Doctor Visits

We had a multitude of doctor appointments recently.  Rylee has been so good about being dragged along to pretty much all of them!  Here is how my kids entertain themselves at the doctor's office!

 Say Ahhhhhh!

 Ears look good.

Of course I'm a doctor! I'm wearing a glove. 

This will only hurt a little. 

Call me..... Doctor Callie! 

Rylee is showing her 2 toy dogs. 

Joshua had to have a physical for Scout Camp. He really is a great brother and lets Rylee get away with much too much!  I'm a lucky mom.

A Doll's Tale

This is Delaney on her 7th birthday back in February.  She had wanted a doll so badly for her birthday and she got it.  She was so happy!  She had asked for an American Girl Doll but was thrilled with Walmart's knock off "My Life" doll.  She was in love with her new doll.  She lovingly named her Julie and played with her and had many exciting adventures with the doll, who went everywhere with her.  She became obsessed with making videos of her precious Julie.

Sadly, 6 weeks after Julie's arrival, one of her legs fell off.  Just fell off.  Delaney was inconsolable. So sad.  So miserable!  She cried and cried.  As the mom, I could not justify simply buying another doll.  Even though it wasn't a $125 doll, it was still a $30 doll and I really do not want Delaney to learn that I am just going to buy her stuff whenever she wants it.  She was so sad though, I told her that I would make her a list of 15 chores, worth $2 each and once she finished the chores, we could get her a new doll and she would have earned it.  Suddenly, she was sunshine and happiness again.

However, when she looked at the chore list, she decided a one-legged doll was just fine.  Especially since she had the kit with a wheelchair and crutches.

That worked fine for about a week.  Then, the other leg fell off.  Just fell off.  Now the doll had no legs and life was miserable again.

Delaney decided to revisit the chore list.

And she renamed her doll.... "Legless".

___________________________

A brief follow up:

I do not know why it did not even occur to me to try to return the doll.  I guess I figured there was no chance since I did not have the receipt. After several people suggested it, we did go back to Walmart.  I was a bit surprised, but they did exchange the legless doll for a new one!  No receipt, no questions!  I was pleased, and Delaney was delighted.  Life is glorious and grand for her right now.

St Charles Bridge Run.... Year 2

One year ago, I ran the St. Charles Bridge 10k.  It is the first race in a series of 3 races where you can run across the 3 bridges spanning the Mississippi River here in the New Orleans area.  Last year, a group of my running friends went out together and had a great time.  I really liked this race, and really wanted to do it again. I waited till the last minute because I could not decide if I wanted to do the 5k or the 10k.  I hadn't yet run 6 miles, since I'd taken time off for my foot, so I wasn't confident I could do it.  And then I was sick, and decided to just sign up for the 5k.  My friends said they were going to run it, but alas, no one else signed up to do it.  I had to decide if I really wanted to run it badly enough to drive an hour out to run it alone.  I did.

I got up at 5am to get ready.  Good thing, because apparently onion rings and hush puppies and french fries are not what one should consume the night before a race.  I had some serious concerns! I had plenty of time to get out the door and to get to the race.  It was a bit of a drive, but I got to the course just fine and had plenty of time to visit the portapotty and check in.  I made an impulsive decision to switch to the 10k.  Immediately afterwards I thought I may have made a poor decision.  My reasoning was that I wanted to challenge myself!  Somehow this seemed like a good way to do it?

I got signed in, got my number and t-shirt and caught my bus to the 10k start.  Yes, all by myself. It is a point to point race.  The 10k starts on the levee and goes down it 3 miles, then they intersect with the 5k race and everyone races down the road, up the on ramp and a mile of up-up-up the bridge, and then a mile back down the other side.  The annoying thing is that they release the 5k runners 20 minutes into the 10k race, so most of the 10k folks have to run through a teeming mass of 1500 joggers and walkers.

