Dingos sprint through the snow to the holidays! - Page 54

[JenLove]

[poppywise]

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[tjsmama]

Good morning, and Merry Christmas, dingoes!!!

We've had a very nice morning here. In fact, I'm sitting here typing on my brand new laptop! : Go figure, H did pretty darn good with the gift! I also got a couple of spinning dvds. SIL and her DH got me a spinervals dvd that has a difficulty of 9.9/10. : The cover says it's perfect for training for centuries, road races, and iron distance tris! I may die when I try it out...

DS had an absolute blast opening gifts and was only slightly upset that we wouldn't open up and assemble the parking garage that grandma got him. Sorry kid, but there's no way that thing will fit in the car with all our other stuff if it's assembled. He LOVES his train set though, so he's been adequately distracted.

I'm trying to let my breakfast settle a little, then I think I'll be off for a short run on this beautiful morning. If I can leave the excitement of playing with SIL's wii fit, that is!

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[HomeBirthMommy]

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[Mommabelle]

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[mothercat]

Hope that everyone is having a nice Christmas Day or enjoying the 6 th day of Chanukah.

Nic: hope that you have a quiet day teaching and your throat gets better quick. Echinacea is your friend.

Dr. Jen thank you for posting the birth story. It is wonderful that the nurses so get how you do birth and give the families that peace.

Ours was a quiet Christmas Eve. And for the second year in a row our extra seat at the table was filled by one of the kids' friends dropping over at the last moment. They always think they are imposing and don't quite seem to understand that in the Polish tradition they are a blessing

Off to visit DH's family this afternoon at BIL's. Spinach apple salad is our contribution to dinner.

[sparkletruck]

Originally Posted by tjsmama

I also got a couple of spinning dvds. SIL and her DH got me a spinervals dvd that has a difficulty of 9.9/10. : The cover says it's perfect for training for centuries, road races, and iron distance tris! I may die when I try it out...

So does one use these while riding their trainer? ... 'cause that's what dh got me

[sparkletruck]

I also wanted to to respond to Plady...

When I had dd1 6+years ago, my mentor from grad school, who Ive actually known since childhood and was my 8th grade english teacher and one of the most important people in helping me cope with my alcoholic mother as a youth, and one of the inspirations for going into Ed., anyway, she kept urging me that first year to get a job! "You need to get a job... are you looking for a job?.." And my SM did the same. I kept thinking that they were saddling me with their experience as women/mothers from the 70's, where women were much more likely to be at home without their own thing going on. I kept explaining how fulfilled I was staying home and that I didnt see doing it indefinitely, etc. Well, all these years later and I think I would urge my dd's to do what these women urged me to do, which is, cultivate your own thing, even if you dont think you need it, or that mothering is your thing. From breastfeeding, which really does suck a lot out of you, to when they are bigger and they get more bossy and ungrateful (just in the "world revolves around me" way that kids do developmentally and appropriately). I think all parents need an outlet, guilt-free, scheduled in, no compromising. I hope Im not rambling.... I have just been feeling, especially this year, that I may have given up too much for a future goal and now I find myself feeling sad and a bit mad at myself and a bit frustrated with everyone in my family for taking it all for granted, and Im realizing that I need to stand up for myself, even if, even though, its going to mean feeling guilty. I have as much to get used to putting me first and surrendering my control AND responsibility as my family needs to get used to it. I think that's the inner conflict Ive been wrestling with and/or sorting through here.

On that note; the job dh was verbally offered before he started fellowship (as in, "go do this fellowship and then come back and run our program", which is not why he did it, but was certainly a big appeal) was given to somebody else from his program who did the fellowship last year, so now he's looking at not having the job he has been fantasizing about and doing work for for the past 3 years. So yesterday I just sort of lost it, crying, told him "im done... when we started this you were thrilled to have found a job that you love and I was happy that you would come out of this training with a job that is also your passion. But along the way the passion got refocused, and now we are coming out of the training with what we dreamed of 8 years ago, but its a let down! I cant give up any more of myself for your job. If you dont get offered what you want, you need to just take a job, because I want balance back!...." I felt awful, and not even sure if I mean it in the long term, but he was totally fine with that, and the guilt lasted for about an hour, and today I feel so relieved that the stress over whether the right job will be there is not there anymore. He can *just* get a J.O.B. I felt like its a start to standing up for myself, as PATHETIC as I feel saying that.

