Wow! It took me all day to get around to typing this up because I was so sleepy! I met my Dad at 7:30 am this morning and we walked the first 3 miles together and then I just re-traced our steps to add an additional 6 miles. I am so proud of myself!
My regular walking partner, Misty, hurt her back, so I am not sure how much walking she will be doing for the next few days, but I can always walk with Dad. But, since she is convalescing, we are planning our first annual, "Crop for the Cure" to help with fundraising for the 3-Day.
We should know about our (fingers crossed) location tomorrow. Can't wait to begin publicizing it! As soon as we can finalize the info, I will post it here and hope you all can help me to spread the news. Also, remember the t-shirts for sale at my Cafepress.com store. Just click the link on the right side to check them out. All proceeds support the 3-Day Walk as well.
Showing posts with label Dad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dad. Show all posts
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Our First 5K Walk
Today, our family participated in our first organized walking event. It was a 5K sponsored by our local United Bank to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. It was a good day for a walk and a good cause to walk for.
The date turned out to be almost prophetic. Three months ago, to the day, I was rushing my Dad to the local hospital with severe chest pains. I doubt that I have ever been as frightened as I was that day. He had a significant heart attack. Early care helped to moderate the damage and with two stents, he began the road to recovery. Today, that road led 3.1 miles through Griffin, Georgia. I was so proud of him for completing the walk--he even made better time than we did!
Also, Dad reminded me that 31 years ago, to the day, my Mom learned that she had cervical cancer. At that time, none of us had ever met anyone who was a cancer survivor. I was in the 4th grade at the time, and she believed that there was no hope but to prolong the inevitable as long as possible. We called her after the walk to tell her we all made it. Arthritis prevented her from joining us. Modern medicine is miraculous--truly a gift from a loving God.
Before the walk, I received a special Mother's Day gift. Eddie replaced my fanny pack (that had been accidentally broken a few weeks back) with a much upgraded model that will be much better to carry on the 3-day. I carried it on the walk today and it was shockingly comfortable. I was able to carry 2 water bottles, my blister kit (Eddie included it with the gift), sunscreen lip balm, and my wig (swapped out for the ball cap which I wear when I walk). Plus, it had loads of room to spare. It is wrapped in thick padding and moisture wicking material. I am very grateful. It's a very highly rated model on about.com and much nicer than I probably would have bought for myself.
We had never really walked with our two boys (one with autism) where we expected them to keep a constant pace. Usually, hubby takes them on light day hikes. This was a bit more extreme, but I am so very proud to announce that we all made it! The boys were feeling the heat and stress by the end, but we came in with a very respectable 59 minutes. Not a fast pace, but a good, steady showing. I am proud.
The boys were thrilled that they got t-shirts and a cool water bottle from Truett's Grill. I won a door prize of a mini-facial that I am looking forward to using soon. I hope that this can be the first step toward getting us all more active and healthy. Even though the amounts that I will need to walk will vary in the weeks preceding my 3-day walk in October, I would like to see us have more time to walk together as a family. It beats the snot out of tv time!
When I got home, I received the nicest Mother's Day card from my best friend, Karen. It was so unexpected (and squishy) that I knew in an instant that the sentiment was legitimate. I am honored. What a good day!
The date turned out to be almost prophetic. Three months ago, to the day, I was rushing my Dad to the local hospital with severe chest pains. I doubt that I have ever been as frightened as I was that day. He had a significant heart attack. Early care helped to moderate the damage and with two stents, he began the road to recovery. Today, that road led 3.1 miles through Griffin, Georgia. I was so proud of him for completing the walk--he even made better time than we did!
Also, Dad reminded me that 31 years ago, to the day, my Mom learned that she had cervical cancer. At that time, none of us had ever met anyone who was a cancer survivor. I was in the 4th grade at the time, and she believed that there was no hope but to prolong the inevitable as long as possible. We called her after the walk to tell her we all made it. Arthritis prevented her from joining us. Modern medicine is miraculous--truly a gift from a loving God.
