Wish me luck

I'm about to embark on a new adventure...new to me and intimidating to say the least. It's something I've always wanted to do but never had the guts to get er'done or wanted to deal with the crazy competitive women in Anchorage. After meeting Brandyn Roark Gray, super Xterra triathlete and coach for the Four Corners Aquatic Team, I can now swim for the first time in 34 years. Sad but true. Sarah was a big motivator to learn plus I can't tell you how many times I had a mental breakdown in the ocean while snorkeling due to the lack of swimming skills or confidence. Kirk may be able to relay his painful memories from trips to Hawaii or Mexico.

So, now I can swim. And once we arrived in Farmington last fall, I purchased a new road bike. Given those key ingredients along with training off and on since December, I feel I'm as ready as I can be for my first triathlon. In less than two weeks, I'll be participating in the Tri the Rim triathlon on the Fort Lewis College campus. I say participate vs. compete because it's more of an event for me to try and finish (without coming in dead last). If anything, I'm competing with myself. I've had great support during all of the preparation from friends and family especially Kirk. But I do want to thank my friends and co-mommy triathletes Mikie, Jennifer Starck, Jessie C. and Shannon Titzel. Ready or not!

Update as of late

It's been sometime since the last post. After my published detail of the trials and tribulations of dealing with the consistent wave of illness with Sarah, Kirk and I proceeded to get hit. Kirk continued his fight with the man cold but this time the battle seemed to be easier. He did some research online to find a homeopathic site detailing the healing powers of apple cider vinegar. It's nature's antibiotic of sorts: 2 teaspoons and 8 oz of water 2-4 times per day and poof, you are healed.

I, on the other hand, looked like this two weeks ago. (minus the blood, sweat and my pained look was less dramatic) Two trips to two different doctors, two different eye antibiotics to kill the pink eye I caught from Sarah, another dose of antibiotics for an upper respiratory/sinus infection and a shot of steroid in the rear to combat seasonal allergies and I'm cured! (kind of) Last week I battled a new cold and chest congestion and this past weekend Sarah was coughing up a lung. It doesn't help that mother nature keeps us guessing on a daily basis and things are in full bloom. 70's and sun, then cold, windy, snow, cold, windy, warm, windy, cold, more snow and now sunshine today. But I think at this point, I'll take the random southwest weather over Alaska's cold, snowy and now ash fall plagued spring.

Let's see...

Let's see...

Three days of throw up (Sun-Tues) followed by discolored goop in the eyes on Wed leading to sealed shut and swollen eyes yesterday morning. I finally threw the towel in and made the trip to the doc yesterday where we found out that Sarah has a double ear infection and pink eye. The doctor was amazed on how calm, cool and collected she was given what he witnessed in her ears. So needless to say, we are in the midst of another battle with the day care cooties.

I must give a shout out to the following for helping make the past week a bit more bearable in dealing with my limp noodle daughter:

1. Dr Seuss rocks! Particularly, "Horton Hears a Who" movie, the Cat in the Hat and Robert the Rose Horse books. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We now have a small obsession with movie so have decided to make "Horton" the main birthday theme for next week's celebration.

2. Annie's cheddar bunny crackers, Horizon Cheddar Cheese slices, New Mexico tortillas, Honey Nut Cheerios and fresh berries. That's the list of food that Sarah was remotely interested in and kept down for the most part once we turned the corner on the throw-up episodes.

3. The Gucci of antibiotics that even with insurance co-pay costs $70. Good times. And, Tylenol.

4. Corona. I needed a cool adult beverage at the end of the day a couple of times this week to help me find my center again.

I hope that in the end, Sarah has a strong immune system like a steel trap come kindergarten. Oh and now I have a husband with a man cold to finish off the week and carry us into the weekend. :-)

On a positive side, even though her eyes were swollen again this morning (she could be a mini-Rocky Balboa if it were Halloween) my daughter is now singing, laughing and eating well again.

School and Skiing

Sarah's first school picture @ 23 months.

Last week was a busy one and this week hasn't been so great. We are battling another round of the flu bug or at least just Sarah. But she seems to be getting better, knock on wood.

We attended Sarah's first school gig last week. It was a spring concert with the babies through pre-K classes. Each class wore something different to highlight the various elements of spring. The kids sang 7 nursery rhyme type songs but that was mostly the older kids. The younger ones, including Sarah, sat in their chairs remarkably well and stared out to the crowd like deer in headlights. Sarah participated on occasion with the teacher sitting next to her egging her on. It was super cute. Plus she finally fit into a dress that I purchased for her in Anchorage many moons ago.

