huge ann

Just a quick post of the photo Tina sent me of her tiny baby, Autumn, and comparatively enormous ann doll.

cross-bones

Finished a raggedy ann for Tina in San Diego who delivered a little girl named "Autumn" last week. Tina likes skull and cross-bones stuff so I found some heart and cross-bones fabric.

Much sewing to do today to get several anns ready for babies due soon! And a monkey costume for Lila to take to New York with me this week.

A year ago we were in San Diego and this particular weekend I was working my tail off at Bike MS. I had flights booked to fly to Denver for my job interview... and we were planning for a week-long backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. SO much has changed since then - crazy! Colorado, new job, home owner, Luna-tic dog, prego...

Had a good visit with Mom last weekend. She's about the same: tired. When I showed up at the farm, Eric was there from Granddad - he's back from Iraq and nearly finished with his active duty. He's planning to join the National Guard in Colorado because they have the specific unit he wants to be a part of and he has a few more years reserve commitment. Saturday night there was a "tail-gating" party at the nursing home which was fun. Sunday my brother Dave was around so we all hung out together. The weather was fantastic! I love the Midwest in the fall.

day three challenge

On Sunday morning I rolled out of bed and dressed myself for another breakfast of champions and another day of walking. I rode the shuttle back to the park we’d finished in the day before and stretched and stretched and stretched. My calves had been tight since Friday and I was worried about hot spots on both pinkie toes that weren’t quite blisters.

I was hoping for a nice cool morning but it was actually hot ALREADY. Still, I hung in there with my decaf and set-up my phone to play Bob Marley music – it has a speaker so I didn’t have to wear headphones or hold it to my ear. I walked along with my music and my coffee, headed toward Ocean Beach. There’s a radio station in San Diego that plays Brunch with Bob & Friends every Sunday morning, so being in my old neighborhood with some nostalgia-prompting music was fun. I walked alone most of the morning which was nice. I did a lot of thinking about Mom.

As the morning wore on, it got downright HOT. Record-breaking heat for that time of year in San Diego I think, especially that early and especially on the coast! I had some heat rash on Friday – just some spots on my feet and thighs – that started to return on Sunday. I sat down at a rest-stop for some time, just cooling off (I also skipped a one-mile loop in the route). Along came some friends, Colleen and Caren, so I leaped up (hardly) and joined them for a mile or so.

Jesse and his parents had breakfast at a place right along the route (across the street from Anthony’s) and were waiting for me to walk by. They gave me hugs and encouragement. I walked by the Star of India and Midway museums and on.

From there, the final stretch to the pre-finish holding park was LONG. I don’t think the distance was far, but the distance between porta-potties was far and the heat made it seem even farther. I stopped and sat in the shade quite a few times on that stretch. I finally made it to the pre-finish park and restrooms, and looking back that long hot final stretch was nothing compared to the life of challenges Mom has faced because of MS. Even though I only completed 40 miles of the 50 miles this time, I still consider it quite a feat. And I would do it every day if it would make a difference for Mom.

At the pre-finish park the group waited for everyone to catch up. Then the event staff rounded us up in our clean new T-shirts and we took the last mile as a cohesive group. Along the water to the finish line, with a drum line leading us through the finish line arch. Along the way there were supporters cheering and smiling, and signs for the walkers (the Ladies’ Night gals made me one!). Once I got through the finish line, I sat in the shade with my sports drink. Jesse and his parents had roses for me, and Patti had a TROPHY made for me! Very cool. The closing/medal ceremony was short and sweet, and then we had lunch. It was quite a party with a live band – I’m glad that the in-laws and Jason and Debbie made it down to join us.

After lunch and the band we again went back to the hotel where I had a nice long cool shower and lounged on the bed for a couple of hours. Jesse’s parents kept us company. That evening we went to Nati’s in OB for some good old fashioned Mexican food – there were about 15 of us there including friends and Jesse’s college advisor. Great dinner! The in-laws headed back up the coast and Jesse and I settled in for one last night in San Diego.

