the game of life

As you might have noticed, my running totals for the last week or two have plummeted to almost non-existence. I am not complaining mind you. Besides, I am too tired to complain. Lillian is finally getting accustomed to her surroundings and seems to be on a schedule of sorts. The first few days was rough. She wasn't eating as much and it was sporadic. She slept a lot and it was tough to get her to eat at times because she would fall asleep during the feeding.

This week has proven to be rough, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. With feedings every three hours Steph and I still trying to find time to sleep. I am actually doing okay - I am used to little amounts of sleep. But I am not finding any time to run. This morning would have been a good morning, but I have lots of work to get done that I haven't gotten to this week and I felt like I was run over by a truck.

Hopefully next week things will "normalize" to some extent so I can get back into a routine. I had it figured out that I could slip out for a run between feedings in the early morning or shift my runs to after work... we'll see. Last weekends 7 mile run was nice. I ran at a good pace and felt good, but I've done no running since and I don't want all my training to go to waste. My plan is to get out for another run this weekend - perhaps even a nice long trail run. I am still hoping to run a trail run race on the 17th... and maybe a few more races before the end of the year, but I'll be happy with just getting out for a run.

That's all for now.

finally...

It has been a long and tiring week, but Lillian is coming home tomorrow! The doctor has cleared her and she has passed all of her tests with flying colors. We spent the afternoon with her and came home for a nap before we have to go to a work function for Steph... she's feeling guilty about this, but this is very important to her because they are honoring a former client whom she helped and it was planned long before Lilli decided to come early, but it still isn't making it any easier (and her work is not been as understanding as one might think)... hopefully it will be a quick ceremony and then it is back home for our last chance at sleep - something that neither one of us have really had all week.

Both of us are excited, but nervous about bringing her home. We are both doubting our ability to be good parents - why? I guess because we have never been parents and this is for keeps and she is just so tiny... but I am pretty confident it will be fine once we get in a routine. I am going to get something worked out with my job to see if I can work from home for a few days to help ease the transition.

With Lillian being early, we have found ourselves a little caught off guard. We have to finish organizing the kitchen still, but her nursery is all set (even though she'll be in a bassinette in our room - initially anyway).

Lots of other little things that I didn't get to, but none of them important at this time. When they say "You're never ready" it is true. Nothing can prepare you to be ready to have a baby - you just learn to adapt and be flexible.

I'll be honest - I'm a little scared, but my excitement outweighs my fear.

That is all for now. I'll post more as time allows. Tonight's mission is to get the best sleep possible.

baby update

Mom and baby doing well. Lillian has been in NICU since delivery since she was 5 weeks early, but she has been proving to everyone that, while she was early, she was ready.
She did have a heart murmer, but this is normal, as the top valve of the heart is open while in the womb since it is not needed. In just one day it has improved dramatically to where it is almost gone. Her lungs were were just fine and she has beathed on her own since the delivery as well. She is also no longer having to be under a warmer so is now in a regular bassinet. Lillian is strong - just like her mom.
Steph was able to change Lillian's diaper and feed her twice yesterday. Lillian loves to eat - just like her dad.
Steph gets to go home today, but Lillian will have to stay for about another week - though we have not been given an exact date yet. This is proving to be very difficult for us. We truly love this little girl and don't want to be separated from her, but we also want to make sure she is ready to go home as well.
That is all for now. I'm going to try to go back to sleep...

daddy by design

As of 5:16 this morning, I am officially a daddy by design.
Lillian Violet is her name... More to come

on the road again

So after a few days off I came back to the running world for a nice easy s-l-o-w run this morning. The weatherman was saying it was 44 degrees, but with a wind chill it felt like 33.

What?! Did he say "wind chill"? Yep. With wind gusting at 17 mph, it was a brisk one out there in the dark, but dressed with a hat and gloves I was fine.

I even ran without my music or my watch - it was actually quite nice. It was a bright, full moon and a clear sky. It was also very quite - almost too quiet, but it was great.

This weekend I am going to attempt to get back to my roots. By roots I mean trails, by trails I mean going for a trail run. My last trail run was back in June some time. I have missed two races that I had planned at the beginning of the year to run, but marathon training got in the way. With all of that aside now, I need to get reacquainted.

That's all for now... Best of luck to Yumke as runs the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday!