What's Next?

Family Visits

2009-10-18T13:49:00.006-04:00

I realize this blog was intended to be about running, hiking and skiing, but as my exercise at this point in time consists of small walks and carrying around a 6 pound baby, for the time being, you'll just have to put up with posts about our new life with Sam :-) I promise there will be talk about running, hiking and skiing soon enough! I am already looking forward to my first run next month, especially now that I can move around better and without much pain ;-)

This past week, my parents have stayed in Brunswick and came over every day to help us out around the house, watch and hold Sam, cook dinner for us and generally support us. A huge thank you to them for all their help! It was awesome, and we really appreciate it!

Mom and Sam

They also went over to my aunt's house and picked my grandmother, Mim, up for a visit this week. Sam loved hanging out with her great-grandmother and Mim was in fine spirits for the whole time.

Visiting with Mim

We also had a wonderful visit yesterday with Ryan's parents and grandparents. Sam didn't get put down for a second, and truly enjoyed Great-Grammie's singing and hanging out in Great-Bampie's lap! Thanks to Irene and Dana for making the trip happen :-) We loved seeing you all!

Hanging out with Great-Grammie and Great-Bampie

But as of tomorrow, we will be on our own, and the week should be fairly quiet. We have really enjoyed having everyone visit and help out, and hope we'll do OK without the extra help, but are also looking forward to settling into a routine with just the three of us. With Ryan working at home for the next few weeks, things will be much easier for me next week as I continue to heal. Even after only a week, he is already a great dad and has been really involved in helping out with feedings, diaper changings, calming Samantha, cleaning, etc. He even purchased an adorable (albeit huge) onesie for her during a quick trip to Target the other day. She has him wrapped around her finger already :-)

Ryan's first impulse buy for Sam

And today, he gave Sam the majority of her second bath this morning, and now she is all sparkly clean.

Bath time!

As I write, Ryan is holding Sam on his lap on the couch, watching football. He says her first words are going to be "nickle defense" or "shotgun formation" if he can help it. Oh my!

What Time is it?

2009-10-15T07:34:00.002-04:00

Being a new parent has brought with it a wide array of emotions. Joy at Sam's birth, relief that she was OK, pain from the c-section, frustration about restriction of my movements and as I first tried to figure out the whole breastfeeding thing, hope for the days ahead, contentment as I look down on a sleeping Sam, doubt at how to do it all, exhaustion, happiness, amazement and a whole host of others that I am no doubt forgetting in my slight fog of sleep deprivation. It has also brought with it a whole altered sense of time. The day flashes by, and it is suddenly time for bed. My world has contracted (at least for the moment) and is almost totally focused on little Sam. Feeding, changing, staring at her beautiful face (yes, we are now those totally annoying, biased parents, who think their child is the most beautiful thing in the whole world!), etc takes up a lot of time! This is not a bad thing and she is totally worth it, however it is just an adjustment, and something I am still getting used to.

Yesterday was a busy day, with my sister Kristen and niece Morgan visiting for a few hours before lunch.

Mom and Morgan look in on a sleeping Sam

Hanging with Auntie Kristen

Nate and Finley also stopped by for a brief hello (sorry it was cut short by a cranky baby, Nate!). Then after lunch, we took our first excursion outside with Sam aside from Tuesday's doctor's appointment. We loaded her into the frame stroller and headed out for a 1/2 mile tour of the neighborhood.

Enjoying the foliage

It was a crisp and clear fall day, with a bit of wind, and we bundled her up.

Sleeping Sam, all bundled up

I'm not sure what she thought of her first stroller ride, as she slept through it all! But I thoroughly enjoyed being out! After 5 days of being cooped up inside, it felt great to stretch my legs and breathe in the cool air and to just move. Yes, it was only a 1/2 mile but hey, I'll get there!

The day ended with my mom helping us give Sam her first bath, supervised, of course, by Ronnie :-)

Bath time!

Home Sweet Home

2009-10-13T14:25:00.003-04:00

Little Sam

Boy, is it nice to be home! Amazing how much easier it is to sleep when you're in your own bed and don't have nurses bothering you every hour or so for vital signs, etc! (No offense, Emma :-) ) I feel almost human again!

We came home yesterday afternoon, and everyone is doing great. Yes, having a c-section was not much fun (the whole spinal experience with the numb legs was a weird trip I'd rather not do again!), and I am definitely sore and a bit swollen up from all the fluids they pumped into me, but I seem to be handling the pain pretty well and moving around with relative ease considering I had surgery on Friday. And little Sam, after losing a bit more weight than they would have liked and developing a little case of jaundice, is doing great. We went to the doctor's this morning and she had already gained 2 ounces back, bringing her weight to 5 lb 12 oz, and her jaundice was on the low end of the scale after the blood work was done. Hurray!

