Tornadoes and Parenting.... and the 'Crazies'

So....I'm tackling a 'current event'....and even put this post on the local online Newspaper: HF Patch.  I'm tackling my current parenting conundrum... Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.  Seriously - when did parenting get to be so hard?

I can't even comprehend this devastation.  Click below to read the article in full:

Weekend Running Views...and Some Great FOOD to Cancel Out the Miles!

This past Friday - Sunday resulted in 3 entirely different running experiences!  One - at a local forest preserve.  Two, run number 43 with my twins (and my hubby joined in!) in our neighborhood.  Three:  The country roads in Fayette County, IL.  All told - 11 miles covered. 


1.  Izaak Walton Forest Preserve is located in Homewood, IL and supplies great trail running and fabulous scenes...just a little over 1.4 miles from my house.  The current 3.6  mile loop is under construction due to a new waterway at MM 1.7ish that causes a slight detour to the unmarked path.  But all in all, a wonderful way to start your day...whether you are running, biking, or walking your dog. 

2.  Saturday morning all of us ran the Apollo 5k in Homewood.  This race is part of the 3-race circuit in the H-F running community.  We are never able to complete the full circuit since race #2 is always over The Fourth of July - so we always try and do this one for sure, along with the Flossmoor 5k mid September.  We ran it in approximately 29 minutes and felt great.  The twins were great spectators in their stroller - and only told us twice to 'pick up the pace'!.  Anyway, this was race #43 that I have pushed them in!

3.  Sunday morning I stepped outside to not only a warm day - but a WINDY one at that.  It was one of those runs where you don't realize how windy it really is, until you turn around at the half way point and head home.  My time for the first 2 miles was very fast and I felt pretty proud.  But guess what - I quickly realized that HELLO - that's the result of a great tail wind :)  So, the way back to the farm took me quite a bit longer than the way out, but considering those sustained gusts, I was just glad to finally make it back and not have to call the house for a ride back.  I was also pretty bummed that there was no random farm dogs to run with today.  Yep, usually you run past a farm house and the greatest old farm dog joins along and really - it is great company (except for the random stops and cutoffs right in front of you)... But heck, it keeps you on your toes!

'Why' might you ask did I decide to run 3 days in a row - particularly in such windy conditions.  Well, the night before my father-in-law hosted a 'Blooming Luau Party'....yep, lots of good food, beer, and wine.  And guess what, my mother-in-law made homemade fried banana fritters!  I was able to steer clear of them for about a half hour - until someone twisted my arm for a quick try.  Well, 30 minutes later I had consumed five of them....and felt like my stomach was becoming a lunar mass.  So, Sunday morning running really seemed like a requirement after this 'incident'.

Homemade banana fritters:  Think Banana Bread and Funnel Cake all in one!

After a good long weekend of some great mileage, I'm really excited about some nice warm weather running this summer.  Only more good times ahead!

Stress Relief At Its Best....Why I Run...

The WARM WEATHER running season is just upon us!  I was pretty excited this week to use that as my motivation to get others to MOVE.  Running is a great way - but really - just to get out and DO SOMETHING!  So, this week I'm a guest 'blogger' on the Homewood Flossmoor Patch (http://homewood-flossmoor.patch.com/) - our local community website for 'All Things Homewood-Flossmoor.  If you haven't checked it out yet - DO IT!  Or - check out their Facebook Page and 'like it' Here. 

Anyway, check out my article HERE - and yes, I hope to see you at the 5k on Saturday - with my co-runner hubby and our little training partners in tow!

Destination Run: Pittsburgh Style!

As mentioned before HERE, running while on work trips is my necessity.  I love to see the 'new city sites' this way...and also attempt to balance out the unending free food and booze that seems to necessitate any work travel.  I spent 5 full days in the 'Burgh' and found 3 times to run.  When I first arrived in Pittsburgh, the concept of running slightly frightened me - HELLO - MORE HILLS!  But then I found this beautiful thing:  The Allegheny River!  Yes....rivers aren't on hills and what does that mean to me? - seek them out!  Usually in any major city there is some type of body of water, with a nice path/sidewalk/road that runs along it.  Luckily I stumbled upon a true running path here via a small park that connects all the sites along the river: PNC Park, Heinz Field, the Casino, The Science Museum, and of course....entrances to all the beautiful bridges that span the Allegheny as they approach this area known as the golden triangle. (Here Pittsburgh is nested between two rivers:  the Allegheny and the Monongahela rivers - which combined to form the start of the Ohio river that then runs south west towards good ole' southern Illinois!). 