Monday morning (hot again!) we packed, checked out, returned the car and hopped on the plane back to Denver where the leaves are changing. We picked up some pizza and Luna and went home.

I shouldn’t tell you that our suitcase sat untouched and full on the floor until Friday when Jesse finally emptied it into the laundry, but I will.

cockadoodle-done

Two things I've been meaning to share but haven't yet.

First off, Jesse has felt the alien swimming around in there a couple of time - the first time maybe three or four weeks ago. I feel it moving a lot in the mornings and the evenings, and sometimes even in the middle of the night when I get back in bed after a bathroom trip. It seems to be most active when I'm driving... not sure if that corresponds to food or something else because I eat my breakfast on the way to work every morning. Sometimes it kicks me right in the bladder and I think I might pee but it passes.

The other thing is that our neighbors (the Bumpus family - that's not their real name, just what we call them) had a confused rooster that crowed all hours... fine if the windows are closed but a REAL bummer when you're trying to sleep in on a summer Saturday morning or your brother John is visiting and you've been bragging about how quiet it is out here. Apparently all roosters are confused and it's just a myth that they only crow at sunrise. Anyway, our other neighbors (the Firefighters - again, not their real name) went to the Bumpus house to ask them politely to shut the rooster up and the Bumpuses said they had EATEN the rooster a few days earlier. We thought it had been quiet! Yay! I wouldn't be so picky about the rooster if they didn't also have chickens (stink!), geese (loud), turkeys (loud) and two dogs, one of which has a bark-control collar. The bark-controlled dog barks once (loud) and then yips (loud) from the shock, poor thing. The other dog is some sort of hound so his enormously loud barks are more like roars or howls. We are pleased with everything now that the rooster is gone... though the Bumpuses told the Firefighters that they might have another rooster from their latest round of chicks.

day two challenge

After trailing me worriedly all day Friday, Jesse decided to walk with me on Saturday which I welcomed. We got up early, got dressed and ate breakfast which was decaf coffee, oatmeal and bacon for me. Breakfast of pregnant, gluten-intolerant champions. We took a shuttle to the top of Torrey Pines hill which cut out the first five miles. That hill nearly knocked Jana out of the race last year, and after my pulling/straining sensation on the uphill stretches the day before, we thought it best to skip.

We stopped at every rest-stop for water or sports drink and so I could visit the porta-potty or reapply sunscreen (got a little burn on my neck/chest on Friday). I was looking and feeling MORE pregnant on Saturday then I did on Friday. It was so good to have Jesse to visit with – he was a real trooper.

We walked along the coastline and some pretty busy streets, past the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club where we got married more than seven years ago, and into La Jolla. Jesse got some cioppino which is a seafood soup (we walked right past the place) and we continued toward the event lunch stop. My feet were starting to wear out… that’s a lot of steps to take on pavement, especially with the extra pounds this year. Leia, Lyn and Hannah met us at lunch and visited while we ate. I took my shoes off this time. The feet needed some air.

Leia joined us for a few miles after lunch until Tom picked her up. It was getting awfully hot and I was tired so we stopped to cool off in the shade several times. It’s not a race you know. We stopped at one rest-stop for about a half an hour, and I thought that I was ready to call it quits for the day and take a shuttle back to the hotel. But I had some candy and cooled off, and then Debbie showed up on her bike. We decided to walk further, heading toward the bay which I thought would be a LONG hot stretch.

Turns out we accidentally short-cutted a whole mile off the route and the bay walk was partially shaded. Plus we had Debbie riding her bike alongside us, taking my mind off my sore feet. And candy – one team of walkers set-up camp by the bay walk including a cooler FULL of cold candy bars! I don’t know when the last time I ate a whole full-size candy bar was – not a king size, but not a snack-size or fun-size either.

We finished up the day at a shady park and hopped on the shuttle back to the hotel. I was STIFF getting out of that air-conditioned shuttle after 30 minutes. Back at the hotel we showered and visited the lounge for a snack (too late for a massage tonight), then headed to the bar for a drink before dinner.

The event dinner was great. A walker whose wife has MS spoke about why he walks – it was my friend Greg. David Osmond (one of the original Osmond’s sons) who has MS sang and spoke. And the candle ceremony of course.

