1st day of School

I'm a little late getting this on here but Our first day of school was exceptionally hard on the kids.. Not only was it the first day of school but grandma and grandpa was leaving to go back home to utah after spending the last month with us traveling around MI.. It was so good to get our grandma and grandpa fix!! So all the girls were crying well actually they had started the night before.. Made getting on the bus kinda hard but they did pretty good... I had forgotten my camera to get a picture of allie before we had to rush out to the bus stop at 7:00 Am so my mom got one of her and I will have to post it on here at a later time...

This was Logan's first day of kindergarten she was very nervous but excited too.. Luckily for the first day it was only a couple hours and I got to go along with her.. They just started all day kindergarten here for the first time so it was all new for everyone.. I dont know who was more worried me or her.. She is still so little and I just couldnt imagine her making it through a whole day of school.. But come Weds it was the official 1st long day and she did awesome.. She said she had a great time and couldnt wait to go back... She enjoyed riding the bus for the first time but she was quite upset that it didnt have a seat belt for her.. LOL Oh my baby is growing up!! With all the kids in school now I have so much time by myself I almost dont know what to do with myself... Celebrate good times c'mon!!!!!!!! Ha hahaha..

Anyways they all seem to like their teachers so far so that is always a good thing..

So I have had a rough few weeks.. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I had gotten another injury.. Yes again!!! I think I was lifting to much weight with my leg and had pulled a muscle and then went running on it a couple times with some more weights trying to stick with my training schedule for the half marathon I registered for.. Anyways I have been in pretty bad pain in my hip and leg.. And all the walking around we have been doing while traveling hasnt helped to much... Anyways last week I had seen a Orthopedist who gave me a bursa shot in my hip thinking I had some bursitis going on.. After a couple days it seemed to help a bit with the hip but not much with my leg. So they are sending me for a bone scan tomorrow to see if I could possibly have a stress fracture.. I dont think I do but I thought I better have it checked just in case.. I think its just a really bad pulled muscle... It is starting to feel a little better but I still havnt totally been able to walk yet without a limp and it still is pretty sore.. It has been 5-6 weeks now since I originally hurt it so it is really taking its own sweet time to heal.. I am so bummed because now I will not be able to participate in what would have been my first half Marathon. Owell I guess there will always be another one hopefully.... With the kids in school I was so looking forward to doing my runs without having to worry about the kids being home alone so I am really hoping it wont take to much longer to heal so I can get back out there before it turns winter.. The leaves are already changing out here and the weather has been so nice and cool.. Mid 70's for highs so perfect running weather in the mornings.. It has been 4 weeks since I have ran and it is so killing me right now.. I am starting to feel like I am going back out of shape.. Although since I have stopped running and lifting weights I have dropped 3 pounds.. Go figure!! I dont know which I like more having the bigger stronger leaner muscles (well that was my goal anyways) or weighing less.. Why cant I have both?? Waaaaaaa

Tomorrow I plan to do some major catching up with some of the pictures from our recent trips and some previose ones done before we moved.. I didnt want to make this to unbearably long...

Until then...

Vacation 2009

We have been so busy with my family being here and all the little trips we have been taking that I have not had much of a chance to get on here... I havnt got my pictures downloaded yet to post but I will get some on here eventually..
We had a wonderful time in Nauvoo Illinoise.. Getting to see all the church history sites and learning more about our pioneers was so cool.. We even were able to find out the plots where Steve's 3rd great grandparents lived in Nauvoo and was able to get a CD of records on them.. That was really cool to know we had family that was there with the prophet.. Going to Carthage Jail was a very spiritual visit for me.. I could really feel the spirit strongly there.. It's amazing what the saints went through and endured back then.. It was so sad to walk down the road which was called the trail of tears and read some words of journal entry's given from some of the saints who were leaving nauvoo and crossing the Mississippi. Very sad!!
It was truly amazing what these people did and invented to work and survive out there..These people worked so hard from sun up to sun down.. We truly are a rich people and never had it so good.. I just cant believe how hard life was back then for our pioneers..

We were so lucky to be there the last week before all the youth missionarys left to go back to school.. They were so talented. They put on several shows throughout the day plus work the visitor sites as well.. They were so amazing they all sang exceptionally well and danced and most of them played musical instruments.. Very talented young people.. We only wish we could have been there to see the pageant.. The weather was perfect when we were there..

We also enjoyed Mackinac Island last week.. Thursday we went and toured the island got to go on a carriage ride to all the historical spots of the island. We were able to go to Fort Mackinaw and learn some of the history of the soldiers and the war they had there.. We did the 8 mile bike ride around the island along the coast which was absolutely beautiful. I really wish I could go run the loop.. Maybe someday.. Friday and Sat was not so hot. The weather turned cold and rainy and these were the days we were to go to petowsky and Traverse city which are real touristy spots with lots of shops and stuff but because of the constant downpour we didnt get to see much.. We ended up coming home a day early due to the weather not cooperating..

