Road Trip: Get-a-way - Part 1

While we were still in the planning stages of coming to Georgia, Danielle sweetly offered to keep our boys if Nik and I wanted to go away for a night or two alone! Um….Yes! So we looked at places that were within 3 hours and places we had never been. Hilton Head caught our eye. Plus it is ‘off-season’ there, which mean not-outrageous-hotel-prices! Win-win.

Tuesday morning we took off and drove 3 1/2 hours. 

We arrived and ate lunch near our hotel.

After lunch we were trying to decide what to do, because it was raining!

We looked up what movies were showing at the theaters and found

one that sounded good to both of us - Alpha.

I liked the movie.

I loved the popcorn and soda, I loved the reclining seats and 

I loved this time with Nik even more.

I have not been to a movie in years, so this was a nice treat for me!

By the time our movie was over - the rain had stopped and we were ready to explore this island!

We drove to Harbour Town, which was about 15 min from where we were staying.

(see red star on map)

They had a light house, lots of restaurants, shopping, golf courses and gorgeous homes!

(Next time, someone remind to do something with my hair 

when I take pictures with beautiful scenery! Lol.)

I made Nik stop driving and us get out right about the time the sun was setting.

It was breath-taking!

A very kind lady offered to take a few pictures of us!

Pretty awesome!

After the sun set - we drove some more and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Those golf courses - I should have taken pictures - were sooo beautiful!

We ended the night back down by our hotel for a late dinner and 

then hung out on the beach to listen to the waves and look at the stars. 

Next up: Part 2!

Road Trip: Georgia Bound!

We jumped rolled into the car at 4am on Saturday morning to make the 14+ hour trek to Georgia. Yes, we are crazy. But one of my favorite people (and her family) live there, and it had been way too long since we had seen each other.

I met Danielle when we lived in Watertown and we clicked. She is awesome. And I want to be like her when I grow up :) Her family re-located to Georgia about a year before we relocated to Wolcott. I still got to see her a few times when they came north to visit family, but not often. Then we moved. And now - well, we have no common towns anymore. I am thankful that our friendship has held on and lasted over the years. We talk/text/video often…but it was just time to see each other! Nik and I talked it over and decided to make it a family trip….so he we are!

The boys are living their best life…new (to them) toys, friends (Danielle’s kids) to play with, and a pool in the back yard! Nik and I are having a great time too. It is relaxing, stress-free, and fun to hang with friends!

I have taken very few pictures since we have been here, but I did take some fun ones while Nik, Jaxen and Zane were swimming.

Jaxen loved Nik throwing him into a back flip in the water!

Jaxen was taking Nik for a ride around the pool, in this floatie.

After swimming, Zane laid in my lap and fell asleep.

This never happens.

I soaked up the all the cuddles I could - and then woke him up - lol!

(He does not sleep at night if he takes a long nap).

The boys are going to stay with our friends for two days while 

Nik and I have a little get-a-way tomorrow!

I’m so excited!

My 1/2 Marathon Journey - (injured) Leg

I had a few other 1/2 marathon posts written over the summer to keep you updated on my progress and give you more details/information for the run...but I never got them posted!

And now, I am injured and will not be able to run the 1/2 marathon as planned :(

Awhile back (mid-July), my left quad was hurting (felt like tight, sore muscles). I rested some, stretched a lot and kept going. Finally, on July 30 I could not take the pain any longer and I stopped running (and even walking). I let it go awhile and it was not getting any better. (I even tried ice baths! That is desperate, for me anyway - lol!) So - I sought medical help. First, I tried my primary doctor and they could not get me in; then I tried a physical therapist/sports medicine doctor and they could not get me in; so then I tried a chiropractor - who got me in the next day! I was desperate. I was in so much pain. I could hardly walk. And when I did walk, it just hurt. I was waking all through the night with cramping, muscle spasms and aching all through my left quad.

My first appointment I cried as my leg was examined and then worked on (massaged, adjusting of my pelvis and knee and cold laser therapy). I was told I had Grade 2 strains in my muscle and the tendons that connect that muscle to my knee and my hip. Ice, rest, and stretching was needed.

