I Should Have Listened....

Why, oh why, didn't I listen to my mom when I was younger??? She always preached to me to wear sunscreen. But I didn't listen. Well, I'm now paying for it. Not quite a year ago I had a little spot on my forehead. At first I thought it was a zit (gross). But it didn't go away. I knew then what it was. But I ignored it. The kids had things they needed done first. And Ray was working so far away and was hardly home. Well, about 2-3 months ago when Hazel was coloring my hair her nail caught it and it started to bleed. And by the way, by now it was bigger than when I first noticed it. After her nail got it, it never healed up. That's when I decided to get into the Dr. They took a biopsy, and yep, sure enough, it was cancer. Basil cell carcinoma. Well after that Ray was able to come home, for good. Thank heavens because to remove this cancer they do surgery and I'm such a baby and hate to go alone. Not like a sedation surgery. They just numbed it, but it's still considered surgery. I had it done on the 27th. It went really well and the dr.'s were all very nice. But as we were leaving I got sick. But I have one of the weakest stomachs ever (thanks dad). I tried to take it easy that day. Not easy for me. I like to always be on the go. Then the next morning I had to get up and shower and get ready for work. Uh, showering with stitches in your forehead is no easy task. Have you ever realized how many facial expressions you use when you talk and it moves your forehead? Or when you have long hair and you get it wet how heavy it is and it pulls your scalp and your forehead? Anyway, showering was not easy and I got sick again. (Dang stomach anyway.) But I was able to get to work and put in my 8 hours. Anyway, each day gets better, but I'm really paying for not listening to mom. And I should have gone in when I first noticed it. Now I'm going to have a 1" plus beautiful scar. There are 15 stitches in that incision. That is not how big it was before they cut into me. But the cancer is gone and hopefully I've learned something.

Who's Car??? :)

This is Keanna. Remember, Keanna is now 16.This is Keanna's official new driver's license. (Dang, sorry about the closed eyes. I should have checked the picture.) This is Keanna with the key to DAD's car, that Keanna gets to drive. (lol) Remember, DAD's car, that Keanna gets to drive.This is Keanna with DAD's car, that she gets to drive. Isn't she a lucky girl.?!! She is such a good girl and as long as she continues to keep up the good work she gets the privilege to drive DAD's car. We just can't keep up with her busy schedule anymore. Ray had to keep leaving work to pick her up and take her here and there. And she now works at Michael's with Ambrea and I. This should help out a lot.

...Eating...

I'm eating, again,.....my words that is. I woke up Sunday, the day after the marathon and said "I want to do it again". I know, I'm nuts. But I want to prove to myself that my body can do a little better and not let me down again (I felt like it let me down because I was sick and the leg cramps made me walk so much at the end).

"16"

Happy Birthday Keanna (yesterday). Wow, can't believe you're 16. You're growing into such a beautiful young woman. You were our hardest baby, until you crawled. But you are such a good girl now. You are always so full of life and love to have fun. You light up a room when you walk in. We love you girl and are so glad you're a part of our family.

Toe Nails Are So Over-rated...........We ran our first marathon.

Today Ray and I ran our first marathon, the St. George marathon. There were a lot of people we know who also ran it. It was great seeing people you know on the course. Especially because there were almost 7,000 people who ran it. It was also great seeing people you know at the end of the course cheering you on, as you are wondering how the heck you are going to run just one more mile. And thanks Ambrea, Keanna, Josh and Holly for being at the finish line. It means a lot.

As you know I'm addicted to running. I've been running seriously again for about 1 1/2 years now. I've done I think 5 half marathons, the Lake to Lake relay race and the Ragnar relay race. I've been training for this marathon since the spring. Now Ray on the other hand has had a hard time getting any training in. As some of you know he has been working 850 miles away. Where he has been is very rainy. At one point it rained 40 days in a row. Well, all the rain has made it very hard for him to get any training in.

