whew its been a long week! after westin was born i didnt workout a single bit for a week! thats freakishly long. i anticipated taking a few days off but not a whole week. what happened was westin was born on tuesday and we went home from the hospital on thursday. when we left the hospital he had a moderate case of jaundice just like most babies but his was a little high. a nurse came out to our house the next day to follow up on his jaundice levels and they had almost doubled overnight! he ended up gettin readmitted to the hospital for two more days. how stressful! thankfully he is fine now! we came home from the hospital on sunday evening.
so on monday i finally got to workout! i went for a run and felt great. on tuesday i had to bike for an hour. because i spent most of the day cleaning and taking care to the baby i didnt get to start my workout until 10:30 pm! ive never started a workout so late. i did my workout on the trainer while watching episodes of arrested development. thanks hulu! i knew i would have to be a little creative when scheduling my workouts but didnt think i would have to do it that late!
yesterday i had a really fun workout. my coach had me do a race simulation for my upcoming olympic races. there was no swim but i had to do the bike and run at race pace. i got to workout in the afternoon this time! i loaded up my stuff and headed out the door. i parked at the monument next to the river at the end of summit st in saint paul. i felt tired from all the middle of the night diaper changes and feedings this week so i loaded up my bottle with a caffeinated electrolyte drink. i set up my transition area in the back of our minivan and hopped on my bike. i rode the entire 40k up and down west river road. it was awesome! i rode a fairly consistent pace and finished the bike in 1:10. thats a 21.3 mph average. im hoping to be better than that when i get on a closed race course. i threw my bike in the van, put on my running shoes and headed down the running path. i felt tired but finished my first mile in 7:12. i was hoping to be a bit faster but i was happy with that. my second mile was a few seconds slower then i glanced at the time and realized that if i ran the whole 10k then i would be late picking up my daughter from school! so i turned around and headed back. i finished with a 7:23 pace and felt great even though i was so freaking hot! as long as i hold these paces in my races then i will finish around 2:24. that would be a pr!
ive got two chances in the next 3 weeks and im excited! im doing the buffalo olympic on the 7th then the following weekend im doing the liberty olympic! ive never done two olympic races like that so im looking forward to it and ive got friends in both races! if you come you will get to meet Westin!
see you there!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
on Tuesday May 19th at 3:54 pm we celebrated the birth of
our beautiful son, Westin!
until his birth we had no idea if baby was a boy or girl.
on monday at around 7pm carly started having contractions during dinner. after dinner we relaxed by watching a movie. we really felt like it was real labor and not the false labor contractions she had been having the couple days previous. after the movie carly decided to go to bed and try to get some sleep. i couldnt because i was too excited! i stayed up to try and get some chores done but kept checking in on her. in the beginning she was able to get some sleep but my midnight the contractions were getting stronger. we started timing them and they were staying about 7 minutes apart really regularly but after a couple hours they suddenly jumped to 5 minutes. they stayed like that for a while and we knew it was time to head to the hospital! We called our parents to let them know and headed out the door a little after 3am. My mom and our brother in law Andy met us at the hospital. My mom took care of our daughter Anastasia and Andy, a photographer, was there to take photos. Carlys mom had a long drive to get here so it would be a few hours before she arrived. Once we got checked into the hospital Carly was doing her best to get some rest. Everyone kept insisting that i go to sleep as well but there was no way that was going to happen! i pulled up what happened to be the most uncomfortable chair in the world next to Carlys bed and held her hand. This would be my spot for many hours.
Carly had big plans on how to handle labor and we had practiced many different methods of working through contractions but really all she wanted to do was lay down. several hours went by with a flutter of activity. with all of the nurses and doctors coming in and out. by about 2:30 in the afternoon she had progressed to where it was time to start pushing.
over the past year i completed 4 marathons and an ironman. carly always is a great cheerleader but says that it sounds too hard and she could never do that. what she did on tuesday though was a far superior physical accomplishment than anything i have ever done. she was a total stud. a rockstar! after laying in bed at the hospital for nearly 11 hours suffering through constant pain of contractions and exams she really buckled down and started to push. she started pushing with great determination that i found awe inspiring. however there was cause for concern during labor and especially pushing. babys heart rate was dropping really low during contractions. this meant that he probably had the cord wrapped around his body and it was being constricted. at the point where we could sort of see babys head his heart rate dropped the lowest yet. i could see a look of concern on the doctors face and she said that this was it. if the head didnt come out on the next push she was going to intervene. she had spoken earlier of a possible emergency c-section. she told carly to push as hard as she could and then dig deeper to push even beyond that. we were all telling her to push. and she pushed like crazy! ive never seen anyone so determined! then out popped the babys head! she did it! as soon as his head popped out we could see the cord was wrapped around his neck. the doctor and nurses moved so fast and in unison without even talking getting it untangled. luckily they were able to get it off of him so that he was safe. then one final push and he burst into the world with a mighty scream that was more beautiful than the finest opera singer! he was immediately placed on moms tummy and i peeked to see if it was a boy or girl and got to announce its a boy! and a few seconds later he proved it by peeing all over everyone!