But I do find it so interesting that several generations into womens "lib", even smart, educated, career women with parents and mentors who have forged the path and are there to advise still have to learn the lessons themselves, just as I will tell my daughter to get a part time job and sjhe will tell me how happy and fulfilled she is as a mom. sigh. Everyone must find their own path, but then, I do love this about life

Have a good day bellas

[poppywise]

me and my ankle issues ...

i feel like i keep bringing this up and i apologize for my apparent lack of memory recall. after my great run yesterday i have an increased amount of ankle pain today. here is what i know:

-it is on the inside of my left ankle, running over the ankle bone
-it tingles and snap-hurts when i lean into it the wrong way [crouching, etc]
-when i am not making it yelp in pain, it aches
-no swelling

i swear all i can find when i search online for ankle tendon problems is the achilles tendon! it's not that. i need to just go see a foot doctor or something.

is it this? i have always had fallen arches, i would not say i have flat feet.

in the meantime, i am icing and taking ibuprofen. i'm so afraid i am going to injure myself during this training...i am desperate to avoid that. so...what do i do? lay off it until the pain is gone? keep running but lower my mileage until it's gone? it does not really hurt when i am running, just the days following.

thanks ladies!

[tjsmama]

Poppy~I have swiss cheese memory these days, but I think that that's what I suspected last time you posted about it. Honestly, what I would do is just NOT mess around with it. You have time, but you need to get it taken care of NOW so that you can successfully complete your marathon training. If at all possible, get in to see an orthopedist and find a good physical therapist. Now is the time to take care of it. Don't let it get worse. And I also don't think you want to just lay off and see if it gets better, because then what happens if you take several weeks off and start back in and it's still the same? Kwim? I know I tend to err on the side of medical intervention (being a medical professional and all), but in cases like these, I really think that you shouldn't mess around too much...it's probably not going to get better until you look into orthotics/physical therapy/etc.

Originally Posted by sparkletruck

So does one use these while riding their trainer? ... 'cause that's what dh got me

Yup, that's it! Now I just have to figure out how to use the trainer when we get home!

[mothercat]

Originally Posted by poppywise

me and my ankle issues ...

i feel like i keep bringing this up and i apologize for my apparent lack of memory recall. after my great run yesterday i have an increased amount of ankle pain today. here is what i know:

-it is on the inside of my left ankle, running over the ankle bone
-it tingles and snap-hurts when i lean into it the wrong way [crouching, etc]
-when i am not making it yelp in pain, it aches
-no swelling

i swear all i can find when i search online for ankle tendon problems is the achilles tendon! it's not that. i need to just go see a foot doctor or something.

is it this? i have always had fallen arches, i would not say i have flat feet.

in the meantime, i am icing and taking ibuprofen. i'm so afraid i am going to injure myself during this training...i am desperate to avoid that. so...what do i do? lay off it until the pain is gone? keep running but lower my mileage until it's gone? it does not really hurt when i am running, just the days following.

thanks ladies!

poppy, I agree with tjs about getting this seen. Podiatrists are not my first choice as they are also surgeons. The ortho will probably tell you to rest the ankle for a few weeks while taking NSAIDS, but after the initial inflammation subsides will probably send you to PT. Iontophoresis can get some steroids into the deep areas, and massage may help loosen things up a bit. From your description it sounds like the anterior or posterior tibial tendon. Check this site for a good pic. http://www.southwest-ortho.com/image...ndons-foot.jpg

Also on the Chi Running website there is an article about choosing the right shoe, Pts 1and 2. They discuss how to decide but then give a specific list of NB shoes for the foot shape you have. They have a partnership thing with NB but other brands offer the same types of shoes. My local running shop has a guy who is really good at analyzing stride and fitting shoes for that stride. If you haven't done something like that, might be worth a try.

Hope things start to improve soon.

[Plady]

Originally Posted by Nickarolaberry

Happy Chanukah, too .

: Thank you for spelling it for me!