Wide awake!

We had hoped to get Sam out for a walk today but with the rain and temps in the 40s, I think that isn't going to happen. Maybe tomorrow though!

More photos of Sam's last few days.

Samantha Raymond Triffitt

2009-10-10T09:51:00.004-04:00

Welcome to the world little Sam! :-) We're so happy to have you here with us!!

Samantha Raymond Triffitt arrived at 9:16 am on October 9, 2009, weighing in at 6 lb 2.9 oz and 20" long. Despite being nervous for the scheduled c-section due to her breech position, she arrived happy and healthy, albeit a little blue from being smooshed in my belly in that frank breech position for such a long time :-) She has been eating, pooping and sleeping well, and keeping us amused with her funny little expressions. I am recovering well, and Ryan is settling into his role as diaper changer, swaddler and dad as if he was a natural!!

Although the "traditional"10th anniversary gift is something tin or aluminum, why not just skip the boring stuff and go right to having a baby for your 10th?! So, on that note, happy 10th anniversary to Ryan, my best friend. I'm looking forward to many more years of love, laughter, adventure, chaos and craziness together!

More photos of little Sam here.

Pumpkin Pie in the Sky

2009-10-08T19:45:00.003-04:00

Since I can't eat or drink anything (Not even water!! How do they expect me to do that? I love my water!) after midnight, we went out for a "last supper" tonight, and even though I was full to the brim, Snowman took me to Cold Stone for dessert. I was super excited as they had pumpkin as a seasonal flavor! Mix in some graham crackers, caramel, cinnamon and that mysterious whipped topping, and you have "Pumpkin Pie in the Sky." Heaven! So now I am well loaded up in preparation for a long morning with no food or drink :-)

Speaking of which, and most importantly, in approximately 14 hours (we're scheduled for 9:45 am, but aren't the first c-section on the schedule, so it could be a bit earlier or a bit later), we will be meeting the little lady! WOW!!!

Last Day of Work

2009-10-07T08:14:00.003-04:00

Today is my last day of work for a while. I will be going back in to the gallery in late November and into December a day or two a week to help with end-of-the-year stuff, but still... Amazing that the day, and the little lady, is almost here! Wow! On one hand, 9 months seems like a long time, and these last few weeks have been moving especially slowly, but on the other hand, time flies and I can't believe it is almost time!

It is a dreary, windy, rainy morning, with temps in the mid-50s, so instead of getting up for a walk, I rolled over for a few more minutes and got a bit more sleep. I know at this point, that one less day of walking this week won't make a difference. Still, I'll plan to get out tomorrow after our final doctor's appointment, even if the main benefit is just to clear my head for a few minutes :-)

We did get out for a nice walk on Monday morning. It was a beautiful fall day, with bright blue skies and comfortable temperatures. Snowman was nice enough to accompany me on a walk along the trails at the Cathance River preserve, even though he'd been running through there the day before with Mindy and Jamie. The woods were quiet and the foliage was gorgeous along the river, the brilliant reds of the maple trees reflecting in the quiet pools, and the yellow and orange leaves collecting on the green moss on the rocks along the banks. Lovely.

Me at 38 weeks, 5 days, enjoying a beautiful fall day.

That afternoon we headed to Portland to see the Jay Hall Connaway exhibition at the Portland Museum of Art and to meet up with Amy and Brian for dinner. A fun day off!

The Last Week

2009-10-04T15:06:00.003-04:00

Assuming all goes as currently planned and the little lady doesn't turn, this is my last week as just "me." I mean, she's been with me for the past 39 weeks, but I've still just been Danielle. But come Friday, that will change. I feel an amazing mixture of excitement, hope, nerves, worry at this change. Not nerves and worry about being a parent or the changes in our life that are to come, but about her, about whether she will be OK, whether she will come out strong and crying, whether I have provided her with all she needs in these past months. We are so looking forward to meeting the little lady but I admit to still being a bit caught up in the process of it all and what needs to get done before she arrives. Perhaps this is my way of containing my worry. I have been reading Teresa Strasser's blog, thanks to Mindy and Snowman, and I think her post sums up a bit of how I'm feeling. I may not have a stretch mark to focus on (at least not yet!) but I know how she feels. There are so many unknowns out there still, and it's easier to think about the little things sometimes. Regardless, Friday, as things stand, our world will be changing! CRAZY :-) But in a good way.

