Life With The Lamphiers

Lauren's Ballet Recital - Tiffany's Diamonds!

2010-05-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

Mom's Day at Ethan's Preschool!

2010-05-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

2010 Boston Marathon Photos

2010-05-12T12:09:00.001-07:00

Picking up the Bib #!
The girls ran the B.A.A. 5K Sunday morning. The marathon was Monday morning.
Kara, Lisa, Me, Jen, and Donna

Race morning, ready to go!

Eric and Lisa dropped me off at the Boston Commons to catch the bus to Hopkinton.

Feeling pretty great with a new PR of 3:13:45!!!

Race report will come next!

Lauren's 6th Birthday!

2010-04-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Lauren turned SIX last month and wanted a sleep-over party! We had 7 girls from the neighborhood overnight. They all did FANTASTIC! Theme was Hello Kitty. The girls all brought dolls. We made doll sleeping bags and pillows, which the girls decorated with iron-ons. Tons of fun!

Ethan's 4th Birthday Celebrations

2010-03-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

Spring Break in Panama City Beach!

2010-03-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

What a weekend!

2010-02-22T08:16:00.001-08:00

Spring Has Sprung!!!

2010-02-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a gorgeous day here in Atlanta! The sun is out in full force and it's 61 degrees. Our good friends, the Wrights, took our children for the morning for their son's birthday party, and Eric and I had a nice sweetie run along the Chattahoochie River. Can't wait to get outside with the kids this afternoon after naptime!

Here are few photos from the fall:

I'm Baaaaack....!!!!

2010-02-19T11:50:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone! After quite a long blogging hiatus, I'm going to get back at it! I guess I just felt as though I got behind on posting photos, wanted to get caught up, felt a little overwhelmed, and gave up. In all honesty, the blog is in tough competition with facebook, and I've been leaning towards facebook updates first! But here we go again!

Here are some photos of what we've been doing recently. Lauren and three of her buddies did a fundraiser called "Hot Chocolate for Haiti." The day of, we made ab out $515!!!! SINCE then, however, the donations have continued to roll in. We are now at $1,000!!! WOW!

Lauren has also lost her first tooth. Here's a photo of that.

We've got birthdays for the kids coming up in March, martathons coming up, and lots of crazy stuff going on. Overall, life is very good and very busy! I'm training for the 2010 Boston Marathon and can't wait for that trip!

Hope all is well!

Lauren's First Day of Kindergarten!!!

2009-08-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

And off she goes....

Lauren had her first day of Kindergarten today at St. Benedict's! She was very excited this morning, and was very happy when I picked her up, so we are ALL happy. She's already made some great friends and is looking forward to tomorrow! For some reason, the pictures have posted from "last" to "first," and Blogger won't let me switch them around. So you'll see afternoon carpool first, then this morning's drop off and before-school pix last. The cake, well, that was our "First Day of Kindergarten Celebration Cake" that didn't come out, literally. Don't know what went wrong! I "Pam'ed the pan and lightly floured. Tomorrow, perhaps we'll try a "Second Day of Kindergarten Celebration Cake!"

Day Out With Thomas

2009-05-12T05:57:00.001-07:00

On May 3rd, we went to A Day Out With Thomas in Chattanooga, TN. We all had a great time! The children we so excited to ride on Thomas, especially Ethan. There was a ton to do: Train tables, lego tables, magic show, mini golf, petting zoo, meet Sir Topham Hat, Ride Thomas, bubble blowing, story telling, gift shop... We did it all except the story telling!

Lauren's First Ballet Recital

2009-05-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

Lauren has been taking ballet at school from a company called "DancerKids." She had her first recital on Saturday, 5/2 and it was spectacular! We spent some time putting her hair in a bun, getting her dressed and ready, and she was so excited. The recital was at the Pace Academy Theatre. They did their dress rehearsal and Show on the same day. Lauren did fantastic. She was not a speck nervous, she was very happy, and in her element. We were so proud of her!

"Preschool Days"

2009-05-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

Lauren and Ethan have "Preschool Days" at school, which is where parents come in for 30 minutes to hear a performance of some of the songs the kids have been working on during the year. It's a precious morning with lots of cute little voices singing so proudly! Or, NOT singing in some cases. Here are some photos to commemorate their mornings. I'll try to get some video up, too!

113th Boston Marathon!

2009-05-07T06:04:00.001-07:00

Had a great trip to Boston this year! Lisa was a fantastic host and it was great to catch up with friends! Here's Boston by the numbers:

113th Boston Marathon

My 18th marathon

My 4th Boston

Personal best of 3:24:34

7:48 pace per mile

7:28 my fastest mile

7:39 my last mile

8:18 my slowest mile, as predicted, Heartbreak Hill

1:41 First half of the marathon

1:43 second half of the marathon

26.2 miles dedicated to friends, loved ones, and inspirational people

Mile 14 - where I saw Rick and Dick Hoyte

Mile 22.5 - where I saw Lisa and Jen

Miles 14 and 22 - where I was choked up by my pace bracelet!

I felt so empowered by my pace bracelet filled with dedications. Thanks to all for being such a great part of my life! I'll be back to Boston next year for the 114th....

Lauren's Birthday Photos

2009-04-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

Lauren turned 5 on March 18th! Where does the time go? We celebrated a little on her actual day, then a little more on Saturday the 21st, when she had her birthday party at Kangazoom with LOTS of little friends! She loved every minute of it!

Boston Marathon Miles Dedication

2009-04-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

Boston Marathon Miles Dedication
113th Boston Marathon
April 20th, 2009

I am trying something a little different for my 18th marathon. I have decided to dedicate each mile of my race to special people in my life. There aren’t enough miles in a marathon to recognize everyone, so with that said, I’m dedicating a few miles of my race to special “groups,” so that I may umbrella everyone in! I’d like to write paragraphs and pages about how much everyone means to me, but I would subsequently miss my flight to Boston and miss the marathon! Therefore, I’m keeping it brief.

Although this is the first time I’m officially writing up and sharing my dedication, every race I’ve ever done has been done with family, friends, and special people in the forefront of my thoughts. If you’ve ever run a marathon, then you can probably relate to that overwhelming feeling of gratitude during the race for the people who are a part of your life and have helped you get to the starting line and finish line in one way or another. There are two special women who have motivated me to actually document my dedication, and they are Shawndra Turner and Eileen Tamblyn. Their stories are below, please read on.

The following names will be written on my pace bracelet next to each mile so I can see them and reflect with each mile:

Mile 1: Mom
Mile 2: Dad
Without Mom and Dad (Nana and Papa), I wouldn’t be here! They’ve supported me through all my endeavors, as crazy as they may be, and are amazing grandparents to our wonderful children! They cheered me on during my first Boston in 2003, and that was the day that inspired Mom to start her own running adventures. Mom is now the veteran of several half marathons, 10ks, and 5ks.
Mile 3: Barb
Mile 4: Doug
Without my in-laws, Eric wouldn’t be here! They are fantastic parents and grandparents, and are huge supporters of Eric and I.
Mile 5: Uncle Dana and Brutus – Eric’s brother and pug
Mile 6: Stef – for being a great friend and business partner for 4 years!
Mile 7: Galloway Training Group – My marathon training group has motivated me to get out of bed on so many super-early, dark, cold mornings!
Mile 8: ING Marathon Friends – Jen (GA), Jen (PA), Holli, and Steve – for getting me through my latest long run and 17th marathon with ease and fun!
Mile 9: Scorpions Soccer Team – I’m missing one of our last few games to be at the race. My little soccer team brings me such joy! They are fun little bundles of energy, and I love the sense of community and family I get with the children and parents.
Mile 10: Ms. Lynne and Ms. Mary – Ethan’s preschool teachers. They are two of the sweetest, most caring teachers I know. I can’t think of a better place for Ethan to be. They do a phenomenal job with the children. Ethan loves them and so do I!
Mile 11: Ms. George and Ms. Gaither – Lauren’s Pre-K teachers. They are fantastic teachers! They have done a magnificent job with the class, cultivating their love for learning, preparing them for kindergarten, and doing so in a loving and supportive environment.
Mile 12: Family – All extended family – McCarthys and Lamphiers!
Mile 13: Friends – neighborhood friends, school friends, Boston friends, Atlanta friends, and far away friends.
Mile 14: Lisa – She’s my college roommate and sorority sister, and gracious Boston Marathon hostess. I run as fast as I can to qualify just so I have a great excuse to come see her every April!
Mile 15:Shawndra Turner
Mile 16:Shawndra Turner
Mile 17:Shawndra Turner – I came across Shawndra’s blog site in 2007 while doing some research on my colon issues on the internet… Shawndra was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2006 at the age of 30, less than a year after her first child, daughter Ella, was born. She began blogging about her life after her cancer diagnosis, and I found her strength and outlook on life to be amazing, motivating, super-human, words can’t describe. She fought her disease with such dignity and grace. She never gave up despite a grim diagnosis. I wrote to her about my own issues. She replied back, encouraging me to follow through with the medical exams that we’re typically not supposed to “need” until we’re 50. Her story really scared me. Here is a new mother to a beautiful little girl, practically my age, suffering from a type of cancer we’re not used to seeing in someone of this age group. It made me realize how fragile life is, and how we need to take good care of ourselves, be our own medical advocates. I followed her blog faithfully from the summer of 2007 until now. In my eyes, she was a life saver of young women, getting her story out there and encouraging us ladies with similar symptoms to get checked out. One simple colonoscopy could save your life! She was also a mother of a toddler, had great mommy stories, and a contagious personality. Shawndra passed away on March 15th at the age of 32. Her blogspot is http://www.shawndraturner.blogspot.com/
Mile 18:Eileen Tamblyn
Mile 19:Eileen Tamblyn
Mile 20:Eileen Tamblyn
Mile 21:Eileen Tamblyn – Eileen Tamblyn is the daughter of Ethan’s preschool teacher, Miss Lynne. I haven’t had the honor of meeting Eileen yet, but I think so highly of Miss Lynne that I couldn’t help but be drawn in by her daughter’s remarkable struggle. Thanksgiving 2008, Eileen suffered from a rare medical condition, called necrotizing fasciitis, which is a rapidly spreading inflammatory infection. Her condition went from a slight pain in her thigh to nearly fatal in a matter of days, and Eileen was suddenly thrust in the fight for her life. Doctors had declared her to be in organ failure just days after the mysterious pain in her thigh. Her leg had to be amputated at the hip and she was in a coma for several weeks. Fortunately, through an unwavering will to live and the support of family and friends, Eileen is making improvements daily! She has fought through so many setbacks, fevers, infections, ventilators, feeding tubes, trach tubes, physical therapy… she is now at the Center for Rehabilitative Medicine, able to use her laptop, and focusing on physical therapy and getting herself ready to head home in the next few months. I can’t even imagine the will and strength that Eileen must have to overcome such a trauma. Please keep her in your thoughts as she continues to recover, but is still in a very difficult part of her journey. When I think about Boston, I think about Eileen. Her husband was supposed to run this year (but word has it he’s injured), and Eileen wanted to go along, as well. So, I’m taking Eileen with me on my pace bracelet, and the Hills of Newton are dedicated to her, the toughest part of the marathon course. She is one tough cookie. Read more about Eileen and her amazing spirit at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/eileentamblyn