We were supposed to go camping at a state park this week off of Lake Michigan but again due to the cooler weather here mid 70's for the high and low to mid 40's for a low we ended up vetoing that idea as well.. I'm kinda bummed.. We havnt gone camping since we lived in Utah so we have been really bummed about that.. We sold our boat so we dont have that anymore either.. Now with living around all these lakes we wish we still had it.. Maybe someday we will get another one.. So now we are trying to figure out what else is there to go and do for the kids last few days of freedom before they start school again..

I sustained a injury in my hip and groin a couple weeks ago and has been really nasty. I have been limping around for 2 weeks now.. I injured it I think during some weight lifting and then some long runs.. Now I am really bummed because I dont think I am going to be able to do the half marathon I have been training for.. The race is in 3 weeks and I still cant even walk without limping and being in pain so who knows when I am going to be able to run again.. I am going to see an orthopedist tomorrow and will hopefully find something out.. I would think after 2 weeks I would be starting to get better but it really hasnt improved much.. I have never had an injury like this before it really sucks.. The more I walk on it the more it hurts.. I was on crutches the first day i injured it. And still have times where I feel like I could still really use them.. I have been seeing a chiropractor but it hasnt done much for my hip.. I am really hoping the Orthopedist can do something for me.. The hardest part is not being able to be active.. I was running 3-4 times a week and riding my bike on the other days and lifting weights and now I cant seem to do a dang thing without making it hurt worse.. And my body is really feeling crappy with not being able to get out there and do that kind of stuff.. Its funny you dont realize it until you stop and cant do it how much your body really craves it..
These little trips the past couple weeks have definently not helped the situation.. Alot of walking.. Thank heavens for drugs...

Anyways my parents are here for only 1 more week so I hope we can find some fun things to go do and see.. It has been so great having them here. We are gonna miss them horribly.. Luckily we will only have to go 4 months and then they will be coming out again for Christmas so that will be nice to be able to spend Christmas with them.. I already cant wait.. Too see them anyways.. Not the winter weather.. This summer has been so weird for Michigan. We only had 1 week of 90 degree weather and that was it.. And now the leaves are already starting to change and it has been down right cold the last couple days. We have had fost advisorys already can you believe that.. I have a bad feeling that winter is going to be coming very quick out here and that it is going to be a very nasty cold winter this year.. At least that is what I have heard alot of people saying... We will see....

Hopefully I will get some pictures up of our little vacations in a week or 2.. I have to wait until my parents get home and send me them.. I forgot my camera when we went to Mackinac so I have to have my mom send me hers that she took.. I cant believe I forgot my camera.. And it was so beautiful up there in Northern Michigan with the great lakes. My camera would have gotten some really great photo's.. Owell hopefully my Mom's will turn out good..

Sorry for such the long post.. Alot to catch up on....

Nauvoo

I am so excited we are leaving tomorrow to meet my parents in Nauvoo to see some of the church history sites. I cant wait.. Then my parents will be coming back with us and staying for a couple weeks. We will be going to Mackinaw Island and seeing some of northern Michigan.. I hear it is just beautiful up there..

Allie came back from girl's camp on Sat and said she had the best time ever up there.. It was so fun the whole time.. I am so glad that she had so much fun being the first time going to girl's camp and being away from home that long.. I was a bit worried.. Now she is really looking forward to next years so that is good. But man I tell ya girls camp sure isnt what it used to be.. They got to sleep in cabins and had their meals catered.. (say what!!) You are kidding me.. What about roughing it like when I was in young womens. Boy how times have changed..

We took the whole family out Sat night to go see the new Harry Potter movie.. It was good. I was a little confused though.. I am going to have to read the books.. It has been storming here for the past few days and it has gotten so humid and foggy and hot!! crazy thunder and lightning storms. and the amount of rain we have gotten is unreal.. in 2 days we filled a 5 gallon icecream bucket clear to the top so about 7 inches I would say.. We had alot of people in our ward who live about a half hour away loose power and had their basements flood. It was pretty sad.. Crazy weather!!

Well I finally comitted and registered for the half marathon in Sept.. so now I am stuck and have to do it.. I am already nervous.. I just hope that I can stay with my training with my parents here and all the traveling around we will be doing.. That makes it pretty hard but I will just have to do it so I dont loose my progress.. I am also going to do the firefighter/EMT physical agility test again in October.. I know I am crazy!! I am hoping to get my back stronger by then and really focus on my strenght training in the mean time to help with the upper body strength it requires to do those tests.. I am also going to be practicing the tests with one of the firefighters in our ward and another girl who is going to be taking the test.. I just hope that during these practices I dont end up screwing my back up again... Anyone have some good back strengthening excercises they wouldnt mind sharing?

Anyways thats it for now.. I will post on our trip to Nauvoo when I get back.. Have a great week!!!

Summer Vacations, Aches and Pains

Wow I have really been neglecting to blog lately.. Summer just seems so busy.. Wait I think it's just my life.. So what have we been up to lately??

