Bike MS

Harmons is the big sponsor for Bike MS so this will definitely be on our years list of activities. And it is a good thing to have on the list. We bought our bikes back in February all preparatory for this ride. :)

We headed up to Logan on Friday afternoon after dropping the kiddos of to spend a weekend with Grandma and Grandpa (thanks mom and dad ♥) We went to the big dinner that Harmons puts on for all of thier riders. I knew I would need some serious energy so I ate 7 cookies! HA that is so gross, but I totally did. The snicker doodles and gingers snaps would not stop calling my name. :)

After dinner we checked in for the race and made sure each of us had raised out funds. Thank you so much to all those who donated to MS in Phil and my's behalf. :) We of course needed one more food boost so that night we hit up Coldstone and hung out and chatted while we ate it. We had a big crowd Phil's parents, Grandparents, Aunt Suzi, Brit and Brady, Steve and Laura, Steve's brother Marc and us.

On Sat we woke up early to head down to the start line. There were a TON of people there. We headed out in the 3rd wave of people and were on our way! 100 miles on the bike!

me, Marc, Brent, Laura, Suzi, Steve, Brady, and Phil

It was really a fun ride. They have stops every 7-10 miles and do a big lunch at mile 75. There was a serious headwind from about mile 50 on, but I felt really good for most of the time until about mile 90. Then my butt was really hurting and I wanted to be done. Brady and I could not fathom stopping at the last stop and so we left everyone and trudged on. When we saw Phil's grandparents, mom and sister we stopped and waited for the rest of the crew. 

After we crossed the finish line with everyone we headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up and head to dinner. We enjoyed yummy Texas Roadhouse. I feel asleep like right at 10 and slept so good! My body was beat. The next morning we woke up and Brady, Phil and I were so sore. We had planned on riding again but at that point weren't sure our butts could handle it. haha We decided to suck it up and DO IT!

We rode 40 miles and it was really fun! After the first 15 which was pure headwind and miserable, there was a long downhill stretch and a few cool hills and it was just a nice change of pace. We got back and cleaned up before heading out to eat lunch and head home. 

My sweet pediatrician, who I SERIOUSLY love, donated some $ to our ride and told me at Brigs appt that her mom has MS. I told her I would ride for her mom, but forgot to get her name. So on my bib I wrote "Dr. Jackson's Mom." Ü

 I forgot to get a pic of Phil and I with our medals after riding so I got one when we got cleaned up.

A BIG thanks to my mom for watching the kiddos and playing with them at the cabin. I know they had a lot of fun. They were worn right out! When we drove them home Brigs couldn't keep his little eyes open, sucker or not. ;)

Ragnar Wasatch Back

The Ragnar has been something I have always wanted to do. A relay race covering 200ish miles(Logan to Park City) with a bunch of friends, on little sleep, who wouldn't want to? ;) Some girls in my ward put together a group this time last year. I said I was a for sure. I figured Pierce would be just over 1, I'd be done nursing (or close to) and golden. Fast forward two months and I figured I was a definite no. My baby had just died, I knew I wanted another one and at that point it couldn't happen fast enough. I would for sure be pregnant and unable to run. Fast forward 6 more months when they were finalizing the team. We had just decided we were in no rush and had a few things that needed to take place before we were ready to take the "trying again" step. At that point I knew I could be a for sure!

Our team is Run Like a Mother! Such a fun name for a team full of mom's who love to run!

I was in van 1 so we had to go up to Logan the night before. A girl in our van (my neighbor Renee) had a connection up there and got us a great place to stay. At 10 we shut off the lights to try and get a little sleep since we needed to leave at 3:15. We all laid there and tried to be quite thinking others were sleeping but really none of us were. We were to anxious, excited and nervous. :) 

Our team's start time was 5:30. The start line was crazy. Tons of people. We cheered Keri on as she took off as our first runner!

 {2nd pic L-R Beth(4), me(5), Laura(2), Renee(3), Keri(1) and Jolee(6)}

Driving around cheering our team on was so fun. I loved the atmosphere. The relay race is really just so fun!

I was runner #5 so my first leg was at about 10 AM. This is the leg I was nervous for. All I had seen were pictures and heard things like "gains 1200 ft in elevation, 4x4 vehicles recommended to "traverse" Avon pass, and wear something over your face because the road is VERY dusty" The leg was called "What the HILL?!"

 The night before I tried out some options for what I might wear to protect myself from dust inhalation. I found that neither was great, seriously HOT! But I opted to carry my bandanna in case it was unbearable. The first 4 miles, I was golden. Seriously I was like "this is so much easier than I had expected."

