"Technology Free Tuesdays" have commenced!

Hey all.....Wow, I haven't written in our family blog since June.  Ouch.  Sorry about that.  I've been so busy these past months keeping up with my Mirena Awareness blog (www.mylifeaftermirena.blogspot.com), that--between it and grad school--has made it more difficult to keep this one up as consistently.  I'm sorry.  I really will try to keep up better. Only four masters classes left!


I just wanted to get out the New Year's Resolution that I have set up for Team Lawrence.  We are going to start doing what I call "Tech Free Tuesdays".  Basically, it is just what it says....on Tuesdays, nobody in the house is allowed to use any technology for entertainment.  No TV, no computer, no phone games, no kiddie handheld games....nothing.  I want the kids to see how they can have a lot of fun without technology....and it isn't just for the kids.  Eric and I have to abide by it as well.  I can't go on the computer to check email, go on Facebook, nothing.  The only time I am allowed on the computer on Tuesdays is if I have to post an assignment or take an online exam etc. on that day.  Eric and I are only allowed to use our phones AS A PHONE if necessary.  We can't go online or anything from our phones or text for "fun".  That being said, we will still be answering our phone when called to make sure that everything is okay, etc.


Yesterday was our first "Tech Free Tuesday", and it was great!  The kids and I spent the morning folding paper flowers, then we went to our friend Carrie's, then I took them to Yogurt Jungle, and then we came home to an afternoon of playing in the back yard--I'm talking T-Ball, playing catch, time in the sandbox, all sorts of games. Ava actually looked at me and said, "This is so cool!  Tuesdays are my new favorite day."  Wow.....so worth it.  It actually teared me up.  THAT is what I was hoping for.


Even when Eric got home, we still had to follow the new Tuesday rule (it took him a bit to wrap his mind around it, but then he agreed that it was something we should definitely do).  We are so used to eating dinner, and then flipping on the television to decompress from the day.  Last night, after supper, we got out some of our kids' boardgames and played that together as a family.  After story time and putting the kids to bed, Eric and I--instead of flipping on the TV--actually each read a book that we have been wanting to read.  We are already talking about how nice it will be to take technology off the table for one whole day each week (as far as how good we think it will be for our family).  It forces us to focus on each other instead of making ourselves busy with the vast amount of technology with which we can busy our minds.  Eric and I are already talking about actually taking time in the evening after putting kids down to sit out on the balcony outside our bedroom (which we NEVER use), and have a glass of wine and just "hang out" together. Which reminds me, I need to find our dominos....


After doing it for the first time yesterday, I have quickly realized how much of an adjustment that it is when it becomes so easy to let the kids play their games or watch TV for an hour while you work on dinner (all moms know that it is a break for us, too....but come on, how many toys do the kids have that they can play with?), or how easy it is for me to jump on the computer or my phone to check Facebook, my email or all sort of other internet wonders.  The world has made it so easy and available...and yes, it can be wonderful....but I've gotten to the point where I really want to take one day a week to make a point to show that it isn't needed for a good day.  Yesterday was definitely an effort to fill the day, and I was tired, but let me tell you....I was overjoyed.  It was AMAZING.


When Ava was put to bed and I was walking out of her room, the last question was, "Mommy, how much longer until it is Tuesday again?"


Wow...I wish I would have thought of this sooner....  What a great day for all of us.


Think about it for your families???  You don't even need to have kids, you know.  It's amazing what you can do with your day when technology is completely NOT an option (don't worry, all....you have six days where you get it back).  I'll keep you updated on how it works for us, but I'm telling you, day one was busy...but productive and FANTASTIC!


I think Team Lawrence is on to something here.....  :-)

Oh yeah....it happened....

(Walking down the stairs with my four-year-old daughter this morning...)

Ava:  "Mommy, I want some candy."

Me: "Ava, you know we don't have candy first thing in the morning."

Ava: "But you have candy.  Why do you get candy and I don't?"

Me:  "Huh?  I don't have candy."

Ava:  "What that crack and pop sound?"

Me:  "......my joints."

Sigh.....

A beautifully inspirational weekend...

Well....I did it!  I can't believe that my goal that I set for myself came so quickly (it seemed)!  As you saw in an earlier post, when I was sick, I made a commitment to myself.  I promised that, if I got better, I would do something that never thought I could do.  That was running.  I not only was never a distance runner in my entire life, but I hated EVERYTHING about it...because I was so horrible at it.  Well, as strange as that sounds, that is exactly why I chose to do it.  So, my friend, Carrie, was starting up a running group at around the same time, and I decided to join.  We trained three days a week for three straight months to make it to our goal:  The Pat Tillman "Pat's Run" 2011 on April 16th. 