Jess - That's interesting about your women friends pushing the job thing. I'm kind of new to this SAHMing thing since we were working from about 2 weeks after dd1 was born albeit at home. Now we're both SAHers so I still don't have the full lone-mom-at-home thing happening. It sounds like it will end up being a freeing thing that your dh didn't get the 'dream job' although it blows that it was sort of promised to him and then given to someone else. That seems slimy, but I don't know anything about the politics of those things. But I hope that now that he isn't tied to waiting for something so specific it will open up options that work better for both of you. And good too to remind him in no uncertain terms that you've put yourself on hold to let him cruise ahead and that it's still a sacrifice every day, that that hasn't become a comfy groove for you regardless of how long or patiently it looks like you've been doing it.

Poppy - I don't know anything but it sounds like Gaye's got good advice. This isn't a brand new thing so it sounds like there's something structural going on and the sooner you can get it looked at the better. Don't stress about the marathon yet, we have lots of time and I'm not going to be in any rush on race day okay?

We had a nice present opening spree this morning. The eldest got exactly what she'd asked Santa for (Hannah Montana watch and Heelys) and just enough other stuff to fill it out. Ali G's 'big' present got stuck in Portland OR for 10 days and hasn't arrived : but she was happy enough with the littler stuff we gave her. She didn't really catch on to opening presents but I think in the end that's a blessing because she won't think ripping books up is the same thing.
Dh gave me the engagement calendar I specifically asked for, good man. And I unwrapped the jacket I'd gotten myself in WI and I got a book. I gave dh a bunch of clothes and one of those bar puzzles the kind you have to get the ring off so he hardly made out like a bandit but I don't think anyone feels disgruntled so that's good.
Now I'm going to go out and play while the sun is shining and there's still a little snow!

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[tjsmama]

Totally forgot to report my run! Yep, I ran! I did 3 miles, with the dog, in 2 minute/1 minute run/walk intervals. Still hard, but getting slightly better. Of course, MIL also has some pretty decent hills in her neighborhood. Nothing like poppy's 11% grade, but still!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous day!

[Nickarolaberry]

Mamas, please say a prayer.

This afternoon two cars -- an SUV and another car -- plowed into a storefront where a Chanukah carnival was taking place. Many injured, some airlifted out, including children/babies. Dragged under, etc.

We are not sure yet if this is a terrorist incident or just an accident; reports so far indicate it was an elderly driver who lost control. However right now the police are treating it as a crime scene. But this is very bad... Thank G-d, we were not there. Our synagogue was to have a youth group outing there tomorrow...when I think about it I get nauseated and start shaking.

[poppywise]

oh my gosh, nick - that's so awful! i hope everyone recovers and there are no fatalities

gaye/mothercat - thank you thank you thank you
i am taking your posts and copying them into a doc to save on my computer so i know where to find the advice when i go to make appts, etc. it's so frustrating not knowing how to approach getting better.

for dh's family we did secret santa and made wish lists. i just put down 'running related items' and i got a lot of great stuff! reflectors, lights, and The Stick™ !! it's feels good...

[babybugmama]

Holy cow, Baxter is like not just in fast forward, but super dog sprint mode!

Nick - that's awful : I hope all is well with everyone. It's an awful situation it sounds like.

We had a lovely day. It was slow and mello and my handmade presents went over really well. I also received lovely and meaningful presents. The best though was the "after-gift" dd gave me. I made her some stationary with fairies on the stationary and even did the image as a watermark on the envelope. Her first letter? It was to me and dh and was a thank you :

[1jooj]

Nick Hoping for the best possible outcome to this.

Christian and Christmas-celebrating mamas, it sounds like many of you have had a lovely holiday. Stay safe and enjoy.