Mile 22:Emma – Our precious Labrador died on Feb. 1 after an unexpected, brief illness and this broke my heart into a million pieces! I miss her every day, and will run hard when I think of her.
Mile 23:Eric, Lauren, and Ethan
Mile 24:Eric, Lauren, and Ethan
Mile 25:Eric, Lauren, and Ethan
Mile 26:Eric, Lauren, and Ethan – I’ll need these three for these last few miles! My beautiful children and husband are just the motivation I need to get to the finish line. They have supported me through every run, every race. Eric ran the last 9 miles of Boston with me last year, and they were TOUGH miles for me. I will definitely miss having him with me this year. I am ready to take on the challenge of running it alone, because I already know that I’m not really alone. I just need to look at my pace bracelet…

I am well trained for this race and am anticipating a successful race day. However, ANYTHING can happen in a marathon. Should I not be able to complete the race for some particular reason, rest assured I have already run your mile. I’ve thought about you all on past marathons, training runs in the 15 degree cold and darkness, on bright, sunny spring days… You’ve all been there for me long before the Boston Marathon came along! Thanks to you all for being an inspiration to me!

Gotta Run,
Caryn

HAPPY EASTER!!!

2009-04-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

Ethan's 3rd Birthday!

2009-03-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

Ethan had an excellent 3rd birthday! His actual birthday fell on the Saturday of March 7th, we had some friends over, the weather was perfect, Nana was here, had a little party at the house, went to the playground, played trains...what more can a 3 year old ask for? All in all, it couldn't have been a better day! We also planted some flower seeds that we gave away in our party favor buckets.

Mystery Reader

2009-03-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Nana came to town for a week to visit with the kids and I during their birthday month! While she was here, she was the mystery reader at Lauren's preschool class. Lauren was so excited, and Nana did a fabulous job! Just look at the expression on Laur's face!

Snow Day!

2009-03-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

We are having a snow day here in Atlanta! Can't really get outside (yet) because there are about 3 inches of rain underneath it, so the ground is a sloppy mess. For now, we are building "the ultimate village," which includes GeoTrax, Little People and cars, and doing lots of playing. I got a run in this morning with Steph Gillies. Ran 11 miles in the POURING rain with some hail. It was quite the run! Blue lips by the time I got home. I am finally feeling warm! We're going to wrap up the day with some baking and more playtime in our PJ's!

Christmas in KY (in February)

2009-03-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

We finally made it up to KY for Christmas, in February! Uncle Dana and Brutus were able to come, too. We had so much fun! It even snowed while we were there. Here are a few photos from the weekend.

Kelley Came to Visit!

2009-03-01T12:33:00.001-08:00

Back at the end of January, my dear college friend and pledge sister Kelley Raasch came to town for a visit! She was in town to meet with the CDC and planned an early arrival to spend an afternoon with us. We had so much fun! The kids thought she was hilarious and such a blast, imagine that! Lauren has deemed her the funniest person she's ever met. Lauren had so much fun and laughed so hard, in fact, that she had to change her "undies" two or three times. THAT'S how much fun we had! Here are a few shots of them playing the Dr. Seuss game called I Can Do That. They played that for a while then made up their own games with the pieces. It was great to have Kelley here for the evening, and she may be back at the same time next year! We hope so! See you in Boston on marthon weekend, Kelley!

Interpretive Dance

2009-02-11T05:53:00.000-08:00

We've been listening to a lot of ColdPlay around here lately, and the kids took it upon themselves to create this dance. Lauren is the ringleader, of course, and Ethan follows her moves (for now). Check this out. I think it's actually kind of neat. We've had multiple performances and this isn't exactly the best, but Lauren just started taking ballet and had put a lot of her moves into some of the other versions.

A new post...

2009-02-11T05:48:00.001-08:00

Our blog needs a new post. I sure wish I had something fabulous to post. However, we're just getting by around here. I am taking things day by day without our Em. It's been really hard, and I'll leave it at that. Some of you may have seen the photo tribute to Emma I did on facebook. I'm going to make that and some other photos into a nice leatherbond album for her. She was such an extraordinary dog. Here is a fun picture of our family movie night, "Horton Hears a Who." It just happens to be Emma's last night with us. She loved popcorn, so I'm so glad she got her favorite on her last night. I'm going to post a funny video of the kids next.

Emma's Final Chapter

2009-02-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

I need to keep this brief, but wanted to update. Our Emma is gone. Her fight is over. We had a difficult night last night with her, and she gave us a sign that now was the time. She was bleeding internally, in her GI tract. This was all due to complications with the disease itself, medications, and her platelets being low, etc etc. We knew this because of the bloody stool in our bedroom last night at 1:30 am and in the yard at 3:10 am, I think? We confirmed with our Dr. this morning that the best course of action was to let her go, so today we did. The decision was made with much clarity. We don't need reassurance that we did the right thing, because we know we did. The sparkle was gone out of those beautiful brown eyes. She went to sleep so peacefully, and much to our surprise, we felt a great deal of relief at that moment. Of course now that we're home, other emotions are taking over. We were very honest with our children. They don't exactly know that it was our decision, but they know that her heart couldn't beat any longer, that today she was going to die, and that she couldn't overcome her illness. They said goodbye to her, but it's clear that they don't understand the true implications of what took place today. That is all for now. We will will miss you like crazy, Poo Bear.

Some Holiday Photos...

2009-01-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

Finally, the New Year!

2009-01-07T06:03:00.000-08:00

Are we ever glad around here to ring in the new year! Without rehashing the entire crazy holiday, I will mention it was an interesting one to be kind, with our family almost losing our precious Emma, Ethan having 8 days of high fevers (spanning Christmas) that topped out in the 105's, and last but not least, a fire in the yard on New Years Day! Now, of course we are able to recognize that things could always, always be worse, and are so thankful they are NOT! Things are looking up around here! Big changes are coming this year. We are putting our house on the market on Sunday, and have been looking for houses in an area of town with some of the best schools in GA. (Our current school district is... not good.) After all, Lauren will be starting kindergarten in August (WHAAATTT????) and Ethan is only two years behind. So, a move, starting real school, a few marathons, a summer at the lake, future medical challenges with Emma as we wean her meds... lots of things coming up in 2009. We are buckling our seat belts for this ride!

Here are some pictures from our New Years Day fire. The fire was caused by our neighbor, who was heavy into fireworks New Years Eve after LSU won. The firemen said the embers smouldered over night, then with the drought we've had and 20-30 mph winds on Jan. 1, the fire started and took out his lawn completely. Of course, the winds were blowing right at our house, and the fire was coming right at us SO FAST. When it started, I was wondering where the smoke was coming from, so I went at looked out the window and first saw the fire. I yelled, "FIRE!" and ran outside and started up the garden hose. Eric helped me unroll it while I squirted the flames. Then he disappeared and came back out with Papa and two fire extinguishers. Nana was inside with the kids and didn't start taking photos until the flames were out, so you won't see fire, just the black grass. It was coming right at our house!

Good News on New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T13:30:00.000-08:00

Emma performed very well at the vet today... Her PCV was 33! Yes, that's right, 33! This is spectacular news, and means that the medicines are working, she's responding. It is of course critical that her body responds to the immunosuppressants for her to survive. Some dogs don't respond to it. SHE IS!!! HURRAY FOR EMMA!!! Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and prayers that you've sent our way. We are so thankful for the support. We are not out of the woods yet, but this is a very good step in the right direction, and it means more time with Emma! Have a Happy New Year! Next check up for Em is next week!

Good Day Today

2008-12-30T17:30:00.001-08:00

Emma had a good day today! Up and about more and more, ears a little perkier, begging for treats, etc. I take her in tomorrow to GVS at 11:15 am for a PCV check, and I'm feeling good news coming on. Her tongue looks nice and pink - not as pink as it could be, but not pale like it was.... Her respirations are great, and she has her drooly appetite. Wow. I hope she's proving herself to be in the "good" 30%!!! Will post an update after tomorrow's appt. It feels so good to not be so anxious. I am feeling so relieved right now, and hoping it is warranted!

Guess Who's Home?

2008-12-29T18:29:00.001-08:00

Due to Emma's PCV "stability," they decided to send her home with us today so we can monitor her here at home. Her PCV was 27 again at lunch today. We are so very glad to have her home! And is she ever glad to be here. The kids were so happy to see her, as were Nana and Papa. She's definitely not nearly her old self yet, nor will she be for a while. She just isn't getting enough oxygen yet (needs to be 40-55). It is with cautious optimism that we can let ourselves relax a little bit and rejoice tonight! The deal is... the vets keep telling us about the 30/30/30 rule with this disease. And its too early to tell which 30% Emma will fall in. 30% of dogs will bounce back, and be slowly weaned off meds and not need them anymore. 30% will need long term meds and 30% won't be able to get their immune systems under control and won't survive. Emma has so far had two transfusions to boost her RBC's and buy time for the meds to kick in, and at this point, we think she may be holding at a PCV of 27. So, she HAS to hold at 27 and start to increase on her own with medication (not further transfusions). She HAS to keep herself out of that last 30%! We have to bring her in on Wednesday to get her PCV tested again. We are watching her like a hawk right now for any signs of crashing. It's nerve-wracking being "in charge" of her health rather than the experts at GVS. She crashed 48 hours after her first transfusion. Now it is almost 48 hours after her second transfusion, so I really want to get past this next day or two before I can really let my guard down! Poor thing, I keep looking at her tongue and her gums to look for "pink" not pale. Anywho... that's the update for now. I'll sign off with a few pix of Emma doing what she loves best.

A Bit of Good News

2008-12-29T05:46:00.001-08:00

Emma's PCV is holding so far! Yesterday at noon she was 28, then dropped to 24 at 6 pm. The bit of good news I got this morning when I called was that at midnight she was back up to 27 and at 6 a.m. she was still at 27. COME ON, GIRL! The "PCV Treats" must be working. :)

Tonight's Visiting Hours with Poo Bear

2008-12-28T18:52:00.000-08:00

We just got back from visiting Emma. She looked pretty good, better than last night. But, her PCV has gone down some. At noon she was 28 and at 6 pm she was 24. We asked to speak with a doctor, and he gave the answer I knew he would, which is that they are not concerned about the drop b/c it's +/- 3-5%, and it could be fluids, hydration, etc. But still, in our minds it's drop and we don't want to see those. We CAN'T see those. They'll check her PCV again at midnight and then at 6 a.m. Please please please stay at 24+, Em. We tried to trick her and told her we were giving her "PCV treats." (We brought along some treats that would have been in her stocking, which has always been her favorite part about Christmas!) We'll see if the placebo PCV treats work! Until then... Here are a few shots of the girl from all of our younger years.

Emma's Fight for Life

2008-12-28T13:26:00.000-08:00

I wish I had something more cheerful to blog about, but the biggest, all-encompassing event in our lives right now is our sweet pup, Emma. On December 23rd, Emma was suddenly stricken with a seriously life-threatening disease called AIHA, Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia. Emma went to bed the night before, not wanting her treat from her pre-bedtime potty break (HIGHLY unusual), and woke up not even able to get herself downstairs. My dad and I rushed her to the vet early that a.m. She was lethargic and not eating, two things a healthy Emma NEVER is. We were told later that afternoon, when Eric picked her up, about what they thought it was, AIHA. We were to bring her back the next morning for a follow-up blood check. AIHA is when one's immune system suddenly turns on itself, lysing its own red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body. It can be the primary disease, or a secondary disease triggered from things like allergies, medicines, vaccines, cancers, etc. A normal PCV range (a measure of red blood cells) for a dog her size is 35-55. At the vet's, she was 10.6 then 9.3 the next morning. The doctor couldn't even believe she was able to wag her tail like she (Sort of) did, let alone be breathing. This disease is treated with prednisone and other immunosuppressents to try and get her immune system to back off the lysing of the RBC's. Unfortunately, the drugs take time, several days to work, and time is not on our side. So here it is Christmas Eve, we're in the vet's office and we are just realizing the full extent of how serious and life-threatening this is. The vet thought she would need a blood transfusion to survive, so we took her to Georgia Veterinary Specialists (GVS) to get the ball rolling. It was critical to get her RBC count up or she would be gone due to oxygen depletion/organ failure, etc. At GVS, they measured her PCV at 17, and we determined that the test was run differently at our vet's office, so she was probably never 10 or 9, but perhaps close. They still recommended the blood transfusion. The blood transfusion boosts her RBC's, only temporarily until her body lyses them and they no longer carry O2. The transfusion acts as a bandaid to keep her alive, long enough for the meds to kick in. She had her first transfusion Christmas Eve and did well for the next two days. We were even thinking she might come home to be monitored from home. Unfortunately, yesterday her PCV went from 25 to 16 and 18 (they measured it twice). Her respiration rate increased rapidly and they recommended yet another transfusion. So for now she has another bandaid, another dog's blood, to keep her alive until her meds HOPEFULLY kick in. If her immune system doesn't back off from the drugs, her fight will be over. We should know in the next 24-48 hours whether she can hold her PCV on her own. If she DOES survive, then it will be a long, long haul to monitor her condition. Trips to the vet every 2 days at first to test her PCV to make sure she's not crashing, etc. Then every week for a while, then every three weeks, etc. If she can hold steady and increase her PCV, she will be weaned off drugs hopefully completely. We only decided to fight this fight, because if she does make it through this initial crisis, there is a chance that she can get back to a normal, healthy life. So that is why we've chosen to fight with her. To get our Emma back to live out the rest of her well-deserved years with her family.

So... Emma is 8 years old. She has been the most amazing dog we could have ever dreamed up. She's our first baby. We've had so many good times with her it's ridiculous. Backpacking, hiking, swimming, camping trips, dog jogs, snow storms, trips to NY, lake trips, unconditional love, chewing damage, safety pin incidents, and tons more unconditional love. The stories of love for that girl are endless. She has the sweetest demeanor. Anyone that has ever met her has commented on how sweet and gentle she is. Then two kids came along, and although attention from us to her was reduced (after all, she's no longer the "only child"), she gets it back twofold from Lauren and Ethan. We are not ready for her to go. SHE is not ready to go. She is fighting the best she can, and we KNOW she wants to be here with us. I love that girl with all my heart.

So how are we holding up? Well... this is tough. Really tough. It's basically a waiting game with serious ups and downs. Very little ups, lots of downs. There's a good chance things won't work out in favor of Emma being here on Earth.. I'm feeling like my heart might burst. I spend the time here at home constantly fighting back tears, which is becoming physically painful. Everywhere we turn, everything we do, there's a Emma trigger, a memory, a split second where I think she's here like always. A piece of food drops on the floor, I see her favorite spots to lay down, her dog hair, her bowls, the woods out back, everywhere I look I feel her, and then it feels so empty. I am not really sure how to deal with these feelings. Eric has these moments too, and we call them PBM's. Poo Bear Moments. I realize that if you don't have a dog, there's no way you could understand the depth of love you can have for an animal, so perhaps you think this is crazy! But I can assure you it is very real.

I guess I am done for now. If you wouldn't mind, think about our sweet girl for a moment and send her some strength, some love, some prayers, some vibes, some something. I will post some updates on her condition. We go see here every night at visiting hours, and I call to check on her several times per day. Until then...

December Weekend in Pictures

2008-12-15T14:28:00.000-08:00

Mommy's Little Helpers

2008-12-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas Cookies, Round 2! The kids were really excited to help me make Snowballs last night! And they were certainly excited to help eat them afterwards, too! We are looking forward to a super-fun Christmas weekend! I have a 15 mile run with my running group Saturday morning, then I'm going to come home and do cut-out cookies with the kids. I think Saturday we'll make then bake, and Sunday we'll decorate them. We've also got Eric's black tie Christmas party Saturday night at the Biltmore, which is always fun! I have a new (not recycled) dress and new shoes, so for some reason that excites me, too. Sunday morning will be a nice, hot breakfast, Christmas movies and music, and some cookie decorating. Let the festivities begin! I wish this month would slow down. I really, really love Christmas time, and it is just going by too fast!

First Weekend of December

2008-12-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

We had a great weekend around here! Decorating the house with wreaths, putting up the tree, baking Christmas cookies, watching Christmas movies, playing with worms.... Yes, worms. Here are some pictures from the weekend. As for the worms, a mom from Lauren's class and I did a worm science project with the kids in school on Friday. We observed, measured, drew, played with, and raced worms. It was a totally fun and dirty day! We brought the worms home, and all Lauren wanted to do was play with them, constantly! I'm so glad she's not afraid of worms!

"Here we are, in the woods, getting ready to cut down our perfect family tree! Ooops, I mean, here is Eric bringing up the tree from the basement."

Lauren on the deck playing with her beloved worms.

Lauren's worm "Riley"

Ethan and his Lightning McQueen Ornament

Lauren and the Tree

Riding the Gator in KY

2008-12-02T13:35:00.000-08:00

Here are the kids riding their Gator and Grandma and Grandpa's house in Kentucky!

Thanksgiving Pictures

2008-12-02T13:15:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from Thanksgiving in Kentucky with Eric's parents, "Grandma and Grandpa!" They surprised the kids with a John Deere Gator (to work on the farm, of course). That was definitely one of their highlights! I think Lauren is ready for a license. Ethan, on the other hand.... We had a great time and enjoyed every minute. The photos are of Lauren and Eric and the Thanksgiving table, the kids on the Gator, Lauren petting Bourbon the horse, and Lauren petting Pumpkin the calf.

Success at 10-for-10!

2008-12-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

I'm done! I did it! And I'm glad it's over! I really enjoyed the challenge that running 10 miles a day for 10 days in a row brought me. I knew a couple of days would be tough just to find the time.... but I did it. The travel days were tough. We drove to KY for Thanksgiving, and wanted to leave early, so running 10 beforehand was impossible. I had to run when we got there, when all the fun was just beginning and I simply wanted to be with my family. Travel day coming home was tough, too. But I prevailed, and with a little Madonna Hard Candy kickin' on the Ipod, Sunday's run after travel, Day 9, ended up being one of my fastest at 1:16, just over a 7:30 pace. The final day, Day 10, yesterday, had to be done on the treadmill. I had no other choice. 10 miles even. All in all, I ran over 102 miles, and my body held up much better than I thought it would. I did 4 runs in KY, which were tougher than I gave them credit for! I felt strong on the runs, but by 8:15 pm I was ready for bed. Such a party pooper and not the nighttime ring-leader that everyone was used to! Well, that's all until next time...

The 10-for-10 Challenge

2008-11-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

I've decided I needed a new challenge. As if life itself isn't challenging enough right now in these crazy days. I wanted a running challenge, so I dreamt up 10-for-10, that's 10 miles a day for 10 days in a row. It's my stay-at-home mom, non-professional runner, mini version of Dean Karnazes' 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. I'll do 10-for-10, and I'll do it in TWO states: Georgia and Kentucky. Is this a smart thing to do? No. It's actually pretty high up on the stupidity scale, since I'll be doing 70 miles in 7 days (and 100 miles in 10 days), and my body is used to about half of that or less on a weekly average. Why, you might ask. I don't know! I guess I got a little bummed about missing 1 1/2 weeks of running due to bronchitis, so I'm making up for some lost time and testing my body. Not to mention, if I can actually get through it, it will certainly help my Boston Marathon training. If I have even and inkling of a problem, nag, aggravation, pain, ANYWHERE, then I'm calling it quits.

I've completed 3 days so far. Day 1 was 10.1 on a treadmill as the kids played in the basement play area and Eric did elliptical with me for a good chunk of the time. Day 2 was on the Silver Comet Trail. I did 10.7 at a pace that put me right to sleep. I was definitely NOT fully conscious on that run. Today, Day 3, I did 10 miles down and up Peachtree Road. I did miles 1 through 6 of the Peachtree Road Race, then turned around and came back. It was slightly cold and a miserable, rainy day. You'd only be out there running if you were trying to prove you're an idiot. I felt a bit like Forrest Gump today. So far, so good. I am recovering well day to day, and have no aches or pains except for my neck and shoulders. Must get away from computer. I finally got some new running sneaks. Had bought a pair on Friday, and when I wear-tested them on the treadmill, they failed. I had two raw ankles at less than two miles into my run! Ethan and I went BACK to Phidippides today, and got some new ones. I'll wear-test them for a couple of miles tomorrow and hope they work out. I really need new shoes to complete this Idiot Challenge. My old ones are bad. Really bad. And that was my last opportunity to get to the running store before we leave for KY Wednesday morning, where I will be doing 5 of the 10 days! Who knows what tomorrow will bring, besides a tired mommy? Until then...I'm off to see Madonna!

