The Home Stretch

I've now been running at least a mile every day for over 30 days! I'm really proud of myself for keeping it up this far. There have definitely been days when I wanted to quit, when I felt like I was too tired to even think about getting a run in, but thanks to Hubby's encouragement and my own stubbornness, I've managed to keep the streak alive! I've started to notice over the past few days that my knees and shins are complaining a little bit on my runs, so I'm trying to be careful and not over-do it. I haven't gotten in my "long" runs the past couple of weekends, because life got in the way, but I'm okay with that (and I think my knees are, too).

Here's what I've been up to since my last post:

19. Friday, June 13th: 1 mile, 8:29, average pace: 8:29/mile My fastest mile so far, just to prove I can!

20. Saturday, June 14th: 2.08 miles, 19:38, average pace: 9:24/mile A great run with Hubby and Dad (I totally kicked their butts)!

21. Sunday, June 15th: 2.03 miles, 20:08, average pace: 9:52/mile A Father’s Day run with my Dad.

22. Monday, June 16th: 1.06 miles, 11:19, average pace: 10:38/mile A little jog with Mischa.

23. Tuesday, June 17th: 3.1 miles, 30:35, average pace: 9:52/mile An easy evening run in humid weather.

24. Wednesday, June 18th: 1.1 miles, 9:36, average pace: 8:42/mile A zippy evening mile.

25. Thursday, June 19th: 3.5 miles, 34:09, average pace: 9:45/mile Negative splits on my evening run.

26. Friday, June 20th: 2 miles, 18:30, average pace: 9:15/mile A quick run to my neighborhood running store to donate old running shoes!

27. Saturday, June 21st: 1.14 miles, 9:14, average pace: 8:05/mile My new fastest mile ever! All is takes to beat your previous PR is a mad dash in a thunderstorm/torrential downpour!

28. Sunday, June 22nd: 2.68 miles, 25:07, average pace: 9:22/mile A gentle loop around the neighborhood--my legs are definitely getting tired.

29. Monday, June 23rd: 1.3 miles, 12:56, average pace: 9:56/mile Met some new neighbors expecting their first baby in August!

30. Tuesday, June 24th: 3.1 miles, 30:14, average pace: 9:45/mile Another run that felt like a swim, trying to take it easy on my knees and shins.

31. Wednesday, June 25th: 1.15 miles, 10:02, average pace: 8:43/mile Felt pretty strong tonight, striding and gliding along.

It's a huge relief to be able to see the finish line of this challenge. Only 9 runs to go! I can do that, no problem! Right? Right?

Bath time!

The Things are now 41 weeks old, and we're seeing fun new changes with them. Up until very recently, as soon as 5:30 rolled around, it was time to get ready for bed, or you'd have a huge meltdown from an over-tired Thing 1. But all of a sudden, they're both becoming more social at night. They want to stay awake longer and visit more, instead of just passing out as soon as they've finished their bottle. There are still some nights where it's lights out right away, but Hubby and I are enjoying having a little more time with them in the evenings. They're starting to develop real personalities (really funny personalities), and it's so much fun to see them in action! I can't get over how cute and silly they are, and it's so much fun to watch them learn new things together. One of my favorite things right now is when they both decide they need to climb on Mommy right away. It's usually in the mornings when we're playing downstairs; they'll both crawl over as fast as they can, and climb into my lap. Sometimes there are tears, when one gets jealous of the other, but there's nothing warm and fuzzier than having two little people who can't wait to snuggle with you!

Four generations!

The Things had a great first Father's Day visiting with my family. We got to visit with Nana, Grandad and Gigi, and the babies had lots of cuddles and play time! They also had their first trip to the pool! Thing 2 had a fantastic time--she was totally happy, as long as she was getting wet (I had to keep splashing her in the lazy river, otherwise she'd fidget). I think we've got a little water bug on our hands! I'm pretty sure Thing 1 would have been just as happy, had he not decided that he desperately needed a nap right then. We didn't get to spend as long at the pool as Thing 2 would have liked, but it's great to know that these two like more than just splashing in the tub!

As we head into summer, I know we're going to have lots of adventures together, and I'm really looking forward to them. The things are very excited to sleep through their first fireworks next week!

