Monday, January 25, 2010

Our Number Is . . .

68!!!

Six children were referred to five different families today. The referral wait times ranged between 9 and 15 months. We are getting closer!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Playing in the Rain





It has been raining a lot the past few days. Phoenix is not equipped to handle much rain, and so everything turns into a lake. Grandma Sherree bought the boys some rain boots, and Grandpa Jim tested out his new camera. The boys continued to be boys.

Monday, January 18, 2010

I did it!

I'm running in the pink shirt

Adam trying to carry both boys at the same time

Adam and Jim walking to the next spectator spot.

The start line

FINISHED!


I have always dreamed of being this great runner. I guess I equate being a good runner to being in great shape. My parents have run the half marathon in Indiana for as long as I can remember, and Christina started running it a few years ago. I have always thought "I'm going to do that one day." The past few years, I have said I would do it. I start training, and then something happens, and I quit shortly into the training. In July, I announced I would be running the 2010 half marathon. I started training six months early. I was able to run up to 2 miles without stopping, and it just got so hard. So in August, I quit again.

However, in September, Sherree forwarded me an e-mail from one of the girls at church inviting anyone to join a support group for the half marathon training. This girl, Jeni Barbush, also works with my sister. So I joined the group and began to train again.

My initial goal was to run the entire race under 2 hours and 45 minutes. I soon learned that I am an obese woman who is not at all a "runner". Running is so hard! So I announced that I was still going to do the half marathon, but I would run/walk the thing instead. This is a perfectly logical switch. However, Adam told me that he completely understands why I would switch to a run/walk rather than a run --- BUT, that needs to be the last thing I change. I quit at "small" things so easily when they get hard. I was starting to do it again.

He was right. I do always quit at the "small" stuff that requires sacrifice. So I became determined. This was no longer about running it in a certain time -- it was about showing Adam that I won't quit. I trained and trained, and cried and cried. This has been so hard for me. I get so much anxiety throughout the week knowing that on every Sunday, I'm going to have to do my "long run" consisting of 7, 8, or 9 miles, etc.

However, in early January, I realized something else. I wasn't doing it to show Adam I wouldn't quit -- I was doing it to show myself I wouldn't quit. I was so nervous and cried a lot before race day. But on January 17th, I showed up and I finished the PF Chang Half Marathon. My time was a slow 3 hours and 16 minutes -- but I finished. I ran most of the first 4 miles, and miserably walked most of the last 9 miles -- but I finished -- and I crossed the finish line running.

Throughout the race, I had friends & family sending e-mails and messages of support to me. My sisters and mom sent me text messages throughout the race as they tracked my progress. Adam, the boys, Sherree & Jim, showed up an hour before the race started and supported me throughout the entire race. Thank you all! I also have Jeni Barbush to thank. If she hadn't set up that support/accountability group -- I would have never finished.

On the way home from the race, Adam told me that he couldn't wait until next year because he felt like he could get to a few more spectator spots now that he knew how things worked. I gave him a nasty look and said, "Who do you plan on watching next year?" Not me!!!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

My boys are growing up!

Going to Krispy Kreme to celebrate first day of school

Grandpa helping the boys get settled in on their first day

Mrs. Healy helping the boys wash their hands before class begins


It seems like the boys have grown up so fast during the past month. In early December, they took their first trip away from home with Adam's parents back to Indiana for a long weekend. They seem too little to do that! To make it worse, I was talking to Sherree on the phone, and she was telling me that Wes & Cal are getting along with their cousins, Jayden & Brody, so well. She went on to explain that the "older boys" were running around the house, and then a few seconds later you would hear the little footsteps of the "little one". For a second, I thought "what is she talking about? --- little "one"?? Doesn't she mean "Little oneS", as in two of them?" And then it hit me -- my kids were part of the "older boys". NO!!!

In December, they also started playing with the neighborhood kids. They range from age 6-9, and there are quite a few of them on our street. We love that aspect of our neighborhood because Adam and I were the youngest people in our last neighborhood. Our current neighborhood is also a gated community, so we don't get a ton of cars on our street. Since hanging out with the neighborhood kids, the boys have taken an interest in skateboarding. They can't do it completely yet, so they just ride on their bellies or backs on the skateboard down the driveway. They have also learned to ride their bikes over curbs, front steps, gravel, etc. We have 3 large concrete steps that lead up to our front door. In addition to skateboards and bicycles going over these steps, the boys also take their Power Wheels truck and drive it backwards down the steps. Everyday at 4 p.m. our doorbell rings -- it is one of the kids asking if the boys can come out and play. Surely my kids can't be that old!!

Then, to make matters even worse, they started pre-school today! I feel so comfortable with this preschool, and I'm so glad they are able to go -- but I have been dreading this day. They only go to pre-school two afternoons a week, and so I really shouldn't complain, but I really missed them today. I wasn't sad last night, and I wasn't sad this morning. I took the boys to the school a little early and let them play on the playground, and again, I wasn't sad. However, as soon as I walked into the classroom, I broke down. How embarrassing! :-) The boys were excited, and they had a great time. They are ready to go back on Thursday.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

I'm not sick anymore . . .


Wes and Calvin like to have "slumber parties" in our room. They sleep on cots in our bedroom, and they normally get to watch a movie before falling asleep. We designate Saturday nights as our slumber party nights. However, the boys came down with colds over the Christmas break. Wes was quick to remind us that when he was sick last time, he had to sleep in our bed. (The boys had high fevers in November.)

Because it was Christmas, and they were a little sick, we let them have slumber parties for quite a few nights in a row over the break. Wes would tell us every night that he was still sick and so he needed to sleep in our room. After a few nights, he announced to everyone that he was going to be sick for a really long time. He thought he was really tricking us.

On January 1st, I took down the Christmas lights that I had hanging in their room. They had enjoyed those lights so much that I wanted to get them a new, special night light rather than just the regular one they normally use. At IKEA, we found a planet light that hangs from the ceiling. When turned on, it projects stars, moons, and planets on their wall in pretty colors. It is very similar to a disco ball.

As soon as I showed the boys the new planet light, Wes yelled out, "I'm not sick anymore!" They couldn't wait to fall asleep in their own room that night.

Friday, January 1, 2010

The Hole in the Wall

We climbed up to the "hole in the wall" which is in the upper right corner of this picture




Over Christmas break, we took my parents to the hole in the wall at Papago Mountains.