Foodie Indulgence: The Pittsburgh Attack!

After spending five straight days in Pittsburgh, PA, on the company dime and eating out every single meal, I came to a few quick conclusions on Day 1:

• I was going to experience tons of amazing food
• All amazing food is only just as good with great amazing wine and beer
• When you're with good friends and it's not your dime, zero accountability with eating 'right' ever enters the course of decision making.
• Any weight loss I had achieved via winter and spring marathon training would soon be lost

So...5 days later, how did it all pan out?  Well, all four major points were achieved.  Success?!?  Well, let's just say I can call this rather 'Predicatable!'.  Item 4 was somewhat curbed by the fact I did run 15 miles while in town, but anyone who has ever been gone on a week for a work trip can attest to the fact that no amount of miles can undue 5 days or 15 meals of eating like crap.  Nope....can't do it.  At least it kept me active and not at the buffet or bar longer than I really needed to be there.  And no, I haven't stepped on a scale to really see 'how much' the damage is.  I'm slightly scared right now and will only step on once I've had a couple of good days back in the office where I'm pretty regimented in my frozen lunches and clementines again :)

So, in order to not just feel sorry for myself, but to truly enjoy all the great good and beverage, I decided to instead, indulge in my 'Inner Foodie' and just enjoy it!  Below are some wonderful samplings of my week in Pittsburgh....and what I have coined to myself as the unhealthiest work trip of my existence.  Cheers!

The "Pittsburgh-er or the Primanti"

It had cappicola and salami with melted provolone, french fries, cole slaw and tomato on pugliese bread (yes, cole slaw and french fries actually inside of the sandwich).  But seriously....who ever imagined french fries on a sandwich - PURE GENIUS!!!

A wonderful ballpark hot dog with caramelized balsamic onions on top!

Potatoes with blue cheese and bacon!

Sliders...need I say more?  :)

Gyros!  $5 after the bars....2:30am.  Great on the waist!

All in all - this week will be my detox.  Yes, fruit, vegetables, and dairy will once again enter my diet.  Exercise will ramp up, and I am beginning my first day in one week with no beer or wine.  Please be leery of talking/working/socializing with me.  To help get thru this transition, I am considering a slow drip IV of beer and beef filet grease to help me get thru the next couple days.  Please say a prayer that I make it :)

Baseball Night in the Burgh :)

Tonight our staff enjoyed a great night out tonight in Pittsburgh....at a Pirates baseball game.  As appropriate for any strong Cardinals fan, I wore my shirt - eventhough they were playing the Dodgers...ya know, gotta root against my central division competitors.  But...the bonus of a poor team with poot community support on a Tuesaday  night: Amazing seats in perfect weather! 
We walked here from our hotel....and hello - the bridges here are amazing.  My husband will be oozing with jealousy when I tell him about it. 
So....I'm enjoying some Bud Light and having a great time....and a little sad I missed my T-ball Salukis tonight.  But, again- nachos and beer and baseball makes it all better!!!

Mother’s Day Ammmazing-ness

So….let me just start out this post by first explaining that I THINK much of my husband’s success in pulling off a fabulous Mother’s Day experience for me this year, is mostly in repair and recovery from last year’s Mother’s Day.  Yep, last year was the worst.

As is this year, I’m heading to my once a year ‘all week’ work trip for the NASCC: The Steel Conference.  Last year, we were required to fly out Sunday to arrive prior to Monday morning.  Thankfully, this year, we flew out today – Monday.  So, last year, my husband was in the midst of one of his ‘crazy’ work deadlines and had to work Sunday in the city.  I spent the day alone with two crazies – yes, two ‘just turned 4 – full on crazies’ that were awful that day.  Then I picked up Chris at work and he drove us to the airport for my drop off.  I was sulking in the fact I was alone all day, the kids were out of control, and I had to leave for seven days (which I was then blaming their ‘crazy-factor’ on me for not being around more).  I nearly quit my job on the spot that day – curbside at the airport.  I remember crying thru the airport with sunglasses on.  The TSA person made me take off my sunglasses in the security line and guess what – she gave me a hug.  She said….”I know….It’s Mother’s Day….I wish I was home too.”   She ‘got’ it.  I just wanted to cry on her shoulder till my flight left, but I knew if I stood there for more than the ‘accepted time’, I’d surely be detained for some random code violation.