So I felt I was fairly ready for this. I had set a goal, which I now realize was kind of high this being my first marathon. Well, I did really good for the first 15 miles (a marathon is 26.2 miles for anyone who didn't know this), but then at mile 15 I start to get cramps in my hips and thighs. And this time at about mile 8 I got a gut ache. One of a runners worst nightmares. So up until mile 15 I was doing fairly well, but the cramps hit and it just makes it hard to run. So I would walk a bit, then run. Back and forth trying to still keep ok time. Needless to say I didn't make my goal, but I still didn't do horrible. I'm just frustrated and discouraged. I had hoped to do better and I want to figure out the gut and cramp problem. I took all the advice that 2 experienced runners had given me and applied it in my training and today, so I just question where it went wrong. I did it in 4 hours 27 minutes. Ray was able to do it in 5 hours 18 minutes which I think is great considering the farthest he has ran in the past 3 month is 10 miles. (Since he is back home I put him in some serious marathon training for 2 weeks :) ).

Right now we are saying we will never do a marathon again. I will probably eat my words though. I had said I would never do a marathon period. Boy, I ate my words on that one. But seriously the half marathons are a lot of fun. Just long enough for a challenge (13.1 miles) but not so long that you kill yourself. But maybe if I get figured out what I'm doing wrong I won't kill myself on marathons.

It another check mark on out bucket list though. Something new and different we experienced. We are always looking for some kind of adventure. It keeps life exciting.

"13"

Happy Birthday Asthon!! I can't believe it, you're 13. Thirteen years ago today you came into this world, and have brought us so much joy since then. They told us you wouldn't be born alive, and look at you now. An official teenager. Aaahhhh. :) You are such a good kid and we are very greatful to have you as a part of our family. Thank you for being so awesome.

Missing You

I miss you dad. :( Ray and I have been faced with a very big decision this past week and its been so hard not being able to call you and get your opinion. We've talked to mom several times. And she is very good to give us counsel, but dang I wish we could talk to you also. It may seem weird but I did feel you giving me comfort one night. I've woken up every night last week at 4 and couldn't go back to sleep because this issue has just been weighing on me. Sure makes for a very tired week. :)

Head Bands

A girl I work with makes these fun headbands. She sews little beads on that are called sead beads. You can choose pretty much any design you want. The cost for one is $10, unless your design is very detailed. If you provide your own headband then it is $8. I wear the 13.1 one when I run, of course. If you are interested in buying one just let me know.

!!!First Day of School!!

Wednesday, August 11th was the kids first day of school. I really was not ready for them to go back. Even though I work part of the day I enjoy having them home. We had a fun summer and don't consider summer over yet. We still have things planned.

Ashton is now in 7th grade. He goes to Fossil Ridge Intermediate, where there are 6th and 7th graders. So this year he is "the big man on the campus". I can't believe my baby is in 7th grade. :) And this is Keanna's first day of school. Ashton had gotten the stomach flu about a week and a half before school started. But it was just a 48 hour thing. Keanna kept telling him she better not get it. Guess she cursed herself. She got it, but she got more than just the flu. Hers started on a Thursday night. By Sunday she was still really sick. When I say sick, I mean really sick. She was running a fever of 102, and even when I gave her advil it would only come down to 100. One night she really scared me. She was really feverish and shaking. We layed her on the tile and put cool wash clothes on her. After about 30 min. she started to cool down. Well by Tuesday she was still so sick. She literally was sleeping about 18-20 hours a day. So that evening we took her to the dr. Her supposedly 48 hour flu had turned into a bad case of strep throat. The next day was the first day of school. But by dr.'s orders she couldn't go to school for 2 days. Oh my goodness, poor Keanna. She is starting high school and couldn't go to her first day. How horrible. Finally by Friday she was able to get up and go to school. But then on Saturday she had to catch up on sleep again. Then by Monday she was feeling pretty good. But even by the end of the week she said she still gets tired easy and her appetite isn't fully back. She lost 4 lbs. (she didn't have 4 lbs. to loose in the first place). But she has jumped in and gotten on track with what she missed the first couple days. Wow, she had us worried for a few days there.

[Happy Birthday Ambrea]

Happy Birthday Ambrea. Wow, you're making me feel old. You're not a teenager anymore. Where did the time go? I can still remember so well the day you were born. There were so many people there to welcome you into the world. What a blessing you have been to us. We are so proud of you and so thankful to have you as a part of our family.

Can't wait to party it up next week when dad is home. Sorry we have to put it off.