Hurricane Sandy makes landfall; millions without power. New York city is nearly shut down. Record breaking winds, rainfall, etc. Atlantic City, Jersey Shore and more are hit hard. Our school is closed tomorrow and a two hour delay is called for Wednesday already as we prepare for potential 40-60 mph wind, flooding, and possible power outages in the area.
And this morning, at 5:15 am, my brother and his wife welcomed their first child into the world: a beautiful, 7 lb 5 oz, 20 inch baby girl.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
As heard from the front seat
Cortlan (to Everly): I am staring at you because I don't like that sound, you know.
Everly continues to shake her ziplock bags containing her breakfast.
Cortlan: I hope those bags open up and then your food goes everywhere.
Everly continues.
Cortlan: If your strawberries fly out and your bagel flies out, you will just have bags left, you know. (Pause.) Then you'll just have to eat your bags for breakfast.
Suddenly, the noise stops.
Everly continues to shake her ziplock bags containing her breakfast.
Cortlan: I hope those bags open up and then your food goes everywhere.
Everly continues.
Cortlan: If your strawberries fly out and your bagel flies out, you will just have bags left, you know. (Pause.) Then you'll just have to eat your bags for breakfast.
Suddenly, the noise stops.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Half Marathon #3
When I ran a half marathon through the city streets in May, though I was proud and satisfied, I was mostly happy it was over. I enjoyed the race only on some mental level that I am not quite satisfied with, or at least not enough to want a repeat performance. The early-bird registration for the 2013 version of that race has come and gone, and I have no desire to sign up. After that race, I took a short break and then resumed running, though without any goals in mind. I continued running, often meeting with a new running partner, through the summer, and then, surprisingly, into the fall. My mileage steadily increased as my friend and I talked away the dark evening miles after the kids were in bed during the week and I headed out at daybreak on the weekends. With no goal in mind, I actually wasn't sure when to stop or what to do. In late September, my friend finally convinced me to run the half marathon that she was training for; somewhat reluctantly, I did.
My reluctance was largely due to the fact that I was kind of enjoying the no pressure runs. With no plan, I didn't have any regrets when I cut a run short. I didn't care if I did sprints, or hill workouts, or tempo runs. When I felt like it, I went a bit faster, when I didn't, I went slower. But I also felt as though I needed a "grand finale" to this season of running. Not that I am going to totally stop, but I kind of was missing something to work for, after which I could give myself permission to cool it for a bit.
About a month prior to the race, I signed up not having the slightest clue as to how I would do. I had certainly been putting in the miles. At my peak, I was running over 30 miles a week; typically, more in the 26-28 range. I knew I had it in me to finish without an issue. I had also done some workouts with my friend here and there when our schedules aligned and we wanted to. But I really didn't know what to expect from myself. Therefore, I didn't put a whole lot of pressure on myself.
It was a chilly morning, with threatening rain. My friend picked me up at 6:30 AM and five of us drove the 40 minutes or so to the race packet pick-up location. We got our timing chips and bags and got on the school bus that served as the shuttle to the start. Once there, we headed into the heated building that was available. I did my fair share of waiting in lines for the porta potties but otherwise managed to stay warm. Soon, it was time to line up.
The five of us that drove together split off, with two sticking together and the rest of us going at it alone. The gun went off and so did we. Stuck in a large pack, I jockeyed myself through the sea of people until I was in a comfortable place with some elbow room. We ran on the streets for about half of a mile, and then a hairpin turn took us down onto a trail that is part of a "Rails to Trails" program - unused railways have been converted into running paths; the rails are gone and crushed gravel and, in some places, asphalt have been put in their place. As soon as I got onto the trail, I knew I was going to love this race.
One of the guys that rode with us had a similar race plan as me...we both planned to start at around an 8 minute mile pace and adjust from there. When I was approaching the hairpin turn, I spotted him heading the other direction. I got to within about six feet of him and decided to hang there behind him for a while. He had no idea I was there, and I later found out that he thought I was ahead of him. I let him pace me at between 7:55 and 8:00 miles for a while before he noticed me. I was surprised at how easily I was able to maintain that pace, but I still didn't feel confident enough to speed up at all.
