The Great Pumpkin Debacle

Today was the day, we were finally going to head to the cider mill and get our pumpkins and apple fritter.  As usual, our friends Pat, Jenn and their son Evan came-up to join us.  We wandered into the pumpkin patch and all noted that there were far fewer pumpkins that in previous years.  Wandering the aisles we soon realized that the pumpkins that remained were rotted.  We walked away empty handed.  The massive amount of rain we received in September reeked havoc on our local pumpkin crop.  The upside, we still got to enjoy donuts and cider and Evan provided some comic relief by plopping down in the middle of a rotten pumpkin, not once, but twice.

Happy Birthday Old Man!

Matt has completed his trudge up this hill and is finally at the top - this year we celebrated his 40th birthday (I personally think this age needs to be corrected for longer lifespan)!  He decided that he wanted to spend this birthday in Jackson, WY.  Who am I to complain?  So we loaded up the car Friday after work and headed out.  Saturday morning we pulled into Bozeman, MT to visit some friends and were amazed at how well Jasper did with the 12 hour drive.  We feed and changed him when we stopped for gas, otherwise he was a champ and either slept or played with his toys in the back seat.  This trend continued for the entire trip - even when we did a lot of daytime driving.

It was good to visit with our friends and Matt (our friends name as well) was nice enough to let me join him for a run in the mountains.  He and I headed up into the Bridgers while Matt and Jasper hiked behind.  It was a beautiful day to be out.

Headed up

The Matt's and Jasper when we caught-up to them on our way back down

We left Bozeman Sunday afternoon and planned to fish our way to Jackson.  One problem - it was HOT, really, really HOT and Jasper wasn't used to it so he was having a hard time.  Not to mention he had come down with a cold (which he was kind enough to pass to Matt and I).  So, our plan of hanging out by the river and fishing wasn't panning out and we quickly realized it was time to enact our non-existent Plan B.  We ended-up getting a hotel room in Big Sky, MT where Jasper and I hung out while Matt spent the evening on the Gallitan chasing fish.  He came back giddy and told me he caught four fish, one of which was an 18" trout.

Monday morning we headed to Jackson (fishing along the way) to meet-up with Matt's parents, Roni, Matt and the girls, and my dad.  Our time in Jackson was fun, albeit it different than our previous visits.  Having Jasper along necessitated a few changes to our activity expectations, but we did get out for a hike and did a lot of fishing. Matt would go for bike rides in the morning and I would get out for trail runs later in the day.

It was great to see family and always fun to play in the mountains.  Hopefully next time both of my boys are feeling better so we can get after it a little more. 

Hiking from Death Canyon

The views weren't too shabby

Apparently the hike took it out of him...

Fishing the Gros Ventre

Mt Ellinor 20k

Not sure if you remember, but I had big ambitions to run White River 50 mi this summer.  Between Jasper's birth not going exactly as planned and then his inclination for fussing anytime he was left with Matt not much running occurred the first few months of his life.  So, no White River for me.  Looking back I think it comical that I ever thought that was a good idea....

As of late Matt is dealing with the fussing better (no, it hasn't stopped) so I've been able to get out by myself a bit more.  Before last weekend I made it out for two Saturday trail runs, both of which were ~10miles.   I felt this was sufficient training to sign-up for a 20k and picked out a doozie.  The 'Beast of Big Creek' which runs up Mt. Ellinor, meaning you gain 5,000' in six miles to the top and then  turn around and run back down.  Fun (I'm serious)!

My expectations were minimal going into the race - not keel over and die and finish.  I'm happy to report I accomplished both.  My writing this is evidence that I'm alive and I did finish, I was DFL, but I finished.  As you may surmise from my stellar finish, I ate some humble pie during this race.  And you know what?  It was delicious.  It took me some time to acquire the taste, but I learned a lot about myself that day.  Halfway up the climb I apologized to my body for being so hard on it.  It grew and ejected a little person and was now allowing me to run a hard ass race with no training.  So really,  who cares that I don't look exactly like I did before I got pregnant.  My body is bad ass and goes the distance for me.  Even when I am unkind to it, it plows through and does what I ask.  So, no more negative.  Which brings me to the second thing I did during that long hard climb, I thanked my body.  I'm thankful for what is, because that is where I am right now and I better accept it. 