This morning I got out for a nice walk across the street. The maples along the pond by the high school have turned a brilliant red, and the cattail leaves have begun to turn yellow. I rescued a little red newt trying to cross the pavement, picking him up on a fallen leaf and releasing him on the other side, in amongst the grasses and purple asters. When I got home, Mindy and Jamie were there, gearing up for a run on the Cathance River trails with Snowman. When they left, I made some pumpkin chocolate chip bread, and upon their return Snowman whipped up a few of his signature omelettes to complete a yummy breakfast. It was a nice relaxing morning, chatting with friends and enjoying our last quiet Sunday :-)

Officially Ready!

2009-10-01T20:12:00.004-04:00

Now that our pink TMR onesie has arrived, we are officially ready for the little lady's arrival! :-)

In other news, Snowman's sister, Meghan, sent us a box of really cute baby clothes (thanks Meghan!) and Ronnie, seeing them on the arm of the couch, decided they would be better off on the floor where he could happily sit on them. I guess he approves of all the cute patterns :-)

What is Normal Anyway?

2009-09-30T07:51:00.002-04:00

Monday mid-morning, I got out for a walk on the powerlines while Snowman ran. He doubled back and walked the last 1/2 mile with me, which was nice. After a quick lunch, we headed to Portland for ultrasound #7 in 'the little lady' series. Seriously, that is just silly! We know much too much about fundal measurements, etc. Aie. Anyway, all went well and after the tech had done her part and gotten all the measurements and pictures necessary, the doctor came in for about 15 seconds - just enough time to say to us, "We've deemed you normal. We've concluded you just make genetically small babies." Although the conclusion is what Snowman and I have been thinking all along, it certainly was nice to hear it from the doctor! She is measuring in at 5 pounds 13 ounces, and is in the 15% percentile. And of course, she is still in the breech position, with her head jammed up against my right rib. Soooo comfy! :-) As for me being normal, I don't know about that, but hey, I'll take it...

During our day out and about, we also picked up some new road shoes for me. Boy, are they white and crisp looking! The ones I've been wearing for the past 300 miles look dark and dingy compared to these new things. And oh, so cushiony! I do love a new pair of running shoes. It seemed a little silly to be buying new running shoes when I am not running at the moment, but as Snowman says, won't you feel better when the time comes to run again if you have new shoes to put on?! There is something about getting out in new shoes that just makes a girl happy :-) So, while this pair got broken in this morning during my walk, and will likely get more walking miles than running miles over the next few months, I am happy to have them!

On a Break

2009-09-26T08:32:00.006-04:00

Fall is officially here! It was 39 degrees at 7:45 am this morning. The air was crisp, there was frost on the ground, and the maples leaves are beginning to turn. I put on tights for the first time. Luckily I still have an old, stretched out pair that fit, even with my 37 week belly :-)

I headed across the street for a walk. As I walked along, I thought about running. I've been running since high school. I can't think of too many times where I haven't been running. Yes, there have been breaks here and there, but I've never been seriously injured, and unlike Snowman and running, who had a bit of a falling out after college, I never stopped running once I started. I was thinking of all the places I've run. Of all the friends I've run with. How I have relied on running to keep me sane. To keep me healthy. To empty my mind. I've run through the winding streets of Nantes, France in the early morning hours. The Commons a million times over. Flow miles at Wolfe's Neck with the cross country team. On the trails. In the mountains. On the roads. On the snow. Through the mud. In the heat. Alone, with Snowman, with the Trail Monsters. In the 100m hurdles. The 10k. Road races with a zillion people. Along the edge of Somes Sound in the MDI Marathon. The rolling pastures of Pineland, and the rocky single track of Bradbury. Sure, I haven't always been fast. Or run far. I've had good days and bad, but I'm always glad to be out there. The longest stretch of no running was in 2005 when we were hiking the AT for four months. I think I was back to running within 3 days after we stopped, as this body of mine just needs to and wants to move!

So, it is with great regret that I admit that running and I are now on a short break. The mind wants to run. But the body does not. My joints/ligaments are loosening. My groin has been hurting after my runs. As has my right shin, likely due to the new gait I've taken on in the past month or so as my belly expands. And the belly, well, it is just feeling heavy and stretched to the limit. These things are putting a bit of a damper on the whole running thing. I had hoped to be able to run right through to the end. But I did manage to run through 36 weeks of pregnancy, and of that I am happy and proud. Anyway, walking has now replaced running. It is not the same, but it gets me out moving and is much gentler on the body at this point.

