JOY!

Distance--3.5 mi
Walk--2 mi
Run--1 1/2 mi

My pace was s.l.o.w....but at least I was moving! : )

And I felt very little pain...just some tightness in back of leg up high. I came home and iced the area and I feel great! I'm going to rest a day or two and try it again on Saturday! I'm so happy and thankful for God allowing my body to heal to this point. Now, I just have to take it slow and be extra careful.

Progress

It has been a while since I have updated things. Thank you so much for asking about me and most of all for your prayers. You have encouraged me greatly!

I went to the doctor again last week and he did some new x-rays. This is a different doctor who is actually a friend...I was anxious to have the new x-rays done because like the first doctor said, stress fractures do not always show up initially, but when the bone heals some, you can see it. The good news is that there was still no evidence of a stress fracture. Although, the doctor said the MRI would confirm for sure, meaning that the x rays can still not give a definite answer. He believed, from what he saw, that the bones looked good. I am thanking the Lord for that! I did find out that my hip is weird and not like most peoples...the joint is straight instead of my hip bone flaring out at an angle. He said this could be the source of the injury...but maybe not. Still no real answers.

He did give some helpful advice. He said if it was a form of tendonitis, it could take up to a year to heal all the way. He mentioned that physical therapy could possibly help the process some. I am looking into that. He also said there is a semi open MRI machine in my town that gives excellent picture results, so that is an option instead of the totally closed up kind. That just doesn't sound fun and I think I may be a little claustrophobic. Still so many unknowns with this injury.

Some great news is that I have been doing lots better...but I don't want to be too enthusiastic about it just yet...just still taking it slow, trying to rest, and trying to be patient with this. The last week and a half, I have walked 3 times. Once I walked about 1 1/2 miles...then 2 miles with a short run, then 3 miles with 2 times of short running. I felt a tad of sore type pain in the lower right abdomen and just a little bit of tightness/pain in the back upper part of my leg...but when I was through running, no pain! It hasn't made me achy and my groin area feels so much better. Maybe I am getting better! A month ago, I could not do this, so any amount of progress is good.

I woke early this morning to walk/run and it was so nice. It has been very cool here lately. I enjoyed just walking and thinking how great that was...even if I can't run for long, it sure is nice to be out doing something!

All the majesty in this world cannot compare to the glory...The beauty of the body that was broken for our forgiveness.

Good Things Come in Small Packages!

Doesn't that make you want to go eat a bowl full right now?


I am going to the doctor later today. Please pray that we can find out something.

If Something Hurts... Then Something is Still Wrong.

I have not run this week and I have decided not to even try it. This injury is strange...one day I feel fine, then next day I have aches and pains in the groin/pelvic area. I can walk fine(if I don't overdo it), just don't want to try running yet. It has been 9 weeks since the injury, so I think it might be wise to rest 4 more weeks. We are going to the beach in early September and I LOVE to run on the beach or the road near the beach. Mike said when we get there we would go on a long walk on the beach and if it feels okay, I should go for a short(less than a mile) run. This would be at the 3 month mark, which is when most stress fractures are healed and the doctors give the thumbs up to resuming physical activity. I'm going to just set my mind on that for now and look forward to the beach!

In the meantime, I am praying about going back to the doctor for the dreaded MRI. I just want to know what it is for sure and see it for myself. It has affected my life so much that I want to say "This is what it is" and know that without a doubt.

One of the books I have read on running says that you begin to lose your physical fitness when you have not run for 10 weeks. I'm there. It is frustrating to me to think about how I will have to work hard to get back to my fitness level, but it will happen at some point. It will be a gradual process...no half marathons in my future for now...that is for sure.

Update on Life

No water running lately...very little walking or activity for 2 weeks straight until my trial run next week. I was having some minor aches and pain after water running, so my sweet husband suggested *no activity at all*, which was very wise. I have been following his orders and am feeling better this week. My plans are to walk and try running early next week and just see how it feels. I'm really excited about it! I hope it goes well. This week will be a rest week, so I am not going to be updating my blog until I see how I do with the running. So, check in with me next week and hopefully I will have some good news! Please pray that this week of doing nothing(physically) will finalize the healing process for me. Thanks so much!

I am so ready to be out there again.

Congratulations on all of you training for races! It is so inspiring to read about your progress and determination! I am excited for you all!

Gracie attended the Honor's Symposium these last 2 weeks and loved it! She met so many new friends and learned quite a bit. She attended Bible, anthropology, literature, and worldview classes. They even went camping and built a tabernacle(like OT) and constructed all the areas. They toured it and finished with singing *It Is Well With My Soul* as the veil was torn. Such great memories for her!

Now we are planning college visits for the fall. It is crazy trying to fit all of this into our already busy schedule, but we really want her to visit a few places to compare and see what would be the best place for her to learn and serve. She really wants to visit Union University and Cedarville University. She would love to visit Master's College...but we have all agreed that is it too far to visit and for her to go there for college...even though we know it would be great! Something about a daughter being that far away doesn't sit well with us. I am still realizing that I am a mother to a senior in high school. What craziness...but at the same time, God's plans are perfect! We are also signing her up for this worldview camp for next summer. I am so excited about this...I want to go to this, it sounds excellent. Please pray for us as we seek the Lord through the college decision process! Our heart's desire in all of this is to glorify God and to seek His wisdom.

Our next oldest will be going to Kanakuk later this week. We really like that camp, but have not sent our kids every year. I am praying that God will use this week in Abigail's life to draw her to Himself...and that she will meet other girls who are truly living for the Lord. What a blessing to be able to allow her to go!

Lots going on. Now I need to start working on ordering homeschool stuff! I think this is the latest I have ever began working on this! I must get started!

Have a great week everyone and I will be back next week. I am studying Romans 8 this week. What great truth to meditate on!

Engine 2

Love this blog...I don't have his book yet, but it looks great! Here is a link from Good Morning America where you can see his *Rip's Big Bowl* recipe.

I like the health info on the blog, but some of the content can be kinda inappropriate(language,crude)so be aware of that.

Another link to watch. Rip is Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's son...the author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. Interesting stuff.

Our Weekend

Yummy vegetable kabobs from our cookout last night.

JH and Abs in a tree!

Mike and JH walking down a trail today. We went right after church, so Mike is still in his church clothes. I sat on a bench like a nice little injured runner should.