After dinner I laid out my clothes for Sunday and fell in to bed.

day one challenge

On Friday morning Jesse and I drove up the coast to the start line. I had some breakfast, stretched and put my sunscreen on. Quite a few people recognized me from previous years working at the chapter and last year walking. I made an “In Honor Of” bib to pin to my shirt.



Lee and I

I saw Lee – a long-time chapter office volunteer – who got out of bed early just to see me off. Lee is a sweetheart. If Mom were better, I think she’d be like Lee. Lee uses a scooter to get around, though she still drives and lives alone with her dachshund puppy. Her first grandchild is a grandson – the same age as Lila – for whom I made a little raggedy andy.

Before the walk started, my former chapter co-worker, Sharon, pulled me aside to tell me about the gift that her husband gave her for her 50th birthday. It was $50 to give to each of the 50 people who had made an impact on her life, and she had chosen ME as one of those people! She said she was inspired by me and my drive to fight multiple sclerosis in my Mom’s honor. Sharon is notorious for tearing up… and she made me tear up that morning. What should I spend my special $50 on? She said it could be anything.

The walk started and off I went, Jesse snapping photos. I had used the porta-potty at the start line twice and still was excited about reaching the first rest-stop for its porta-potties. Something is squishing my bladder!

I walked along the coastline (beautiful!), sometimes alone, sometimes with people I know from past years, and sometimes with people that I met along the way. It was clear and sunny, like fall mornings in San Diego often are, but that sun was hotter than I remember it. I took photos with my new phone, some of which I sent to my Facebook to post but since then I’ve realized that NONE of them posted – the entire weekend! I kept walking along, snacking on fruit and granola bars, drinking water and sports drinks, stopping at every restroom and feeling fine.

Jesse ran some errands (took our wedding rings to the jeweler for an insurance check-up), hit the grocery store and then caught up with me at lunch. It felt good to sit down in the shade for a bit, but I didn’t take my shoes off. I saw a marker that showed Karin’s Kids team had raised $3,195 though I know we’ve exceeded that amount since it was printed. On the advice of my doctor, Jesse brought me protein: cheese and nuts galore! I ate a nice big lunch and then topped it off with a trip to the porta-potty and an ice cream bar and got on my way.

I don’t know if it was because of the stretchy exercise clothes I was wearing that day (making my rounding belly more evident) or the walking that made my belly bigger, but people noticed and asked me if I was pregnant. That was the first day the questions came in – I must be officially past the frumpy stage.

I continued walking down the coast, often through residential areas. As I reached the late-day rest-stops, I realized they had CANDY in addition to fruit and nutrition bars – which by that time was exactly what I needed.

I was starting to feel pulling in my groin on the uphill sections, it was hot, and my feet were wearing down. Jesse met me at a rest-stop and I did some more stretching… considering whether or not I would take on Del Mar Heights hill which is a STEEP hill in mile 16 of 20 for the day. I thought I would do it, so Jesse headed back to the hotel. At the bottom of the hill, looking up at it and its steep shadeless sidewalks, I called Jesse and asked if he’d come get me. They have plenty of support vehicles patrolling the route, but I thought that since Jesse was already in the car that would be convenient. I started up the hill as he was on his way, and by the time he got turned around (Friday afternoon traffic!) and got to me, I had made it all the way to the TOP. My big belly was heavy! He picked me up right after I finished mile 17 and we went back to the hotel.

I put my name on the list to get a massage and then got in the shower. Jesse and I lounged in the lounge until I got called for my massage which was indescribably awesome. Thank you volunteers! I went to the event dinner at the hotel where I enjoyed two trips to the buffet and a comedy stint from Colleen – a nine-year veteran of the Challenge Walk who I really got to know three years ago. The staff (who I sat with) commented that I looked more pregnant that night than I had the night before – I guess because of the heat/humidity, stretching and walking 17 MILES? Jesse went to see his friend Dana and his new puppy and house and spent the evening in Encinitas. I fell asleep before 10 – I was tired!