I had thrown together a play list the night before, and I was loving it. At around mile 7 or 8, a great song came on that made me itch to run faster. I pulled up beside my friend and said, "Are you ready?" He said, "You go." I did.
As I ran, oftentimes singing along to my music, I was struck by the beauty of the course. All around me were trees with beautiful fall foliage. At one point, to my right was a lake. For much of the course, there was a creek to my left. I passed a water fall. There were boulders and cliffs. The skies cleared and the sun shined through the tree branches. Leaves, blown by the slight breeze, fluttered down. For a little while, I tried to catch them as I ran, thinking that Cortlan and Everly would love to have a leaf that I caught during my race. I soaked it all up and enjoyed it; this was such a different experience than May.
And I could hardly believe it, but my legs felt great.
As I came upon mile 10, I still felt like I had another gear left. In that mile, I averaged 7:51 as I slowly caught and passed people. I did the same for mile 11. Something fantastic happened in mile 12 and without looking at my watch until the end of the mile, I was able to average a 7:36. With 0.2 mile to go, I could see the finish line and I began to go as fast as my legs could carry me...I brought it home with a 6:59 pace.
With low expectations, a beautiful downhill course, and what turned out to be perfect race conditions, I finished with a personal record of 1:43:05.70. What's even better is that this may be one of my favorite runs ever.
_____________________________________________
Here are my results:
Finish time: 1:43:05.70
Overall Place: 164/822
Division Place: 7/87
Female Place: 35/426
Average Pace: 7:52/mi
My reluctance was largely due to the fact that I was kind of enjoying the no pressure runs. With no plan, I didn't have any regrets when I cut a run short. I didn't care if I did sprints, or hill workouts, or tempo runs. When I felt like it, I went a bit faster, when I didn't, I went slower. But I also felt as though I needed a "grand finale" to this season of running. Not that I am going to totally stop, but I kind of was missing something to work for, after which I could give myself permission to cool it for a bit.
About a month prior to the race, I signed up not having the slightest clue as to how I would do. I had certainly been putting in the miles. At my peak, I was running over 30 miles a week; typically, more in the 26-28 range. I knew I had it in me to finish without an issue. I had also done some workouts with my friend here and there when our schedules aligned and we wanted to. But I really didn't know what to expect from myself. Therefore, I didn't put a whole lot of pressure on myself.
It was a chilly morning, with threatening rain. My friend picked me up at 6:30 AM and five of us drove the 40 minutes or so to the race packet pick-up location. We got our timing chips and bags and got on the school bus that served as the shuttle to the start. Once there, we headed into the heated building that was available. I did my fair share of waiting in lines for the porta potties but otherwise managed to stay warm. Soon, it was time to line up.
The five of us that drove together split off, with two sticking together and the rest of us going at it alone. The gun went off and so did we. Stuck in a large pack, I jockeyed myself through the sea of people until I was in a comfortable place with some elbow room. We ran on the streets for about half of a mile, and then a hairpin turn took us down onto a trail that is part of a "Rails to Trails" program - unused railways have been converted into running paths; the rails are gone and crushed gravel and, in some places, asphalt have been put in their place. As soon as I got onto the trail, I knew I was going to love this race.
One of the guys that rode with us had a similar race plan as me...we both planned to start at around an 8 minute mile pace and adjust from there. When I was approaching the hairpin turn, I spotted him heading the other direction. I got to within about six feet of him and decided to hang there behind him for a while. He had no idea I was there, and I later found out that he thought I was ahead of him. I let him pace me at between 7:55 and 8:00 miles for a while before he noticed me. I was surprised at how easily I was able to maintain that pace, but I still didn't feel confident enough to speed up at all.
I had thrown together a play list the night before, and I was loving it. At around mile 7 or 8, a great song came on that made me itch to run faster. I pulled up beside my friend and said, "Are you ready?" He said, "You go." I did.
As I ran, oftentimes singing along to my music, I was struck by the beauty of the course. All around me were trees with beautiful fall foliage. At one point, to my right was a lake. For much of the course, there was a creek to my left. I passed a water fall. There were boulders and cliffs. The skies cleared and the sun shined through the tree branches. Leaves, blown by the slight breeze, fluttered down. For a little while, I tried to catch them as I ran, thinking that Cortlan and Everly would love to have a leaf that I caught during my race. I soaked it all up and enjoyed it; this was such a different experience than May.