For those of you who don't know the story of Pat Tillman, here is some information pulled from http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/:

The Arizona Cardinals selected Pat in the 7th round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He quickly became the team’s starting safety and broke the franchise record for tackles (144) in 2000.

Pat never let his success go to his head; he continued to drive the same truck he had in college (with no air conditioning) and refused to be tethered to a cell phone. He was an avid reader and lively debater, often drawing strangers into conversations.

He kept himself busy and challenged in the off-season, competing in a marathon and a half Ironman triathlon, while pursuing a Master’s degree in history from his alma mater. He also volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Arizona, Boys Hope Girls Hope and the March of Dimes, and read and talked to students in schools across the Phoenix Valley.

In the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001, Pat proudly put his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to serve his country. He turned down a 3.6 million dollar contract with the Cardinals to fight for something for important to him.  According to another website, Tillman told a NBC News interviewer a day after the attacks, "“My great grandfather was at Pearl Harbor, and a lot of my family has ... gone and fought in wars, and I really haven’t done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that,” This decision was just one of many he made over the course of his lifetime to help others and serve a cause greater than self-interest.

Pat Tillman joined the U.S. Army in July of 2002, committing to a three-year enlistment. They were assigned to the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Washington, serving tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004.   As we unfortunately know, Pat Tillman was killed during his time in Afghanistan. 

Each year here in Arizona, they honor Pat Tillman and raise money for his foundation (for soldiers and their families) by doing the "Pat's Run".  The run is 4.2 miles long (because Tillman's football number was 42), winds through the streets of Tempe, AZ, and the finish line is right on the 42 yard line inside the Sun Devil Stadium.  It is truly amazing (Picture pulled from Pat's Run website).

Well....we did it yesterday....and it was a truly inspirational experience.

Here I was right before heading over to the race.  Here we go, girls!

I am not going to lie...this was not an easy race.  4.2 miles is long way to run for me having no background and and only three months of training, but I set a goal to do run the entire race without stopping to walk and hopefully reach the finish line before 47 minutes.  I was able to achieve both goals!  I never stopped running, and I crossed that finish line at 44:55. I was really happy with that considering that there were many times that I had to "duck and weave" around walkers, and we had some serious uphill climbs. I never trained on hills.  Phew!  You know what, though? I was constantly given reminders that I was lucky to be there and blessed to be running.  I remember that, around the 2.5 mile mark, going uphill, I was starting to feel tired, and it started to play those fun mindgames with me.  At that moment, I looked over to my left, and I saw a parapalegic on a bike and using his arms to push the pedals....uphill....and he was amazing.  I remember thinking, "Wow, of course I can do this.  I don't have half of the challenges that man does.  I have NO reason to complain." 

Here I was charging the final stretch to the finish line!  What a rush that is!

Here were all of my results:

Distance: 4.2 Miles

Time: 44 min. 55 sec.
Overall Place: 10,850th place out of 22,405 total runners
Gender Place:  4,093th place out of 11,511 female runners
Pace: I ran approximately a 10:42/mile

Running into the stadium was the neatest experience.  I was so exhausted, but you really do get a huge burst of energy when you get to the end of the tunnel, look up, and you are running inside the stadium with thousands of people cheering you to the finish line!  The Arizona Cardinals were all there in full uniform and slapping our hands as we ran the final stretch as well as fully uniformed Army officers doing the same thing.  A truly amazing moment...one I will never forget.

After the race was completed, we got to walk around the stadium grounds to visit various booths, etc.  My friend, Celeste, and I had to snag a picture with some of the players.  They were all so kind and congratulatory to us.

When I got home, Eric had taken the kids out to lunch...but this was waiting for me on the kitchen table:



I have the greatest husband.  Thank you, honey...not only for your support on this day but for your support during the scary road that got me to this day.  I love you.

Overall, it was best experience that I could have asked for...except one thing:  one of my best friends, Lisa, got sick the night before the race and couldn't participate.  It broke my heart.  She trained right alongside me for the entire three months, and then she was cheated of the experience at the last minute.  I missed her there.