Batman Dancin'

2008-11-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

Video from Thanksgiving at the Preschool

2008-11-21T13:58:00.000-08:00

Lauren is seated in the very front row, green shirt, with the turkeys. Does she know her moves or what? :) Tee hee! They were precious this morning. There's nothing like hearing a group of Pre-K's singing their little hearts out!

Thanksgiving at The Preschool

2008-11-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

All of the pre-K students at Lauren's preschool get to tell the story of The First Thanksgiving at our Friday Chapel. Here are a few shots from the morning. We had a great time! Lauren was a turkey, and her line was, "Gobble, Gobble." She is in the front row with the green shirt. Each group (indian men, women, pilgrim men, women) each had about two words to say. They sang a bunch of songs and were too cute for words!

Father Daughter Camping Trip

2008-11-21T12:03:00.001-08:00

Last year, Scott and Eric began a yearly tradition: a father-daughter camping trip with Dailey and Lauren. This year the trip had to be postponed due to Strep hitting the Gillies household. By the time another weekend rolled around, it was just too cold to be sleeping in a tent with 4 year olds. So instead this year they made a day out of it that started with hiking, nature collecting, and cooking camp food in a pavillion, and ended with a movie and McDonalds. They all had a great time!

Hot Cocoa

2008-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

It just so happens to be cold, windy, and somewhat miserable in Atlanta today, so we decided to have our first hot cocoa of the season! They both drank out of big kid mugs, and were so proud of that!

Silver Comet Half Marathon

2008-11-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

Eric and I recently ran the Silver Comet Half Marathon, which is a nice, flat, close-to-home race! There were 1,500 runners, and it was a perfectly cool morning. We both ran PR's, as it was the first time that we've both really challenged ourselves at the half marathon distance. Eric ran a 1:34:53, which is a 7:15 pace, and came in 65th out of 696 men, 12/121 for his age group. I beat him (only) by a minute, he is closing the gap! My time was 1:33:50, which is a 7:10 pace. I came in 8th out of 782 women, and 2nd in my age group. We had a ton of fun and thanks to our babysitting co-op, got some "free" babysitting from a runner friend!

6:52, 6:55, 7:19, 7:14, 7:02, 7:12, 7:23, 6:52, 6:55, 7:20, 7:17, 7:29, 7:09, 0:45 = 1:33:50

Lots O' Lamphiers

2008-10-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

Boo at the Zoo!

2008-10-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Atlanta Zoo has this great Halloween event where you can go and trick or treat at the zoo in the evenings. They set up a little Halloween town to trick or treat through, there's a carnival, and you can ride the carousel or zoo train in your Halloween garb. It was our first time going, and Princess Jasmine and Thomas the Tank Engine had a great time!

Halloween Inflatables are the New Thing Around Here...

2008-10-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Check out ours!

Navigator Triathlon Results

2008-09-18T06:13:00.001-07:00

I recently competed in the Navigator Triathlon on Saturday, September 13th. It was a sprint triathlon with a 500 yd swim, 12 mile bike, and 3.1 mile trail run. The race was held at one of GA's state parks, so we decided to make a family camp trip out of it! The camping portion of the trip ended up being a disaster, and I won't post details here. Every second at the computer hurts my neck, so posting about a horrible camping adventure is just not worth the pain. I will, however mention my results! I came in 3rd overall for Women and 2nd in my age group! The women's overall winner was in my age group, so I came in behind her. I earned a nice little trophy and a $50 gift certificate to a cycle shop. There were 14 women in my age group. My swim time was 5th, my bike time was 2nd, and my run time was 1st. In fact, I had the fastest run time among ALL women competitors, and beat most the men's run times, too. I suppose that's what I'm most proud of. My transition times were also among the fastest, which is great. I hadn't been able to bike, swim or run for almost 3 weeks due to this neck and upper back issue, so my training was suffering going in. Combine that with a night of NO sleep (remember the part about the camping disaster?) and that makes me very happy that I had a good race. This was my first triathlon on my new bike. (Third triathlon to date). I love my bike! It was only the 6th time I've been able to ride it. Right after I bought it, my neck went into crisis mode and I've seen 2 doctors, done some physical therapy, and am now doing chiropractic and massage. Speaking of neck pain, gotta go! This computer time is wrecking me! I'll be doing my last triathlon of the season on October 5th, up at Lake Lanier. Can't wait for that!

Some Cuties of the Kids

2008-09-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

Ethan and his new Thomas snuggle pillow for his big boy bed

Lauren and Ethan getting ready to go to school.

Thomas loves Ethan's "B", too

Here are some cute photos of the kids. They are doing great in school. The adjustment period has been surprisingly easy. At first, they both had a couple of days of sadness, and now Ethan is crying to GO to school on the days when he's home with me. (Lauren is 5 days a week for 3 hours, he's 2 days a week for 3 hours). I spied on him in class the other day, and he was so enthusiastic it just warmed my heart! He's such a happy, cheerful little guy. I am so pleased with how his personality is shaping. Lauren, of course, is Lauren, meaning she is the same outgoing, sweet and caring child she's always been. Couldn't be happier with either of them right now! Of course we have our moments, but they are few and far between. They are growing up so fast. Too fast.

Big Boy Bed

2008-09-10T19:04:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday night, we moved Ethan into his big boy bed! So far, so good. We are trying it without rails, since rails would require a serious retrofit on this particular bed. Instead, we have placed his crib mattress in the trundle bed and just roll out the trundle filled with pillows and a mattress for a soft landing. Luckily, there have been no falls. We've had 5 nights and 4 naps in it! As long as he has his thumb and his "B," we are good to go.

First Day of School!

2008-09-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Wow! Today was our first day of school! Lauren started Pre-K, which is 5 days a week for 3 hours a day. Ethan started "Older 2's" preschool, which is two days a week for 3 hours each day. They were both quite excited and both seemed ready to take on the school year. I was definitely concerned about Ethan, since he had a tough time with the drop-in nursery in the spring. He did great, though! Didn't even look back when I left him at his classroom door! The word is that we have the two best teachers at the preschool, so I am psyched. We had our share of difficulties getting Ethan a spot at The Preschool, now we will enjoy the two greatest teachers! Hip Hip, Hurray!

So what does a mama do with those (2 1/2) hours of alone, kidless time? Why she runs and shops, of course! Nothing like a kidless 8+ miler and then a shopping excursion at Whole Foods Market. Life is good. For kicks, I mapped out my run on "Mapmyrun.com" and am trying to post it below... We'll see!

" Cheese!!!"

What a smile!

These kids are ready for school!

Preschool 8-Miler
Find more Runs in Atlanta, Georgia

Labor Day Weekend at the Lake

2008-09-03T12:46:00.000-07:00

We had a great holiday weekend at Lake Sinclair! We met Grandma and Grandpa at their lake house. Uncle Dana and his dog, Brutus, came along for the fun, as well! There was a lot of working, a lot of fun, a lot of swimming, a lot of running, some card playing, a ladderball tournament, and a get-together with friends... Here are some photos from the long weekend!

Family portrait...

Lauren and Taylor boating...

Brutus is so ugly that he's actually quite cute...

Lauren and Eric on the dock...

Ethan and Uncle Dana

Happy 10 Year Anniversary to Us!!!

2008-08-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

Painting trains at the lakehouse

Eric and I got married 10 years ago and celebrated our anniversary on 8-8-08. Yeah! We headed to the lake for a weekend of minimal work, maximum fun. The kids got new fishing poles. Lauren has a Barbie pole from Papa in NY, so she got a Disney Princess pole for the South, and Ethan got a Cars pole. They are in love with the sport. :) The little kids fished, the big kids played ladder ball, we all swam and had a nice relaxing time!

Last Batch of NY Pix

2008-08-14T13:13:00.001-07:00

The kids loved walking with their strollers

Lauren and Zach... how cute!

Had to add this one, too.... So cute.

Construction Equipment! Here's a sampling of what was out front while the town was fixing/building a new road. Ethan was a little scared, but very excited. So was Lauren!

More NY....

2008-08-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

Cousin Kate with Lauren and Ethan

Grandpa and I

Winning the 5K in Moravia (in a skirt and Boston shirt, of course)

Picking blueberries....

NY Pix

2008-08-14T12:52:00.001-07:00

Floating on the St. Lawrence River

Nana and Lauren at the Nature Center

Inside the Butterfly House

Walking a nice trail

This is what Nana and Papa now call "camping." It's a far cry from the canvas tent they started out in!

NY in July

2008-08-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a great trip we had to NY!!! We started out at the St. Lawrence River, camping in Nana and Papa's RV and spending time on the boat. We had a great time up there playing and relaxing, and saw our Atlanta friends for dinner and a night out in Alex Bay. (See photos). We took a tour of a nature center on Wellsley Island, which also had a butterfly house. We then headed to my hometown of Groton where my parents live. Eric kicked off our "Rock the Hometown Race Series" with a trail race on Thursday night, the 24th. It was a 7-mile trail run along the Filmore Glen Gorge. He got 8th place overall! Good job, love. Then Nana and I ran a 10K Saturday the 26th at Filmore Glen that ran through Eric's hometown of Moravia. I won the Women's race (yeah!) and Nana got second place in her Age Group! We're a runnin' family! Saw my grandpa's 10 week old lab pup named Cooper and played some pitch with Gramp. Saw my cousing Kate. Went blueberry picking with the family after our 5K. Saw TONS of construction equipment working in front of my parents house (major entertainment for Ethan). Saw my best high school friend, Dawn and her children for a fun picnic morning. Played on several different playgrounds. Had some GREAT outdoor runs. Anything beats a treadmill! I know I'm forgetting tons of things, but this computer is killing my neck. Gotta go!

Off to NY....

2008-07-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

Eric, the kids, and I are heading to NY and leaving in about an hour! We'll be there until the 30th, and will update the blog upon our return. We are flying into Rochester, driving to Groton for the night, and heading to the St. Lawrence River tomorrow morning for 3 1/2 days. My parents have their motor home and boat up there, so we'll be "camping!" We'll be dining with Jay and Sheri, our Atlanta friends, tomorrow night in Alex Bay. They just happen to be visiting their families in NY at the same time. :) On Wednesday, we head back to Groton to visit with friends and family, and meet my Grandpa's new puppy, Cooper. Lots to do and plenty to see! We will also be running a couple of races while we're up there. Time to rock the hometown race courses. This trip will be tons of fun! We're off! Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Where has it gone???