Before the walk, I received a special Mother's Day gift. Eddie replaced my fanny pack (that had been accidentally broken a few weeks back) with a much upgraded model that will be much better to carry on the 3-day. I carried it on the walk today and it was shockingly comfortable. I was able to carry 2 water bottles, my blister kit (Eddie included it with the gift), sunscreen lip balm, and my wig (swapped out for the ball cap which I wear when I walk). Plus, it had loads of room to spare. It is wrapped in thick padding and moisture wicking material. I am very grateful. It's a very highly rated model on about.com and much nicer than I probably would have bought for myself.
We had never really walked with our two boys (one with autism) where we expected them to keep a constant pace. Usually, hubby takes them on light day hikes. This was a bit more extreme, but I am so very proud to announce that we all made it! The boys were feeling the heat and stress by the end, but we came in with a very respectable 59 minutes. Not a fast pace, but a good, steady showing. I am proud.
The boys were thrilled that they got t-shirts and a cool water bottle from Truett's Grill. I won a door prize of a mini-facial that I am looking forward to using soon. I hope that this can be the first step toward getting us all more active and healthy. Even though the amounts that I will need to walk will vary in the weeks preceding my 3-day walk in October, I would like to see us have more time to walk together as a family. It beats the snot out of tv time!
When I got home, I received the nicest Mother's Day card from my best friend, Karen. It was so unexpected (and squishy) that I knew in an instant that the sentiment was legitimate. I am honored. What a good day!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
A crazy couple of weeks!
Hmmm. Where to start...
Okay, last Monday, all was well in the world (okay, it was a royally crappy day, but I could deal with it, kind of) until I got a phone call at work that my Dad had come to the school to pick up my oldest son, John. While here, he started having severe chest pains...
So, off we go to the local hospital emergency room with Dad fussing and complaining all the way there. I did have the presence of mind to call ahead through the EMS so that they were waiting on him.
Long story short. Dad had a heart attack, but thankfully very little real damage associated with it. He got transfered to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta (a top-notch, but truly psychotically designed facility) and got a heart catheterization, lots of Plavix, and 2 stents in the front artery of his heart. It's like a miracle. Cardiac procedures have changed so much as the technology has improved that he didn't have to have his chest "cracked" at all. Now his complexion is all pink and nice. We hadn't realized that he had gotten so pale until he "pinked up."
Now he's home and fussy. He hates not being independent and totally in control of life (guess that's where I got it from). He is having to behave (unlike when I had to drive him and Mom home from the hospital and he ESCAPED at Kaiser medical center!), eat right, and lose weight. I think this was a major wake up call for him. All I know is that my prayers have been answered and he is fine. Whew!
Okay, last Monday, all was well in the world (okay, it was a royally crappy day, but I could deal with it, kind of) until I got a phone call at work that my Dad had come to the school to pick up my oldest son, John. While here, he started having severe chest pains...
So, off we go to the local hospital emergency room with Dad fussing and complaining all the way there. I did have the presence of mind to call ahead through the EMS so that they were waiting on him.
Long story short. Dad had a heart attack, but thankfully very little real damage associated with it. He got transfered to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta (a top-notch, but truly psychotically designed facility) and got a heart catheterization, lots of Plavix, and 2 stents in the front artery of his heart. It's like a miracle. Cardiac procedures have changed so much as the technology has improved that he didn't have to have his chest "cracked" at all. Now his complexion is all pink and nice. We hadn't realized that he had gotten so pale until he "pinked up."
Now he's home and fussy. He hates not being independent and totally in control of life (guess that's where I got it from). He is having to behave (unlike when I had to drive him and Mom home from the hospital and he ESCAPED at Kaiser medical center!), eat right, and lose weight. I think this was a major wake up call for him. All I know is that my prayers have been answered and he is fine. Whew!
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