it was such an amazing experience. and carly was so inspirational how she handled giving birth for the first time.(for those who dont know anastasia is carlys adopted daughter) being as tough as carly was on tuesday is something i can only dream of.
after mom and baby got cleaned up and started getting settled down i got to go out to the waiting room and bring anastasia back to meet her new baby brother. i was met by the small army of friends and family that had gathered and immediately i was swarmed while being hugged and kissed and asked the big question, if it was a boy or girl. but everyone would have to wait because it wasnt time to tell them yet. first anastasia had to meet him and find out. so she took my hand and she was overflowing with so much excitement that she laughed as we raced down the hall to meet the baby!
she is an amazing big sister! she holds him and gives him kisses and has even changed his diaper!
we spent some family time for the first time with just the four of us.
after a while it was time to bring in everyone to meet the baby. so anastasia got to go to the waiting room and tell everyone to come back the room where we got to introuce our son westin to our loved ones. there were tears of joy all around as everyone took turns holding him and introducing themselves to him! he was so alert and staring as if he was listening intently as grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends said hello.
then it was time to do some things like get his foot prints.
then he got a shot.
after a while our visitors left and mom and i spent some quality time together with westin. then i read him a goodnight story.
it was "guess how much i love you." i read it to him many times before he was born. soon mom fell asleep and i sat nearby holding baby and attempted the impossible task of telling him how much i love him.
it was an AMAZING day! i laughed and i cried constantly. i was awake for over 40 hours before i finally got to sleep about 9 hours after he was born. however i only got to sleep for a couple hours before he was awake again but i didnt care. im sure i will eventually get tired of him keeping us up all night but i know that i will cherish every moment.
i also want to thank all of our family and friends who have been so incredibly helpful. they worked together to make sure our dog was fed and walked, they brought us foods and gifts, and gave so much support.
we are going home soon and im excited about that.
it was so nice to finally meet you westin! i will always love you so much more than i could ever possibly say.
even though this is the short version, it took me two days to write this! there is no free time when a baby is born!
our beautiful son, Westin!
until his birth we had no idea if baby was a boy or girl.
on monday at around 7pm carly started having contractions during dinner. after dinner we relaxed by watching a movie. we really felt like it was real labor and not the false labor contractions she had been having the couple days previous. after the movie carly decided to go to bed and try to get some sleep. i couldnt because i was too excited! i stayed up to try and get some chores done but kept checking in on her. in the beginning she was able to get some sleep but my midnight the contractions were getting stronger. we started timing them and they were staying about 7 minutes apart really regularly but after a couple hours they suddenly jumped to 5 minutes. they stayed like that for a while and we knew it was time to head to the hospital! We called our parents to let them know and headed out the door a little after 3am. My mom and our brother in law Andy met us at the hospital. My mom took care of our daughter Anastasia and Andy, a photographer, was there to take photos. Carlys mom had a long drive to get here so it would be a few hours before she arrived. Once we got checked into the hospital Carly was doing her best to get some rest. Everyone kept insisting that i go to sleep as well but there was no way that was going to happen! i pulled up what happened to be the most uncomfortable chair in the world next to Carlys bed and held her hand. This would be my spot for many hours.
Carly had big plans on how to handle labor and we had practiced many different methods of working through contractions but really all she wanted to do was lay down. several hours went by with a flutter of activity. with all of the nurses and doctors coming in and out. by about 2:30 in the afternoon she had progressed to where it was time to start pushing.
over the past year i completed 4 marathons and an ironman. carly always is a great cheerleader but says that it sounds too hard and she could never do that. what she did on tuesday though was a far superior physical accomplishment than anything i have ever done. she was a total stud. a rockstar! after laying in bed at the hospital for nearly 11 hours suffering through constant pain of contractions and exams she really buckled down and started to push. she started pushing with great determination that i found awe inspiring. however there was cause for concern during labor and especially pushing. babys heart rate was dropping really low during contractions. this meant that he probably had the cord wrapped around his body and it was being constricted. at the point where we could sort of see babys head his heart rate dropped the lowest yet. i could see a look of concern on the doctors face and she said that this was it. if the head didnt come out on the next push she was going to intervene. she had spoken earlier of a possible emergency c-section. she told carly to push as hard as she could and then dig deeper to push even beyond that. we were all telling her to push. and she pushed like crazy! ive never seen anyone so determined! then out popped the babys head! she did it! as soon as his head popped out we could see the cord was wrapped around his neck. the doctor and nurses moved so fast and in unison without even talking getting it untangled. luckily they were able to get it off of him so that he was safe. then one final push and he burst into the world with a mighty scream that was more beautiful than the finest opera singer! he was immediately placed on moms tummy and i peeked to see if it was a boy or girl and got to announce its a boy! and a few seconds later he proved it by peeing all over everyone!
it was such an amazing experience. and carly was so inspirational how she handled giving birth for the first time.(for those who dont know anastasia is carlys adopted daughter) being as tough as carly was on tuesday is something i can only dream of.
after mom and baby got cleaned up and started getting settled down i got to go out to the waiting room and bring anastasia back to meet her new baby brother. i was met by the small army of friends and family that had gathered and immediately i was swarmed while being hugged and kissed and asked the big question, if it was a boy or girl. but everyone would have to wait because it wasnt time to tell them yet. first anastasia had to meet him and find out. so she took my hand and she was overflowing with so much excitement that she laughed as we raced down the hall to meet the baby!
she is an amazing big sister! she holds him and gives him kisses and has even changed his diaper!
we spent some family time for the first time with just the four of us.
after a while it was time to bring in everyone to meet the baby. so anastasia got to go to the waiting room and tell everyone to come back the room where we got to introuce our son westin to our loved ones. there were tears of joy all around as everyone took turns holding him and introducing themselves to him! he was so alert and staring as if he was listening intently as grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends said hello.
then it was time to do some things like get his foot prints.
then he got a shot.
after a while our visitors left and mom and i spent some quality time together with westin. then i read him a goodnight story.
it was "guess how much i love you." i read it to him many times before he was born. soon mom fell asleep and i sat nearby holding baby and attempted the impossible task of telling him how much i love him.
it was an AMAZING day! i laughed and i cried constantly. i was awake for over 40 hours before i finally got to sleep about 9 hours after he was born. however i only got to sleep for a couple hours before he was awake again but i didnt care. im sure i will eventually get tired of him keeping us up all night but i know that i will cherish every moment.
i also want to thank all of our family and friends who have been so incredibly helpful. they worked together to make sure our dog was fed and walked, they brought us foods and gifts, and gave so much support.
we are going home soon and im excited about that.
it was so nice to finally meet you westin! i will always love you so much more than i could ever possibly say.
even though this is the short version, it took me two days to write this! there is no free time when a baby is born!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
today!
Its now 8:30 am on tuesday and carly has been in labor for 13.5 hours! She recently had an epidural and is finally getting some much needed rest. I haven't slept in 24 hours and the nurses, doctors and my mom keep telling me to go to sleep but I can't bring myself to leave her side. Obviously they don't understand my excitement level. Today is the day I get to hold my son/daughter. I get to see this little person that I've been talking, reading and singing to for the past several months. Today is the best day of the year.
check back soon for the big announcement!
Stay strong carly. I love you.
check back soon for the big announcement!
Stay strong carly. I love you.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
happy mothers day!
Happy mothers day! we have much to celebrate this year! our baby is officially due in 5 days! it could come any time now and we are so very excited. i hope its not born late. i cant take waiting much more. i am anxious to meet our son/daughter! (we wanted to be surprised so we never found out!)
it wont be long before i forget what a good nights sleep feels like and i know i will cherish every exhausted sleep deprived minute!
the most beautiful mother
be sure to check back soon? for updates!
it wont be long before i forget what a good nights sleep feels like and i know i will cherish every exhausted sleep deprived minute!
the most beautiful mother
be sure to check back soon? for updates!
Friday, May 1, 2009
compression
lately ive been having some cramping in my right calf. it sucks. i finally went out and picked up some 2XU compression calf guards.
sexy or geeky? i think we all know the answer to that one! i wore them on my hour long run this evening. they definitely helped a lot! it reduced my crampy calf to a mild dull ache that didnt show up until the last few minutes of my run. they were comfortable except my leg hair made them a bit itchy at times but even that was minor. once i shave my legs that wont be an issue. i even wore them for a while after the run to head out to run some errands but i wore pants so i wouldnt look like a total nerd! i feel they definitely helped for short term recovery. if you have any calf issues i would definitely recommend picking some up!
sexy or geeky? i think we all know the answer to that one! i wore them on my hour long run this evening. they definitely helped a lot! it reduced my crampy calf to a mild dull ache that didnt show up until the last few minutes of my run. they were comfortable except my leg hair made them a bit itchy at times but even that was minor. once i shave my legs that wont be an issue. i even wore them for a while after the run to head out to run some errands but i wore pants so i wouldnt look like a total nerd! i feel they definitely helped for short term recovery. if you have any calf issues i would definitely recommend picking some up!
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