Well Allie left for girls camp today.. She has only had 1 sleepover away from home thus far in her life so she was pretty anxious for this trip.. She is alot like I was at that age.. Tends to get homesick very easy.. She was a little booey when saying our goodbye's but I think she handled it well.. I just hope she has a good time there.. We are missing her at home.. It just feels diffrent when one of your kids are not here with you..

Austin and Jessie are still going to summer school.. I think they are enjoying it alot more then when they first started.. We still have long days with all of Jessie's homework and vision therapys and earobic therapy for her brain. It really is frustrating for her to have to do all this work when it is summer and she wants to play and she doesnt understand why she has to do all this work and the other kids dont.. We have to carefully explain that she needs a little more help and work to keep her brain exercised and to make her eyes learn to read better.. It's hard at this age to fully understand why she has to do all this work.. I think I would be mad too..

We are getting ready to go to Nauvoo, IL next week to meet my parents and go through some of the church sites and learn of the history back there.. I cant wait.. Then my parents will be coming home with us and spend a few weeks with us.. We are planning to get a camping trip in and go to Mackinaw Island and spend a couple days then go site seeing through northern Michigan and see the great lakes. It will be alot of fun.. Then the next week we will be getting all our school shopping done so the kids can start up school again.. Man it seems summer just began and now they are already getting ready to go back to school.. Where did the Summer go?

We were hoping to get in some more camping trips but being new here and not really knowing where to go and then with the kids's crazy summer schedules we just didnt get the chance to get out.. Such a bummer!!

I got this crazy idea that I wanted to become a paramedic.. Well I have been actually thinking about it for a few years now and have just waited for my kids to get older so I could go to schooling and training for it.. So I put my application in here for the fire dept.. Here you have to be both a fire fighter and EMT. You cant choose one or the other. So Sat I had to go take the physical agility test with the fire dept which consisted of 6 or 7 diffrent tasks you had to complete in a given time.. The hardest one is the rescue task where you have to carry a 120 pound dummy 50 feet to a set of stairs and make your way up the stairs into a little room where you turn around and then come back down the stairs and back the 50 feet to the starting position in about 2 mins I think the time was... This is the hardest most physical part of the test.. I had gone up a couple days prior to the fire station to do a practice run to give me an idea how it would be.. They didnt have the stairs to practice on so I just practiced carrying the dummy about 100 feet and back.. I was able to do it but it was really hard and that was without the stairs.. I was really worried about getting up the stairs with that much weight and my knee..

So my firefighter friend reccomended doing this task first since it would require all your strength.. So I choose this task first.. Of course what I wasn't prepared for was that also on this task you have to wear a 60 pound oxygen tank on you back which had a big plastic square case that straps across your chest and the firemans hat and gloves.. So I was carrying 180 pounds of extra weight on my body.. This added a huge diffrence to the way I carried the dummy.. The big plastic case on my chest really limited the way I was trying to hold the dummy out in front of me and I was trying to drag it backward and up the stairs and I kept hitting the oxygen tank on the stair rails which kept knocking me down. So I was forced to try and drag the dummy up the stairs as I tried to drag myself up the metal stairs.. I only got 3/4 the way up the first attempt and had only 1 more attempt left.. I had pulled all my lower back muscles the first attempt and was really hurting and I just knew there was not going to be a way to make it the second time around.. It would have been so much easier if I would have had the upper body strength to lift the dummy up onto my shoulders and carried it that way.. They say most women cannot do it they just dont have the upper body strength.

The second time around I tried a diffrent strategy and tried to drag the dummy by the legs under where the knee's would be.. The dummy is made out of a burlap sack type of material with little rivets connecting the arms, legs and head. I did a little better this time I actually made it all the way up and half the way down but ended up running out of time. I needed about 50 more secs.. I literally could not grip the dummy anymore my forearms were just swollen and had no grip what so ever in them. my back was just screaming... I was so dissapointed and embarrased because I was the first one to have to be escorted back to the station and sent home.. I ended up with scrapes all along my forearms with cuts in the shape of the rivets imbedded into my arms.. I had scrapped ankles where my ankles kept hitting on the metal stairs as I was dragging the dummy up. Both my ankles turned black and blue and were swollen.. I have spent the last 3 days in bed not being able to walk because of my back and have been on pain killers and muscle relaxers hoping that it would heal quickly.. They are going to have another agility test come november so maybe I will try again after I heal and forget how bad it was.. What was really bad was I never even got the chance to experience the other tasks you have to pass so I have no idea what they are like and if I can do them.. Obviously it wasnt the right time for me to do this.. It actually ended up for the better because they wanted to start the school next week dring the time I had all these vacation plans and my parents coming out so I was really stressing how I was going to go to school and still be able to go on vacation.. Guess it ended up working out for the better....

Hey you can even see my black toenail that is in the process of falling off due to my running....

I am a little bummed because I have also started training for a half marathon in sept. I havnt registered for it yet because I am still trying to talk myself into doing it but I have been training for it none the less and so with this back injury it has ceased my training for this week.. I am hoping I will be back out running by the end of the week or the first of next..

So thats what we have been up to lately..