So….I went to work and said – NEVER will I travel on Mother’s Day away from my kids again – NEVER.

Well….fast forward 12 months and here we are again.  But guess what – NO TRAVEL YESTERDAY!  Woo Hoo!  Chris never forgot how bad that day was….and he KNEW how close I was to quitting a job that I love over one crappy day.  He got the super-duper Dad ‘Gold Star’ yesterday.  From an orchestrated breakfast in bed….to letting me get myself ready for church in a quiet room, to a beautiful lunch at Belagio and nap with my babies – it was fabulous J

As I mentioned this weekend in my Mother’s Day Mantra post, I was quite nervous the twins would burn down the house at 5am with their secret threat of pancakes and operating the toaster.  When my husband first heard them up clanging pans, he immediately went down there and put together something fabulous:

Great food....and a great Quatros's Cup to compliment it!  (for all you Salukis!)

Seriously – ham, mushroom, and cheese omelet, toast, strawberries and bananas….and two of our shot glasses (which get zero usage these days) outfitted with strawberry jelly and salsa as condiments.   A nicely folded napkin and orange juice

Gardening Update - The Plants are IN!

This weekend was all about two things.  Gardening and moms J

Since I’m going to be gone all this coming week for NASCC: The Steel Conference, in Pittsburgh – and next weekend we’ll be in Dekalb for little Wessie’s college graduation from NIU – and the weather was forecasting extreme warmth and no chance of frost at all – we decided it was time to plant the garden.

Saturday morning I went and visited my local organic gardener:  Bloomberg Gardens, and bought the following plant starts:

• Cilantro
• Oregano
• Jalapenos
• Chives
• Broccoli
• Lettuce varieties (Merlot, Caesar/Romaine, Green Oak Leaf, Kale, Spinach, Red Leaf)
• Grape and cherry tomatoes.

As I mentoned before, I already had green pepper and large tomato plants compliments of the Lincolnwood FFA chapter, so this was a great start.  Once I had all the starts I could find from them, I went to my home-away-from-home, Home Depot, and bought organic plant seeds and a couple more starts to complete the rest of the garden:

• Sweet Corn
• Peas
• Pole Beans
• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• Asparagus
• Onions
• Radishes
• Carrots
• Cinnamon Basil
• Cucumbers
• Strawberries

….which also led to the need for tomato cages, trellises, and garden ties.  So…after 4-5 hours of ‘out and about’, we were finally ready to plant!

We decided to mark off 15” x 15” squares on the perimeter frames of our raised beds (we were too scared for a true ‘square foot’ grid our first year.  Remember, our only gardening experience prior to this was back home, where land was of the essence and you NEVER compacted your planting….so one small step at a time).  Starting at the north end of the beds with our tallest and cage varieties (sweet corn, pole beans, cucumber, peas, tomatoes) and working south to the smallest of lettuce and root vegetables, we worked square by square to get everything in – both me and my small helpers. 

My Mother's Day Mantra

Yesterday, on the way to preschool, my five year old twins told me what they could make me for 'breakfast in bed' on Mother's Day.  However, there were many caveats to what was truly available for my 'picking' if they were preparing it on their own.

• Toast - with strawberry jelly, said my son Kaiden.  Madyson piped up and reminded him that Daddy had banned them from using the toaster since the electricity problem - and that it can kill them (I can't even imagine the story that goes with this....I'll have to ask my husband what happened sometime).  So they changed their mind - just bread with jelly.
• A Banana
• Orange Juice
• Cereal...any kind I want!  And they both agreed that Madyson had poured milk in the past and that she would not make a mess.
• They would hand deliver it on an old metal 'breakfast in bed' tray they had in the basement.  It has a fox, bear, and beaver on the front of it that they took from their Great-Grandma's house a couple years ago.  One of the little support legs is broke, but they assured me it still worked.

Race Number 41 with my training partners!

As I shared earlier this week, last weekend, I ran a crazy running bonanza weekend.  A 5k and a Half Marathon - 13 hours apart.  Just today the race posted pictures from the 5k.  And guess what - I think I've found my favorite :)

This race was number 41.  Yes, over the course of the last couple months, I've done my best to actually determine how many races I have pushed the twins in.  Last Friday night, on April 29th, I pushed them in number 41.  This is summer number 6 they've been traveling in this exact same stroller.  They are now too big for the seat belts, old enough to adjust the sun visor on their own, and ornery enough to sometimes drag their feet on the ground on purpose to get my attention for one of their pressing questions that they might have for me mid-race. 

