Telling everything....

So it's Day 4 on our blog posts and we already missed Day 3.  Oopss!  You will just get a 2 for 1...people like those right? 

Day 3:  "I don't know about this, but I would like to".......
Those 10 words have rang true to me just this last week as I have re-evaluated my health and realized I really would like a second opinion on what is right for me.  I'm only 28 years old and hopefully have a whole world ahead of me, I would like to at least feel well 50% of the time.  However, when I think about getting a 2nd opinion, I feel like I am having an affair on my Gastro doctor of 10 years...Is that weird?  Probably, yes because it is my health and my life!  So I did schedule an appointment with a new GI doctor in 2 weeks from now (she's younger and I'm hoping full of new ideas/thoughts) that maybe will work better for me.  And who know's I might still go back to my same GI I have had for 10 years but why not "test the water" for a different feel. I'm crossing my fingers and hope that by me having this "medical affair" it's well worth it!



Day 4: How did you decide what to share?  What do/don't you share?

This sharing idea is a brand new concept to me as I have never talked about my disease so openly before.  Yet the second Dani and myself signed up for Team Challenge there was no turning back when talking about my Crohn's.  I have decided to openly share everything about this "invisible" illness I have except some minor details that many of you will be glad I don't share.  Today is not the best day for me but I will only write positive things as I don't want the negative side of my illness to overcome the positives in my life.  You know that your kids really listen to you when last night when deciding what we wanted for supper I asked Lucas what he would like... He states "Mom lets have pizza for supper because you can go to the bathroom at home!"  He does really listen to me! 

I am so thankful for my amazing 3 children.  They are so intelligent and understand when I don't feel good that we won't be accomplishing much that day but they also make me feel better at the same time.  Lily is my go to girl as she knows as much as I do where each bathroom is in every store/building that we enter.  She knows that sometimes in the middle of shopping we will have to leave the cart where it is and make a mad dash for the restroom.  Its priceless for me when I have all 3 kids in the stall and pray they don't say anything about the smell or what are you doing mom!  Yet I wouldn't change it for the world and I just hope that somebody they know I try my best even when I don't feel like my body can try any harder. 



This card most definetly pertains to you Dani!  You know all to much about me and I wouldn't change any minute of it.  Thank you! 

big Whoops

So I fudged up a little bit. I thought this 30 day post thing was just something Kristi came up with and I could make up my own post.......not the case!!
So here is the REAL Day 2...Find a Quote and Use it As Inspiration

Funny that I got this one, cause I was just on pinterest looking at inspirational quotes. I found one I liked alot and I think a lot of people can relate to this one.

p.s. sorry Kristi I screwed up the post, please forgive me :)

Post 2 of 30 day of Health

Ok, I will give this a shot. It probably wont be very interesting or informative but what the "h", right?

So Kristi has been FREAKING out on what to eat the day before and the day of Race Day (honestly, I dont blame her) :) Anywho, I did some research for her and here are some things I found for you!

Stick to bland diet, rice, pasta, bananas, oatmeal. Also include some protien...peanut butter, fish, ect.
Try to avoid high fiber foods that will cause gas or bloating.

The day before the race try and spread your calories throughout the day, so your eating something every two to three hours. Most of your calories come from carbs, so boost up on those and stay away from JUNK FOOD!!! I know we will be in Vegas, but you must stay away from the candy shops!!!

You should go ahead a try your race diet now to see if those food will effect you in a not so good kind of way :S Also start drinking lots of water now.

Here are few helpful points I found........

In the days leading up to the race, you’ll be tapering your training, but keep eating the same amount of carbohydrates or slightly more, so that your body will store them. Don’t wait until the night before to carbo-load!

You’re better off eating lots of carbs at lunch the day before a race than at dinner. 

In the two to four hours before your race, fill up on protein and simple carbohydrates and drink lots of water or sports drink. The more time until the race, the larger your meal should be. Avoid fiber and fats, since they can cause digestion issues. Don’t try anything new on race day!

Some good pre-race foods: bread, bagel, cereal, fruit, peanut or almond butter (not too much though). The more liquid and easier-to-digest these foods are, the better.

In the hour before the race, don’t eat very much. Some water, sports drink, or energy gels are good now. I don’t even drink much water at this stage, to avoid having to use the bathroom during the race.

During a race, you need 30-60 grams of carbs per hour and about a cup of water every fifteen minutes. Avoid dangerous overhydration (hyponatremia) by drinking sports drinks with sodium and/or additional sodium supplementation. One sign of overhydration is bloating, noticable as swelling around rings, watches, socks, etc.

Hope that helps you and makes you feel better............
Was that a "healthy" blog post??? Or do I need to start discussing GMO's and stuff............

30 Day Challenge

Today is the first day of National Health Blog Post month!  We are suppose to post everyday, so lets see if we can accomplish 30 days of posts since Nov 30th we leave for our run in VEGAS! 



Today I am suppose to tell you why I write about my health.  Well, were do I begin. If you would have asked me 6 months ago about my Crohn's I would have told you the bare minimum, now I will just tell you more than you probably want to know!  I find that typing how I feel is a stress reliever in some way and it allows me to share emotions that I might not share with you in person. 

When I was diagnosed at 14 years old I was so embarassed and couldn't believe what was happening to my body.  I mean seriously, I was as pale as a ghost, weighed 72 pounds and pooped all the time.  What if I had to poop at my friend's house or even a boyfriends house??  Well I soon got over that because I realized that they didn't care or at least they didn't say anything!  And that was just the beginning of my journey.  So I write about my disease because I can and because maybe one simple statement that I say will impact you for the day or maybe make your week. I have found that small statements carry the biggest impact. 