Kirk and I went skiing with our new gear last Friday at Purgatory. It was nice to finally ski on gear that was comfortable. The snow was hard packed and starting to get slushy at the bottom which is another sign that spring is definitely in the air. We had plans to go on Friday again, but given the battle with sick kid plus flu, we are going to take a rain check and maybe get up there one more time before the mountain closes early April. We will see.

I never wore a helmet before on the hills but really liked the new one I purchased. It was warm!

Sarah's 2nd birthday is on the 30th but we are going to celebrate next weekend with both sets of grandparents. We are hoping everyone is happy and healthy for the big celebration.

Sarah in the bathroom with us "getting ready" for the day. Love the accessories.

My helper while I wrap presents for our friends. Kirk put the ribbon on her head.

Cats, Gear and Catholics

We went to the Farmington Library on Monday to celebrate Read Across America and Dr. Seuss' birthday. They put on a bilingual puppet show (English and Spanish) of "Green Eggs and Ham" and Cat in the Hat himself stopped by to visit with the kids for photo ops. Sarah was interested in the cat once he left her sight but if ever in her sight, she freaked big time with the full on climbing up my chest and holding on for dear life while crying. Good times. She still asks about the cat and we get out of the repeated questioning by saying the cat went to Texas. Random, I know, but the questioning usually stops.

Sarah with her "Cat in the Hat" hat at the library.

Sarah wearing her hat again at home and sporting her new CSM sweatshirt. Go Orediggers!Our trips to Durango last weekend were successful on many fronts. We finally got to eat at Steamworks Brewery which had one heck of an IPA on tap (a close competitor to Moose Tooth IPA), I ran a good 5k race on Saturday and we now own quality downhill ski gear (we got smokin deals!). We have already blocked out the calendar this month for a least two trips to Purgatory (Durango Mtn Resort) before they close shop for the season in April.

Kirk showing Sarah how to climb at the park in Durango.Cutie pie!!
Good run.

Sarah sacked out in the car in her pjs post dinner and shopping in Durango.

Ready to go for another trip to Durango on Saturday morning to cheer on mom. I think she had everything she needed: Elmo, panda bear, Pooh book about Easter eggs, water and sunglasses. Whew!

Kirk and I also wanted to post the picture below for some time but kept forgetting to bring the camera. We drive by these signs on a daily basis on our way to/from work. Leave it to the Catholics (I'm a 'recovering Catholic' as a friend put it) to place guilt on the patrons of the adult video store. Got to love it.

Sarah having a difficult morning. She has major bed head just like mama.Life is better after a bowl of "O's".

Life is good

The trip to Pagosa Springs Resort and Wolf Creek was great last weekend. The hot springs was much needed after a day of skiing. Wolf Creek was a fun, small resort and the sunshine was fantastic. We were able to enjoy beer from a Durango brew pub called Steamworks and it was good. The only downside to the day was dealing with our not so great rentals. We decided that renting equipment was for the birds and are making efforts to find some deals. I picked up a set of skis, bindings and poles before leaving Anchorage but still need boots...good ones that don't pinch, bind, etc. Kirk needs the whole shooting match. So we are headed to Durango this weekend to a huge sale at the fairgrounds.

The sun was great and the views were awesome!

Yummy beer after a day on the slopes.

We are doing well otherwise. I'm running another 5k race tomorrow in Durango along the Animas River. It should be nice. Kirk hopes to make it flying this weekend possibly with a co-worker who has expressed interest. Next weekend we are hosting a house warming party and the weekend after that we hope to make it up to Delta, CO to see Kirk's parents and cousins.

Sarah modeling the sweater and matching socks she received from Mikie for Christmas. I love the toddler smile with the wrinkled nose and full on teeth. Elmo is her main critter lately...he goes everywhere with us.

Mama needs to brag!

This week, my baby girl has amazed both Kirk and I. I feel obligated to brag just a bit. She tried to get past Kirk who was blocking her way around the ottoman the other night. She said "excuse me dada" in her Sarah way. We just looked at each other with big grins. She says "excuse me" frequently now including after she burps. Very cool. She also said "mama rocks" after we asked to repeat it but it still was pretty neat!

She is showing positive signs for potty training as well. While I was swimming tonight, Kirk was home with Sarah. She ran to him and said "poop". After she did that, she ran to her bathroom and sat on her potty that her grandfather made for her and continued to say poop. Then she got up and ran to the changing table and said up. So she understands the relationship between the potty and going potty which is great. We received an ebook sent from our friends the Yanceys on how to potty train your child in 3 days. We are making plans for sometime in March to give it a try. Wish us luck!