As for the actual race, it was hard and beautiful and awesome.  It was a good day to be out on the trail. It was foggy down low and sunny as I approached the summit, I do love a good inversion.  I took my hiking polls and it was a good choice.  I used them on the climb and the stowed them in my fancy new pack for the run down.  Speaking of the run down, my strength is usually downhill running, not this time.  The downhill portion is where I became very aware at my lack of fitness.  I had one speed and it wasn't very fast.  I'm pretty sure I could smell my feet smoking from the friction caused by my excessive braking.

Foggy start of race

Sunny trail! Yes, that is the trail.

At the top

One of my friends, who also ran the race, hiked back out to meet me at the finish.  When I crossed the finish line the race director walked over and said "you should come back next year and try for a faster time".  My friend looked at him and said "how many other women just had a kid a few months ago and are out here running your race?"  Needless to say, his response to the race director made my day.  It was much better than my reaction, which was to look down in shame.  Back to my finish place, I was one of a hand full of women than did the race so how I finished can be viewed a few different ways:

1) I was DFL
2) I was top five women
3) I was first in my age group

My view.  I got to spend a day outside doing something I love.  To me, that is a win.  

Elevation Profile (and my [slow] time on the x axis if you're curious)

Jaspers First Boat Ride

Yesterday we took Jasper on his first boat ride/fishing trip to celebrate Father's Day.  There were no fish caught and when Jasper wasn't sleeping he was screaming.  I guess you've got to start somewhere...

Thinking about having a fit

Losing his shit

Weekends Wrap-up

Both of my boys are sick.  Matt has asthmatic bronchitis and Jasper has a head cold and ear infection. I'll let you guess which one is better about not feeling good... But, neither of their illness' keep us from having a good weekend! 

Saturday morning Matt went kokanee fishing with a buddy, he only caught one but it made for a delicious breakfast of trout and eggs.  Later that day I made it out on the trails for a run, only the second time since I've had Jasper.  I thought I would be running a lot more by now, but it just hasn't been happening.  Between Matt being sick for the past 3+ weeks and life in general I've not had the opportunity.  I'm so glad I finally made it out, it felt go to use my body for something other than baby squats. 

Breakfast, brought to you by...

Chicken Little and Matt

Today we were supposed to have friends over for brunch but they bailed since they were sick.  Not one to miss an opportunity to cook and eat I made a big spread for Matt and I.  We had homemade donuts, fruit salad, quiche, mimosa's and coffee.  A good start to the day!  Matt spent the remainder of the day in the yard digging holes for our garden fence and Jasper and I ran errands in town.  Now we're all sitting around watching the Tigers. 

Monday always seems to come too soon...

Reading stories - he does not like being growled at. 
He burst into tears when I imitated a lion.

Mommy Thumb

Over the past few weeks I've been experiencing increasing pain in my left wrist at the base of my thumb.  As usual, I ignored it for awhile thinking I had accidentally whacked my wrist on something and bruised it.  However, as the pain continued to worsen I thought it might not be a bruised bone after all, so I did a bit of internet sleuthing.  Turns out I have 'mommy thumb', I shit you not, such a thing exists.  The proper term for it is DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis.  What it means is through improper lifting/holding of my little bundle of sleeps when held (by the way, he sleeps quite nicely in his crib these days) I went and inflamed the tendons along my thumb causing stabbing pain any time it is rotated or moved.  Awesome...   As  part of our mothers day outing we stopped at Rite Aid where I purchased a thumb splint. You know, those really sexy splints you find right next to the support hose.  If I already didn't look frazzled enough, I think this is going to put me over the top.

Note: if you would like to check and see if you too have mommy thumb perform this simple test - make a fist with your thumb tucked under your other fingers, bend wrist.  If the pain makes you hit the ceiling you have mommy thumb. 

Personal Trainer

Lots of people pay good money to have a personal trainer, me, I have one for free (minus the astronomical cost of raising a child).  Enter Jasper, referred to as my trainer hereafter.  This evening my trainer has been fussy, so I start bouncing while holding him - nope, not working hard enough.  Next up, my trainer prescribes deep squats, yeah this isn't cutting it either.  He moves me onto the  exercise ball, no dice.  On goes the wrap and back to the bouncing again...nothing, not enough intensity.  More deep squats, nothing.  After about a gazillion squats I gave up and took my trainer for a walk.  He was content and looking around for awhile and then began screaming again - fun.  Enter the next phase of training, lunges.  Yes, I lunged home while wearing him.  I am pretty sure my neighbors think I am crazy.  But hey, if crazy is what gets him to stop screaming and go the f*&# to sleep, so be it. 

The below picture is old, but I thought you should see how cute he is while screaming his head off...