By the time I went to my second appointment, I knew I would probably not be running the 1/2 marathon. He told me it would be a 4-6 week recovery and then I would have to take it easy getting back into running.

My new running shoes (purchased at the beginning of summer)!

The third (and continuing) visit I met with a different chiropractor and she is focusing her energy on my sciatica. She basically told me my lower back, hips and legs were a mess. My muscles are so tight and there are so many knots throughout those areas, it is not loosing up and is contracting every time I use those muscles. Since my left side is having such a hard time, my right side is working hard to help it out, in the mean-time wearing itself out. If that makes sense. So she adjusts me (hips, pelvis, back and knee) and works on my knots each time I go. I have cried more than once in her office, just because it hurts so bad - but I am finally seeing improvement!

Just this week, I can get up (from sitting) and not have to pause before I can start walking. I can walk without leg spasms. I can stretch my leg without pain shooting through. There are some minor things I can do now freely, that I have not been able to do (without pain) for the last few weeks!

This was right before one of my group runs - everyone stretching and getting ready!
Picture taken by someone else.

My last group run.

I am still a work in progress. I'm still very tight. I can still not get a good stride when I walk (have to go slow and take small steps) because my muscles are contracting still. I need to start walking (as far as I can) to start getting movement back. Most nights I spend time stretching, rolling on a foam roller (which is so painful on all my knots) and soaking in Epsom salt. I will get better. And I might try running again. Just not for the 1/2 marathon I hoped to be a part of.

I'm not sad I worked so hard - it was good for me. 

I actually miss that time (especially the sunrises). 

I am sad I won't be able to accomplish this goal (in October, anyway).

Maybe I’ll try something else when I’m all better…

any suggestions?

Randomness

Here is a little randomness for you today…

After I was done folding all the clothes, Zane helped himself into the dryer! 

Nik and him were having a little fun with it - lol!

(no worries - the dryer was cooled off)

Jaxen and I have been loving our (new to us) borrowed porch chairs!

They are so comfy and we love sitting outside morning, noon or night. 

Homemade Whoopie Pies. Yum!

All the school supplies.

Very cool sky as the sun was setting at the park last week.

Two weekends ago we went to spend some time with the Chandler Family!

Becky and her boys had a water balloon fight with Jaxen Saturday morning.

It was fun to watch :)

Later that day, Zane shared his phone and toy with “Bear” (one of their dogs).

It was so cute!

They were sitting together…but then he got up and scooted those items right to his face.

(Bear was napping).

Told you…random!

I’m hoping to blog more now that life is getting back into some sort of routine again.

Summer is great, and I really do like it - but it’s hard on my ‘structured’ self - ha!

Weekend-ing

Firs up, this has been Jaxen’s preference for sleeping at night...

Zane likes to start out that way, but thru the night ends up in his bed or ours :)

It’s the little things…I’m trying to remember that.

If sleeping in the floor of his room makes Jaxen super happy - then why not?

He sleeps great, doesn’t give me any trouble - it’s a win-win!

**********

We like to “weekend” around here!

Yes, I am using it as a verb :)

Saturday consisted of time in the sun, at the pool - with one of Jaxen’s friends!

They had the best time playing and got along so good I

called his mom and told her to come later than planned to pick him up.

 

After pool time and lunch we ran errands together as a family.

It was actually pretty fun…which it not always is! lol.

We had just a few places to go…

Kohls (which Zane napped through and we came out empty-handed!)

Academy (Nik is looking for new work boots…so he is making the rounds, around town) 

Sonic (of course!) and Target.

We ended the night with dinner and baths (all around)

and then Nik and I caught up on the show “Alone” and enjoyed our time together!

Sunday we started the day at church,

then a haircut for Nik and lunch.

The boys enjoyed our pick for lunch because they had “Jenga” blocks.

They enjoyed stacking them…

After lunch I took  a nap on the couch while the boys watched a movie.

(it was the perfect rainy afternoon for a nap)

There was lots of play time, wrestling, laundry, and organizing of all the papers Sunday night!

We “weekend-ed” well, I would say!