But....if you know Lisa, you know that she will always finish what she starts.  So, she sent out a text to a few of us that said that she was going to wear her race shirt and run 4.2 miles the following morning right here in Maricopa.  What a rockstar.  Well, Carrie (friend and the leader of the running club) called me and Aubrey to make sure that we knew.  Carrie was going to run it with her.  There was obviously no way that I was going to be able to do that, considering that I just ran it 24 hours earlier, and my legs were NOT having it....so Aubrey and I decided that we were going to surprise Lisa by being there at her "finish line", wearing our racing shirts, and bringing her in to the end!  You know you love someone when you put on the world's stinkiest race shirt from the day before just so that you can give her the opportunity to get the team photos, etc. that she missed out on!  Hee hee.....

So...Aubrey went and bought her flowers, and I brought my camera....

Here she comes down the final stretch!  You did it, girl.

Getting her first hug from friend and running club leader, Carrie.  Congratulations, Lisa, you just did the Pat's Run!

WE GOT YOU!

And you HAVE to have a team photo!

You did it, my friend!  I am so proud of you!

I was so proud of her for finishing what she started and not letting any obstacles get in her way.  I'm also so thrilled that we could find a way to give her that special day that she worked so hard for.  You know, I didn't know Pat Tilman, but I have a feeling that he would be proud of our little "Mini Pat's Run" day.  I can just see him smiling down and nodding his head, saying, "That's what it's all about." 

Here's to a beautifully inspirational couple of days.  I got to help honor an American hero AND my best friend all in one weekend.  Yeah....that is what it's all about.  I felt super tough that I could run this race, but I was reminded that you are never stronger than when you are lifting up someone else.

Blog-o-holic....

I figured that, since I am not even remotely wanting to rewrite everything regarding the whole "Mirena issue", I would just put it out there that there is another blog out there that I have that is completely dedicated to that issue and trying to help other women regain their health again. 

The address is http://www.mylifeaftermirena.blogspot.com/.  Feel free to read it if you ever want to.  I will continue to keep the two blogs separate, but there you go....just in case you are interested. 

That being said, if you know any women who have it, lead them to that blog....and beg them to get that devilish device out of their bodies. 

I also wrote a blog during my stint to lose my last bit of baby weight and tone up before my St. Maarten trip last summer  (If you read a past post in this blog, you can see that I was a bit stressed about it...hee hee...).  I did the Jilian Michaels "30 Day Shred" program, and I decided to follow along daily.  Please feel free to enjoy my pain.  That blog is http://www.kristis30dayshred.blogspot.com/.

Wow....I am a blog-o-holic.  I need a 12 step program.  STAT.

I Spy....a cute converstation with my daughter....

(In the car on the way to preschool this morning...)


Ava: "Let's play "I Spy" in the clouds, mom!"

Me: "Okay...I spy, with my little eye, a cloud that looks like a heart.   Your turn!"

Ava: "I spy, with my little eye, a cloud that looks like a mommy beaver with her baby beaver and they are sleeping under a big blankie."


...Uh...wow...Apparently, momma needs to step up her "I Spy" game....

My first 5k race!

I DID IT!!!!!

I just wanted to let you know that the results were posted from my very first 5k! It was for the Stephen L. Pearson Leukemia Foundation.  There were 94 women who ran the 5k, and I came in 32nd. My goal was to run the 5k in 35 minutes, and I ran it in 32 min. 55 seconds! I was never concerned with my place, but my time goal was met...as well as my goal to never stop running. I'm proud of myself simply for doing something that I never thought I could do and celebrating good health again. Not bad for a 34-year-old mother of two who has never done a distance run in her life! Hee hee....

Notice the race's theme that is printed on my race bib: FIGHT FOR LIFE. I thought was was especially meaningful considering why I choose to train to run it.  To all of the ladies out there who are struggling with the same post-Mirena sickness and debilitation that I had (and I know that there are many of you out there) know that, as well as celebrating my recovery, I am running for you and yours.

My next race is the HUGE one. It is the Pat Tillman race on the 16th. There will be THOUSANDS of runners. It is a longer race: a 6.8k. Wish me luck!

I love you all so much. Thank you for supporting and loving me through all of this. it means more than you will ever know.

Ewwwwwww......

Ava (from the bathroom):  "MOMMY!  I have dia-weeah!"

Me:  "Okay.  Do you need help wiping?"

Ava:  "I'm not done yet, but can you turn the fan on?"

Me (giggling as I open the door):  "Sure, baby.  Let me know when you are done.  I'll turn the fan on."

Ava:  "Good...'cuz I'mma gonna stink up this room like daddy does."


....and BOY did she.....Thanks for that, Eric.  You couldn't have just taught her how to read or something?  Our dog won't even go in there.....

Have a good day, folks.....