And I could hardly believe it, but my legs felt great.
As I came upon mile 10, I still felt like I had another gear left. In that mile, I averaged 7:51 as I slowly caught and passed people. I did the same for mile 11. Something fantastic happened in mile 12 and without looking at my watch until the end of the mile, I was able to average a 7:36. With 0.2 mile to go, I could see the finish line and I began to go as fast as my legs could carry me...I brought it home with a 6:59 pace.
With low expectations, a beautiful downhill course, and what turned out to be perfect race conditions, I finished with a personal record of 1:43:05.70. What's even better is that this may be one of my favorite runs ever.
_____________________________________________
Here are my results:
Finish time: 1:43:05.70
Overall Place: 164/822
Division Place: 7/87
Female Place: 35/426
Average Pace: 7:52/mi
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Well, that didn't go as planned...
So, I thought that if I got a chance to write today it would go a little differently, but things don't always work out as planned.
When I picked Cortlan up from school on Monday, I noticed he was a little flushed. When I gave him a hug, he felt warm. So, I took his temperature and, sure enough, it was 101. I called the ENT's office and asked if this would affect the surgery. The answer I got was a hopeful (but not promising) "the surgery will most likely go on." The thought was that there would be enough time between then and Thursday to fight whatever it was that he needed to fight, and we would go as planned. I was also told that they would likely proceed with the surgery if the temperature was mild.
Cort's temp was less than 100 on Tuesday, but when I picked him up from school yesterday (Wednesday) it was back up to 101. I began to worry, but still felt hopeful, as he was acting like his normal self and even wanted to ride his scooter around the neighborhood.
We got up this morning as usual. John took Everly to school and Cort and I left for the surgery center with him comfy in his PJs. John met us there. We sat in the waiting room for a bit and then were moved to an exam room. One person after another came in asking us questions and giving us information. One nurse took his temperature (it was normal) and blood pressure. One went over procedures with us and gave us a hospital shirt and booties for him to wear. Someone took a reading of his blood oxygen levels. Everyone asked us questions, including about his recent health, and I was truthful about the temperature and minor symptoms he has been experiencing. Things continued to proceed. A nurse told us what would happen with the anesthesia. Then the anesthesiologist came in. And then the surgeon, who had been told about the temperature. A discussion ensued, and it finally came out that despite the fact that the anesthesiologist had no concerns for Cortlan's safety or health during the procedure, the recovery may be another issue. The doctor did not want to proceed with the surgery.
Obviously, I don't want Cortlan's recovery to be any more difficult than it need to be and I know the right decision was made. But, I have been having a very stressful couple of weeks. Having things planned, and then - by surprise - changing the plans kind of makes me lose it more than it should, admittedly. I handle things much better when I have time to prepare. Despite the fact that I knew it was a possibility, I had not prepared for the fact that the surgery had to be canceled. So, the doctor might think I am a little bit of a wacko right now. (John might, too, but I am pretty sure he already knew.)
Finding a date that worked for this surgery was a challenge. Finding a new one - even more so. In this case, it isn't necessarily the surgery, but the two weeks of recovery that come after. I don't want Cort to miss out on the holidays. I don't want the surgery to be when I am in New York City for school. I don't want the surgery to be on the day of Cortlan's fall festival for which he has worked so hard for months to prepare.
After getting the news and some awkwardness, we went across the hall to get a chest x-ray. We went to his pediatricians. We stopped by the ENT's office to schedule another surgery. This time it will be on December 5th, and we are praying that he will be healthy for it. At least we will know what to expect.
When I picked Cortlan up from school on Monday, I noticed he was a little flushed. When I gave him a hug, he felt warm. So, I took his temperature and, sure enough, it was 101. I called the ENT's office and asked if this would affect the surgery. The answer I got was a hopeful (but not promising) "the surgery will most likely go on." The thought was that there would be enough time between then and Thursday to fight whatever it was that he needed to fight, and we would go as planned. I was also told that they would likely proceed with the surgery if the temperature was mild.