 

Papa Bear and his Baby Bears

You're HOW old now?!?!

Tuesday marked the Things' 9 month/39 week birthday! I can't believe they've been in our lives for so long already--it feels like it was only yesterday that I was still enormously pregnant with them! (And, I mean enormously pregnant: talk about cankles!)

Good morning!

The Things decided we needed a present for their special day, and greeted us first thing in the morning like this:

Talk about a surprise! We knew Thing 1 could do it, as he demonstrated the other day (I promise, he has more than one pair of pajamas), but Thing 2 hadn't really shown any interest. She'd pull herself up if she was sitting in your lap and could use you as leverage, but that was about it. So, to walk in on this was quite a surprise!

In other Thing developments, Thing 2 now has two teeth! We're still waiting for Thing 1 to cut his first, but we've been expecting it any day, with all the drooling he does!

Yesterday was their 9 month check-in with the doctor, and they passed with flying colors! They're both huge (he's slightly above 50%, and she's slightly below 50% in weight), and they haven't been on an adjusted scale for a while. We've seen the evidence of their development every day, but it's really nice to have the doctor agree with what we've been seeing! Two health, happy babies, who are growing just right!

I'm proud to say, that today is day 18 of the Runner's World Run Streak, and I'm still going strong! Okay, maybe not strong (at least, not this morning), but I know I'm developing good stamina for my big race this fall. This morning in particular was a challenge, since I was just so tired (thanks, kids), but I knew I had to get out there and get my run in, and I did it! This week is pretty busy for us, so I have to fit in three morning runs in a row, which is really rough for me. But, I've already knocked out two of them, so I feel like tomorrow should be a piece of cake! The runs may not always be my fastest or best, but I'm still running smart and feeling good about my effort. Plus, just think about how well I'll be able to power through feeling tired in a race when I'm done with this!

Without further ado, here's the current tally:

10. Wednesday, June 4th: 1.05 miles, 10:30, average pace: 9:56/mile Mischa had a great time running with me--finally some nice weather for her to run in!

11. Thursday, June 5th: 3.5 miles, 34:42, average pace: 9:54/mile Too hungry to make it a speed workout or anything, but another beautiful evening for a run!

12. Friday, June 6th: 1.25 miles, 12:50, average pace: 10:14/mile Mischa’s longest run in a while, and aside from some issues with sharing the sidewalk, she did pretty well!

13. Saturday, June 7th: 5.5 miles, 57:55, average pace: 10:32/mile A slow, hot run, but it felt pretty good. I think I ran a lot smarter than I did last week, so I’m pleased with that.

14. Sunday, June 8th: 1.12 miles, 11:01, average pace: 9:48/mile A run with the whole family! Babies, Mischa and hubby all out together!

15. Monday, June 9th: 3.1 miles, 28:50, average pace, 9:18/mile Some cooler weather came in, so I had a nice, quick run.

16. Tuesday, June 10th: 1.12 miles, 10:40, average pace: 9:31/mile Yup, Mischa still hates running in the rain.

17. Wednesday, June 11th: 1.12 miles, 9:57, average pace: 8:50/mile Just a quick dash in the morning rain before taking the Things in for their 9 month check-up!!!!

18. Thursday, June 12th: 3.1 miles, 30:05, average pace: 9:42/mile Not a hot day, but really humid.

I'm at 42.31 miles for the challenge, and it's a lot of fun to see the miles rack up! I've got 22 days to go, so I'm almost at the halfway point! Wahoo! Then, I get a little break, and it's on to half marathon training... Yikes!

Soooooooooo big!

We're heading to Nana and Grandad's tomorrow for Father's Day weekend--I'm really excited to finally get to take the babies to the pool, I think they'll love it! We tried to go to the pool when we visited last, but that's when we were all struck by the dreaded stomach bug...shudder... This visit should be lots more fun! I should have cute pictures to share next week, but to tide you over, here's the Things' 9 month picture.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there! Have a great weekend!

Streaking!