If I do end up having the c-section that is now scheduled for 9:30am on October 9th, I know I will have a mandatory 6 week hiatus from running as I heal. And even if I do not have the c-section, I will have to take some time off to recover. So, you likely won't be reading any running-related blogs in the next 8 weeks. But you can bet I'll be counting down the days (November 21st if it's a c-section) until I can run again! :-)

Turn Baby Turn

2009-09-23T20:36:00.005-04:00

37 weeks today. 3 weeks to go. Or not. It appears that the little lady has other plans. She has been breech since the ultrasound I had back in August. She was still breech today. Frank breech, in fact. Her head is right up in my right rib. She appears to be very comfy in this position. Like 4 or 5% of other babies out there, she is in the wrong position at this late stage of the game. There is still a chance she might turn. But it is unlikely, especially given that my amniotic fluid levels are relatively low. The doctor won't try a version because she is small and because of the fluid levels. This leaves me with the more holistic options for trying to turn her. Playing music to the lower part of the uterus in an effort to lure her toward the tunes (how odd is that?!). Pelvic tilt. Cold compress on the top of the uterus and warm compress at the bottom. Among others. So, odd positions and mesmerizing music, here we come!

But in case she doesn't turn, I am being scheduled for a c-section. According to the doctor, it will likely be on October 9th. Someone will be calling me within a week to confirm the date, time and details. So perhaps I will have a set end date to this after all! Although honestly, c-section was at the bottom of my wish list for this pregnancy. Now, I have had time to think about it, and to mentally try to prepare for this possibility, but I am still a bit scared. Of the surgery. Of the recovery. Of the possible complications. But I realize that a typical delivery has its own trials. Its own recovery period and possible complications. In my dreams, the little lady would come in one push and that would be that. But how likely is that? :-) And in the end, really, the most important thing here is that the little lady comes out healthy. So, if it is by c-section that she arrives, so be it. I'll let you know!

Apples, Cider Donuts and a little running...

2009-09-21T19:18:00.004-04:00

This morning, my sister Kristen and 3 1/2 year old niece Morgan came up to Topsham, and the three of us went apple picking at Rocky Ridge Orchard just a few miles up the road. It was a gorgeous Indian Summer day, with bright blue skies and warm temps. We picked up a wagon and headed out into the PYO orchard, where Morgan had fun wandering under the low trees, picking up fallen apples and grabbing a few off the low-lying branches. Before we left with our share of apples, we stopped in the bakery and picked up some yummy cider donuts. Can't pass those up!

When we got back home, Morgan had fun playing with Gigi, while Ronnie hid in terror upstairs (Morgan is seriously cute, but seriously loud!), and Snowman made us grilled cheese for lunch. After Kristen and Morgan headed home, Snowman and I went over to the Commons for a run. I tried to convince Snowman that he should go for his own run while I shuffled along on my two-mile jaunt, but he would have none of it. So, I led the way, and he very patiently shuffled along beside me. We chatted away as we ran along, and it was nice to spend a little time in the woods together, something we haven't had the opportunity to do much of recently. It was a good, if warm, run, and I was happy to have a running partner for the day :-) Don't I have a good husband?!

Here a few photos from the apple picking, as well as a cute shot of Ronnie and Gigi waking up after being all curled up together on one of our sleeping bags yesterday afternoon. It's nice to see them getting along (well, at least some of the time!!).

Rocky Ridge Orchard

Morgan enjoying a wagon ride

In the orchard

Waking up from a nap, all curled up together

Run and Walk

2009-09-17T09:43:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I got up and out the door at 6:45 for a run before Snowman left for work. It felt and looked like fall. The broken clouds were low in the sky, with the pink and oranges of the rising sun, creating a beautiful light on the horizon as I crested the small hill on the powerlines by the high school. The low light was hitting the purple asters and goldenrod along the lines, their summer colors contrasting with the blueberry bushes that are beginning to be tinged with red. It was nice to be out after three days of doing nothing.

This morning, I took a walk instead of a run, as Snowman was away and wasn't too keen about me running alone while he was gone. It was 45 degrees when I headed out the door. Crisp and cool. Perfect fall weather. I walked the short loop by the high school and middle school across the street. I think that running, however, is more comfortable than walking! Or perhaps it's just because I'm used to running? Regardless, I am happy to still be able to move comfortably at this stage in the game, and hope to get out for one more run on Saturday to close out the week.

