25 Weeks: A Year of Blogging

I can't believe this month marks a year since I've been blogging. I'm still pretty illiterate when it comes to technology, but I'm making an effort to learn. Also, this spring will be two years since I started training for races. My favorite year so far, though, is 2012. I accomplished a lot last year (including finding out I was pregnant, of course), and I logged in 1,007 miles! Heath told me that was about the distance from where we live to one of the cities we passed through on our way out West this past summer--Salina, Kansas. Ironically, the month with the most mileage was the month I found out I was expecting! How crazy is that? I got in 127 miles! Needless to say, I began to drop down significantly in the following months.

This time last year I was crazy nervous about the marathon on Feb. 12th. My entire right foot hurt, and my IT bands on both knees were giving me trouble. Somehow, with a lot of prayer, determination, KT Tape, and Aleve, I made it through right on target with my goal, 4:30. That experience is one I would give NOTHING for, and I'm so glad I got to accomplish that feat. I can't wait to get started on it again. I was just starting to train for the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, AL, when I found out I was expecting, so this next year, I'm going to do my best to document my experience of training for it while raising a child and (hopefully) using Mother Nature's milk source. Part of me wants my pregnancy to take its time so I can cherish each moment with my baby being tucked away all safe and sound and mine, but a part of me wants him to get here so I can see his sweet little face and hold him in my arms. Running again would be nice, too. It won't be long until that time is here. Just 14 weeks until I'm 40 weeks, and I might or might not even go that far into my pregnancy. I can't believe all this time has passed by as quickly as it has.

Someone who can run (and running for a great cause, might I add) is my friend Janell. With the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training program, she is training for the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon in May. She has to raise over 2,000 buckaroos to be able to volunteer to run this race! Who in her right mind, right? Janell's honored patient is a student she once had (MaKenzey) who is currently in and out of St. Jude's getting treatment for cancer. Please stop over at Janell's TNT page to read about MaKenzey's story or to see how you can help Janell support a great cause and accomplish her goal of running 26.2 miles.

I was a rebel again last night. I was feeling pretty pain-free and fit as a flitter as my maw maw might say, so I decided to do a little jogging during my walk. It was 70 degrees, and there was a soft, warm breeze. The weather was perfect. Well, my run started off beautifully. That old familiar warmth rose up in my cheeks, and I could feel my heart pumping and my blood flowing. I felt so free and alive...like I could run forever. And then the pain began. And that's when I slowed down. And that's when I decided to go to the chiropractor.

Yesterday, I took advantage of our weather delay (tornado warning at 5:30 to 6:15) and went to the chiropractor. He is really optimistic about getting rid of the pain so I can get back out there and do what I love. I am so excited! I know it will take some time, but I'm willing if it will all work out for the better.

Symptoms

Dry, red patches on my cheeks
Back pain
Pain in the pelvic floor region all day, every day
My hair and nails are SUPER long
Itchy, dry eyes, especially in the morning
A little acid reflux after I eat something sweet. It's really just a funny taste in my mouth.
Singing, especially while seated at the piano, has begun to get more difficult because of the feeling that I have no air.
An increase in appetite. It has finally hit me. After I stopped running so much, my appetite actually decreased. I've had to get up during the night for a snack a few times this week, and I thought I was going to starve to death before lunch today.


Baby

He weighs about a pound and a half this week and is the size of an eggplant. He had the hiccups yesterday, and it was the first time I really recognized what it was. For about five minutes, I felt continuous movement like air bubbles. It was so sweet! Mom said I had those a lot when she was carrying me. Also, I've begun to see a pattern in his kicks. Of course he kicks a lot after I eat, but when I lie down at night to go to sleep, he kicks like crazy. A couple of nights ago, it was so bad that I had to start singing to him to see if he would calm down. Believe it or not, when I sang to him, the kicks would stop! He also kicks after a loud noise. During the thunderstorm when we had bad weather yesterday morning, he karate chopped me after a loud boom of thunder. It's good to know his reflexes are working! :-) Yesterday, I watched a YouTube video on a 25 week old baby who was premature, and I almost lost control of my wits. I mean, that baby I was watching was the same size as my baby is right now. It was almost like I was getting to see what my baby looks like right now if I were to be able to see him. That was so incredible! I cried like a blubbering baby just imagining it. I can't wait to see him, but I'll wait until he's ready!