Signing off, Gotta Run!

Thomas the Tank Engine Dance...

2008-07-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

Ethan had a great time dancing to the Thomas the Tank Engine song the other day. He plays at the train table any time he gets a chance! You will have to excuse my annoying voice singing in the video and possibly mute your speakers but I had to post this because the little man's dance is hilarious. Every time I start singing, his mouth opens up and he grooves to the beat!

Thomas, Take One

Thomas, Take Two

All You Need is a Box!

2008-07-17T13:26:00.001-07:00

Seriously, a box is the cheapest form of entertainment! Unless you factor in what came in the box... In our case, Ethan's dresser came in a HUGE box and now the box serves as the "bat cave" for Batman and Bat Boy, and all of our friends that come to play! Eventually, maybe we'll tip it right side up and make an indoor playhouse out of it. But at this point, a bat cave (with door flaps!) it is!

A New Toy! Maiden Voyage...

2008-07-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

The kids and I bought a new bike trailer. We found it used on Craigslist for $50 and went to pick it up on Friday. We have a really nice riding trail near us called the Silver Comet Trail. It's a rails to trails path that stretchs from here in Smyrna all the way to Alabama. I did a little research and rented a bike trailer twice with the children to make sure they liked it. After all, they are getting big and have to squeeze in shoulder to shoulder. Luckily, they get along quite well and did great in the close quarters. They promised me they liked the ride so we decided to get one of our one. I figure this is one of the ways I'm going to get my cycling in for triathlon training. Not ideal conditions for riding when you're towing 80+ lbs, but it definitely adds to the difficulty of the workout and that's not a bad thing! We took the trailer out for our maiden voyage Friday evening. Here are the shots from our start. It involved snacks, drinks, an assortment of Disney cars, Care Bears, helmets....

Georgia Aquarium Trip with Friends

2008-07-10T08:44:00.001-07:00

We headed back to the Georgia Aquarium yesterday for another exciting visit! The Ollanove's and Kelly's came too, so it was great to see it with friends. The kids really enjoyed all the sights. We will never get tired of that place, always so much to see, and we always find something new.

Happy July 4th! Peachtree Road Race!!

2008-07-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

The Peachtree Road Race 10k is the greatest 10k in the world! Not only does it take place right here in our hometown of Atlanta, it occurs on the 4th of July, it's quite patriotic, it's tradition, it is famous for the T-shirt, and it's the largest 10k in the world. 55,000 runners come from all over the world to run it!

We had a great race morning. Picked up some friends in the 'hood and had a three-car caravan over to Brookhaven. We did, however, get a late start, which really bummed me out. We parked a mile away, and I had to start jogging immediately to cover the mile to the start area. I had worked very hard to get in the "sub-seeded" time group (right behind the Kenyans) by qualifying for that group with a sub 42:00 10k time. By the time I got to the starting area, I missed my group and had to jump in with time groups 1A and 1B. It was quite chaotic and confusing and not the best way to start a race. The good news was that the chip mats were still down so I would at least get an "official" time. My goal was to come in top 1,000 so that I could get a "top 1,000" finishers mug. To earn that, one usually has to run Peachtree in around a 44:00 10k. I got off to a rough start b/c is was so crowded. My first mile was a slow 7:13. By mile 2, I was down to a 6:34, then, 6:27, 7:06, 7:30 (yikes), 6:43, and 1:35 for a 43:11. I was decently happy with that, since the "new" Peachtree finish is now UPHILL for the last 1/2 mile! OUCH!

Rockin' the Peachtree in a Skirt....

Eric rockin' the Peachtree...

When I got home to check the results, I WASN'T IN THEM!! I was definitely disappointed, since I absolutely knew I crossed mats at the start and finish. If I new I wasn't going to have an official time, I would have relaxed a bit more. I called the Atlanta Track Club and they could find my chip starting time but not finish time. I was able to prove with finish line photos that the people I finished around (in my photos) had "x" clock time. So with my chip start and their clock time, they were able to verify my 43:11 and they are putting me in the results! Now maybe I'll get that mug afterall... Eric ran a good share of the race with his friend Kevin. Kevin ended up with Nana's number in time group 2. They barely made their start, as well. Kevin's heartrate maxed out during the race due to a nasty cold, so he and Eric split at around 4 miles and Eric finished in a nice and easy 53 minutes. He could have run much, much faster but decided to take it slow and easy to avoid what we call the "Peachtree Headache." (I ended up with it, he didn't.)

Eric and Kevin before the Peachtree, on the way to the start...

Finish line photo...

After the race, we headed home, packed up the kids and the pup, and headed to Barb and Doug's new lake house on Lake Sinclair. We spent the weekend there through Monday. We got some swimming in, had an awesome boat ride with the Wright Family, saw some sweet fireworks over the lake, played some cards, tested out the new margarita set (it works), and worked (a lot). I snuck in a couple of runs (10 and a 5) and Eric did 6.5 of the 10 with me. The place needs some work, but it will sure be a gem in no time at all!

A Green Tip....

2008-07-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

Don't be afraid to run your dishwashers, ladies!

Check out these blurbs:

Dear EarthTalk: Is it more environmentally friendly to hand-wash dishes or to use a dishwasher? – Jennifer Furnari, Sonora, CA
Dishwashers are the way to go if you comply with two simple criteria. “Run a dishwasher only when it’s full, and don’t rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.” So says John Morril of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, who also advises not using the dry cycle. The water used in most dishwashers is hot enough, he says, to evaporate quickly if the door is left open after the wash and rinse cycles are complete.

Dishwashers More Efficient Than Hand Washing
Scientists at the University of Bonn [pdf] in Germany who studied the issue found that the dishwasher uses only half the energy, one-sixth of the water, and less soap than hand-washing an identical set of dirty dishes. Even the most sparing and careful washers could not beat the modern dishwasher. The study also found that dishwashers excelled in cleanliness over hand washing.

Shoe Fetish?

2008-07-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

The boy has discovered girls plastic play shoes... Dressin' up is fun to do!

Ethan's Triathlon

2008-07-01T05:53:00.000-07:00

I was giving the family a demo of the triathlon I did Saturday morning, showing them the swim, the transition, the bike, the transition, and then the run. Here is a photo of Ethan doing his own bike version after my demo.

Making a Mess-sterpiece

2008-06-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, we decided to fingerpaint after naps today. Here are the amazing results! :) Lots of blogging today. Finally, a day at home after three weekends away camping then at the lake house, two weeks of summer camp for Lauren, one trip to the zoo, one trip to the Children's museum, two trips to the Georgia Aquarium, and countless "errands!" (Target, WalMart, bank groceries, REI, TJ Maxx, Target, Walmart, bank, groceries, over and over and over again....) Sometimes, it's just good to be at home with "nothin'" to do but make a big mess... The kids are playing with their Cars cars (Disney movie cars) and "going to Dinoco." We are having lots of fun today just hanging out and catching ladybugs. I'll catch up with the triathlons on a later blog. Got a fun one coming up this weekend, a sprint triathlon Saturday morning. Can't wait! Just gotta get my new bike. I've been saving up all my pet sitting pennies for the big purchase. Can't quite compete with my ole' '93 GT mountain bike, although I've done pretty well on the ole' girl. She'll still be good for pulling the kids in a bike trailer, so we'll keep her around.

"Look, mom!"

"Mom, it's on my leg." "Really?"

Anyone want to help clean this up?

Camping Trip to Lake Lanier

2008-06-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

We had a great time on our first tenting adventure! We combined that with my first triathlon (super-fun!), so it was quite a trip. More on the triathlon in a later blog... The kids did fantastic. We spent two nights at Lake Lanier Islands and Resort. The site was right on the water, and had water and electricity - good for washing dirty little hands and a floor fan in the tent. There was plenty of shade to pitch the tent in and protect the picnic table. The first night, Friday night, was all about getting settled at camp and picking up my race packet. Saturday morning I got up at 6:00 am to get ready for the tri. Eric and the children were able to see me on the run leg of the race! It was great to see them on the course! I got back to camp and we went right to the water and played. They didn't do very well with naps in the tent, but we've learned that Lauren now gets to skip naps at camp and Ethan gets to have a peaceful, quiet atmosphere from now on for his nap. Saturday night we had a campfire and marshmellows. Sunday was more fun in the lake, then we packed up for home! Our camera ran out of batteries, so we didn't really get a chance to take many photos.

Lauren and Ethan at Camp

2008-06-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Our camping trip was fantastic! Our site was right on the shore of Lake Lanier, so we played quite a bit at the water's edge! Here's a fun video of the kids.

Goin' Campin'

2008-06-05T12:59:00.001-07:00

Trying out Nana and Papa's Tent

We are headed out on our first camping trip this weekend! Two nights, in a tent, with two kids.... The dog stays home. Oh, and let's not forget to mention that the whole premise for the trip in the first place is so that I can do "My First Triathlon" race at Lake Lanier Saturday morning! The triathlon in now just a hiccup in the weekend, rather than my main event. :) Last night, we set up the tent in the back yard to make sure all the parts are accounted for. We borrowed it from my parents and after they let some young men use it. The tent was returned to them with no bag, no directions... We decided to play it safe and set 'er up. The children had so much fun in there! Their excitement got Eric and I really excited for the trip. We think (and hope) that they'll love it!

The kids were so excited to get in the tent...

Ethan loved flopping in the tent!

Chocolate ice cream on the boy's face...

Save Our Skin 5K - First Place Woman!!!

2008-06-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

I won my first 5K! Well at least, the "female" portion of the 5K. I was the Overall Female Winner. There were 258 other women running and they were all behind me. There were also 177 males and I managed to finish in front of all but 14 of them, making me 15th overall with 436 runners total. My finishing time was 20:18... I was hoping to break 20 minutes again, but of course I'm pleased with my result. It was very strange running with only a few men in front to lead the way... I kept waiting for some fast chick to take me down, but it never happened. I don't know if I'll ever get another "win," so I sure am enjoying the moment!

Ethan and the Penguin: "Hi there, Penguin!"

2008-05-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

Georgia Aquarium Trip

2008-05-24T12:19:00.001-07:00

We decided to take a trip to the Georgia Aquarium when Nana and Papa were in town. We had a great time and were able to see pretty much the entire aquarium, plus the 30 minute 3D movie. The 3D movie was very neat! The kids really enjoyed it, and both kept their special glasses on the entire time! I thought for sure I'd be headed out of the theatre with Ethan crying. We were sprayed with real mist, and fish and sharks came swimming right at us. It was a "friendly," cartoonish movie, so I think that's why the kids did so well with it. Here are some pictures from the day. Enjoy!