Baby, Baby, Baby

2009-09-14T16:45:00.002-04:00

Saturday we got up bright and early to go over to Midcoast Hospital for a birth class. Snowman was less than enthusiastic, but was at least looking forward to the tour of the maternity area. The class started off slowly, but, I think it was worthwhile. It was nice to get a tour of the maternity floor, and to get an overview of medicine options, talk more about the stages of labor and what happens with a C-section, etc. However, all of this could have been accomplished in 3 hours instead of 5, which would have made it much less painful for all involved! The rest of the afternoon was spent running a few errands, etc, and then getting ready for Sunday's Bradbury Bruiser race.

We got a bit of a late start on Sunday, but still managed to make it over to Bradbury in plenty of time for me to help with registration and to chat with people as they were getting their numbers. It was a bit overcast, but the skies brightened up as the morning progressed, and it was a bit warm and humid. After the racers took off, I hung out with Jamie, Jerry and Rick, chatting away until it was time to get on with the timing duties. The winner's time was smoking fast, and the field got pretty spread out over the 12 mile course, so luckily the timing was relatively easy. All the Trail Monsters turned out great races, although Snowman took a bit of a beating out on the course and was dragging as he crossed the finish. Poor guy. Still, I'm glad he toughed it out and finished as best he could. As usual, Ian put on a great race, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves out there (or as much as one can when running the twisty turny hell of the 'O' trail in the last 2 miles of the race!).

This morning I had a doctor's appointment at 9:15. We did not get home until 2:30. Ugh. I was once again measuring small, so I got sent down for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed the little lady looking healthy - practicing breathing, good heart rate, moving - but indicated that my amniotic fluid was a bit low and that she was only measuring in the 4th percentile for weight. Last month, she was in the 23rd percentile. Not good. But she was also in a bit of a strange position, so this could have had an affect on the measurements. Regardless, this meant we headed upstairs for a non-stress test, to test the baby's heart in response to its movement, and to help determine whether she was getting enough oxygen. Things were looking good, but the doctor came in and told us that she was worried about how small the baby was measuring and had made us an appointment for a more specialized ultrasound down at Maine Medical with a high risk OB/GYN for 1:00. Basically, although the little lady was looking healthy and could just be a small but healthy baby, the fear was that the placenta might not be functioning correctly or that something else was wrong. Basically, the 4th percentile made her worry. So, off to Portland we went. There, we had ultrasound #2 for the day.

Luckily, this more sophisticated/specialized ultrasound determined my amniotic fluid to be a bit higher, and her weight to be a bit higher, putting her in the 17th percentile. Still small, but not small enough for major worry. Again, she was practicing breathing, which the tech said indicated a contented, non-stressed baby, moving, heart rate was good, and the blood going from the placenta to the baby was moving well, so that meant no issues there. Phew! This does mean, of course, that I am being more closely monitored over the next few weeks with more ultrasounds already scheduled to ensure she's OK, but at least for the time being, all is good with the world, and we're just on track for having a small, but healthy, little lady! But man, it was a stressful morning!! I am definitely having some ice cream tonight :-)

Cool

2009-09-11T15:56:00.003-04:00

It was 45 degrees this morning when I stepped outside for my 2-mile shuffle. Ah, fall! I love this time of year. The air is crisp, the smell of turning leaves and apples is in the air, it is cool at night and still warm during the day. Perfect for running and hiking.

I feel like my last posts have been a bit of the complaining nature, and just want to state for the record that I really am super excited to meet the little lady, and I do know that I have been lucky in this pregnancy so far! But part of me still yearns to be out on the trails and enjoying this weather in ways I just cannot at this particular moment. Ah well, she will be here soon, and then we will be off on lots of other exciting adventures ;-) And next year's hiking will be with Snowman acting as sherpa with the little lady in this backpack (Thanks Meg and Chris!). Very exiting!

Sleep

2009-09-09T14:56:00.005-04:00

People keep telling me to get as much sleep as I can before it's too late. I haven't gotten a lot of crazy advice, but this one keeps cropping up. And it seems sound. The problem is that although I would love to sleep, I am not sleeping well. Perhaps this is the body's way of preparing us soon-to-be-mothers for the nighttime feedings. I am not supposed to sleep on my back. The left side is best. So, I start out on my left side. Then my arm falls asleep. I wake up. I clumsily roll over. I hear a noise outside. I'm restless. I have to pee. I get up and go to the bathroom, returning to snuggle down on my right side under the covers. I am hot. I kick the covers off. I finally fall asleep again, only to awaken to my right arm being numb, and my hip hurting. I lay on my back for a minute, to just stretch out a bit. The baby shifts, digging into my rib. I sigh and roll back onto my left side. I wake up 45 minutes later and have to pee. I slowly roll out of bed and pad to the bathroom. Upon my return, Ronnie wakes up. He comes up to lick my face, in an attempt to get me to go downstairs and feed him. I ignore him. He purrs, and licks my forehead. I give in, and pad downstairs to feed him. I come back up and lie down. It's getting light out. The alarm will go off soon. I fall asleep for 5 minutes, and then it is, once again, time to get up.

