Race Into the New Year

Jeremy Update:

This morning was very busy for Jeremy. They took him for a CT scan and then placed a new PICC line. His ICP during that time period got up into the 40's for the first time in days, but after that it fell back to 12 and remained in the 10-17 range for most of the day with a few spikes up to 20. His CT scan showed the hematoma on the left side of his brain has gotten a little smaller, from 14 to 10 mm. Which was good news. No changes on his CT scan other than that. He is tolerating his feeding tube so they have increased the amount of food he is getting. Although he did have a few spikes today, it still felt like a fairly stable day. I wrote a post about the Race Into the New Year the day before Jeremy's accident. It's weird going back and reading it now, knowing it was most likely his first and last race of 2016. I'm glad I had already written about the race because just thinking about it now makes me emotional. On to my race recap...  

Of all the 5k races we run I'd say my top two favorites in terms of atmosphere and post-race party would have to be the Run to the Lights at Silver Dollar City with all the Christmas lights up and the Race Into the New Year. The atmosphere for the Race Into the New Year is like a giant party. There are people who show up and have obviously been drinking. There are people dressed in costumes. Everyone is excited and chatty before the race, some even dancing. There isn't that serious, let's race hard type of feeling at the start. I love that about it even though if I show up for a race, I'm there to run my fastest. So I always have that race mentality, it's just a more relaxed one for races like that. The race starts at 11:45 so you are literally running from one year into the next. At midnight they shoot off fireworks and instead of a water stop they have champagne. They give out blinky light rings, hats, beads, and noise makers before the race. It's just so much fun.

Oma and Opa found the sweetest New Year outfit for Elise!

Each year we run the race, as my bedtime approaches and we're still at home I start to wish just a little bit I could go to bed. As I lace up my running shoes while yawning I wonder how well I will actually be able to run. Then I check the temperature and see it's nearly freezing with the sun down and a decent amount of wind, because it's Oklahoma and when is there not wind, and I lose a bit more excitement for the race. This year was no different. I was starting to lose interest in running and then my mom reminded me about my light up shoelaces she bought me for Christmas. As I tied them around my shoelaces and turned them on, I got really excited to run. I was reminded of how much fun this race is every year and I kept picturing watching the fireworks reflect off the river while running toward the finish and I regained my excitement. I was out for a postpartum PR. I wanted to run faster than my 20:56 which I had run in two races with the last race being a bit on the longer side. My goal was to run a more consistent race, with my miles being around 6:35 or under. I knew I could do it and I was determined.

All of us with our race shirts and awards.

When we arrived at the race I took off for a warm up. I checked the flags to see which direction the wind was blowing and took off into the wind to get a feel for it. I was surprised that I hardly noticed the wind with how much the flags were flapping around. Normally for a warm-up if I'm under 9 minute pace I know it's going to be a good race. I ran my mile warm up in under 8 minute pace. I felt great and I was pleased to know the wind wouldn't be much of a factor and we even got to finish with it at our backs. After my warm-up I picked up a blinky ring and a noise maker and found Jeremy. We lined up for the race start and the atmosphere was bubbling with excitement. I heard someone behind me tell their friend, "See you next year," which I thought was funny so I turned and said the same to dad and Jeremy. We took off and I was surprised how many times I got cut off and was even almost knocked down at one point. It was the worst race start I've ever experienced. With my 6:19 first mile at the Jingle Bell my biggest concern was that I would start off too fast again so I checked my watch and it was a good thing because I was running 5:55 pace when I looked so I reigned it in big time. We went out about a half mile before going up onto a bridge to cross to the other side of the river. As we descended the bridge there was a patch of ice that we had to slow down on because we turned a corner at the same time and the guy in front of me almost fell down.

Jeremy, me, and dad before the race.

