On Being a Penguin

Today was the Adirondack Half Marathon (13.1 miles). Turns out that jogging while Rory and Kyan rode their bikes around the block was not the best training plan I could have used, but at the end of the day I crossed the finish line!

There was large Team SMAC contingent today. Here is a picture of a bunch of us:

These awesome folks are top row: Larry, me, Liz, Karen, Kate, Shawn; middle row: my Kelly, Amy; bottom row: Heather, Beth, Kelly, and Andrew. Our friend Pat is missing from the photo. Also missing were the two full marathon Team SMAC members ~ Jill and Kevin.

I made the decision to walk since I had not trained and my Kelly and Amy walked with me.  Our first few miles flew by ~ chatting, checking out the beautiful scenery, saying hi to the folks cheering us along the path, being dumbfounded as the full marathon leader flew by us.

We walked through the Word of Life campus, which is a religious camp, and all the kids were out there cheering us on, hollering that we were almost there. Mind you, this was around miles 4-5, so we had quite a trip still ahead of us. But, there was fantastic energy there that helped add a little spring into our step.

Around mile 7 we ran into a woman who had a butterfly resting on her jacket. I pointed it out to her and she said it had been with her for several miles. When Cora passed away a friend told me a story of butterflies being signs from heaven. I couldn't help but think of that today. It is the 23rd and the emotion of losing Cora eleven months ago was weighing heavily on me. Kelly and I saw that butterfly and it helped lift the sadness.

By mile 8, I was starting to get tired when Kelly and I heard the voices of our friends Kevin and Jill (the full marathoners!). They slowed for a few moments to say hi and then continued their awesome run. Around mile 10 I looked up and saw three people walking towards us in Team SMAC shirts. It was my brother, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law. They finished their races, then walked back to walk the rest of the way in with us. It was a great diversion. I think Amy, Kelly, and I were all getting a little tired (we'd been walking for about 3 hours), and even though I told them they were totally obnoxious for coming back, it was nice to have their conversation for the last leg of the trip.

Now...about the penguin. Karen told me that in the Marine Corps marathon the last-place finisher gets a prize of a penguin for the accomplishment of completing. I had a pretty good idea that our trio was at the end of the half marathon group, so I insisted Amy and Kelly walk over the finish mat first, which means I came in last place. The penguin. Another year, I would probably be embarrassed by such a showing. This year, I couldn't be happier. I finished. My friends finished (with amazing times, I might add). Tons of runners asked about Team SMAC when they saw our shirts. Spectators cheered for Team SMAC. For a million reasons I wish Team SMAC never had to exist, but I am always proud to be a member.

I must now be off to attempt to climb the stairs to bed. Or curl up on the landing and sleep there. We'll see how it goes.

Dollywood!

Yesterday was Kelli-girl's 38th birthday. She thought she escaped a post, but in reality, I got home late and now I have the element of her thinking she got off scott free. Heee!

We met when we were in sixth grade. Kelli moved upstate from Long Island and on the first day of school she had green hair. We all thought she was a punk. In fact, pool chlorine turned her hair green because not only does she have really thick hair, but she also has really blond hair. In sixth grade, this did not matter. We thought she was a wild NYC rebel.

Flash forward to our senior year of high school. Because seating was often alphabetical, we often sat near or next to one another ~ in particular in our honors English class (Christie B., do you need an adjective of the day?) and then in our economics class (the year of Mr. Driscoll's retirement...). We ended up working at Spencer's (what were our parents thinking?!?!) and the Shoreline Restaurant together as well.

I could ramble on and on about our antics that cemented our friendship. Like the weekend I was in NYC for job interviews and somehow ended up inappropriately and unintentionally groping Kelli...twice. Or why we end up at Friendly's even without children in tow. Or how she broke my kitchen table (ahem...), but I think anyone who knows even a little bit about me knows that Kelli is my person. So much so that when I married Kelly she referred to him as "our first husband" during her toast. (Do not pity him, he knew exactly what he was in for!)

In two years we are planning to go to Dollywood to celebrate our 40th birthdays (please note, she is older and wiser...I am just the tag-along young 'un). We have had this plan since we were in our early 20s and to be honest, I have no idea why we thought Dollywood would be the place to ring in our 40th birthdays, but we have been talking about it for 15+ years, so I think we are committed. It is one of my little prayers to join her there.

Bands

It was a late night with the Bunco girls...and we had a fond farewell to She Who Shall Not Be Named. She went out with a bang, winning most Buncos and ending the final round with a Bunco. (For non-Bunco readers (in other words, all of you except the other 11 women I play with) ~ she won big.)