At 35 weeks today, these are my nights. Don't they sound restful?

Despite this, I have managed to get up and out for my 2-mile "run" two days in a row. I know I am lucky to still be able to get out on these beautiful mornings, but seriously, I am damn slow, and my body feels heavy. Ah well. Only 5 weeks left. Or is it 3? Or 6? :-)

Fun Weekend

2009-09-08T08:08:00.004-04:00

It was a chock-full long weekend here in the Team Snowplug household! Saturday morning I got out for my now 'normal' 2-mile run on the powerlines before work. Work was busy as we had an afternoon reception. Snowman and his parents made the trip up to Wiscasset for a bit of wine & cheese, and some art buying (for them! Our walls are officially full!!), before we had a yummy dinner at Scarlet Begonia's, complete with dessert at Gelato Fiasco.

Sunday dawned beautiful, and after a lazy morning, we headed to Five Islands Lobster Company for lunch on the dock in the sun. Irene got her lobster and steamers, while the rest of us partook in some good old fashioned fried food. We all enjoyed the spot. Gorgeous!

Irene and her lobster

Five Islands view

Reid State Park was our next destination, where we walked along the beach in an attempt to work off at least some of our lunch :-) A perfect Maine afternoon!

Yesterday, after a good breakfast at Broadway Deli, Snowman and I hit Babies 'R Us for a few more "necessary" baby items. Amazing how much stuff a baby seems to need! And we didn't even go crazy. Aie. We're gonna need a bigger boat... Then we met up with Irene & Dana for the final Sea Dogs game for the season. It was yet another wonderful September day with blue skies, warm sun and a bit of breeze. The game was a lot of fun! We laughed at the antics of Slugger, the mascot, had some food and beer, watched all the kids racing around, and enjoyed the atmosphere. It helped that the Sea Dogs won too :-)

I couldn't resist the ice cream in the Sea Dogs helmet!

My view of the game :-)

Definitely a fun weekend!

The Taper

2009-09-01T20:57:00.006-04:00

I had a nice slow 2-mile shuffle on the powerlines this morning. It was the perfect morning for a run. Sunny, cool and crisp. I wanted to be able to go on forever. To go fast. To just go. Instead, I turned myself around at the mile mark, left with the feeling that I'm in the midst of a bizarre taper for an endurance event, an ultra with no exact date. 34 weeks down. 6 to go. Or maybe it's 4. Or 7. Aie. It's enough to drive someone who likes schedules like I do crazy!

And yet, the taper goes on. The finish line is close, and yet so far away. All sorts of pre-race thoughts and jitters run through my head. I wonder if I can make it through. And yet, I trust that my body will do what it's meant to do. I've done all I can in the past months to ensure the best possible outcome. Yet I feel anxious. Scared of the unknown. And all the while, hopeful. Excited. I know my pacer will be with me in the end and will help me make it through. The rest of the crew is in the wings, ready to arrive and help and cheer when the time is right. I am working on my list of what needs to go in my drop bag. I hope I haven't forgotten anything important in my preparations.

I realize I've been lucky throughout this whole journey overall. I know that once this race is finished, I will be tired, but elated. I can't wait to get to that point, to make all the aches and pains and fatigue worth while. There is no turning back now, and I wouldn't want to even if I could. I just wish that time was here now. I am ready. But I know that the little lady isn't ready quite yet. She needs a few more weeks to be "fully cooked," as the pediatrician called it. And although realistically, I know things will happen when they happen and I shouldn't get my hopes up for an early delivery, I'd be plenty happy with October 1st... So if anyone has an "in" with the powers that be, and can request a date for this event, that would be great :-)

Time with the Family

2009-08-31T16:10:00.007-04:00

Along with a nice walk in the Cathance River Preserve yesterday afternoon, and a short run this morning on the powerlines, there was a fair amount of family time this weekend. My parents have been visiting since the beginning of last week. Of course, we've been working and they've been spending some time with my sister and family, who are now living in Gorham, but it has been a big family week and that continued into the weekend.