By the time we got to the bridge I had worked my way up to 2nd overall female and I could see the 1st female not far ahead of me. It was super dark on the other side of the river even with the lamp posts on so I really couldn't see my watch very well and didn't check it much at all. I had hit a nice tempo and was going with it. I went through the first mile in 6:37 which was a little bit slower than what I had planned, but I wasn't concerned because I was feeling great and knew I could pick up the pace. My plan for the 2nd mile was to maintain and pick up the pace if possible. I felt really strong and started pushing the pace. I caught up to the 1st female at around the half-way point and she started to go with me at first and then fell behind. There were a couple of guys within a reasonable distance ahead of me so I focused on catching them. I was pleased to see I went through the 2nd mile in 6:36 and had been able to not only maintain my pace, but pick it up a little bit. We went up the largest hill in the race and turned onto a bridge to head back to the finish which was in the same place as the start (the race is a counterclockwise loop). I remembered in the past watching the fireworks go off as I crossed the bridge and having such a great view of them reflecting in the river so I was watching for them as I crossed the bridge. I was running enough faster than the last time I ran this race that they didn't go off until I had crossed the bridge and was on the other side of the river heading back to the finish. That turned out being an even better place to be during the fireworks because I was running toward them and they were going off directly in front of me. It was awesome!

An awesome picture mom took of the fireworks as she walked.

With about a half mile to go I was pushing and giving it everything I had. I kept telling myself to beat 6:36 and make the last mile my fastest. I could feel in my legs how hard I was pushing and knew I wasn't going to be able to go much faster. My third mile split was 6:27. I took off sprinting as fast as I could and as I turned the corner to the finish I saw a banner across the finish line that read "First Overall Female Finisher". It was the coolest thing. I've won races before but never ones with actual banner tapes across the finish line. I think the fanciest "tape" I've ever broken was a piece of string. I couldn't help but smile and feel even more pleased with the huge postpartum PR I was able to accomplish. I was 1st female out of 236 and 7th out of 405 total finishers. My official finishing time was 20:29! That put me at an average of 6:32 per mile for the 3.14 mile course. Between the fireworks, my light up shoelaces, and getting to run through the tape at the finish I was pumped up like no other. I watched dad finish and then ran back toward mom blowing my noisemaker and cheering for runners as I went. I made it to the bridge and realized it was too congested for me to cross without being in the way so I stood cheering for everyone until I started shivering so much my jaw hurt. Then I headed back to change into dry clothes before going back out to walk to the finish with mom. It was so much fun getting to share with her and my dad about how I got to run through the tape at the finish. It really was just the coolest thing.  

We made it back just in time for awards. As the top female finisher I received a giant champagne glass filled with blue confetti, a Happy New Year's tiara, a medal, and a gift certificate for $75.  Jeremy and dad also received medals, each finishing 2nd in their age groups. Ty stayed home with our sleeping babies. Well, one sleeping baby and the other "screaming in his face" since Elise woke up right as we were leaving and didn't go back to sleep until 12:30. Thomas went to a party with friends so he opted out of the race. I felt bad for Ty when I found out how his night went, but it worked out pretty well for me that Elise was running on a lack of sleep as she slept through the night and then slept in until 9:30 the following morning. That really helped me out since I didn't get to bed until 2 am and I'm just not built to stay up that late anymore! Running from one year to the next is my favorite way to kick off a new year and I'm excited for what 2016 has to bring!

With my award for first female after the race.

Jeremy, me, and dad with our awards after the race.

Hello 2016

This New Year we were reminded of many things as 2016 rolled around. We ran the Race into the New Year 5k and I was reminded how good it felt to push my body to the limits and how great it felt to run a time I am genuinely proud of. On the first day of the new year we dressed Elise up in an adorable outfit, threw party hats on both the kids, and were reminded what a gift these babies of ours are. That evening was spent enjoying fondue with my parents and Jeremy. Memories of past new year celebrations flooded back, reminding me of my grandparents. Reminding me how central family is to our lives. Reminding me what a gift it is to have such an amazing family to spend my life with. I remember being surrounded with love my entire childhood and I giggled and smiled as I watched Carter listen as his Uncie J read him a night night story with cowboy voices included. I am so glad my children are every bit as loved and spoiled (not spoiled by me, of course) as I was as a child. I stood in the kitchen once the children were in bed and everyone else left to run some errands and fought back tears thinking of all the gifts we have been given. Remembering these first months of Elise's life and being blown away by how much I already love her and with such intensity. I stood knowing 2016 would be the best year yet.