When I hit mile 4 there was like a mile or two of NO SHADE! It was scorching. I was dumping my water on my head and drinking like crazy (from my dirt clad water bottle.) A few times I thought I might die. :) The hill was def the easiest part. The "gravel" aka boulder/dirt/mud road and the heat were what made it hard. I did however "kill" (what they call when you pass people) 69 people (almost everyone walked at some point, and I refused) and was only "killed" once. I was so happy to be done with that leg. 7.92 miles with a 9:18 pace. Better than I thought. With legs on FIRE from the incline and what felt like Pneumonia(from the dust and the elevation!!!) Isn't running fun? I LOVE it!


In our van we had runner 1-6. When Jolee (6) finished her leg and we said hello to our other 6 team mates at the exchange we headed to snow basin ski resort(so nice) where the next big exchange would take place. We washed up(baby wiped up) and changed clothes and laid on the grass to try and catch a cat nap, although non of us did. :)

Then we were off for leg 2! Keri had a killer 8.4 miler down hill leg. When we got to the bottom we stopped for some gas and ice. The nachos were totally calling my name. I LOVE nachos. Literal love. I was like "do I dare? I have to run soon." Beth said if "your body wants them and they sound good, eat em." haha and eat em I did, and they were SO good! haha

When we got to where my 2nd leg started there were some guys doing some Ragnar tattoos. This was a must for all of us. I needed more than one. haha I really wanted him to do a sleeve of them, but I had to run. ;)

 Then it was off for my second run. I was so happy after finishing my first leg knowing that my next two would be no sweat(well maybe a little ;). It was rolly but so nice compared to the first. Plus it had cooled down quite a bit since it was after 7:30 when I started. 4.16 miles with a 7:53 pace. Kills 19, killed by 1

Jo's leg ended us at East Canyon res. I was able to meet up with  my brother there, who was in Van 2 of his group and getting ready for their run's through the night. We headed to North Summit High School where we cleaned up. Some people paid to shower. I couldn't handle it. Way too many naked women, who are way to comfortable with their bodies, who probably ought to not be. ;) Once we recovered from the nudity we laid out our sleeping bags in their gym for the night (11-3) I got a solid 2-3 hours of sleep before we were awoken by some serious snoring. Just after 3 we were headed out for our last legs! Yahoo!

It was so darn cold when Keri started we all felt so bad for her. Laura was out waiting for her at the exchange and was getting so cold. Beth offered to go out in her sleeping bag and give her "the sign" when she saw Keri coming. This is the sign.

We met Laura for water on her run and Keri was excellent at following the rules with her vest and flag!

It was nice and cool for the first 3 runners and then it really started heating up. I started my last leg at 9 and it was pretty toasty for the portion that had no shade. Oh how I am glad I wasn't in Van 2 who run during the middle of the day TWICE! Heat and running aren't friends in my mind. ;) My last leg was a breeze.  2.84 miles with a 7:06 pace, 19 kills, killed by 1.
side note- elevation is killer. I felt like my lungs were on fire almost every run and my heart rate was a lot higher. The only thing I can think to attribute it to is the elevation. 

Funny story: when we got to the exchange I was outside the van stretching. In the bent over v position. Some guy pulled his van in and almost hit me. Jolee yelled "We know she has a nice butt, but maybe you shouldn't stare" He was like "That is a nice butt" haha *AWKWARD* So then they guys where joking about wiping off some of our kills and such. Then we started walking over to the exchange and he said "Oh I have to run against you, I should have hit you" joking around and Laura says "ya and she's fast!" haha So his team mate came quite a bit before mine and he was off. Well when I caught up to him and passed him it was a proud moment for me and my van mates! haha Just add him to my kills! ;)

Of course we all needed a pic with our "van," all our kids(hello we are Mothers!) and our kills!

We finished up and handed off in Heber. We headed to Dairy Keen for some early lunch (10:30) and talked the owner of the hotel next door into letting us have a room for a few hours to shower. We all laughed and talked and deliriously laughed some more, showered and cleaned  up. Then we were off the finish line at Park City High School.

At the finish line it was literally deathly hot. I was feeling so bad for Mindy (our final runner) I was sweating and so hot and I wasn't doing anything. haha We ran into one of our good friends from PA, Kortni. Love her, so good to see her! It was fun to check things out although I really was wanting to get home.

We ended up finishing just after 4PM. Our time was 34 hours 32 minutes-46th out 96 teams. We were just happy to finish. :) 

Yahoo for finishing!!!