Last Monday, we met up with my sister and family, grandmother, cousins, 2 aunts and an uncle for a picnic at Portland Head Light. Then this Saturday, during the storm, my sister and sister-in-law threw me a great baby shower. My family was there, as was Snowman's, and some of my bestest friends came from far away (Krisser even came from CA and surprised me!) to join in on the fun. It was was a great day, and we came home with a lot of baby loot too! Thanks everyone :-)

So, for your enjoyment, here are some photos from the week, and for good measure, a few photos of Ronnie and Gigi too :-)

Snowman and Morgan

These glasses fit, right?!

What is Snowman saying to me? And why does Nancy find it so funny?!

Larry, Mim and I

The girls and I - Kristen, Krisser, Gannon, Corie, Ruby and Heather

The Sparkplug side of the family - Caitlin, me, Kristen, Mim, Susie, Mom and Lillie
(Snowman's family left before we remembered to take photos!)

Lounging on the sleeping bags

Kitty in a bag!

52!

2009-08-28T08:45:00.002-04:00

It was 52 degrees when I headed out for my run this morning under clear blue skies. Perfect running weather! I wish I could have enjoyed the morning more with a nice long run, but I'll settle for my "mini" 2-miler at this point in the game. It was just good to be out!

It was wonderfully cool in the shadows, but I could feel the heat from the sun in the open areas. The purple asters are blooming amongst the blueberry bushes, as were some of the sheep laurel. There were still a few ripe blackberries to enjoy, while the blueberries are beginning to fade. The clusters of berries on the high bushes (I don't know exactly what they are, unfortunately) along the powerlines, white in the summer, are now beginning to turn a rich blush pink color. The Towhee and Phoebe were out singing in the brush, and I noted a small flock of six Cedar Waxwings flying overhead. Fall is on its way...

3 Days in a Row

2009-08-25T11:58:00.003-04:00

Yesterday morning, Snowman and I got up early and were out running by 7am. He stayed with me until we crossed the street, and then took off. We both headed out on the powerlines. After a stop for a few blackberries (I can't resist them!), I turned around at the one mile point on the top of a rise. I could see Snowman way far down the trail, and figured he would catch me on his way back, even though I was doing 2 miles and he was doing 3. Yes, I am that slow these days! And I felt extra slow yesterday, as it was really heavy out (surprise, surprise). However, I did actually manage to get back to the door about 1 minute before he did, which was nice :-)

Yesterday's run meant 3 days in a row of exercise for me, which I haven't been doing for a while. And I must admit that by last night, I was feeling tired! It could have also had something to do with being out in the sun all afternoon yesterday with the family down at the park at Portland Head Light. We met for a picnic on the tables by the water, and then walked up to the Light and back down along the short Cliff Walk. It was the perfect day to be out, enjoying a summer day, and fun to see everyone!

Bradbury Hike

2009-08-23T15:11:00.002-04:00

By real hiking standards, Bradbury really isn't a mountain. It's more like a hill. But it is called Bradbury Mountain, so I'll call today's walk a hike :-) Snowman was planning to meet some of the Trail Monsters there for a run this morning, so I tagged along. They headed to the fun singletrack trails on the east side of the park, while I headed up the South Ridge Trail to the summit and the trails on the west side.

There was a nice breeze blowing, but it was definitely still heavy out. The woods were quiet, with the exception of the leaves shifting and shaking in the wind. I had the summit to myself, looking out over the green valley with a few red barns and a white church steeple visible. I could see out to the ocean, but just barely. From the summit, I headed down the Tote Road, where I came across the one person I would see on the trails during my time out - a biker who we had seen in the parking lot earlier. I said hello, and he said, 'I figured you were running with those guys and thought well, that is one crazy lady!' I laughed and said 'No, not that crazy.' Although really, I did wish I was out there running with everyone! Still, I enjoyed my walk in the woods. It was very peaceful, and nice to get a decent workout in.

I got back to the parking lot in exactly 1:00, logging 3.1 miles, just in time to see everyone come back to their cars after loop #1 on the Scuffle course. They all headed out again, and I made myself comfortable at one of the picnic tables under the pine trees with my book until their return. A good morning :-)

Then it was home to tidy up the place and get things crossed off the 'to-do' list, as my parents are arriving tonight for a visit!

In last week's running news, I did get in two more runs, although Thursday's run turned into 1 mile of running and 1 mile of walking. The little lady was clearly not happy with the running, so I walked the rest of the way back. Oh well. Saturday's run was more successful and I got in a nice 2 miles on the powerlines. I had intended to go further, but it was just so muggy out that I decided not to push it, as I am definitely feeling the heat and humidity a bit more these days. I did of course made my requisite stop to eat a few blue and blackberries along the way :-) Can't pass those up!

