Happy Memorial Day!

We had a good Memorial Day Monday, I am very excited to bust out my white pants ;) Just kidding, I still have to lose 5 pounds before those babies come out!! We spent a lot of time outside today, we took to kids to the park, put up the bouncy house, turned on some sprinklers, and had a family BBQ at my sister's house. Wes' skin is a little irratated from all the sunscreen I applied to him today. He is a pastey kid, it is an evil necessity.

After all 3 kiddos were asleep I headed out for an evening workout. I biked 3.75 miles through the neighborhood, followed it up with a 3 mile run, and finished off back on the bike for a 3 mile ride. 1 1/2 months till the triathlon, I have to start combining some events. I read in a magazine that combining two excerises like that is called "bricks". I will have to remember to look that up. So, tomorrow I am going to try to run and swim at the YMCA with Courtney.

Memorial Weekend

So far we have had a good memorial weekend. We went to the LaVista Days Parade and had a BBQ with the Kendall side of the family. Today we went and saw the new Shrek and tomorrow we have a BBQ with the Jones side of the family. Got in a lot of family time.

We have been doing respite care for 2 girls this holiday weekend. First let me say that although I have girl parts.....it is a whole other ball game changing a diaper for girl parts. It was really difficult for me to change a girl's diaper, it was just wierd. The two girls have been good, very sweet girls. It has been tough on Dave and I to go from one kid full time to 3 kids full time. WE feel like we have been run ragged a little bit.

Speaking of run...I grabbed a 3.65 mile run last night. Had to skip Saturday morning group run due to the girls but I hope to sneak in another run Monday night. Try to add in some more miles for May.

TGIF

So glad it is Friday. Tonight our foster care agency in coming out to do our home Compliance Review. Excited to get that done. After that, Dave needs to get his CPR and First Aid certification and we will be good to go...on our end anyways. We will still have to wait for the State of Nebraska to approve all of our paperwork and get our home loaded on to the database.
Last night we went and saw Fiddler On The Roof at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Dave's company reserved a showing prior to opening night for employees. I am not one for musicals, but it was really good. Dave said he really enjoyed it too! We actually decided we would go try more plays. Who would've thought!?!?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddler_on_the_Roof

It's Official

It's official....we are done with Foster Parenting Classes!! We meet with our agency this Friday to do our home compliance review. During a home compliance review the agency comes to the home and takes measurements, ensures your home meet safety standards, etc. Once that is complete the agency completes the written home study and complies all the necessary paperwork; background checks, finger prints, compliance stuff, and submits everything to the State of Nebraska for approval. Once the State approves the agency's paperwork, the State loads our home into the database and we will then be a licensed foster home and can accept foster care placements.
The A/C went out in my office this week. It got crazy hot in there so we all got to go home early. I went and snuck in a 4 mile run in the afternoon. It was hot and muggy so I took it slow and drank a lot of water.

Camping Fun

We had a great weekend of camping. We went out with some friends and their two little boys! Wes went tubing for the first time. It took a little coaxing to convince him to get on the tube behind the boat, but he agreed to do it with BOTH mom and dad. The entire Kendall family piled on one tube and skimmed the lake. It was a ton of fun! Dave and I knee boarded as well. We are both a little sore but excited to get out and do it again. We really enjoy camping with the Carter family, Ben and Wes play great together and they have cool toys for big kids too! Plus Sam is too cute!
Got out for the group run on Saturday. Got in 4.5 miles. Jen went with me too! It was nice having a running buddy.

My New Ride

I got a new bike today. It is a Fuji Absolute 4.0. Nothing too crazy, it rides smoothe and I like it. We also got Wes a tag-a-long trike. It is like a bike that is missing a front wheel. It attaches to my bike and then he can ride and pedal along. I will post of pic of it all set up this weekend. I hope to get Wes on it while we go camping this weekend!

Winding Down the Week

I convinced my sister to go to the gym with me last night. I got in 2.75 miles on the treadmill and lifted some weights. So my game plan for cross training for a marathon and a triathlon in the same year: Run twice a week, cycle once a week, and swim once a week. I am hoping to be able to combine some activites the closer it gets to tri time. We will see. I do have kids and a husband that I like seeing.

Grateful.

Today I received a donation from Eric's gastroenterologist from Cincinnati Children's Hospital for my TEAM in Training fundraising. Children's Hosptial of Omaha reached out to this Doctor for advice from the get go. He was a support to us in transferring us to and from Cincy, was available to us during Eric's transplant, and contiues to support my family. The GI division at Cincinnati Children's hosptial even planted a tree in honor of Eric at a local park where we spent a lot of time. This Doctor has been such strong support for our family throughout Eric's entire life and continues to support us now.