Jeremy reading a bedtime story to Carter.

I enjoyed listening to the story as well.

Then January 2nd rolled around. It was a lazy morning that rolled into a productive afternoon. We dropped off some donations at Goodwill and headed to the grocery store to pick up last minute supplies for cheese fondue for dinner. As we were paying my dad called and from my mom's reaction I knew something terrible had happened. Shock settled in as the news was relayed that Jeremy had been hit by a car during his run that afternoon. Then the panic and fear crept in. By the time we made it to the hospital we had convinced ourselves it wasn't that bad. But the minute I walked into his hospital room reality set in. There was my big brother who taught me everything I needed to know as a child and more. The brother who protected me, who had my back, who believed in me no matter what. There he was with a broken femur, broken pelvis, and fractured skull. His brain was bleeding and swelling to the point that in the middle of the night doctors were concerned he may not make it through the night. But despite all that, he was there. He was breathing. He was fighting. He was bleeding and blinking and he was my brother. The only big brother I have. The only brother who pulled my socks off for me when I didn't have the fine motor skills to do it myself. The only brother who ran side by side with me during my first marathon. The older brother who has challenged me, pushed me, changed me, and helped mold me into who I am. He may have been bleeding and broken but he was alive. He was there reminding me your whole life can change at any given moment and although that may be comforting in difficult times, it is terrifying in others. My brother is a huge part of my heart, of my life, and of who I am. I believe he will pull through this and get better. I know time will heal these wounds. I know life will eventually go back to normal or semi-normal for him. I know these things, but still I am afraid. I am afraid of the curve balls life can throw us and the changes that lay ahead for my brother. I don't want him to hurt. I don't want him to struggle. I hate the thought that he won't be able to walk for quite some time. I ache knowing he will not be running alongside me anytime soon. But he is here. That is what matters. Please whatever you do, whatever you believe in, do it for my brother. Pray, dance, sing a song, send positive energy. He has a long road of healing ahead of him and I know we will all appreciate the encouragement and love. It feels weird and wrong to talk about anything other than what Jeremy and my family is/are going through right now, but I have some posts that were already typed up and ready so I will go ahead and publish them in the next few days. Jeremy is currently in a medically induced paralytic state to allow his brain to stop bleeding and recover. Pins have been placed in his leg because he is not stable enough to undergo surgery on his femur. I will update with good news as it arrives. Thank you all for thinking of him.

Jeremy, me, and Thomas as kids.

Good Bye, 2015

2015 has been a great year for us. We welcomed our sweet baby girl Elise this year, making Carter a big brother and us a family of 4. There's no topping that! Carter became more independent in completing tasks as well as in physical challenges. He is so smart and works hard to do things without help. Elise has already gone from her tiny newborn self to crawling, pulling up to her knees, starting to say real words, and having 2 teeth in her mouth. It has definitely been an amazing year. Check out 2014 in pictures here and 2013 here.

January 2015

We celebrated the start of a new year!

We ran the Runway Run 5k where I was the first female finisher and won a membership to the Air and Space Museum.

February 2015

We celebrated Valentine's Day.

And ran the Sweetheart Run 5k.

We got our first really good snow that stuck.

And I got so excited I tried to wear my regular-sized snow suit!

March 2015

I couldn't help myself with the pictures here, March was a big month for us!

We had my mom take some family maternity photos.

A friend threw me a sweet sprinkle to honor Elise.

I hit early term for the first time, woo hoo!

We celebtrated St. Patrick's Day.

Miss Elise Kay was born on March 21st!

 

Carter adjusted to life as a big brother.

Elise went on her first walk and visit to the library.

Elise went on her first outing to the Children's Museum.

Elise was the sweetest, little newborn!

Elise found her thumb for the first time.

Elise made her first craft.

 April 2015

Carter and Elise took their first bath together.