Ground Coffee

I never could understand why they sell ground coffee.  My thought has always been - buy it whole, grind it yourself, it tastes much better.  That all changed today, I finally get the ground coffee thing...
Jasper is a good sleeper, assuming you can get him to sleep I am pretty sure he would snooze through WWIII.  This morning after much bouncing, rocking, and begging for him to sleep he finally passed out.  I put him in his bouncy chair and headed to the kitchen to make some coffee.  As I was getting ready to grind my beans I briefly wondered if it would wake him, dismissed it and carried on.  Because, you know, he sleeps through everything.  WRONG!  No sooner had I finished grinding was I met with dissatisfied screams.  At lest now I am rocking while drinking my coffee (and typing this one handed).

A Different Kind of Training

I know a lot of people look at pregnancy, delivery and (poor me) recovery as a time of discomfort.  Unless of course you are that woman that glows while pregnant and loves every single moment.  While I had an easy pregnancy it did come with its less than comfortable moments, moments I tried to view as training for my long runs.

• Since early pregnancy coincided with  summer and good weather I kept running.  Sure, I cut out my weekend long run but I kept-up with Tuesday Rock Candy (hill work) and Thursday Priest Point (45 min run).   This isn't exactly a ton of running and plenty of people have done more, but I am proud of myself.  During this time I was exhausted and felt nauseous, as in each footfall made me want to vomit.  During races/long runs your stomach doesn't always love you.  What better way to better learn to deal with it then to have every moment of every run feel like crap?
• As my pregnancy progressed and my weight increased, short runs caused my tootsies to hurt.   I'm talking the kind of hurt you experience 30 miles into a 50 mile run.  Options to deal with this 1) stop running, or 2) suck it up.  I opted for option two.  Again, what better way to learn to deal with something then have it become a constant in your life.
• My labor and delivery was not the magical experience that most moms hope to have, instead it was the horror that I believe most people actually experience.  That being said it provided some solid endurance training.   Are you in pain - yes, is there an end in sight - no, too bad lady keep going!  Oh and everything that can go awry will, deal with it. 
• I anticipated the last few weeks of my pregnancy to be my least active, oh was I ever wrong, it is the six weeks postpartum that I've been ordered to be a couch potato.  I don't do well with sitting around but I realize that recovery will occur that much faster and I can get back to life as I know it if I listen to my doctor.  So, here I sit on my duff practicing patience.  Life doesn't always go they way you plan and you have to roll with the punches. P.S. ask anyone that knows me, patience may be a virtue, but it is one I don't generally practice. 
• Note: yesterday Matt took me into town to run some errands.  We parked the car and walked around.  I was so happy to be out and and about but today I am feeling it.  Lesson learned: don't do too much too soon or you will feel it.
• Sleep deprivation - I feel no explanation is required for this one.  As far as training, this has got to come in handy for the the 100 mile race I hope to do.

But, it is all worth it for this handsome dude:

 

I Don't Fart I Shart

I have been debating how much Jasper stuff would make its way onto this blog.  My initial though was not much since it is a blog focused on our adventures and then I realized I was being dense, this is probably the biggest adventure we have been on to date.

We've now been parents for all of two and a half weeks, that makes us experts, right? Not hardly...  But we have managed to keep the little guy alive and mostly happy thus far so we'll call it a success.  It has not been without its bumps.  In the past week we have experienced circumcision (which we watched, one word - ouch!), diaper rash, being splattered with every bodily fluid Jasper is currently producing, sleepless nights, scream jags, happy baby that is more alert, sleepless nights, weight and height gain, sweet baby cuddles, nursing pains, and have I mentioned sleepless nights?  I had no idea what to expect when this adventure started but I am loving (almost) every moment. 

You may be wondering about the title of this post.  Well, Jasper is a stellar pooper (is he going to read this later and get embarrassed?).  This is what has lead to his poor raw booty but it also has lead to another realization.  In addition to protecting yourself from arching baby pee you also have to look out for the fart because it is so much more, he doesn't fart he shart's and if you aren't careful he will get you with his flying farticles.  Diaper changes in our house are a full on assault. 

Nursery

Matt did an awesome job on the nursery but has decided that he would like a miter saw for future trim work.

Prince Jasper

I woke-up Tuesday morning around 3 am with some cramping.  I couldn't get back to sleep so I lounged in bed and read.  Matt woke-up a few hours later and I mentioned it to him but said I doubted it meant anything since I still had days until my due date and was otherwise feeling good.  None the less he decided that he would stay home from work (just in case) and work on finishing the nursery.  I spent the day working and then ran some errands and Matt and I went out for Indian for dinner.  After dinner Matt was convinced that we should be going to the hospital but I was against it.  I did not want to be the lady who cried labor and then got sent home from the hospital, although I must admit, it was becoming more difficult to ignore the frequency with which my "cramping" was occurring. 

