So many things to catch up on, I don't even know where to start, and I know I'll forget a lot, but here's what I can remember at the moment -
This - I AM RUNNING AGAIN!!!!! I have gone for exactly two runs, both of which were actually a combination of walking and running. The first went like this - walk 10, run 5, walk 5, run 5. The second went like this - Walk 5, run 5, walk 5, run 5, walk 5, run 5.
So, a total of 10 minutes running the first time, and 15 minutes of running the second time. I would hever have thought that 10- and 15-minute runs would bring me so much joy, but since both of them were completely, 100% pain-free, I honestly could not be happier.
The walking intervals are frustrating to me - when I go out for a run, I want to RUN - but I am determined to do this right and keep myself from getting reinjured, so I am following the plan religiously.
My next outing will be Friday, when I'll do walk 3, run 7, walk 3, run 7, walk 3, run 7. Running for 7 minutes straight is going to feel absolutely glorious! Even running for 5 minutes straight has felt amazing. I did such a good job of putting running out of my head for the past 10 weeks, I almost forgot how much I loved it and how much a part of me it is, but now that I've gotten a taste of it again, it's like the return of a long-lost friend.
When I took those first few strides this past weekend, I expected them to feel clumsy and awkward, the way it did when I returned to running after having Carmine, but they didn't at all - they felt completely and totally natural, like I was just picking up where I left off. And then it occurred to me that this time, unlike after my months-long pregnancy/postpartum layoff, I am not hauling around an extra 15 pounds, so it's no wonder I feel lighter on my feet - because I am!
And in those final weeks of pregnancy and the initial weeks postpartum, I was barely working out - just doing some walking and yoga - so I lost a lot of cardiovascular conditioning. But this time I have been cross-training like a maniac, so my level of fitness has not changed one bit. So, it all makes sense, and I'm glad that I don't have that hurdle to overcome this time - just have to stick with the plan, get in for more PT (first appt. is in a couple weeks), and keep my fingers crossed that the rehab continues to go well.
That - Carmine may be allergic to chicken. Weird, right? He had it twice without incident, but the third and fourth times we gave it to him, he was violently ill. Seems like more than a coincedence to me, and the pediatrician agreed. This also makes us a little concerned that he could potentially be allergic to eggs, which poses a problem when it comes to getting his flu shot, since the vaccine is egg-based.
The plan as of right now is that we will NOT be giving him either chicken or eggs, and we are holding off on the flu shot until we talk to an allergist. I'll be calling to make an appt., and hopefully we can get in soon to see someone. The big boys both got their flu shots, and I'll be getting one, so that will help protect him a bit, but I'd still like him to get one, if it's possible. We'll have to see what the allergist says, though.
The Other - We've gone to church the past two weekends, and are going to try to go most Sundays from here on out. It's something we've talked about a lot, and we even went a few times when Gabe and Dante were both much younger, but then just stopped and never really got back to it. But Scott and I both feel it's an important thing for the kids to have in their lives, so we're really going to make an effort to stick wtih it this time.
We're going to a Congregational church right in town, and really like it. The atmosphere is very laid-back, and the church has a nice feel to it - very community- and family-oriented (I suppose all churches are, but we really like the vibe we got from this one).
And one of the other things we like is that 20 minutes into the mass, they call the kids up to the altar and do a sort of mini-sermon for them, and then after that the big kids go to Sunday School (Gabe included), and Dante goes to the toddler room to play.
They're both really enjoying it, and they do pretty well during the time that they are in mass. There's a lot of music, so that helps keep their interest just long enough. Gabe loves the music, and even started to clap after one of the songs last week. I had to explain to him that you don't clap in church, but I think it was nice that he wanted to : )
Carmine stays with us the whole time, and has made quite a name for himself, as he babbles and blows raspberries - very loudly - the entire time. Nobody seems to mind, though - it's all happy noises, and he's such a cutie, how could anyone be bothered by him? : )
As for me, I'm enjoying it, too. I was raised Roman Catholic, but long ago gave up on that, for many, many reasons, and for a long time, I haven't given religion much thought at all. And I don't have any intention of raising the kids to conform to any particular faith. But Scott and I both feel like it's important for them to have some sort of religious foundation, and then when they're older, they can decide what they want to do with it. So it's nice to feel like we're doing that for them. And I think it's good that I'm at least thinking about this stuff again. I don't know if I'll ever reach any sort of conclusions, or have any firm beliefs in a given religion, but I like having some sort of spiritual aspect to my life.
It's also nice to have an hour of every week for some quiet reflection. Running has honestly been the most spiritual thing I've experienced in the past several years, and every time I run I have that quiet time for myself, but it's nice to have it this way, too - as a shared experience with my family.
And on a lighter note, it's going to provide us with plenty of funny moments with the boys, like yesterday, when Gabe was playing with his Fisher-Price Imaginext castle, and he had his figurines set up all over and around the castle, and he was having them yell things like "Let my people go!" and "Help me, my slave!"
At least we know he's listening to what they're teaching him in Sunday school.