I am moved to the point of tears. I don't think I will ever be able to fully thank this man. He is a gifted doctor and truely an amazing person. I am honored.

Manic Monday

Survived a busy day at work. I took off early to go to Cycle Circuit class at the YMCA. For those who don't know the class is part spinning and part weight lifting. Great class...incredible workout! We typically spin for 15 minutes then lift for 5 minutes and repeat that whole process for an hour. I am dripping sweat by the time I am done. I have been doing the class for months now and it doesn't get any easier!
No workout planned for tomorrow, finally a rest day! Not a whole lot of rest. Dave and I have our 9th foster parenting class. WE will also schedule a time for the agency to come to our home to make sure our home is in complaince with the regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services. NO worries, we are good! Lots of paperwork involved in becoming foster parents. It is worth it!

Wonderful Weekend

We had a super weekend. Our respite kiddos left early Sunday morning, at lunch time Wes asked "when are my friends coming back?" I think he liked having the company.
On Saturday, Dave washed and waxed my car for a late mothers day present. Wes helped. Dave took the opportunity to have some father/son time and showed Wes how to use a water gun. Wes successfully hosed our neighbor who was also washing his car. Luckily Ed has a sense of humor!
I got in a swim today. I am planning on cross training until the triathlon is over and then will put my full focus into running. The triathalon is scheduled for July 18th. I am offically registered as well! This year is going to be full of marking things off of my bucket list!

A View from my Run

Here is a pic I took from my run this morning. I went to my first group training run! It was great! We all met up and set some goals for the days run. We heard from Julia's dad, my honored hero, she in now 6 months without chemo!! This really set the tone for a great start to the day. I got in 4 miles around the lake! Pretty stoked about that. I spent the last half mile running with one of my coaches, great lady!
We got to do respite care for two kiddos in foster care this weekend as well. They were great! Super cute, great boys! It was nice to have extra little ones around the house. I think Wes enjoyed the company! It was a little wierd to change a diaper, I haven't done that in about 7 months. I haven't lost my touch yet though :)

Hit the Gym

I hit the gym tonight and got in a 3.5 mile run on the treadmill. It was a little cold for an outside run and I was being a wuss. I traded in my Brooks for a pair of Mizunos. I am very happy with the trade. I think they are pretty cute too. I hit the half way mark for my fundraising goal! I am super excited and very thankful to have such great friends and family who are willing to support me!

Dave and I went to our 8th of 10 foster parenting classes tonight. We are almost done training and getting excited to start this new chapter. We are doing respite care for two little boys this weekend. Their current foster family is going on vacation and since they are wards of the state they can not leave the state, so they are staying with us for a couple of day. I am really looking forward to having more little one around. It has really been fun doing these classes with Dave. I am really enjoying spending the time with him and focusing on our family.

Monday, Monday

Slow start to a busy Monday. I got a lot of work done today but I had to say goodbye to a co-worker and friend. I started working on my letter writing campagain for fundraising this summer. I really hope this goes well. I am nervous about asking people for money.

This is a picture from our family vacation this past fall. We were eating at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Cali. Wes really enjoyed the oranges!

Camping

We had a cold, but nice weekend. We went camping with the Carter family and Wes got to play with Ben who will turn 5 this summer. We went out for a couple of boat rides and saw a bit of skiing. I got in a run Saturday morning, it was super cold but I still pulled out 3.5 miles! My first offical group training run is this Saturday, I am really looking forward to it!

Party Like a Preschooler

Today was the Mother's Day Luncheon at Wes' preschool. All the kids sang mother's day songs and we ate lunch together. Wes was in rare form, showing off in front of all the kids his super cool dance moves that went along with each song. I got to sit in a chair that was about 6 inches off the ground and try to eat pasta and salad. I will say they made a great cake! Wes liked the frosting best. He goes to such a great school! I feel really lucky to have found them, they really take good care of their kids and the families!

Night Running

Got in a run last night in my new shoes. Had to trade in my Brooks, they hurt my heels. So I got a pair of Mizuno. I like them. I've never owned Mizuno. Typically I am a Nike girl but I am branching out a bit. This was my first run since puking my guts out this past weekend, only 2.5 miles but it's a start.

Survivor

Well, I think I have gotten past the worst of it....food posioning. I am still very very sick! I am super disappointed I missed my first informal group run, but I will be there with bells on in 2 more weeks. I first formal group run in May 17th. I can not tell you how excited I am.
I got to finally read about the honored hero I am representing. Her name is Julia, she is one day older than Wes. She was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma at 11 months old. Her treatment regime is unreal. My heartaches for both her and her family. You can read more of her story...

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/juliawatson

It makes my mission all the more real. GO DONATE!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ne/desmoine10/nkendall