Crohn's is an invisible disease as many call it and if you google it there is not a lot our there about how actual "Crohnies" feel or what works for them.  Well this is a chance for me to do that.  And of course have amazing support along the way.  I found this awesome blog www.forwardisapace.com ; she is an inspiration and I have yet to meet her!  Can't wait though as she is coming to Vegas for Team Challenge. 

So I promise not every blog I will talk about my Crohn's.  Dani will always add another great perspective on things I promise! 

OH...By the way, I went to my first Crohn's support group tonight with Brian. Well lets just say it was me, Brian, and 2 old men!  AWKWARD!!  Yet I can say that I will go back next month because I realized they need a "younger" figure in those groups so I can open my big mouth and spread the word about Crohn's local.  Just think, someday, I could be on TV like Pearl Jams Mike McCready or the New England Patriots retiree.  Don't keep your fingers cross =)

WE MADE IT TO $3600!

Let's just say that Halloween isn't just for scary ghosts and goblins, but it's for joy and celebration as Dani and I both met our goal on fundraising today! Words can’t express the warmth and gratitude that we have for all of you that have helped us meet our goals in both money and support.  It is amazing to have so many people patting our backs from near and far especially when some days we felt like we couldn’t do it anymore.  Now to just focus on running 13.1 miles and crossing the finish line with my best friend in less than 4 weeks!


I told myself that I would never show these pictures in public but I honestly think the time is right now.  Every dollar that you gave to Dani and myself is helping find a cure for Crohn’s.  These pics were taken 4 years ago at one of the worst points in my life and I know there are many of those days ahead of me yet somehow in my heart, I know that I’m ok because I have all of you supporting me!  People that I had no clue that support me.  This brings tears to my eyes looking at these but it also brings joy because I have realized Crohn’s doesn’t define me, its part of me!

Those scars represent a story, the story of a girl who lived years embarrased about the things that her disease was causing to happen to her body.  I made it through all that and I still continue to fight battles with my Crohn's disease all the time and darn it, I'm proud.  I'm one cool chick missing part of her intestine!

 

Now I can be open and honest about my disease and it all started a couple of months ago when I got the “guts” to run 13.1 miles J 

 

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween! 

Monster Dash and Craft Fair

Whoa! So Im a little behind on blogging....sorry! Well, our monster dash was a HUGE success and I didnt screw up on the stop watches!!! That might be because they didnt give me one :( They know me all to well I guess!
We are so thankful for everyone that came out and ran the 5k! It was such an amazing feeling to see everyone pulling into the parking lot! Thank you to all of you who donated prizes and food! I must say, we had some pretty good ones!!!! Im not sure how I can express how much we appreciate all the help, words just are not enough!!

Then the next weekend we had a craft fair!!! A craft fair and we had NO CRAFTS!!! Im sitting in my house thinking to myself  "how the heck did we get here?" Then it dawned on me....KRISTI!! It started as "I need to start running again." To "We should do some 5ks, and collect t-shirts!" To "Hey Dani, look what I came across! We can go to Las Vegas!" So now here I am completely freaking out cause I have NOTHING to sell in this craft fair and it all Kristis fault!! Just kidding Kristi (kind of)!!
Again, Kristi and I stay up late friday night and craft away, then get up early to set up for the craft fair. It started at 9am and ended at 3pm. We were there for 7 hours and we made $55.00!!! We were so disappointed! But you know what? I actually got to sit and talk to someone for 7 hrs about absolutley nothing! It was fun in a disappointing way, if that makes sense????
That was our last fundraiser. Now I am freaking out on how to make 500 more dollars! Im at the end of the rope and I dont know what to do. Im hoping some complete stranger stops by and hands me a huge check! That would be AWESOME! But very unrealistic. We thought that the craft fair would be "it" that we would make our goal :( So I guess we must go on....we are almost there. November 15th is the deadline. I know we can do it, I have no doubts!  I see the LV lights, I see the blue and the orange lining up the strip, I hear the music playing and people cheering! I can feel the excitment and joy for what we did, it gives me goosebumps now, I cant imagine what feeling I am gonna have crossing the finish line with my best friend!

Downhill slide

Well we are currently on the downhill slide with only 6 weeks left before we run and let me just say "I'm freaking out!" but so excited at the same time.   I can't explain the type of gratitude and support that we have received from family and friends and even people we don't even know.  It is heart warming and makes me believe even stronger in what I already have my heart in. The 5k yesterday was outstanding and we couldn't have asked for better weather.  Now to find some time to craft this week for the craft fair on Saturday.  We are praying this is our last big fundraising "hoorah"! 

I don't think I ever realized how hard it would be to fundraise and find time to run on top of my already crazy schedule.  I somehow have, sometimes barely scrapping by.  I couldn't have asked for a more supportive husband and family.  My 3 children are use to me being gone or worrying about fundraising.  Lucas gave me 10 cents the other day and was so excited and said "here you go mom, its for your run".  It's so wonderful that they still love me even when some days I feel like my mind is a thousand miles away.

These last 6 weeks we need to focus on our running and me definetely my nutrition so I am physically ready to run 13.1 miles.  I have been off my steroids for about 2 weeks and feeling ok.  My new medications are working thus far so crossing my fingers they continue to do so.  If I could just get over all the fatigue I have, it would be a thousand times better! 

Once again....Thank you thank you thank you for supporting Dani and myself on this adventure and we can't wait to tell you about it when we are finished!