Almost Done with September

Last week went really REALLY well!  I ran 13.1! (Well, actually 13.27, but who is counting? LOL)  I made it to my 24 miles total for the week.  It felt amazing to accomplish that.  I ran, showered and was drinking my tea before Matt even got out of bed!  Yep, I am a rockstar!  No, just kidding.  The last two miles of my distance on Sunday was really rough.  I miscalculated and at the very end had to come up with another mile...when my brain was already telling me my run was over.  It was a major hurdle to overcome.  I said a little prayer to God and pushed my way through it.  Then I cried.

The dogs had their follow-up appointment with Dr. Scott on Saturday.  Both are A-OK.  Lily got her stitches out and Baxter's jaw is healing nicely.  She still wants me to be extra careful with Baxter because the bone could still be exposed at this point.  We will baby him until he feels ready to be tough again.  But I will say Dr. Scott was right.  Baxter is a totally different dog now.  He plays with Lily and they wear each other out.  You can definitely tell the sore in his mouth was keeping him under the weather.  

This week has started out a little slow.  I am somewhat tired (I am sure from my 13 on Sunday), but I am trying to get through it...because this is only the start!  I ran my goal today which was 5.  Thursday will be 6 and then Sunday will be 11.  I just need to keep at it.  I CANNOT get to my goal if I don't work hard this time.  I am keeping this commitment to myself...because I deserve it.

Registered for Another Half

Right before Disney...

I will be working for this one:

Look at that bling!!  LOL, I have wanted this one for a while.  I am pretty excited.  Plus, a friend of mine, Bina, will be running in it too!  Should be a really great race, and a good warm up for Disney with Matt.  As I have been saying today, if I have to run 13+ miles each weekend, I should get something better than aches out of it!  :-)

You'll Always Have...

Had to share...made me laugh because it is so true

(and made me think of a few) :-)

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

Blessed...

Today I am feeling unbelievably blessed.  I am not sure where the feelings are resonating from...it could be that I am enjoying the reduction, almost elimination, of stress in my life or it could be that I am feeling just so fortunate to have the people that I have in my life...not sure, but I am basking in the warmth of this feeling.  In my stress management class right now we are supposed to document "what's good" throughout our day, and TODAY is what's good!  

Tonight I ran 5 in 50.  I was there in the moment, feeling the pull of my muscles, the air in my lungs and the sweat fall down my face.  It was ALL there tonight; it was amazing.  Tonight's run reminded me of why I do this and why I get so much enjoyment out of it.  I AM a runner.  This is what I was made to do.  This weekend is an easy 1 hour run; which equates to 6 miles...but next week will be the challenge - 13 miles on Saturday.  I can do it; I know I can.  I have done it 5 times before this! (they've just been a little more grand than what I have in mind.  :-)  )  I will map out my run during the week and get myself psyched up for it.  I have an idea of what I would like to do.  Of course, it has to be outdoors.  I couldn't bear the thought of being on a treadmill that long!  I am looking forward to this first milestone.

The puppies are doing so well.  Baxter seems like a new dog, which the vet said would probably happen, and Lily is mending nicely.  I will need to take both of them in to see Dr. Scott next week, and I am expecting a good report.  They are such great animals.  I am just so thankful that there was nothing terminal going on with Lily and her lumps.  Many prayers were answered throughout this week.  Thank God I don't have to be planning when I will lose her.  She is my little diva.  I want to keep her around for a while.

School is going great.  I really enjoy my two professors, especially Finance (Gallinger).  He is very knowledgeable and has taught us a lot in the small amount of time that we have been there.  So I am just chugging along right now; first paper due in a month.  I have already started my research.  Only 3 more months...just can't even express my excitement.

So, all is good right now!  :-)
   

Thoughts for the day...

Just keep going...don't give up!

My Schnauzers - A Look Back

Spending a lot of time being thankful for my two little ones today.  I am very happy that they are home recovering.  Looking back on all the amazing memories...

 Baxter as a newborn

The day we brought him home

Nanny Kak drove the 8 hours with me to get him :-)

Meeting Daddy for the first time

He was so small!

His first hair cut

He loved to play in the back yard

He was such a BEAUTIFUL little boy...still is

Celebrating my 30th birthday with me

He used to love to cuddle

After our move to AZ together :-)

Then we added #2...

She was just as tiny as Bax

The day we brought her home

We knew from day 1 she would be a handful!

She would steal Baxter's bones AS SOON as she was strong enough

But they were the best of friends right from the beginning!

And they love the other kids in the house too :-)

Her first hair cut

She is growing up so quickly

I love my dogs more than anything.  If you have ever contemplated having an animal, but decided not to, reconsider.  They bring the absolute most joy to your life.  I love my two babies more than words can adequately describe...

They are my life.

Marathon Training Has Begun!

There is only one word that really explains how I feel right now...EXCITED!  I am there; training for my marathon has begun.  In less than 19 weeks I will be running my first marathon - 26.2 miles!  I am a little nervous, but everyday I remind myself that I am one day closer to the biggest goal/challenge I will have achieved in my life.  A bucket list item that will be checked off.  I am so looking forward to this journey.

There are SO MANY things that have happened since I last wrote.  Summer was hell, there is no other way to put it.  I pushed myself to the limit yet another summer.  High risk/high reward right?  Well, that is what I kept telling myself and it almost killed me.  However, I was able to check off another 4 classes so now I am able to graduate in December.  Gosh, it seems so weird to even write it.  I am graduating THIS year!  And the most wonderful thing about it all is that I only have 2 classes this semester, and absolutely no exams...and one of the classes is stress management!  How cool is that?!?!  In three months I will be done, hopefully stress free (LOL), with my undergraduate degree....Master's Degree, you ask?  Probably, but my husband wants to enjoy some free time with his wife before she takes that on. :-)

With putting school first, my fitness went south...way south.  Last night was emotionally painful for me.  I ran the slowest I have in a long time.  But that won't stop me.  Every training session makes me stronger and faster.  I will never give up.  I will keep on keeping on.  Matt's training has now begun for the Disney Wine & Dine, so he is a great encouragement.  Plus, I am now on a special eating regimen, so the extra pounds that I put on during the summer should shed quite quickly and will provide me additional power to get me through my longer runs on the weekend.  I am only running a total of 17 miles per week right now (4/5/8), which is less weekly mileage than what I was doing before I stopped, so I am hoping that will assist me in getting back up to where I was.

Two weeks ago my awesome brother got married to the most amazing woman.  We couldn't be happier for the both of them.  It was the first time EVER my family (of course without Mom) were together as a family.  It was an emotional reunion.  I love my family so much.  We ARE family.

Daddy and his girls :-)

As soon as I have a pic of the entire family, I will share.  And now that life has slowed waaaayyyyyy down it should be much easier to keep this updated.

Love you all!