How Much Can You Fit in One Week?

Whew!  Last week was insane.  It was a week that I've been planning for and anticipating for months (since February 2012 when I first signed up for the Chicago Marathon).  It seemed like it took forever to get here and then blink, it was over and done.  I'm still trying to remember what all happened last week.  If you think I'm joking, I'm not.  Jon asked me if I remembered running past the United Center (where the Chicago Bulls play) during our marathon and I said no.  Clearly I was still a bit "out of it" during the race and so focused on finishing that I missed out on some of the big landmarks along the way(there is an analogy for life there, but I'm too tired to take the time to unpackage it right now).

Some people (like Grandma Mary) think our "normal" weeks are a bit hectic and crazy with two different school schedules, therapy for the twins, soccer practices & games, our training runs and multiple church commitments.  

Last week was all that plus a few airport runs, a doctor appointment for a sick child, several trips to the pharmacy and target for medicine, a trip into the city for the marathon expo, a sick mom, a dinner party with 3 other couple friends (one visiting from Oregon), 8 family members visiting, and then literally running a marathon.  Needless to say, some of its a blur.

I was more than a bit disappointed when I came down with my first cold of 2012 at the beginning of the week.  Quickly, I began downing Vitamin C and D like there was no tomorrow.  I went to bed as early as I could, but by Thursday, I was a mess.  I was up all night Wednesday coughing and was starting to lose my voice.  I got antibiotics and was hopeful that they would kick in and help me feel better before Sunday morning's race.

It took trips to two different pharmacies to get my medicines and while the twins were complaining about how long it was taking (even though they were watching a movie and eating snacks in the car), I started to lose it.  I tried calmly explaining that I needed medicine to feel better and didn't they want me to feel better.  Andrew's only response was "why does your voice sound weird mom?"  Um...that's laryngitis boys.  Thanks for the sympathy.  My speech on how I take care of them when they are sick by taking them to the doctor, going to the pharmacy and cleaning up their vomit fell on deaf ears.    

Thursday night, I got the mother of all migraines.  Clearly, the stress was getting to me.  After having a good cry/pity party for myself and the timing of getting sick, I reluctantly went to bed at 8:30 pm.  I was sad to miss out on hanging out with my sister on her first night visiting.  But I realized I was human.  It was time to slow down.  Cut out anything nonessential (hanging out late, keeping the house tidy, showers (okay maybe not the shower thing). 

I woke up the next day without a migraine and feeling much better.

The medicine did the trick and by Saturday, my sinus infection was under control, my cough was diminishing and I got my voice back.   I tried to be smart and I skipped out on attending the Homecoming Football Game at the college I attended as well as the boys' soccer game to stay inside where it was warm and to rest up for Sunday.  Again, I was disappointed to miss out on running into friends I only see at that annual football game, but that's life.  Sometimes you have to stop.  Sometimes you have to miss things.  Good things.  Fun things.  The world doesn't stand still or fall apart when you get sick.

While I was re-learning this lesson, Andrew was being introduced to it as well.  On Friday afternoon, he came down with a fever and a trip to the doctor on Saturday morning confirmed it was Strep.  He missed his soccer game that his Uncles and Grandparents from out of state were attending.  He also missed out on going into the city on Sunday to watch the marathon (including taking the "L" for the first time) and spending the day with his super fun cousin Lauren and grandparents who live out of state.  Instead, he went to his other grandparents' house with his 2 little brothers.  To make matters worse, his twin brother James got to do all those things: play in the soccer game, hang out with Lauren, and go to the marathon.  James didn't go out of his way to rub it in, but I would think it still smarts a bit.   He handled it great. He didn't shed any tears.  It may be because he felt so sick, but I'm still proud of him.

And the next day while we were all at the marathon and I felt a little bad that Andrew was missing out (since he is even more into the running scene than James), Andrew was at a McDonald's play place getting a new happy meal toy, which apparently takes the sting out of missing out on something you've been looking forward to all week.

I don't have a great picture to go with this post (mainly because in the craziness, I pretty much forgot to take pictures last week).  Plus, who wants to see pictures of me being sick, trips to the pharmacy, or how messy my house got? Here are a few picture highlights from last week.

Caleb checks out Harvey's feet.

Grandma Mary gives Caleb a toy broom since he loves pushing things like brooms & mops.

My main man meeting his youngest nephew, Harvey.

Jon helps Harvey do some 'Tummy Time' and K joins in.