32 Weeks and Still Shuffling Along

2009-08-20T17:13:00.008-04:00

32 weeks down as of yesterday. 8 to go.

I was up and out early yesterday morning for a run on the powerlines. I took it nice and easy as it was warm even at 7:30 am, doing 2.5 miles in 30 minutes. Still, I felt good and enjoyed being out there. I stopped to eat some yummy blueberries and blackberries, and looked up to see a doe bounding across the lines into the brush. She looked at me briefly and then got down to munching on the greenery. I guess a 32-week pregnant lady doesn't look too threatening! :-)

Later that morning, we headed to the hospital, as I had to get an ultrasound. I have measured small the past two doctor's visits, and so although the doctor didn't feel there was likely anything wrong with the baby, they do this as a precaution to be sure. The ultrasound measures specific body parts, as well as testing for certain things, like is she practicing breathing, is she moving and is the amniotic fluid level OK.

She was moving around and practicing her breathing, meaning she wasn't in distress. In fact, it was very cool to watch her little heart beat! She was being stubborn and had her hands and feet up around her face, with her head way up against my right rib, so we didn't get any good photos this time around. She was indeed measuring a bit small for 32 weeks, but not significantly, and came in at the 23rd percentile for her weight. It sounds like I'll likely have to come back in for another ultrasound in the next 2 weeks to a month to see that she is progressing along OK, but in the end (luckily!), no one seemed too concerned. They are just being cautious, and I have to appreciate that. Plus it allowed us to look at her again!

In kitty news, here are a few photos of Gigi and Ronnie. Gigi is getting big! And Ronnie has accepted that he now has a little sister who likes to follow him around and jump on him :-)

Morse Mountain Walk

2009-08-18T08:39:00.008-04:00

After a very fun and full day on Sunday of volunteering (for me) and running (for Snowman) in the heat at the Breaker, having lunch with our AT friends Hairball and Snowbunny, lounging with the Trail Monsters oceanside, and having dinner with my sister and family, we were looking for a mellow outing yesterday. I suggested a walk out over Morse Mountain to the beach, and then lunch at Anna's Water's Edge, where I had a gift certificate from work.

We hit the parking lot at Morse Mountain a little after 10am, and it was relatively empty. Where was everyone?! Well, we wouldn't complain as there is nothing like walking on the beach when it is quiet. It was already hot and muggy, and the parking attendant warned us that the bugs were pretty nasty. And unfortunately, we had forgotten to bring the bug spray! The walk on the road through the woods was pleasant, except for the mosquitos which kept us swatting and swearing and bleeding and itching the whole way.

August marsh

Once we hit the sand, the greenheads were out in force, so we hurried to the water's edge, happy that the tide was going out. The plovers and sandpipers were scurrying along, pecking away at the surf line, and there was enough of the breeze to cool us down.

Snowman was still feeling grumpy from all the bug bites, so I suggested we take off our shoes and get in the water for a bit. We did just that, and waded in up to our knees, enjoying the waves and the water, which was the perfect temperature. We stood in the water for a while, and then picked up our shoes and walked back barefoot at the edge, happy.

Snowman in the surf

Me at 31 weeks 5 days

After battling the bugs on the way back, we headed to Anna's Water's Edge for a yummy lunch before heading back home. Perfect!

Snowman's lobster roll plate

Here are a few photos from the day.

Flora and fauna notes: Along with the mosquitos and greenheads, we did see a small flock of turkeys in the blueberry bushes along the side of the road as we headed over the "summit" of Morse Mountain. They were making a racket! On the beach, we chased several flocks of plovers and sandpipers, and noted a few cormorants playing in the waves.

Lowering the Bar

2009-08-16T22:30:00.000-04:00

I know the saying is supposed to be "raising the bar" but as this pregnancy progresses, the bar just keeps getting lower and lower in regards to how much I can run. Ah well. My last two runs - Friday and Saturday - were both two milers. I have always thought that 3 miles is the minimum it was worth going out for, but this is not your typical running. This is 31+ week running! Therefore, while I find the fact that I only managed two miles both days a bit depressing, I also realize that at this point, any exercise is good exercise and I'm just happy to be out there.

Friday I ran across the street on the roads around the high school. Not much excitement. Saturday, I headed to the Commons for a change of scenery and pace. I did a nice lollypop out-and-back and enjoyed spending a bit of time in the woods on a warm August morning.