I Did It!

First thing in the morning

Michelle(cheerleader), Brynn, myself, and Teresa. Brynn and Teresa ran the 5K that morning and stuck around to run miles 14-20 with me.

Nearing the end. I love Michelle on her rollerblades and L Lawlor on her bike

Those last .2 miles seemed so long, but I was really happy to see this sign

Running to the finish line

I did it! Despite all the worries, name calling, my mom offering to pay me not to do it, etc. I did the Top of Utah marathon last weekend. I was a little worried myself after taking a month hiatus from training, but it went really well. I was pretty slow, but I'm definitely not in it to win. I just want to finish, and I did. I have the best friends. Nettie and Michelle decided late Friday night to come up. Brynn and Teresa ran miles 14-20 and Crystal ran 20-end with me. I would not have survived without them. They helped a ton, and I am so lucky to have such great support. I was pretty sure I could finish, but I thought I might not be able to move for a week after. Surprisingly I felt pretty good during the marathon. I was sore for a couple of days but nothing like I expected. I'm so happy I decided to do it even if you all think I'm crazy.

Good News/Bad News

The good news is that after much begging the doctor cleared me to start running again. The bad news is the last time I ran was August 19. I decided to try running today, and since the Top of Utah marathon is next Saturday I decided to run 10 miles. It went so well I am going to run the marathon. Yes, I know I am crazy/insane/stupid and several other descriptors I have heard the past 2 days. I know what I am getting myself into, and I'm up for the challenge. So, if anyone wants to come to Logan next Saturday I would love to see you up there! Wish me luck!

Not What I Was Expecting

I got home from a week in Mexico (more to come later) last Tuesday night. I started getting a little stomache on Wednesday afternoon but thought I was suffering from a delayed case of Mexicoitis. I didn't think much of it until I woke up in the night with a sharp pain in my lower right abdomen. I got up Thursday morning not feeling well and still having the sharp pain. I called Michelle, nurse practitioner, on the way to work, and she suggested I go to the doctor. I went to an early morning meeting and made a doctor's appointment. I went on about my morning and went to the doctor. She sent me to the hospital for blood work and a CT scan. After 3 hours in radiology and having the tech tell me he would put my clothes in a bag, I knew I was staying. I got sent to the ER for 2 more hours of waiting before going to the OR to have my appendix taken out. Luckily my Utah family, the Martins, came to the hospital while I was still in the ER. My Utah/adopted mom, Carol Martin, is a nurse in the OR so she scrubbed in for the surgery. I felt much more comfortable and less scared with her there, and Tina spent the night at the hospital with me-so nice. I definitely wasn't expecting to come home from Mexico, work for a day and a half, have surgery and spend a day in the hospital, and be off work for another week recovering from surgery. Here are some pics of me in the hospital. Thanks for all the well wishes, cards, flowers, food, emails, visits, phone calls, etc. I really am doing quite well.

Waiting to go into the OR. I had lots of phone calls to make since this was so unexpected.

my appendix. sorry if this grosses you out. who knew it was so small?

getting ready to go home. i was so happy to have the IV out.

pretty flowers from my two good friends, Katie and Katey. thanks girls!