Cort's temp was less than 100 on Tuesday, but when I picked him up from school yesterday (Wednesday) it was back up to 101. I began to worry, but still felt hopeful, as he was acting like his normal self and even wanted to ride his scooter around the neighborhood.
We got up this morning as usual. John took Everly to school and Cort and I left for the surgery center with him comfy in his PJs. John met us there. We sat in the waiting room for a bit and then were moved to an exam room. One person after another came in asking us questions and giving us information. One nurse took his temperature (it was normal) and blood pressure. One went over procedures with us and gave us a hospital shirt and booties for him to wear. Someone took a reading of his blood oxygen levels. Everyone asked us questions, including about his recent health, and I was truthful about the temperature and minor symptoms he has been experiencing. Things continued to proceed. A nurse told us what would happen with the anesthesia. Then the anesthesiologist came in. And then the surgeon, who had been told about the temperature. A discussion ensued, and it finally came out that despite the fact that the anesthesiologist had no concerns for Cortlan's safety or health during the procedure, the recovery may be another issue. The doctor did not want to proceed with the surgery.
Obviously, I don't want Cortlan's recovery to be any more difficult than it need to be and I know the right decision was made. But, I have been having a very stressful couple of weeks. Having things planned, and then - by surprise - changing the plans kind of makes me lose it more than it should, admittedly. I handle things much better when I have time to prepare. Despite the fact that I knew it was a possibility, I had not prepared for the fact that the surgery had to be canceled. So, the doctor might think I am a little bit of a wacko right now. (John might, too, but I am pretty sure he already knew.)
Finding a date that worked for this surgery was a challenge. Finding a new one - even more so. In this case, it isn't necessarily the surgery, but the two weeks of recovery that come after. I don't want Cort to miss out on the holidays. I don't want the surgery to be when I am in New York City for school. I don't want the surgery to be on the day of Cortlan's fall festival for which he has worked so hard for months to prepare.
After getting the news and some awkwardness, we went across the hall to get a chest x-ray. We went to his pediatricians. We stopped by the ENT's office to schedule another surgery. This time it will be on December 5th, and we are praying that he will be healthy for it. At least we will know what to expect.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The story of the tonsils
Cortlan has hardly been able to breathe through his nose since February. Initially, we thought he had a cold, and he may have. But the cold never went away. Our current assumption is that as the cold improved, his allergies took over. At the time, we didn't know that he had allergies, but we did take him to his pediatrician at one point in the spring. His eyes had gotten puffy and his head was still congested; she prescribed him eye drops and an over-the-counter allergy medicine. The eye drops helped considerably, but there was only a slight improvement with the congestion.
As spring turned into summer, Cort still got no relief. Thank goodness for a Costco membership, as buying tissues in bulk became a necessity. Eventually, we decided that we had to take this to the pros and we went to an allergist. The allergist tested him and determined that Cortlan is severely allergic to grass, ragweed, and a few other weeds for which they specifically tested. He also is allergic to cat and oak. The specialist recommended continuing the course we were on and added a nasal spray, as well. At that first appointment, he mentioned that we may need to check on his adenoids. We made a follow-up appointment for a month later.
At the follow-up appointment, the doctor asked if we noticed a substantial difference after using the nasal spray for a month. We hadn't. There was some difference, perhaps, but he was still unable to breath through his nose. The doctor noticed signs of infection and put him on antibiotics, but even after going through the course of them, he still didn't seem much better. At that follow-up appointment, the allergist indicated that the nasal spray may not be getting to where it needed to to cause improvement due to enlarged adenoids. He recommended that we see an Ear Nose and Throat specialist to get them checked.
About two weeks later, we were at the ENT specialist. I hadn't told Cortlan what to expect, because I wasn't entirely sure myself, but the thought was that he would have to have a scope done that would go through his nose to examine the adenoids in the cavity behind. In the initial examination, however, the doctor looked in his mouth and had him say "Ahhhh."
"Wow!" she said. "You have really big tonsils!"
She continued the exam, and at one point turned to me and said, "I can certainly do the scope if you want me to, but I can tell you right now that my recommendation is to have the tonsils removed. Once I am in there, I can examine the adenoids and remove them if necessary."
