One

One year ago, I wobbled into the hospital to be prepped for surgery at 5:45am. It was pouring rain. I remember being soaking wet and cold as we waited in the lobby for my name to be called.

The last time I was here, our baby girl didn't come home with us. This time we prayed she would. My thoughts back to that awful morning where the weather conditions were eerily similar were interrupted by the nurse calling my name.

It was my turn.

This began the the flurry of activity. Undress, wipe down with the sterilizing stuff that made me itch like crazy, put on the gown, and wait.

Answer the same questions repeatedly. At this point I'm sure of my name, birth date, and that I am in fact about to have a baby. More people come in and out of the tiny prep area that seems to be smaller than my closet at this point. More questions. More waiting.

Finally, my doctor arrives. I still remember the relief I felt to see her face that morning. Jokingly, we talk about her biking there that morning in the rain. She didn't but it wouldn't have surprised me if she had. She is, after all an Ironman Triathlete.

It is time to go to the OR. In just a few minutes, we will get to meet our baby girl.

More people meet us in the freezing cold refrigerator they call the OR. Dr. Funny gave me my spinal. Twice actually. It didn't work the first time and there was no way I was going to sleep for this event so we do it again. After making sure it worked the second time, we were ready to rock and roll.

While the doctors are doing their job we chat about anything that comes to mind. Talking is the only thing that keeps me from launching into a full fledged panic attack since I can't even feel myself breathing.

And she is here!

Pissed off screaming ensues. Wahh, wahh, wahh. Poor baby girl was cold and wondering who turned on the lights. To this day, I have never heard her cry as angrily as she did when she made her debut.

She looks just like her sister.

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That was 365 days ago.

What a year it has been!

She has grown from this teeny tiny baby to a spunky 1 year old.

We made our goal of nursing for 1 year. Before she arrived, I had only agreed to try it while in the back of my mind hoping we would see this day.

Here we are! A little luck, a lot of stubborn, and even more love got us here. We made it 1 year sweet baby girl and for that I am grateful.

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On your first birthday you have 8 teeth! Your first tooth arrived on the very day you turned 4 months old. It seems like they have been coming in one after another ever since that day.

As with everything, the first one is always the hardest. You have handled the rest of them like a champ. We will see how you feel about the molars that are sure to arrive.

One thing we have learned about you in the last year is that you definitely do things on your own schedule. Baby food, table food, and hopefully soon.....walking.

When we first started giving you baby food you were having none of it. As soon as you saw the spoon the gagging began. It was funny then and it will be funny again when we break out the photos at your wedding.

The same thing happened with table food. Just in the last few week it appears we have turned a corner. Your menu is growing and growing each day. Today you ate chicken and dumplings with green beans and bread. Yum!

Next up...walking. Please hurry because your father is getting anxious.

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As I said before, what a year it has been! There is no way we could have ordered a better baby. Your sister really took care of us when she sent you our way.

Your temperment is amazing! It is always funny to have people ask us why you don't cry. We don't know but we love it.

It seems instead of crying you are always laughing, talking, and taking in the environment around you.

Your father and I along with your big brother Tonka are looking forward to seeing what the next year holds.

Thank you so much for being such an amazing baby girl!

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mom, Dad, and Megan Grace, and Tonka

1/2 Marathon Training Week 5 and a PR!

A couple of weeks off appears to be just what the doctor ordered for my knee. This past week went very well in terms of running.

Early in the week, I decided to go out for a 4 mile run around the neighborhood to test the waters. Some friends and family and I were registered for Miles for Matthew so I needed to see how things felt.

It was a smashing success!

On Saturday, the entire team of 10 of us met up at the race. It was cool and overcast with the threat of rain. Incidentally, I had run this race on a different course just 12 weeks after I had MG. Last year I skipped it due to the fact I was 37 weeks pregnant with L.

Tell me again why I was running a 10k just 12 short weeks post c/s? Crazy. Either way, my time in that race was 1:10 with rumors that the course may have been a tad short so my goal was to beat that time.

And I did! 1:06:05 which is also a PR for me! Coming down the last stretch and seeing that I was going to beat it was the best feeling.

My hard work is paying off!

The focus now truly turns to Savannah. There are a few loooong runs ahead of me that need to go well so I feel confident when morning dawns on November 5th.

Here we go!

1/2 Marathon Training Week 4

With my knee still feeling unstable last week, I decided to take another week off. It was hard! The cool, crisp temperatures were perfect for running and I felt great but my knee did not.

On Saturday, I spent some time in the pool at our niece's birthday party hoping that would help however, the ache was still present.

The good news is that I have been running all year. My training schedule also has some 11 and 12 mile long runs built in so if I have to cut those it is not a huge loss. The last time I trained we maxed out at 10. On race day you just figure out those last 3.1 miles with the adrenaline of race day.

Once I get back on track, I plan on adding some strength training. Lack of strength in my large muscles seems to be the root of the problem right now. Hopefully, if I can strengthen my super awesome thigh muscles then my knee will feel better!

On to week 5!