Anyhow, I was going to do a longer post tonight about my other half, but it is late and my mind is burnt from all that Bunco-ness and I couldn't even start to do it justice. So (I know, I use "So" a lot as a transition ~ I will work on that.), tonight's post is short and sweet.

Two of my friends recently sent me some Team SMAC bands to share with, well, um...Team SMAC. And when I saw "two friends" what I really mean is "my two pot-brownie friends" because you know a little bit about them already. They sent me many bands and I am sharing, sharing, sharing, but I still have more to share. Here they are:

The whole saying is Team SMAC  LIVE for today, HOPE for tomorrow

If you would like one, let me know. If you are someone I see, tell me when I see you. If I don't see you around town, shoot me an email with your address (if I don't have it) and I can send it, or send it with someone, or send it via carrier pigeon. Whatever works. For those of you who are readers, but I don't know you (my sock-leaving, card sending, kindness overflowing anonymous readers) - don't hesitate to shoot me an email if you'd like one.  I promise I won't stalk you. Much.

Saturday

What a great Saturday...perfect weather to spend the vast majority of the day outside.

Some highlights:

Kelly's French Toast for breakfast. My mom and dad used to laugh when I told them I was going to marry someone who would cook...did I luck out or what?

I cleaned out my cupboard. You probably have one just like it. One that has all sorts of stuff and you really need to clean it but you can never find the time. I cleaned it today. Ahhhh...

We have a huge delivery box in our garage. Today it got dragged out into the yard and turned into a house, boat, and submarine. It was also for a few moments an amusement park ride as cousin Jackson went in the box while Rory and Kyan tipped the box over. And then they did it again. And then the adults put a stop to that one...

Crosby went on his first swing ride. He was not impressed.

After dinner we walked to get ice cream (sherbet for me, and yes, I like sherbet, it doesn't mean I am weird).

Rory fell asleep in my lap and then Kyan fell asleep as we cuddled singing songs.

Cuddling

I am a firm believer in my boys going to bed in their own beds. And I used to be a stickler for keeping them in their beds if they woke up in the middle of the night. Now, as the photo below shows, I don't worry so much about that. Last night our king bed had me, Rory, Ky, and Kelly, with Crosby in his crib next to the bed. Crowded? Yes. Cozy? Yes. Awesome? Yes.

Can I tell you how sweet it is to have two little boys say "cuddle, cuddle" to you and then curl up as close as they can? I know in my pre-cancer world I didn't always embrace these opportunities. In fact, I often tried to get the child in question over on Kelly's side because he could somehow sleep through the heels digging into his back and the nudging as Rory or Ky tried to inch in just a little closer.

Now, those boys make a peep and they are able to come into our bed. Scared? Dark? No idea why, just that you want to? Come on over! I am grabbing onto any chance I can to spend just another second with my kiddos ~ even if we are all sound asleep in a big heap.

Happy Six Months, Crosby!

I share the least-flattering pictures of myself, but I really love this one. This was taken the morning Cora and Crosby were born, right before I walked from my hospital room to the operating room. We were so excited to meet the babies ~ and I must admit, I was ready to give birth!

That morning was so wonderful ~ everyone was so excited and things went well. Cora Lily was born first, and minutes later Crosby Robert joined us. Because they were born via c-section, I was the last one in the room to see them, but it was worth the wait. They were both absolutely perfect. Because I couldn't really move much other than my right arm and turn my head, I kept asking Kelly and the nurses to hold them in positions so I could see them. And I couldn't really tell who was who, so I kept having to ask...talk about being a slacker twin parent! Though now when I look at pictures I have no idea how I couldn't tell them apart...

From the operating room, one of my favorite moments was when Kelly was holding Cora and one of the nurses came over and popped Crosby into his arms and said something funny to him, like "Welcome to reality." Kelly's eyes got huge for about 10 seconds, and then he settled right in with both of them.

It is hard to believe that wonderful morning was six months ago and at the same time it is hard to believe that Crosby is already six months old. He is adorable and happy and enamored with the antics of his big brothers. Kyan likes being silly near him and Rory entertains him for long stretches of time with songs and toys. Crosby has two very sharp teeth and an uncanny ability to roll to the right, while refusing to do the same to the left. And his smile, it is huge and charming and melts my heart each time I see it. It is amazing to me how much joy, peace, and love he has brought to us already. Happy Six Months, Crosby!