Camping With Nana and Papa

2008-05-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Lauren, Ethan, and I went camping with Nana and Papa at John Tanner State Park from 5/12 to 5/15. The State Park is awesome! It's got a nice sized lake and sandy beach with a 1.1 mile paved path around the lake, two playgrounds, and a second smaller lake with a nature trail (ie, more natural dirt path). Good for taking a nice run, bike ride, or walk. We stayed in Nana and Papa's 38 ft. motor home so we can hardly call it "camping," or "roughing it." The highlights of the trip were a nice, long nature walk where we identified wildflowers, animals and fish, our first swim of the season, and roasting marshmellows at the campfire. I also had a nice seven-lap run around the lake that I thoroughly enjoyed. I should have taken advantage of the "open water" swimming to prep for my first tri, but I was too wimpy... the water was COLD!!! We all really enjoyed the trip, but camping is not easy, even with all the frills. Eric and I will try tenting with the kids very soon. We've just had a busy spring with soccer!

Gotta Run,

Caryn

Brookhaven Bolt 5K

2008-05-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

I ran a 5K this past weekend on 5/17 down in Brookhaven just to revisit the distance. It's been since before childbirth that I've actually done a 5K, so I was interested to see how my speed is being affected by marathon training (and childbirth, motherhood, late nights, early mornings, carpooling...). I finished in 19:59, which I was pretty happy with. Not only did I (barely) break the 20 minute barrier, it was a hilly course. The race director was honest about the hills on the course description, so I knew it would be challenging. I ended up 2nd overall for women, and well, first in my age group I guess b/c the winner of the race was a 21-year-old runner with Olympic aspirations. I had fun running such a short distance. It was over so quickly! As compared to the marathon, of course. I'll be trying a "tri" (triathlon) in a few weeks and the run portion is a 5K. Some good experience gained!

Gotta Run,
Caryn

Boston Marathon Splits

2008-05-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

For my record...

Mile 1 8:07 Mile 14 8:01
Mile 2 7:26 Mile 15 7:44
Mile 3 7:43 Mile 16 7:42
Mile 4 7:39 Mile 17 8:26
Mile 5 8:22 Mile 18 8:25
Mile 6 7:56 Mile 19 7:51
Mile 7 7:56 Mile 20 8:13
Mile 8 8:03 Mile 21 8:42 (Heartbreak Hill)
Mile 9 8:04 Mile 22 8:02
Mile 10 8:04 Mile 23 8:35
Mile 11 7:58 Mile 24 8:09
Mile 12 8:26 Mile 25, 26, 26.2 20:30 (9:31 average)
Mile 13 7:54 Finish: 3:34:03 Boston Qualifier!!!

Average Pace: 8:10

As reported from BAA:
5K 24:03
10K 48:49
15K 1:13:41
20K 1:39:21
1/2 Marathon: 1:44:26
25K 2:03:42
30K 2:29:08
35K 2:54:35
40K 3:21:27
Finish: 3:34:03

Family Member on the COVER of TIME Magazine!!!

2008-05-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

SIX DOWN, FOUR ACROSS

My cousin's husband, Jay Adelson, is on the cover of Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People In the World. WOW! How cool! Jay, Congratulations!!! We are so proud of you. Keep up the great work. We can feel your influence all the way down here in Atlanta. :) Jay was the one who literally dropped me off at my doorstep at Stanford University for grad school. I'd never set foot on the campus before. Had only seen it in pictures. I stayed with him and Brenda the night before "school started" in San Francisco. He worked in Palo Alto at the time and drove me to my dorm. Over a decade ago...yikes!

Here's the article in Time Magazine:

Jay Adelson
By Lev Grossman

time:http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733758_1736343,00.html

Correction Appended: May 5, 2008
For a web company, there may be no better definition of total, unconditional victory than seeing your name become a verb. So far, that club includes Google and...nobody else. But if you had to predict the next tech brand to make the leap, Digg would be a good guess.
Digg.com, which gets about 26 million visitors a month (up from 16 million this time last year), is a website where readers rank news stories and other online content according to how interesting they are. The most popular ones bubble to the top. It's the ultimate Web 2.0 take on the ultimate Web 1.0 medium: Digg not only puts readers and editors on equal footing but also puts the Wall Street Journal on equal footing with Dwight Schrute's blog on the TV show The Office.
Jay Adelson, 37, is Digg's CEO. If somebody somewhere posts "The 11 Most Unintentionally Gay Rap Lyrics Ever," and you care about unintentionally gay rap lyrics, Adelson is the guy who makes sure you see that list. For someone who runs a human-powered media website, Adelson has a seriously crunchy background: he founded Equinix, a data-center company.
So if the people choose the news, what exactly does Digg's CEO do? He manages the community, grows the business and curates the arcane algorithms that translate votes into ranking and placement. Prime placement on Digg has become so valuable, people will do anything to get it, including cheat. Adelson makes sure nothing thwarts the will of the people. Not even Dwight Schrute.
The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Digg CEO Jay Adelson also founded the company. In fact Kevin Rose is the founder of Digg.

Popsicles are the Best!

2008-05-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Lauren and Ethan get really silly when they have popsicles. They love to give each other licks and have a good laugh. Here they are with their popsicles. Enjoy!

Mom's Day at the Preschool

2008-05-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, May 7th, Lauren and her class had their moms come to the classroom for Mom's Day! It's a very special day at school for us. The children had made cookies and a craft for us, and I felt so special! Lauren showed me around her classroom. We played playdoh, painted at the easel, did some patterns practice, and had a nice snack. She has had a great year at The Preschool with two wonderful teachers, Ms. Carson and Ms. McCleskey. My present was a gold handpainted jewelry box with gems glued on it. Lauren had also drawn a picture of me. How sweet!

Bon Jovi Concert

2008-05-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, April 30th, 16 ladies packed into a limo in Atlanta to see the greatest rock band on earth! Oh, what a time we had! Bon Jovi put on a great show and we ladies loved every minute of it. Here are two photos of the night. I can't believe I'm embarrassing myself with this self-portrait before the show! It's all in the name of fun. :) I went with my good friend Sheri and we had a blast. I was hoarse for the next two days. Thanks for the good time, my friends!

112th Boston Marathon - Monday, April 21st

2008-05-08T13:53:00.001-07:00

Monday morning came early. However, with the time change, at least there was daylight! We decided to leave around 6:30 am. I got up and got dressed, put the skirt on, (I ran in a Nike skirt this year!) and packed up my bag.

(Before the race at Lisa's place)

We headed to Dunkin Donuts to “fuel up.” I ordered my standard coffee and a bagel. Lis and Eric drove me down to the Boston Commons, where I was scheduled to meet my running friend Mark Earhard from Atlanta at 7:15 am. The bus area was WAY more crazy than I remember it being last year. There were runners and LONG lines everywhere. I pretty much instantly thought there was no way I was going to find Mark. Five minutes later, I saw him and Fran and we hopped in line! Now, I just love Mark and Fran. They are two of the finest people Eric and I have met through Galloway and marathon training. So meeting up with them was a real treat for me. When we got close to the busses, Fran said goodbye and Mark and I caught the bus to Hopkinton. We had great conversations along the way, which was quite relaxing and I was finally able to eat. I drank my entire medium coffee and downed one Gatorade. So far, fueling up was going well! We got off the interstate onto some other highway towards Hopkinton, and all the sudden, the never-ending line of busses stopped completely. People started jumping off the bus and peeing in the woods. I said, “wow, they must really be desperate. Jheesh.” 20 minutes later, I was desperate. 20 minutes after that, I was downright panicky. It was a white-knuckle express. I realized along the way, that very much like childbirth, there are various stages of modesty. It starts with, “I could NEVER do that,” and ends with… well, read on and see. Right when I was ready to throw modesty out the window and head to the woods, the busses started to move and I would have been left behind. So I rode the bus. And focused on breathing. And gripped the seat in front of me with my head between my arms. And didn’t say a word. Finally, finally, finally, we reached the drop-off at Athlete’s Village. I gave Mark my bag and headed straight for the woods. Nobody, not even the “Authorities” that were all over the place, were going to stop me. There was no way I was going to even make it to the porta-potties, let alone wait in that ridiculous line. As Annie says, “When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.” So I went. Not my proudest moment. That whole bus ride did take my mind off the race, though. Mark and I headed into Athlete’s Village and by the time we got there after the bus fiasco, decided to just hop into line at the porta-potties knowing we’d have to go again soon. We didn’t have much time before we had to head to the start! After taking our turns at the potty, we found a spot under a huge tent and got our race gear on. Mark wanted to potty one more time and I was ready to go, so we wished each other luck and made our separate ways. I missed my start last year and didn’t want to miss it again. I headed straight to baggage claim and handed over my bag. On my way out of Athlete’s Village, there was and adidas table with name tags for your shirt, about 4” x 8”. I wrote my name on one and plastered it across my chest. This was really going to come in handy during the race! I made my way to my starting Corral, which was #14, the first corral of Wave 2. The walk became very congested so another runner that I’d met along the way and I started running up the sides of the road and on the lawns. I got to my starting corral 2 minutes before the race began, and listened to two motivational messages from Mom. I felt really bad that I missed her calls. I didn’t have time to call her that morning, due to the white knuckle express bus ride, then the craziness of Athlete’s Village. Unlike years past, there was no sitting around on blankets all morning, due to the bus traffic issue. Most of our wait time was on the bus, and a good chunk of that time I wasn’t speaking, or should I say, wasn’t able to speak. I tucked my phone away and the gun went off. I always get teary-eyed at the start of that race. It’s such a monumentous event for me. All the training, all the prep, all my family and friends coming together for me to make this great trip happen. I settled into a good pace and started to run! What a beautiful day. The sun was shining and it was warming up. I was actually hoping for “overcast,” which the forecast called for. Sun is not a marathoner’s friend. The race course was lined with tons and tons of spectators. Miles 1-3 were fun and uneventful! Around mile 3, I heard the sound of a porta-potty door slamming, looked right, saw the green light, and decided that I might as well “go” while I can! So I took a few seconds for that. At least I was well-hydrated to start. About mile 4, every time I took in Gatorade, my stomach started cramping. It was very painful, but I convinced myself that the stomach is not attached to the legs, so why should this slow me down? The pain would slowly subside to a manageable level the farther I got from the water stops, but I knew I had to “fuel or crash,” so every water stop I took either Gatorade or water and forced it down, much to my tummy’s dismay. My pace continued to be right on for a 3:30, and my legs were feeling good. People were cheering for me all over the place, b/c I was one of the only runners wearing my name! Honestly, I heard my name thousands of times. It was awesome. I felt like a local celebrity! It was almost embarrassing, really. I made it to Wellesley and as usual, the college girls were in rare form. Their screams were deafening and I loved every minute of it. I saw some girls holding signs offering “Free Kisses.” I passed on that and kept moving. Made it to the half in 1:44, so I was happy with that! Being that it was the half-way point, and I didn’t take in any energy yet, I decided to try my Sport Beans. These are like jelly beans but packed with electrolytes and energy for endurance runs. I usually do gels on the run, but have been experimenting with these beans, and have had no issues. I could only get down half the beans over a several minute stretch and water stop. My stomach was in severe distress over anything coming in, especially solids. I kept trucking, wondering when my blood sugar would bottom out. The race course was very enjoyable this year. Every small town that we passed was loaded with spectators, both sides of the street. Everyone was out that day, it seemed. After all, it is Patriot’s Day, a state holiday in MA. Eric and I had made plans for him to join me at the 17 mile marker. The plan was to have him run with me to 22.5 miles, where Lisa lives in Cleveland Circle. I got near the 17 mile marker and it was very crowded. At some points, you couldn’t even get on the street due to the barriers that police installed. Luckily though, right at the 17, Eric was there and ready to run.