Well, I've completed 9 days of the Runner's World Run Streak, and after tonight it will be 10 straight days of running! I passed the "most days I've run in a row" mark around day 3 or 4, so every day beyond that is an adventure. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it through the whole challenge, but I'm sure going to try. I've had issues with shin splints before, and I don't want to go into half marathon training with an injury, so I want to be careful while I do this crazy thing. So far, it's going well! I've been feeling good during my runs, and I'm not sore, so I don't feel like I'm pushing myself too hard. Hopefully I'm able to maintain that feeling for the next month!

Here's an update on my runs for the past week: 

3. Wednesday, May 28th: 1.1 miles, 10:56, average pace: 9:55/mile. Mischa likes running much better when it’s not raining.

4. Thursday, May 29th: 3.5 miles, 34:50, average pace: 9:57/mile. A cloudy morning run, with a little hill work thrown in.

5. Friday, May 30th: 2.3 miles, 21:00, average pace: 9:03/mile. A fast, hard run with hubby.

6. Saturday, May 31st: 5 miles, 52:32, average pace: 10:30/mile. Maybe, just maybe doing a long run at noon in 80+ degree weather wasn’t my best idea ever, but I did it! My farthest run since before the babies were born!

7. Sunday, June 1st: 1.12 miles, 9:39, average pace: 8:34/mile. So that’s what a mile feels like when you don’t drag your dog along with you…

8. Monday, June 2nd: 1.12 miles, 10:10, average pace: 9:02/mile. Not as fast as Sunday, but I was paying more attention to my stride (I was trying new shoes).

9. Tuesday, June 3rd: 3.1 miles, 29:40, average pace: 9:34/mile. Beautiful, balmy weather, and an easy run through our nearby forest preserve. Didn’t see any deer like hubby did a few minutes before me, but it was great!

So far, I've run 16.45 miles during the challenge. It feels great to be over a week into it, but I know I still have a month to go, so I'm not getting too excited yet. I'll just keep plugging away for now.

And, in Thing news: Thing 1 has decided that he's ready to stand up! We went in to get them Friday morning, and he greeted us like this:

"Hey mommy! Let's play!"

We'd heard some extra giggles before we went in, but had no idea what was waiting for us. Obviously, he's very proud of himself, and uses every opportunity to practice his new trick. Thing 2 isn't far behind, but she's not quite there yet. Hubby decided she was jealous this morning, and gave her a little help, so we got this precious moment:

Let us out!

 I am sooooooooooooo not ready for this!

I'm Baaaaaack!

Aside from being an awesome three-day weekend, with great food and great weather, this weekend was a huge confidence boost for my running! I had a fantastic 4.5 mile run on Saturday, which was my longest run since February, 2012, and it was a very smart run too! The weather was perfect, and I managed negative splits, which I tend to struggle with on my longer runs. I was so pleased with that run, that I would have been okay if that was my only run of the weekend, but I was really thinking about trying to run Monday night, too. I figured, if I went ahead and got a run in, I wouldn't need to worry about running in the morning, and the weather didn't suck, so maybe... The lazy part of me said "But, it's a holiday! You should take the day off! Take it easy! Plus, look at those rain clouds! You should stay home." I managed to ignore that voice, put on my running clothes, and headed out during what I thought was a break in the rain. I was totally wrong about the rain. Got really wet on my run, but I managed to bust out another sub-30-minute 5k, and missed hitting a PR by 3 seconds.

I've realized that I really don't run that many races, since my 5k PR is from July, 2011. But, I was thrilled with that race, since I managed to PR, despite the fact that it was July in Washington, DC! If you've never been to Washington, DC in July, all you need to know is that it's ridiculously hot, and stupidly humid. Not runner-friendly weather! Looking back on the race, I've realized that it wasn't really one to be proud of, since I didn't run it well at all. I busted my ass on the first mile, and then got waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay slower on the second and third. That's not how you want to run a race at all! You want to fly, not crawl across the finish line! So, when I managed to come this close to my PR on a dumb-ole run, without the adrenaline of race day, and nowhere near my physical peak (where I was in October, 2012), I was shocked, amazed, and hopeful. Maybe, just maybe this means I can get back to where I used to be as a runner!