The thought is that his large tonsils are restricting his airway, causing problems that range from snoring to lack of airflow through his nose to problems with drainage from his nose. The doctor said that without surgery now, an orthodontist would likely be sending him to have it later, as there is no room for Cortlan's tongue in the back of his mouth. This could cause problems with his pallet and the roof of his mouth may become misshapen in time. The surgery needs to happen.
That appointment was on October 4th. Two days from now, on October 18th, Cortlan will have his tonsils removed. We are very hopeful that there will be a noticeable difference and that he will find relief. We are also hopeful that the recovery goes well. Cortlan is a tough kid; he is very tolerant and rarely complains when sick. When he had to get his blood work done, he quietly sat and watched as the technician inserted the needle into his arm and drew three vials of blood. The tech commented that he handled the process better than many adults. Even still, you never know what to expect with things like this.
I have stocked up on popsicles (I have maybe bought two or three boxes in his life until this point, so this will certainly be a treat) and Italian Ice. We made home made apple sauce on Sunday, and I bought plenty of soup and a spaghetti squash. He will have to spend at least a week out of school, inactive, and he is not going to be able to go to soccer or gymnastics for two weeks, so as a surprise, we also got him a new game for his Explorer. (We also prepared for the bouts of jealousy that Everly will likely experience over the attention, the special diet, and Cortlan "getting to go" to the doctors. For one, she is getting a new pair of boots.)
So there you have it...the story of the tonsils. The next couple of weeks should be interesting in many ways. It should be no big deal; We are ready. And Cortlan has been counting down the days.
As spring turned into summer, Cort still got no relief. Thank goodness for a Costco membership, as buying tissues in bulk became a necessity. Eventually, we decided that we had to take this to the pros and we went to an allergist. The allergist tested him and determined that Cortlan is severely allergic to grass, ragweed, and a few other weeds for which they specifically tested. He also is allergic to cat and oak. The specialist recommended continuing the course we were on and added a nasal spray, as well. At that first appointment, he mentioned that we may need to check on his adenoids. We made a follow-up appointment for a month later.
At the follow-up appointment, the doctor asked if we noticed a substantial difference after using the nasal spray for a month. We hadn't. There was some difference, perhaps, but he was still unable to breath through his nose. The doctor noticed signs of infection and put him on antibiotics, but even after going through the course of them, he still didn't seem much better. At that follow-up appointment, the allergist indicated that the nasal spray may not be getting to where it needed to to cause improvement due to enlarged adenoids. He recommended that we see an Ear Nose and Throat specialist to get them checked.
About two weeks later, we were at the ENT specialist. I hadn't told Cortlan what to expect, because I wasn't entirely sure myself, but the thought was that he would have to have a scope done that would go through his nose to examine the adenoids in the cavity behind. In the initial examination, however, the doctor looked in his mouth and had him say "Ahhhh."
"Wow!" she said. "You have really big tonsils!"
She continued the exam, and at one point turned to me and said, "I can certainly do the scope if you want me to, but I can tell you right now that my recommendation is to have the tonsils removed. Once I am in there, I can examine the adenoids and remove them if necessary."
The thought is that his large tonsils are restricting his airway, causing problems that range from snoring to lack of airflow through his nose to problems with drainage from his nose. The doctor said that without surgery now, an orthodontist would likely be sending him to have it later, as there is no room for Cortlan's tongue in the back of his mouth. This could cause problems with his pallet and the roof of his mouth may become misshapen in time. The surgery needs to happen.
That appointment was on October 4th. Two days from now, on October 18th, Cortlan will have his tonsils removed. We are very hopeful that there will be a noticeable difference and that he will find relief. We are also hopeful that the recovery goes well. Cortlan is a tough kid; he is very tolerant and rarely complains when sick. When he had to get his blood work done, he quietly sat and watched as the technician inserted the needle into his arm and drew three vials of blood. The tech commented that he handled the process better than many adults. Even still, you never know what to expect with things like this.
I have stocked up on popsicles (I have maybe bought two or three boxes in his life until this point, so this will certainly be a treat) and Italian Ice. We made home made apple sauce on Sunday, and I bought plenty of soup and a spaghetti squash. He will have to spend at least a week out of school, inactive, and he is not going to be able to go to soccer or gymnastics for two weeks, so as a surprise, we also got him a new game for his Explorer. (We also prepared for the bouts of jealousy that Everly will likely experience over the attention, the special diet, and Cortlan "getting to go" to the doctors. For one, she is getting a new pair of boots.)