(Lots of fun happenin' at 17 miles!)

Mile 17 is around where the fun really begins, in Newton. The Hills of Newton. I wasn’t talkative (only a few words), but I’d warned him about this before the race. I let him know that I wouldn’t be talking, but to please know how much it means to me to have him there by my side. Marathoning is a head game for me. Me vs. me. It requires total focus for me to stay on task, constantly looking inward to evaluate how I feel moment to moment and how I’m handling the pace. I was all about business. Things in Newton didn’t seem too bad at first. Then we got to the hills. We actually kept a nice, pretty steady pace through the hills. Lost several seconds on the Heartbreak Hill mile, but my pace bracelet, made by Nike, accounted for that hill so I was still pretty much on target for 3:30. After the Newton Hills, my wheels started coming off. We got to BC around 21-22, and the college crowd was WILD. They were cheering us on bigtime. The guys would get going with, “CA-RYN…CA-RYN…” It was amazing and gave me just the extra oomph I needed. Of course, every few seconds, Eric was spouting out words of encouragement, which I desperately needed. We missed Lisa and our other friends in Cleveland Circle. Big Bummer. I knew they were out there, though, and could feel the vibes so we kept truckin’.

(Lance runs the marathon)

Eric decided to keep running and I was so glad because I needed him. With him there, I knew I couldn’t just give up and give into my body, whose every cell was pleading with me to STOP! Mile 23, mile 24, oh my god. I was not really feeling like the wall, just feeling like I had no energy. Not surprising given my fueling regimen/stomach issue. I HAD no fuel. I just wanted to pull over and close my eyes. Eric reminded me that “pain is temporary, pride is forever” and we forged on. He basically kind of ran in front of me the whole time, with what I felt was an invisible leash. I really wanted to be pulled along! I saw the Citgo sign. Right underneath it is “One Mile to Go.” However, you see the Citgo sign FOREVER before you get to it. I decided not to look up anymore. Didn’t want to see it until I was under it. We got to the “One Mile To Go” and I felt very relieved, and knew I could somehow get to the finish. I mean, what’s one mile? It was the longest mile. I could no longer really hold up my upper body and I felt hunched over like I should be 92, not 32. Then the turn onto Hereford. Hereford seemed to last forever. Then onto what they call “The Sweetest Left Turn in the World…” the turn onto Boylston Street for the finish! YES! There was the finish line, in all its glory. It was so incredibly far away. My eyes were closing. I wanted it to be over. I felt bad for wanting it to be over, because this was the final, home stretch of the greatest marathon in the world and I just wanted it over. The crowd was roaring and I inched my way along, only looking up a few times for fear that the distance to the finish would overwhelm me. The Finish. Finally we crossed. Stopped my watch at 3:34:03, a PR. I closed my eyes. Eric grabbed my left hand and a medical lady with blue gloves grabbed my right. We headed right into the medical tent. They said, “take her to 17.” I’d open my eyes only to check the section number. I needed to lay down. There’s 12. 17 can’t be too far away. Eyes closed again. Open them. There’s 17. There is my cot. Thank god. I’m laying down. They’re asking me questions. I just want to sleep. I know my name and I know my husband is outside the medical tent worried, but I’m too tired to get up. I closed my eyes for about 20 minutes. I was delirious, and saying to the doctor, “I feel so irresponsible. I can’t believe I did this.” I’m thinking, “What am I thinking? I have two children at home. This is stupid.” After a short while, I heard my name over the loudspeaker. Eric was worried and wanted to know how I was… I woke up, and told the medical staff to tell Eric I’m fine and I’d be out soon. I was given my medal in the medical tent, which was a downer. I reunited with Eric outside and we made our way to the baggage busses, got my stuff, and made our way to the train. Eric ended up running the last 9 miles with me, and I sure did need him there. Thanks for you support, Love.

(The night of the race in my new jacket)

The Aftermath
I felt pretty ok after we got to Lisa’s. Actually, better than I’ve felt after a lot of marathons. We showered up, watched the TiVo’ed marathon, which was an incredible finish, especially in the women’s race this year. Closest finish in marathon history! First and Second place women were 2 seconds apart. We headed out for dinner across the street at Cityside. I didn’t feel like eating anything, but Lis and Eric convinced me to eat something. I ordered fish and chips and ate almost everything! My tummy did hurt, though. My legs felt ok. My entire abdomen was in pain. I was thinking it was my ab muscles, so much for the core workouts. At times, most of the time, I felt like an 8 out of 10 on the pain scale. OK, maybe 7. When I sneezed (cat allergy), 10/10. I couldn’t sleep because the pain was so bad. When I lay on my back, the pressure of my abdomen ON my abdomen was too much. When I lay on my side, everything would slump and that hurt like crazy, too. On the plane the next morning as I sat in my seat, I realized it was not my ab muscles, but my insides. When I pushed, they hurt. They hurt everywhere, and I was instantly scared. I decided to go to urgent care that night, after trying to take a nap and again being in too much pain to really get comfortable and sleep. They drew some blood and did a urine test, and that’s about it. I was very unhappy that I’d wasted my time there. Later on, my creatinine enzyme reading was 608 and anything under 200 is considered normal. They did think the 608 was fine, though, give my effort the day before. No worries there. I then went to see my GI doctor, who was also baffled. She sent me in for an ultrasound and I’m waiting on the results. I ran the Saturday after the race, down to the lake and one lap around, just long enough to know that I wasn’t ready to run yet. By Monday I did a 6-miler and felt good. Two weeks later, my stomach does feel better. I’m finally feeling back to normal (I think). I did survive a 10 mile run on Saturday, my longest since the marathon. I’m going to hope beyond hope that this never happens again, and change a few fueling issues around before my next race.

Thank Yous
A special, special thank you goes out to my mother-in-law, Barb, who drove all the way from KY by herself and took time off from work so that Eric and I could make our journey to Boston together. She did a fantastic job with the children.

They had such a great time with Grandma, and it was priceless for Eric and I to know that they were in such good hands. We were worry-free on our kids-free weekend! Thank you Barb, we love you! Special props to Lisa, Kevin, and Jen for being so hospitable over the weekend and making our trip to Boston such a wonderful experience. Thanks to my family for your continuous support of my running, and your recognition of my need to run. Love you all!

Gotta Run,
Caryn

Boston Marathon Trip Sunday

2008-05-08T13:33:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning, Kevin and Adam drove us (by way of Dunkin Donuts) to Lisa’s place in Cleveland Circle. We arrived at Lisa’s at 7:40 am, dropped off our luggage and stuff, and then headed with Lisa downtown. The Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials were held in Boston this year, and I wasn’t about to miss the opportunity of seeing the best women marathoners in our country pour their hearts and souls out on the marathon course for a shot at the Beijing Olympics! The top three finishers are granted Olympic spots. I was psyched to see Deena Kastor win the race with Magdelena Lewy-Boulet coming in 2nd, and Blake Russell finishing 3rd.

I also saw several of the women featured in Runner’s World Magazine and runnersworld.com. Pretty cool! We positioned ourselves on the course in such a way that we saw the women pass us 8 times. I should also mention that before the race started, I spotted Kristin Armstrong (yes, Lance’s ex) across the street from us. She periodically writes for Runner’s World, but also has a weekly blog on runnersworld.com that I read religiously. She has a way of putting into words thoughts on running and motherhood that I can seriously relate to. Check out her archives, August 12, 2007, called “Spot On, Bertha” if you want to find out why I run and part of what motivates me. Back to the race! One of the best parts was seeing the running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson run her last competitive race. She wasn’t racing to qualify, she was running her own race. She recently turned 50 years old, and wanted to run a 2:50 to celebrate 50. She did it! 2:49-something. Every time she ran past us (in her yellow Livestrong apparel), the crowd went wild for her! She definitely got the most props out there, more than Deena. It was great to see the respect that the audience had for her.

What a morning. After the race, we headed back to Lisa’s. But first, I had to buy my official 2008 Boston Marathon jacket! This year, adidas’ Boston complimentary color was red, my favorite color, so I had to have one. The jacket is black with red adidas stripes, and the Boston Marathon Logo on the front AND back. Yeah! Last year the color was orange, like the ING orange. Yuck… I scored the properly fit jacket and we went back to chill at Lisa’s. Lisa worked so hard to prepare for the 2nd Annual Boston Marathon Pasta Party at her apartment. She slaved away over two lasagnas while I sat on my tuffit like Miss Muffit resting my legs. (After all, I was standing all morning. Not good the day before a big race!) We chatted away while she cooked and (sort of) followed the recipe. Just kidding. I know you’re reading this, Lis. So this is a great opportunity for me to say, “Lisa, I love you. You are such a wonderful friend and a wonderful person. I had such a great time hanging out. It was just like old times, but even better. Eric really enjoyed everything, too. I can’t thank you enough for having me at your place and then cooking for a crowd just so I can have the opportunity to see everyone. You ROCK.” The pasta crowd came at 4:00 pm. Kara and Mike came with Maddie, Donna and Chris came with Baby Rich, Sona and Ben came with baby-on-board, (Sona looked fantastic!) Zido was there, Bets came with her hubby John, and some of Lisa’s Boston friends came.