Then yesterday, my BFF asked me if I want to do the Runner's World Run Streak with her. It involves running at least one mile every day between Memorial Day and July 4th. I've heard about streakers, but never really thought I would be one, since I would tend to stress out too much about stuff like that. The last thing I want is to end up not enjoying my runs. But, since this streak has a definite end date, and a short distance requirement, I think I can manage it. I figure, at the very least, I can take Mischa on a quick mile run on days I don't want to do a longer run. It will be good for me to get out every day, and I know she'll love it! So, I'm two days in, and so far so good! We'll see if I manage to keep it up...

Here's a breakdown so far:

1. Monday, May 26th: 3.1 miles, 27:29, average pace: 8:58/mile. An awesome run in drizzly weather.
2. Tuesday, May 27th: 1.11 miles, 11:06, average pace: 9:58/mile. Another wet run, with an unwilling running buddy. Yes, Mischa looooooooves to run, but she hates the rain, and the two kind of cancelled each other out.

A weekend of serious fun

And, and update on the Things: the babies had a great weekend, with family time, a playdate with another set of twins, and lots of time outside. Unfortunately, yesterday wasn't so great. While they were on their way back to our house with our nanny, the Things and Mischa were in a car accident. They were rear-ended while at a stoplight and the car was pushed forward into the car in front of it. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and hubby and I were nearby, and got there shortly after the accident. We decided to take the Things to the hospital, since Thing 2 was clearly upset, so mommy got her first ambulance ride! It was one of the most terrifying moments in my life, but it quickly became clear that Thing 2 was more scared than anything, and she had calmed down by the time we made it to the hospital. Thing 1 was a trooper the whole time, and just took everything in, from the flashing lights of the ambulance, to being held by the EMT. What a mellow boy! Actually, I think Mischa had it the worst: she literally had the crap scared out of her (yup, she pooped in the car), and was just relieved to be home safe and sound and snuggle all night.

After we got to the ER, the babies were admired by all the hospital staff, and quickly pronounced "perfect." We've checked with their pediatrician, and have been given the all-clear for them. They've quickly bounced back to their happy, active selves, which is a huge relief. Obviously, we're cuddling them a little more, and keeping a close eye on them, but they seem to be feeling no ill effects from the accident.

Speaking of active: we now officially have two mobile babies! Thing 1 decided enough was enough last week, and is now crawling almost as fast as Thing2 (of course, often in opposite directions)! We're quickly learning what babyproofing needs to be done, but it's so much fun to watch these two explore their home together.

36 + 1

It seems impossible, but Thing 1 and Thing 2 have now spent as long on the outside as they did on the inside! Today, they are 36 weeks and 1 day old.

What a difference 36 weeks makes! 36 + 1 in, 36 + 1 out!

A lot has happened over the past 36 weeks! They're now turning into real people, who can sit up on their own, and (sometimes) get themselves where they want to go (Thing 2 has mastered the army crawl, while Thing 1 prefers to roll to  his destination--he's so close to crawling, but just not there yet). They stick everything straight into their mouths, from food to dog toys to body parts (their own, yours, each others'...they don't care!), and Thing 2 is working on her first tooth! They're sleeping through the night, with some early-morning discussions from Thing 1 to keep things interesting. They love to laugh, and have discovered how entertaining they are--there's nothing sweeter than hearing them make each other giggle (even when they should be sleeping). They love people, and are happiest when there's someone there to hold them, help them walk around the room, or just watch them do their own thing. When one of their favorite people walks into a room, they usually get a shriek as a greeting. It's pretty awesome to have two small people who are so excited to see you that they can't help but scream!

This past weekend was an adventure for all of us. My sister-in-law graduated from college in California on Saturday, and the whole family (minus the Things) went to cheer her on. It was our first trip away from the babies, but we just weren't prepared to consider taking them on a trip that would probably leave little time for napping. So, Nana and Grandad and GG (my parents and grandmother) came to stay for the weekend! It sounds like everyone had a great time, and Hubby and I enjoyed some much-needed sleep. The babies and Mischa were pretty tired when we got home--everybody played hard while we were gone. I was proud of how well I did while I was away from them. I was totally fine during the trip, right up until we landed back in Chicago. As soon as we were back, I couldn't get home fast enough. By the time we were about 5 minutes away from home, I was in tears! I needed to see my babies right away! I had a great time in California, and I'm so glad we got to see Leslie graduate, but it sure is good to be home!