Good

Lately I have been feeling good. Really good. It is rather surprising really. Considering I am full of emotional and hard memories. I have genuinely felt really happy. I have been less emotional during baby blessing, happy to see and interact with babies (even the ones Pierces age) and overall the anger and anxiety I was feeling has subsided. This is a good feeling. I feel like I am in a good place right now. I like when the pain isn't overwhelming. I am sure there are many hard days to come. There always is. And there are a lot of "dates" coming up that I know will be difficult. I am just happy to be where I am right now and I felt like I needed to record it.

June birthdays!!!

Has anyone noticed that my kids birthday are all on top of each other? Yep, that is how we roll. haha We love June. We have tried twice for April and miscarried only to get June babies. :) We'll take it. June is great. Well, P's is actually May but he was due on Koen's birthday and taken a week early because I have planned c sections. So all my kids birthday are within 3 weeks of each other. I always joke with Phil and tell him we should just shoot for the week in between Koen and Brigs for our next. ;)

Brigs birthday is this weekend. You know what else is this weekend? The Ragnar. I know sad right? And what else is this weekend? Pharmacy duties. Yep,  Phil works and I am gone. So we told Brigs his birthday was yesterday and party harty'd! He is 3 he doesn't know. ;) Except for that Koen kept trying to inform him about it. "You know what Brigs? Today isn't really your birthday, today is the 12th. Mom and Dad are going to be gone on your birthday.....etc" HAHA Brigs was like "Ya Whatever, I have no clue what you are saying."

Happy 3rd birthday Brigs! A few days early!!!

 I wish you could see the first pic better. We opened his door and sang to him and he was cheesin it on his bed! Oh I love his little face!
We then had to open presents...first thing!!! By his brother's request.

 A bunch of star wars people! and a few mario kart peeps. That is what Brigs loves. Little figures. Yes we had to change his shirts mid day. After present opening we went to the doctor and costco. Lil man spilled berry smoothie all over the blue shirt. :)

At the doctors we found out that Brigs is still a little man! :) He stats where rockin the charts at a whompin......

Height: 35.67 inches 13% (Koen was 36 at 2!!!)
Weight: 28.66 lbs 19%

He is such a lil tyke! With a big attitude! I think he already has little man syndrome! haha The ped said he looked great and all though he is pretty small, so am I, and he might just be small or maybe a late bloomer, but he isn't that small to worry. She said we are feeding him to grow him as much as he can. You can tell by his percentages being so close together. :)

B and I ran all those errands alone and when we came home he took a nap to be happy for his party. :) I always throw my boys a family party together. We did it at our clubhouse and this year it was actually nice enough to swim!  YAHOO!

 My Jedi Masters who are obsessed with Star Wars!

 Dang sun was killin me. This is B singing to himself. Oh love him!

                                                      Some of my BFS!   

Sister in laws that I SO love

Gotta love all the kids needing to check things out!

 Swim time!

Happy birthday to all my little rugrats! I love them!

Things about Brigs at 3!!!
* loves "snoot snacks" (fruit snacks) and gum and all candy
*still mostly likes to eat breakfast food. But is branching out and trying new things more frequently.
*likes his diapers. Although he randomly will tell me when he needs to go potty or that he just did. :)
*loves anything Koen loves. Star wars, super heros, power rangers etc
*is such a good little sleeper. He still takes a good 2-3 hour nap and goes to bed fine at night. Well I should say he is happy to play in his bed until he is ready to sleep. ;)
*he is getting SO much easier. He has always been a handful.  He is busy busy busy and has a mind of his own. Now all of this is still true, however either he is mellowing out a bit or I am. LOL we are seeming to make it along a little easier now a days.
*loves swimming. He has no fear. He loves to jump off the side and show you how he "breeves" under water by holding his breath.
*chocolate milk is a must in the morning still. He would prefer to drink it all day long and skip the whole eating thing.
*he knows all of his letters, most of their sounds and can count to 14.
*favorite show is bubble guppies and blues clues.
*he doesn't play much with toys, he would much rather be entertained but really loves squinkies. Who knew those would be such a hit but those and the star wars fighter pods are about the only toys he plays with.

He bring so much spunk and excitement to our lives, and a titch of craziness, but we wouldn't have it any other way! We love you B man!

{PS All these pics are so funny cause I am holding my nephew Rhett who is just a couple months older that Pierce. It is weird to think that is what the pictures should have been like. Except he is a giant baby cause my sis and bro in law are so tall! I babysat him and his sister all week and at church someone said "who's that?" My answer? "My baby, he came back to life." LOL I am so awkward! HAHAHA The best part is after I started laughing and said "sorry I am so awkward!" Just have to make sure everyone knows he was here and is real and is still thinking about him.:)}