Babies, Running and a Surprise Ending

I think I was a pretty relaxed mom from the start. I wasn’t too worried about what I would do with a new baby, even with my firstborn. I was excited, I never experienced morning sickness, I enjoyed food (very much, thank you), and I had a great guy who supported me and was as enthused about beginning our family as I was. In fact, I think the first time around I was more focused on how pregnancy impacted me than the responsibility for a new little life. It probably was all about me that time, but it was fun. We were living in Phoenix where Keven was finishing up his MBA, far from any family. We had made some good friends, had a great ward, a nice little apartment with a swimming pool, and no telephone (no, not even a cell phone). When we finally figured out that I was in serious labor Keven had to run downstairs and across the parking lot to a grocery store in order to use the outside payphone to call the doctor. The doctor told him to call the hospital, which would let him know when to come. Oh. So Keven ran back to the apartment to get another dime (yup, just a dime) and made the call to the hospital. They invited us to come right away.

Pregnancy #2 was a piece of cake, but I worried that I would not be able to love a new little one as much as I did my first one. It’s amazing how that works – the minute he was born I knew I loved him every bit as much, and it didn’t take anything away from my love for his big brother. The heart just expands. I think it’s one of the miracles of mothering.

And so, with pregnancy #3, I was finally able to just focus on the joy of bringing a new little spirit into our family. It was a bonus that we got a girl! Each baby that came was added happiness and blessings and it just got easier and easier. OK, I will admit that I ended up endorsing the advice my friend gave me when I was pregnant with #2 and was wondering how on earth I would keep up with everything. Jackie, already an experienced mother of 6 told me that I would just relax my standards. I was aghast, but didn’t say so out loud, I just determined that that would not be the way I did it. But it was, and it was OK.

When I was still in the hospital after baby #5 three of my good friends came to visit. They had literally just completed an international run between El Paso and Juarez (I don’t think they’re doing that one anymore!) 3K? 5K? 10K? – I can’t remember, but I was so impressed with their accomplishment and felt like a total schmuck. However, I had a pretty good excuse for not having joined them so I didn’t let on then either.

Recently I started running to augment the work outs I am doing to get myself back into some kind of shape. My motivation was when I realized I weighed as much as I ever did at full-term pregnancy, and my “baby” is 25 years old! I have never, ever been a runner, unless you count my 9th grade year when I was on the track team for less than 6 weeks. I was pretty good at the dashes and hurdles – short distances. But I never had any desire or stamina for the long distance running. Since that hasn’t changed why would I want to run now? Well, Ayrel threw down the gauntlet last fall, inviting her sisters and mom to join her in a half marathon. Ugh. But I took the challenge.

I started by adding some jogging to my walks with the dogs. Then I got serious and made myself run my first mile since high school. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t fun. But I knew it would get easier as I went along. Wrong. Mile 2 was painful. Mile 3 was painful. Mile 8 just about made me quit. It’s not getting easier. At all. How on earth am I going to run this thing in September???

Today I "practiced" and ran in my first event since 9th grade track, an 8K (about 5 miles) in McKelligon Canyon supporting a great cause, Candlelighters of El Paso, and sponsored by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. I figured it would be a safe enough place for a first race, what with all the uniforms and such. My mantra was, "Do what you can, and count your blessings."

It felt good! I was happy with my time! I was surprised when they awarded me the silver medal for my age group! And now, I really think I can do the 1/2 marathon next month. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.