Aside from having to dodge and weave, it was a great race.  I was quite surprised how well it went for me. I had no tummy troubles, managed to get a good pace going, and really felt good about it.  My goal was to not walk on the bridge, and I met that goal.  I did one minute of walking through a water station, but other than that.... running all the way!  I ran 6.27 miles in 1:03:47 and I was very happy with that.  A minute and 30 seconds slower than last year, and I'll take that!

I did not wait around for the results. It is lonely and no fun with no friends!  I got me some water and oranges and a banana and headed home. I was home by 11, and just in time for general Conference!

 We're off!  this was the levee trail.  Nice.

This is my "Oh shoot, am I really doing this?!" face. 

 oming up on the 5k crowd.  We ran past another 1/2 mile and then both groups turned and merged onto the onramp.  See the bridge?  That's where we are headed!

 Oh look, a Plantation!

Oh check this out!  The guy behind me is 90 years old.  90!  And he's in the 10k.  Even more awesome.... it took me these 3 miles to catch him!   

Me and the Plantation.  Yeah, I know, but it was suppose to be a big deal!

Running on the surface street by the Plantation. 

Selfie with the Plantation. 

One of the fun things to see in the race. 

And here is the mob of 5k walkers I had to navigate around. They hogged the road. 

That's the levee I just ran down!  Now I am heading up the on ramp to the bridge

View from the top of the bridge.  Not too thrilling, but hey, I crossed the Mississippi River! 

Thumbs up for hitting the half way mark on the bridge.  It is all downhill from here!

All done and eating my oranges.  That's the bridge I just ran over.  Fun stuff!

And look!  I found an official race photo with me in it and I don't look horrid!  Yay!

5k and Fun Run

I am way behind.  this really needs to go back to March 29.  March 29, there was a 5k and Kid's Fun Run on base.  I heard they had goodie bags for the kids that included a bag of chocolate, so I  mentioned it to my girls.  Marian, Callie and Delaney were very excited to come out and participate!  So I signed the 3 of them up for the Fun Run, and entered me in the 5k.

It was a fun morning.  The weather was overcast and windy, which made the 70 degrees not feel to hot, despite the humidity.  Callie's friend Aliye came with us and did the run as well.  The girls had a good time, and their run was pretty short. Callie rocked it and came in first, followed by her friend.  Marian was a bit old but didn't do well because her foot hurt.  I think she hurt it a few days earlier in karate, but she was not very fast, and limped a bit.  She wanted that goodie bag though, so she went for it!  Delaney was in the middle of the pack and dashed for all she was worth.

There was a bigger turn out than prior base races- 30 people, maybe?  I pushed myself and managed about a 9 minute mile pace.  The course was NOT a 5k. My gps watch said it was only 2.7 miles, and I ran that in 25:16, and I was happy with it.

The after party was great- lots of yummy food, a bounce house and good times.  Joshua was there because the school band came to play and did great.  Dan and Rylee walked over to cheer us home and enjoy the festivities.  It was a good time for all!

Callie and Aliye walking to the event. I love that they are good friends!

The kids getting ready for their race.  Notice anything interesting?  It is all girls!! 

They mustered up a couple of boys and here is the line up. 

 Callie, coming down the homestretch!  She was far and away the fastest.  That's my girl!

Here comes Delaney!  Looking adorable and girly. 

Joshua, playing with the band.  They did a good job, and it was fun to have them play the Star Spangled Banner before things kicked off.  I was proud of my boy! 

Here I am, moving towards the finish.  Sure, I run like a Zebra, but I do it!  (and I like it.) 

I went back out and ran in with my friend Clarissa. 

Rylee was cold and grumpy and ready to go home here.

I love my kid!

I had the delightful experience of going to the school to discuss the needs of my darling daughter Marian.  It was a decent meeting, but there was lots of paperwork and test results and I got bogged down in that and it was rather complicated and confusing.

The bright spot was in reading about her interview.  I adore this child.  She is quirky.  She is a little different and does her own thing.  And you know what?  She owns it.  I loved reading this excerpt from her interview:

"If Marian could change one thing about herself, she said she would not change anything because she likes herself the way she is now."

Yes, I do love that girl!