousin. It should be a great weekend filled with lots of laughter, lots of eating, a little running (as we run the Royal Family 5K), and much fun! It is always a treat to get to hang out w/ these ladies. Over the years, I have always been the youngest and have been so blessed to be able to sit and listen to the more mature women in my family share their life experiences with me. Now, I will fall in the middle of the pack as the younger gals join us! I know that God will bless this time that we all share together. I have seen Him do a mighty work in the lives of the women in my family! So it is with great anticipation that I make this trip, hoping that His glory will be revealed in a beautiful way through each and every one of those dear women whom I love so much! But until then, I still have 2 more days to crank out the miles on the treadmill. This old mare has a few young fillies to leave in the dust...Giddy up!