Around 11pm Matt decided that I was going to the hospital, he wasn't having any more of my denial.  Before succumbing to him I called the hospital to get their opinion,  they agreed that we should come in.  We both got packed (none of this being ready at 35 weeks for me) and headed out.  Got to the hospital, they checked me out, told me to walk the halls for an hour, check me again and admitted me. 

Going into this my intention was to not take drugs, however, I acknowledged that all I really cared about is that everyone was happy and healthy in the end - regardless of how we got there.  The nurse checked me out and informed me that baby was sunny side up, hence the horrible labor pains.  I was having back labor since his head was sliding along my spine and pressing on all my nerves as he decended.  I'm not going to lie, the pain was awful but I am stubborn so I declined drugs and continued to walk to halls.  I made it to 8 cm before I gave in and requested the epidural. 

Upon hearing my request the nurse said if I made it this far there really is no need for it now, but I had made up my mind, I wanted it.  Ohy, what a freaking fiasco.  The anesthesiologist came in and proceeded to prep me, an hour and four tries later it was final in.  Did I mention I had to sit hunched over and totally still that entire time while being continually jabbed?  I will take a moment here to say that I absolutely loved the nursing staff that worked with us, the anesthesiologist, not so much.  But once the epidural was in and the medication was coursing through me I was finally able to relax, it was magic.  At that point the nurses helped me shift positions to try and get little man to flip, six hours later and he hadn't budged.  It was at this point that the doctor suggested the c-section since it wasn't looking good for him coming out naturally.  However, he wasn't in any distress so they were in no rush for me to decide an happy to let me labor as long as I liked (have I mentioned how much I liked my labor team?).   Matt and I discussed it a bit and decided that the c-section might be our best bet, I was still in a fair amount of pain and my tolerance for dealing with it was really waning.   

When the doctor came back in I told her our thoughts and she decided we could make one last effort to get him out without surgery - she hooked me up to a massive dose of pitocin to try and force him out.  It sucked, the contractions were so strong and fast that if I wasn't sure about the c-section before I was positive now.  I was ready to be done.  The pitocin did nothing, he was still wedged in the same position.  So, we made the call and the preparations began.  An hour and a half later they were finally ready to wheel me in to the OR.  This is where it gets a little hazy for me. 

I know they brought Matt in and apparently he showed-up on the wrong side of the curtain and got a full on view of my insides being pulled outside.  Next thing I know there was crying and Matt came around the curtain to tell me we had a boy.  After that Matt and Jasper scooted off to take care of newborn matters and they put me back together.  When that was done I was wheeled into the post-op room where I shook uncontrollably and refused to touch my baby because I was petrified I would drop him.  The shakes finally subsided and all my vitals were okay so we were wheeled to our room, the proud parents of a brand new little guy. 

Two days later we finally settled on a name - Jasper Terry Klungle (aka Prince Jasper to the night nurse due to his inconsolable crying). He was born Wednesday, January 30th at 5:36pm, weighed 7lbs 5 oz and was 19" long.

Day at the Beach

Just in case you are curious, we have a to do list as long as my left arm.  Or maybe I should say Matt's left arm since he thinks I have little t-rex arms.  Between regular house projects and preparation for Lima we are not at a loss for busy work.    Instead we blew it all off and spent a great day relaxing (went out to brunch, visited with friends, watched some home improvement shows) and topped it off with a visit to the beach for the clam tide and Matt made fresh clam fritters for dinner.

Since it was a nice day and the tide was during the day we decided to take the dogs so they could burn off some energy running around.  Apparently both of them had more energy than they knew what to do with, which led to two lame dogs Saturday night.  Jacks sprained (we think, it doesn't look broken) his front right ankle and Europa's rear end ceased to work.  Matt had to carry both of them to bed since they couldn't move...   As of this morning Europa seems back to normal, more or less, but poor Jacks is still in a lot of pain.  None the less, I think they had fun chasing the waves and birds while it lasted.

Clam digging - the sun was out!

Clam fritters

Mini Winni

I now understand where the statement "big as a house" comes from.  It is currently how I feel, big and as it stands I am currently housing another person. According to Matt I am a Mini Winni - a not too big, not too small mobile home.  Yep, he knows how to make a girl feel good about themselves :)  Two more weeks...