I made it through the day. But I think next year I need to work some plan out with dh for a TOTAL opt-out. We put off arriving at my parents' for as long as we could, and we still caught more of the unwrapping frenzy (the part that gives me the worst anxiety). And AGAIN, my mother attempted to give me alcohol (have not had a drink in more than 8 years). And AGAIN, Santa and Christmas-themed gifts for my kids. I mean, we have asked that they not load our kids with presents in the first place. Second, our kids are clear that Christmas is not one of OUR holidays. Yet, this is what we get for coming in an attempt to be respectful of their celebration. Ugh. Sorry to blast an icky rant into your holiday, Dingos...but I know you wouldn't do this to someone you love, and I can't describe how hurtful it has become. I really think next year I'll just get confrontational about it ahead of time. And by confrontational, I mean, saying, "No, I think this year we'll be staying home. Going to read some books, have a nice run, and spend some time with the sheep. But thanks." I wish it were a sincere desire to include me, but it's a sincere desire to control me. Christmas is our final frontier.

What helped? 5.6 on the TM, going a little faster than usual. I kinda went a little nuts eating last night (can't imagine why), so I had plenty of sugar in my blood. And it felt really good to just run my head off. I am hoping to snowshoe tomorrow. Depends. I want to go, but I really don't feel like doing it with kids in tow. And I have serious doubts that the husbands are up to kid duty. We'll see. Either way, I am planning to run at least 4 in the AM.

[mamabeth]

Jo. So sorry about the anxiety and general disrespect : , and glad the run got some of it out. opting out sounds like a good plan, but I know easier said than done.

Nic, I will keep those families in my prayers. How awful.

We had a really nice day today...as I was thinking about it, it's the first Christmas in six years that I wasn't pregnant or nursing. : Kind of the first year with "big kids", although there were still tantrums and such they mostly played with their new toys and had a good time. dh totally shocked me and got me a beautiful pearl and gold necklace! unexpected and lovely. : AND must give a shout-out to HBM for an awesome Christmas dinner...total YUM and lots of it. thanks mama.

xmas eve was also really nice, but I am still SO tired from it. All the services went really well, and the music was gorgeous...so nice to be at a church with interesting and well-done handbells (eks?) and choir.

And on a non-holiday related note, does anybody want to sign up for this with me? We could create a dingo group. I am signed up as chickpastor.

take care mamas, love and peace to all of you!!!!!!

[JayGee]

Oh Nick ~ that's awful. All those involved in the accident (which I really hope it was) are in my prayers .

MB, that looks way cool! I'd definitely be into it .

We had a lovely Christmas day. I can't tell you how relaxing it is to be at home with no pressures to visit anyone or be visited by anyone or play hostess to anyone. Although I briefly felt sad about not being with my parents and sister this Christmas, I got over it in about two minutes . DH got me some really nice things, including a new swimsuit and zoomers for the pool . My kids were thrilled with all that Santa brought and the whole day was just relaxing and calm. Just the way I like it.

I didn't run. I was supposed to, but opted to take a nice, long nap with DD2 instead . How often do I have that opportunity .

[Plady]

Oh Nick - Yikes, they are all in my prayers tonight. We've had some gruesome and tragic accidents on the islands related to the snow (one woman run over by a teen while stranded by the side of the road and subsequently hit again by the EMS! and a teen paralyzed snowboarding) and it makes the whole holiday season that much more poignant to be reminded of how closely mishap walks to each of us all the time.

MB - I'll probably sign up, I can use all the added pressure I can get. I skipped my 3 miles today. I could totally have made the time but I just didn't.

Eks - Speaking of handbells, I thought of you last night because Dh was joking about there being Wii Handbells, maybe there is?

Our church did a funny and cute children's pageant yesterday. Alison was nearly the understudy for the baby Jesus and then they decided a teddy bear would be easier to work with . Then it turned out that the special booklet of hymns was missing three or four but we all tried to muddle through the middle verses of Hark the Herald and Go Tell it On the Mountain and a couple other less popular carols and it was like a SNL skit of nobody knowing the words to songs and just humming along awkwardly.

BBM - That's so sweet, and how affirming that the gifts were so appreciated.

Jo - Argh. That sucks that your mom can't be cool. I am sure the same thing would happen in my family if I'd taken the same path and I'm sure I'd be furious too. At least it fueled a good run no? Just go ahead and put the confrontation on your calendar for next year so you don't forget!

Poppy - I am a wee but jealous of your Secret Santa thing. It kind of amazes me that with all the time I spend here and getting ready to train (okay training already) for the marathon it didn't seem to occur to anyone that I'd like something running related. . It's okay but you know.