In running news, I'm thinking about going back to evening runs for a while. While we generally get to sleep until 6AM, there are still mornings where somebody (usually Thing 1) wakes us up at 5:30, or sometimes even 4:30, and that lack of sleep really messes me up. I may regret this as summer starts up, and it gets hotter in the evenings, but I'm going to give it a try for a while. I'm still trying to focus on enjoying myself and just getting my runs in. It doesn't matter when they happen, just that they happen! I fell off the wagon last week, and didn't get my three runs in, but we were so busy getting ready for our trip and then enjoying California, and I only feel a little bad about it. I think I made up with quality what I lacked in quantity, though! I ran my first sub-30 minute 5k since before the babies were born! That used to be no big deal, but now it's a huge accomplishment!

This weekend will be our first Memorial Day weekend as a family, and we're looking forward to it. Hopefully there will be a play date with some other twin friends, maybe a trip to the zoo, probably some fun times outside...it's going to be great!

My First Mother's Day

Hubby and I knew as soon as we saw that first ultrasound that our lives would never be the same. We knew our family life was suddenly going to be much different than we had expected. We knew it would be hard. We knew we were going to love these babies more than anything else.

Even though we knew a lot of stuff going in to the pregnancy and the early months of parenting, there are wonderful little things that surprise us every day. Watching the Things start to notice and interact with each other has been a beautiful revelation. Nap times and bed time will never be the same, but the past few days have been the most amazing preview of what's to come.

They make each other laugh all the time now, which has been so much fun. I never expected how much it would mean to me to watch their faces light up when they see each other, or how one will try to help when the other is upset. It's more than I could have ever imagined, and it's totally wonderful!

The babies are eight months old today, and tomorrow will be our first Mother's Day. I'm so excited for it, but I'm looking forward even more to the Mother's Days to come.

So big!

I'm still keeping up with running three times a week, and I'm working on adding other kinds of exercise to my routine as well, to hopefully get in some strength training and increase my flexibility. Of course, carrying the Things around as they get heavier is strength training on its own! My parents gave us a running stroller, so Hubby and I have been able to run together again, as a family. We're finally enjoying some spring weather, so it's been great to take the Things out of doors, and they really enjoy all the sunshine and fresh air.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there! I hope you have a fantastic day! I'll admit that part of what I've asked for tomorrow is a nap--and I'm really looking forward to it!

International Bereaved Mother's Day

Today is International Bereaved Mother's Day. It's a day I wish I didn't celebrate, but it's also probably the reason I'll be celebrating Mother's Day next Sunday.

Hubby and I almost had a very different family. I became pregnant in October, 2012 with a baby I never got to meet. It started out so easily, but it soon became clear that something wasn't right. The baby never developed past 6 weeks, I started spotting, and though the doctor wouldn't say anything, I started to worry. We lost our precious child in early December.

That holiday season was one I'd much rather have skipped. It wasn't in me to enjoy what should be a happy family occasion, when all I could think about was the family I'd lost.

We made it through the holidays together, thanks to the support of our families and lots of cuddles from Mischa. I don't know how we would have made it through without her. She was just we what needed when nothing else was right with the world.

We were very happy to say goodbye to 2012, and hoped for better news from 2013.

That news wasn't long in coming. I knew right away that I was pregnant again, and even though I was terrified during the entire pregnancy, it was such a relief that it happened again so quickly.

Even though I now have two perfect, healthy, wonderful babies to love; I often find myself wondering what if? My first baby was due in July, so watching that due date come and go was difficult. What would our life have been like if it were just just the 3 of us? I love our family, but I'll never stop loving the baby that might have been mine. I never got to know whether it was a girl or boy, and I never saw it as anything other than a heartbeat on the ultrasound, but it was still my first baby.

I wish I weren't a member of the group of strong women who celebrates this particular day, but it's made me the mother I am, and it has given me my beautiful children. Today, I celebrate the babies I have, mourn the one I never got to meet, and think with love of all the other women who have lost their children.