So there you have it...the story of the tonsils. The next couple of weeks should be interesting in many ways. It should be no big deal; We are ready. And Cortlan has been counting down the days.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
And it begins...
My kids are always there for each other. When Everly is upset about something, the first person she reaches for is Cortlan, and he is right there to give her a hug. (We are kind of used to it, but that "act" never fails to get strangers' attention when it happens in public.) They do get along really well....most of the time.
On Saturday, Cortlan made this sign. All by himself. Apparently, Everly was pretending to be a baby and was crawling into his room. That didn't go over all that well, so he placed this sign (with a picture to assist the non-reader) outside his room.
And so it begins...
Monday, October 1, 2012
Take THAT...
We had a really nice day yesterday, with a trip to one of the city's museums in the afternoon. Several venues in the city were free over the weekend as part of a large event. We took the opportunity to visit one of the museums that is not part of our membership and spent about two hours touring the exhibits... just enough time to not lose interest or be too tired, but certainly not enough time to warrant a full admission. Perfect.
We left the museum at closing, which was 5pm. Thinking it would be quicker to grab a bite to eat out (a rare occasion) than to go home and cook, we checked our coupons and found a restaurant that we had never tried before. We got to the restaurant only to find that it wasn't open on Sunday...unfamiliarity with the hours being a clear downfall of trying a new place. We were hungry. Unfortunately, at that point, the only thing close enough and quick enough was Dairy Queen as a plan B. Certainly not the type of restaurant we had originally picked, but it would do...and it has been a while since we have had an ice cream treat.
On the way home, John and I struggled to have some sort of conversation in the front while the kids alternated between getting along and bickering in the back. At one point, I heard Cortlan threaten Everly with, "Well then you aren't going to be allowed to come to my 'Life is Good Festival'!" which is a festival that actually exists and we heard about on the radio, but one about which Cortlan knows nothing. Apparently, he liked the sound of it, so he has developed some make-believe festival by the same name. And apparently, Everly did something to warrant being banned from said make-believe festival.
The conversations continued, and I more-or-less tuned the kids out for a bit, letting them have their own discussions while John and I had ours. It wasn't long, however, before I heard, "Daddy?"
It was Everly, and she sounded a bit peeved.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to stay home with Cortlan on my birthday?" she asked.
We were confused for a minute. "Stay home with Cortlan on your birthday?" I repeated for clarification.
"Yes. Because he isn't allowed to come."
Ahhhhhh.....Cort, I think she one-upped you on the "Life is Good Festival" banishment.
And she even covered for your supervision.
We left the museum at closing, which was 5pm. Thinking it would be quicker to grab a bite to eat out (a rare occasion) than to go home and cook, we checked our coupons and found a restaurant that we had never tried before. We got to the restaurant only to find that it wasn't open on Sunday...unfamiliarity with the hours being a clear downfall of trying a new place. We were hungry. Unfortunately, at that point, the only thing close enough and quick enough was Dairy Queen as a plan B. Certainly not the type of restaurant we had originally picked, but it would do...and it has been a while since we have had an ice cream treat.
On the way home, John and I struggled to have some sort of conversation in the front while the kids alternated between getting along and bickering in the back. At one point, I heard Cortlan threaten Everly with, "Well then you aren't going to be allowed to come to my 'Life is Good Festival'!" which is a festival that actually exists and we heard about on the radio, but one about which Cortlan knows nothing. Apparently, he liked the sound of it, so he has developed some make-believe festival by the same name. And apparently, Everly did something to warrant being banned from said make-believe festival.
The conversations continued, and I more-or-less tuned the kids out for a bit, letting them have their own discussions while John and I had ours. It wasn't long, however, before I heard, "Daddy?"
It was Everly, and she sounded a bit peeved.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to stay home with Cortlan on my birthday?" she asked.
We were confused for a minute. "Stay home with Cortlan on your birthday?" I repeated for clarification.
"Yes. Because he isn't allowed to come."
Ahhhhhh.....Cort, I think she one-upped you on the "Life is Good Festival" banishment.
And she even covered for your supervision.
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