The food was delicious and the company couldn’t be beat! Eric and I just really enjoyed the whole evening. I had such an amazing time catching up with everyone. What a GREAT group of friends. I can’t say enough good things about everyone. It really made us miss home and being around people we “grew up” with at Clarkson. If we were ever to head north, we’d only land in Boston. We will see you all next year, my friends for the 2009, 113th version of the Boston Marathon weekend!

P.S. I'm thinking about you Sona! Haven't heard anything yet, but must be any day now!

Boston Marathon Trip Saturday

2008-05-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Eric and I left the house around 8am to catch our flight to Boston! We were greeted on the other end by Kevin Frisoli, who took us downtown towards the race expo. First, we hit a spot for lunch: Whiskey’s, which was right across from the race expo.

The downtown area was packed with people out and about, as it was the “2nd” nice day in the Boston area this spring. After lunch, we hit the expo at the Hynes Convention Center. As usual, it was packed with people who were wandering in all different directions, not really knowing which way to go. I grabbed my bib number and race bag with a sweet technical running shirt, “New for 2008.” In the past, they’ve given us cotton shirts which I never wear. They actually had gender-specific shirts for running, so I grabbed my Women’s S and we were on our way into the expo rooms!

The Adidas areas in the expo were swamped, as adidas made the “official” clothing of the Boston Marathon. Couldn’t find my size in anything, they were all sold out! I also heard that Grete Waitz was signing autographs somewhere, but couldn’t find her. I searched and searched. You see, I have this great book, “26.2 Marathon Stories,” and I wanted her to sign it. She is a marathoning/running LEGEND. By the time I found the table, they’d just shut it down. I did squeak in a little chat with Jen Rhines, who will be shooting for the Olympics at the 10K distance this summer. She’s from Liverpool, NY and ran track about the same time I did in high school. We both competed in the 3,000 meter. She was always a little faster than I was. J After the expo, we went back to Kevin and Jen’s, played with Adam, then went out to a spectacularly fun dinner. It was great to see Kevin and Jen again. Some things never change. They are awesome friends and it’s like we never missed a beat, despite the fact that Eric hadn’t seen Kevin in three years!

Happy 8th Birthday, Emma!

2008-04-13T11:21:00.001-07:00

Today our Pooh Bear turns EIGHT years old! We are celebrating by making her homemade, all-natural dog treats in the greatest of shapes, using Play Doh "cookie" cutters! Happy Birthday, Emma! You are the best dog in the universe. Loving, gentle, sweet, and obedient (when it suites you). :) Here is photo of our Emma taken today, on her birthday with her pink bandana, along with a photo collage when she was a puppy. Honestly, she was the cutest puppy that MANY of us have ever seen. She's still just as beautiful, just a little gray. Check these out.

My Little Pony LIVE!

2008-04-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

How many of you out there can say you've been to the "World's Biggest Tea Party?" (tee hee!)Well, that is where Stefanie, Kelly, and myself took Lindsey, Regan, and Lauren yesterday. We went to the My Little Pony Live Tea Party, then out to lunch. Our girls morning out was tons of fun. I enjoyed the company of my amazing friends, and Lauren enjoyed the company of hers! Our daughters have been friends since birth, so it's wonderful to see them together at age four. I have to say, the Pony show was downright boring to me (I know, I know). The circus is one thing! The circus can entertain anybody! But My Little Pony? Well, that's just for little girls, y'all. The joy, of course, was in watching the girls watch the Pony show. :) Here are some pix of our morning.

Marathon #15, The ING Georgia...

2008-04-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, I just completed my 15th marathon and it feels pretty good! The day of the race was a perfect day for a marathon... Overcast and in the mid-40's. The race started at 7:00 am, so I left the house by 5:30 am and picked up MARTA to get to Centennial Olympic Park, the starting line. I got there in plenty of time, and stood near the baggage claim area refusing to take off my warm layers until the very last minute. The wind was almost too much to bear. I thought I was going to get hypothermia as I stood there shaking like a leaf! I couldn't believe it when I'd see others in shorts/tank tops, walking around as if they didn't notice the cold. Finally I stripped down to shorts and a long sleeve top, checked my baggage, and made my way to the start. My goal for this race was simply to finish... to finish healthy, with no injuries, and to log the 26 miles that were required of me to complete my training for the Boston Marathon, which is exactly 3 weeks later. I have been struggling with IT band issues since last July, and have taken quite a bit of time off. This was my first marathon in the last year! Boston '07 was my last one... The race was pretty uneventful and quiet. Last year as I ran this, unbeknownst to me, Ethan was suffering from the rotovirus, and after completing ING Georgia '07, little did I know I'd be heading to the ER that night for a three-night stay. This time around, there was no drama. Eric was out of town and Nana was taking care of the children. I felt very good the entire race. Nothing like a little ibuprofen. Had hoped to finish between 4:15 at the fastest, to 4:30. I wanted a slow but steady pace to keep me injury-free and on track for a speedy recovery. During the race, I stayed on pace for a 4:12 and just couldn't seem to slow down. I felt like Forrest Gump: When I had to drink, I drank... When it was time to walk, I walked... When I had to, well, pee, I pee'd... (sorry)... When it was time to call the fam, I called... (never marathon without a cellphone!) When it was time to eat random foods from strangers like gummy worms and pretzels, I ate. It was like a buffet out there. No matter what I did, my pace remained the same and I finished in 4:12-something. I was very uneventful, and sort of a lonely marathon. It is not going down as one of my favorites, but more of an obligatory marathon to get me to "the big show." I didn't run with anyone or meet anyone like I always do. I did see some of my running buddies who were volunteering, so I did feel like I had my own fan club/cheering section for one part of the race. That's the bonus of a hometown marathon. I was slightly sore for a day or two afterwards, which was somewhat disappointing, since for many of my "training run" marathons, I'm fine. However, it was been almost a year since going the distance, and almost 6 weeks from my 24 mile run, so I'll take it. My biggest concern was whether I did any acute damage to my muscles during the race. No IT band issues makes for one happy runner! I now feel like I'm cleared for Boston, having jumped that final hurdle.

The Boston Marathon is April 21st, and it will be my third Boston (second post-kids). Eric and I will be making the journey this year together, and Grandma will be taking care of Lauren and Ethan. The Women's Olympic Marathon Trials are taking place in Boston the day before the Boston Marathon, so I will have the honor of witnessing this fantastic, exciting event! Stay tuned for a Boston Race Report and photos. Until then...

Gotta Run!

Lauren's 4th Birthday Bash!

2008-03-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

Lauren turned 4 on March 18th, and we had her 4th Birthday party at the Little Gym on Saturday, March 15th. It started out as a normal day. There was a tornado in the city of Atlanta the night before, but the storm blew over and we awoke to partly cloudy skies. As the day progressed more crazy storms and tornadoes plowed through the Atlanta Area, and the tornado siren rang in our county on numerous occasions. We were getting ready to leave for the 4:00 pm party, when we "caught wind" of another storm blowing in our direction. The siren blew again, and we decided to wait it out, thus making us late for our own party! Most of our friends were able to make the party, despite the severe weather. Grandma and Grandpa were even able to drive down for it, just missing the tornadoes. The party was GREAT fun! The Little Gym let us start late and extended our party time. The children played lots of fun games and ate pizza and cake. They danced, sang, played with a parachute, hula hoops, and an "air track." Lauren's favorite Disney Princess is Ariel, so we ordered a nice Ariel cake from the bakery. I'll post some pictures below, and I'll even attempt a couple of movies from the party. Happy 4th Birthday, Lauren! Our BABY Girl!

Ethan's Birthday Party

2008-03-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

Ethan turned two on March 7th, and we had a few of his friends over for a party at the house on Sunday, March 16th. Ethan loves the Disney movie "Cars," so of course we chose that as our theme and had our friends bring their bikes over to ride on our cul de sac "race track." The weather was beautiful and the party was perfect. We rode bikes, trikes and cars, and played with Stomp Rockets.

Our Latest Nature Sighting...

2008-03-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

We had some interesting visitors two nights ago in the woods! A male turkey was courting a female, and had his feathers puffed out. It was quite impressive! The male was HUGE. I was a little nervous snapping this photo!

We are Fine Down Here!

2008-03-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

In case any of you have heard of these crazy storms and tornados pelting our city, we just wanted you all to know we are fine. (As of 7:00 pm Saturday night.) We've seen some pretty severe weather and more is on its way. I think the worst is behind us. Of course in true dramatic fashion, Lauren's birthday bash was this afternoon and we were late to the party. Had to wait until the tornado siren turned off! We'll post pictures of the party very soon.

Ethan's 2nd Birthday!

2008-03-08T07:57:00.000-08:00

Ethan turned TWO on March 7th! He'll be having a "Cars" party next weekend with some friends, and we also celebrated here at home with a few presents, pizza, and cake. He is growing up so fast, and we realized all the sudden that we no longer have a baby in the house. The other day, he spontaneously said things, like "Pepperoni" and "delicious." He strings together several words and talks up a storm. He loves to play and read about cars and trucks, and his favorite movie is Disney's "Cars" with Lightning McQueen and Mater. He is also very sweet and gentle with baby dolls. Ethan likes to cradle, feed, and kiss them. All in all, he is a very sweet and fun little boy!

Nice Weather!

2008-03-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Well, we've had some great spring weather lately! Here's a cute photo of the kids having their post-nap snack outside.

Sharks' First Soccer Game!

2008-03-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

The Sharks had their first soccer game Saturday morning, March 1st! The team did great. I'm so proud of the little players. Here are some photos of our "huddle," and my favorite Shark, #7. She even scored her first goal! So what that it was in the "opposing" goal. She was dribbling down the field towards the net and I wasn't about to stop her. Hee Hee!

Valentine's Day Photos

2008-03-02T14:45:00.000-08:00

We had a Valentine's Day Party at the Ollanoves and brought treat bags for our friends. Lauren and Ethan were so excited to get loaded into the car!

Let's give photos a try...

2008-02-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

Wow, looks like I can upload photos successfully! We've got Lauren and Ethan having hot cocoa on our snow day, Little Drummer Boy with his new Christmas drum, and Lauren and I with our Valentines heart cake. More to come!

Getting Started!

2008-02-28T09:14:00.000-08:00

Here We Go! I'd like to introduce the Lamphier Family's Blog. This will be a great way for us to communicate with friends and family, so you know what we're up to and can watch our children grow! We'll be posting lots of fun pictures and updates, so stay tuned!