Carter and Elise met the Easter Bunny at Breakfast with the Bunny.

Elise celebrated her first Easter.

Carter really enjoyed Easter!

We had our first Easter as a family of 4.

Mom and I ran the mile fun run at the Aquarium Run with the kids in the double stroller.

Carter got to give Elise her first bottle.

Ty ran a PR of 24:12 at the Get Busy Livin 5k!

I ran the race just under a month postpartum.

Elise turned one month old!

 

Gma and Gpa came to visit and Elise wore an outfit that belonged to me as a baby.

Elise tried out my dress I came home from the hospital in.

We met Addison, my best friend Erin's daughter, who is one month younger than Elise.

 May 2015

Elise went to her first wedding and slept through everything including the reception.

We took some professional family photos.

We celebrated Ty's 29th birthday and I surprised him with tickets to the movies.

Auntie Ang came to visit and to meet Elise.

We celebrated Mother's Day in true fashion with me ending the day with potty on my pants and throw up on my shirt.

Elise made her first trip to Topeka and met both sets of paternal great grandparents.

Elise turned 2 months old.

 

Carter got his own library card so he could sign up for the summer reading program.

We bought a new car, a van!

 June 2015

 Ty andI went on a date to a Ben Harper concert.

Elise completed the summer reading program for the first time.

Carter completed the summer reading program for the 3rd time.

Elise turned 3 months old.

 

We celebrated Father's Day and Carter chose to make his daddy green muffins.

 July 2015

Carter got his first professional haircut, thanks to Gma and Gpa.

Elise got to meet her Uncle Paul and Aunt Amanda for the first time.

Elise got to wear a dress that was her Gma's as a baby.

Elise went swimming for the first time in our kiddie pool in the backyard.

We celebrated Independence Day with friends.

And family.

Ty and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary.

Elise went to the pool for the first time and slept through most of it.

Elise turned 4 months old.

 

Me made a trip to St. Louis and Elise met her maternal set of great grandparents.

I celebrated my 29th birthday.

We had this moment at storytime when Carter heard it was bubble time, possibly my favorite photo of the year!

  August 2015

We celebrated my parents' 35th wedding anniversary.

We babysat 4 friends and had a house full of 6 kids for a few days!

Elise tried her first bites of food, sweet potato.

Elise turned 5 months old.

 

Elise found her feet.

September 2015

Carter went on his first train ride.

We ran the Little Balkans Days 5k and I ran a post-Elise PR of 22:15.

Elise turned 6 months old.

 

We picked out pumpkins.

And Elise painted her first pumpkin.

 October 2015

Elise went on her first trip to the pumpkin patch.

We ran the Zoo Run 5k and I ran another a post-Elise PR of 21:54.

Elise got to play with the inside of a pumpkin when Carter and I gutted Ty's pumpkin for him.

We ran the Prairie Fire Half Marathon and I finished in 1:41:08.

Elise got her first tooth, well two at the same time!

We ran the Twilight Thriller 5k and Ty won the costume contest.

Elise turned 7 months old.

We ran the Hearts and Halloween 5k with Ty again winning the costume contest and me running an overall postpartum PR of 20:56.

We went trick-or-treating with some friends.

 November 2015

We ran the Run to the Lights 5k and got to spend some time in Silver Dollar City.

We talked about what we were thankful for.

Elise turned 8 months.

We ran the Route 66 half marathon and I finished in a postpartum PR of 1:35:43.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Ty's family.

We ran the Turkey Trot 5k and did the fun run with Carter and Elise.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family.

Elise met Santa for the first time.

 December 2015

Carter turned 3 years old!

We went to lots of Christmas storytimes, a few were jammy storytimes.

We ran the Jingle Bell Run 5k and Carter did the fun run.

We celebrated Carter's birthday with a lion themed party per his request.

Elise started crawling.

Carter and Elise posed with Santa again.

Elise turned 9 months old.

Elise started pulling up to her knees.

We celebrated Christmas.

Elise enjoyed her first Christmas.

Elise experienced snow for the first time.