I found out from my sister-in-law about thirty minutes before the race that the rules said 'No Running with Strollers'.  Guess what....I kinda pretended I didn't hear her  :)  This summer I plan to soak up my last chances to take my little 'training partners' out with me on Saturdays for races.... This is a time in my life I will never get back and I really really do enjoy it. Heck, I ran my second marathon ever when I was pregnant with them.  NOT having them with me truly seems un-natural.

So, of the 4,500 5k runners last weekend, I'm pretty sure I was the only one running while pushing 100 pounds of twins plus an old jalopy stroller at a 29 minute race pace.  To the Illinois Marathon staff and volunteers - thanks for not stopping me for a rule that was probably well grounded for the quantity of people in that short race....but I appreciate it :)  Running around the inside of Memorial Stadium while pushing my kids to the Black Eyed Peas is a feeling I may never forget :)

I GOTTA FEELING!

Surviving our 2011 Illnesses...ALL HOME TOGETHER!

Walking Pneumonia has officially struck us all.  Yes, all 4 of us ranging in age from 34 to 5 are all on the exact same medication, and all stranded at home.  I attempted, after 3 days on antibiotics, to escape back to work in the city today.  Well, I only made it 5 hours and headed back south on the train.  Too tired, winded, exhausted - all of it.  I really tried to battle it out.  The thought of being home with 3 other 'sicklies' wasn't very exciting.  I was going to will my way back to work and normality.  My body was thinking something else. 

Yesterday I felt pretty good, today much worse.  Why - I'm not sure.  Many people have told me how long it will take us to get over this condition - since it really does weaken our immune system.  But you know me....I'll bounce back quickly....so I thought.  Monday when I sat down with my new doctor, he told me - Take care of yourself and Stop Being a Hero.  But wait, isn't that what my job is?

Suburban Gardening - Our first steps

Nearly two years ago when our townhouse was for sale, I had some pretty specific requirements:  Sell this to buy a REAL house....with a yard the kids can run crazy in and I can build gardens and plant flowers wherever I want.  This may seem like a standard wish or requirement for most people. BUT, not in a townhouse that is run by a homeowner's association that doesn't allow fences, personal children's playgrounds, or gardens.  Really, no customization of any kind.  Period.  When we were the standard DINKs (Double Income No Kids) in town, it was perfect.  We spent most of our time working, playing sports in the city, and didn't want to spend any of our own time actually maintaining our property such as landscaping and snow removal.  Again, it was perfect.  But....as what normally happens when you have children, our perspective changed.

As soon as the twins were old enough to crawl and soon run, the exterior of my home became nearly as important as the inside of my home.  Inside, we finished our basement and added a toy room.  Outside, our hands were tied.  There was a large common yard, but no personal space.  Our daughter once even fell down a neighbor's window well.  Yep, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.  No privacy.  No security. No safety.  And again....no ability to plant a garden and customize anything we wanted.  At one time in our lives, this was perfect - but by today, it wasn't for us anymore.

So luckily, we sold our townhouse and bought a 'real' house.  You know, one with our own walls, a yard we and we alone were responsible for, and one in which we owned a yard as far as the eye could see....where we could do whatever we wanted!  The first year we owned the home, we closed on it mid summer and didn't have a full growing season to take advantage of.  Therefore, 2011 was decided on to be 'our year'.

Racing Success & Scournging up from the Depths of Phlem Hell!

7 days...12 hours later, and I 'may' be turning the corner.  You know when you're sick and you say 'I think I'm turning the corner'.  Well, last Wednesday at about 5pm as I was on the train with my husband heading home, I turned to him and said, I REALLY need to turn the corner tomorrow.  No....I didn't feel like I was turning the corner, but I NEEDED to turn the corner. Because, well, I had plans.  I, like most humans on this planet, don't allow time for getting sick.  Heck, I haven't even been on antibiotics for the cold or flu in over 7 years.  I haven't been to a family practice doctor in that same amount of time....as I'm a chronic 'self diagnoser'.  So, Thursday of last week, I didn't turn the corner.  Friday afternoon I had REAL PLANS.  I was planning to run the I-Challenge in Champaign, IL starting that evening:  Pushing the twins in a 5k at 6:30pm and running a half marathon 13 hours later at 7:30am.  Yep, no time for any little 'phlem' to get in my way!  So, turning the corner - or not, I wasn't backing out of my commitments, and my MONEY I had already paid 5 months ago for this event!