Make a Wish 5K

When I was a teenager, I ran a lot. If I got angry or worried or stressed, I would lace up my shoes and take off. Lane and I started walking at the first of the year and I enjoy it. I love being out with him, but it just isn't running. There is just something about being outside with yourself that is exhilarating to me. I can think. I can plan. I can focus on the run. I can escape into the music. I can see the beauty of the world. I enjoy it.
A couple of years ago, I made a goal to run a marathon before I am 35. Time is ticking away on this goal and it is a goal that only I have control over. It is up to me to train and achieve this goal. So I am doing it. I just started really training for it. Today my step mom, dad, my little half sister and I participated in the Make a Wish Run. It was just as I remembered. Although I was in a crowd of people, I was alone. I was there with myself and it was up to me to make it to the finish line. What a sense of accomplishment I felt as I rounded that last corner to run to the finish line. It nearly brought tears to my eyes to think I made it.
I have to thank my step mother Ginny for her encouragement. (and awesome running shoes) She was the one who signed me up for this one. And a great big thank you to my wonderful husband. Lane brought an mp3 home for me last night for my run today. That was so thoughtful and sweet. It feels amazing to hear the words "I'm so proud of you" from him. I'm pretty proud too.

What I have Learned this week.

For some who read this you know I have had an emotion couple of weeks. As with the normality, life is this Barlow house is a roller coaster ride. Just when things are calm, life happens and we begin a new "learning experience." I am happy to say, no I am not expecting another little one as some may be thinking at this time. But life will be changing one way or another for me in the next few weeks. That aside I am going to share what I have learned.
I have a sister when in time of need swoops in, takes charge and does what she can to remedy problems. I thank her with all my heart for helping me out with what seems now like a hiccup in Owen's education. It may seem like a small thing you did, but it was the way you handled it that I will always feel indebted to you for.
I have great friends who like me for me. I have the most amazing friends who I know will be there when I need them. Whether it be keeping Hayden and Owen for a couple hours on Wednesdays so I can take Lizzie to dance class or deciding I need a mental health night to spend with Lane and taking my children for "HOURS" so we can talk and not worry about time, Jaynee is always there. I would never have expected when Owen started school, I would be gaining a truly wonderful close friend. I learned if I need advice or just the simple reassurance that I am a good person, I have Joanne to put her arm around me and give me the little lift I need once and a while. She is also willing to give me the kick in the tail when I need that too.
I have learned (again) that I love my Ward. I love the sweet sisters in it who are there in times when I need that little bit of support and strength. The simple smiles and the spiritual support is ever so important. It may seem like a small gesture on your part but on my end it is grand and wonderful to me. I thank all of my new friends in my Ward (and the few I have known for a while now.) You make us feel like we are at home. And we all thank you for that. I know I can count on you too for help if I ever were to need it. That is such a relief and a comfort I cannot convey in words.
I have learned that being a family is the most important thing in my life. I have realized I am very lucky to have the children I do and a husband who is supportive and caring even when I am gripey and grouchy. I have a husband who loves me, and after 13 years still wants to spend time with me. I have a family who actually likes to spend time with each other and for the most part is happy. A family who loves one another. In the end, that is what is important to life.
I have realized that I am happy with the person I am. (size not included)

Much Needed Girls Night

Yesterday afternoon I got a phone call from my SIL Sarah. Her good and very generous friend opened his box for us to see High School Musical on Ice. I just can't convey how much fun the little girls had. I think us mom's (and dad) had a pretty good time too. It has been a long time since I have gone out with girls and boy have I missed the conversations about the important things happening in our lives as well as the silly things we are doing.
Thanks again to the Stewarts and to Sarah and the girls for such a wonderful evening.

The Wake Up Call

Since before Lane and I got married, one of my responsibilities is waking him up. The man does not know what sleep is and why it is so important to a person. I can remember Dodie going out of town and having to call him to wake him up for work. Most of the time I would end up calling Tyler who would then have to wake up and walk downstairs to wake Lane up so he would make it to work.
Fast forward over 13 years and I am still struggling with waking him up. We are blessed in the sense he no longer goes to work at 3am, but that just gives him the idea he can stay up til 3 am. Today I called thinking I he would be up, had breakfast and ready to head for the airport a little after 7, and he was just barely awake. It makes me laugh. I thought life would change this mans sleep patterns but it hasn't and he has passed it on to half the kids.
So the wake up calls will continue...

Owen Update

Well it is a new year and we have new goals. I think about last year at this time and the longing I felt to hear the simple things from Owen. I think of how I longed to hear I love you out of his little mouth or to hear him say his name. Wow what a difference from last year and even from just the few months since our trip to UCLA. Owen really is talking now. He will answer questions. He will ask questions. He even has conversations with us, his siblings and his friends.
He is still in school at Wolff in the Early Childhood program, with Mrs. Perez. He sees his school speech therapist three times a week or 30 minutes a session. She is still amazing with him. He has helped me so much with understanding what I need to do to encourage his progress. I know I can ask her the really dumb questions that I have and even if she laughs she will answer them. He sees his outside therapist too. We have had to drop down to only one day a week. But when he goes he is still all business. He goes at 7 am. Which for those who really know Owen understand just how amazing that is. Owen is my little night owl. He does not like to go to sleep. He will sit and color or look at books for hours in his bed instead of sleeping. That is the Barlow in him. And he likes to sleep in. But when I tell him we have speech in the morning, he tries really hard to go to sleep so he can be awake for therapy. Ms. Kelli is still amazing. She is really invested in him. She can not believe the progress in him. She never thought it would be so quick. I am so happy that it is.
Last week we were at my in laws and Aunt Mindie was talking to him. She was asking him all about Christmas and what he got. What he liked. He was able to actually answer her and I didn’t have to “translate” for him.
I am very concerned with Primary. Since we are no longer his teacher, I have to allow someone new into his life. I have kept him so sheltered and guarded from the “real world” I am struggling to open my sweet little man up to someone who isn’t familiar with him or Apraxia. I know I am being silly, but I am a mom who doesn’t want her child hurt. He has the cutest little girls in his class who have NEVER uttered a word about how he speaks. They actually understand a lot of what he says. I lucked out this week a good friend of mine was teaching his class and all week he practiced saying “Sister Truman.” I don’t know that he ever said it to her but he could definitely say it. I did ask him when he got home what he learned today and he was able to tell me. In complete sentences too.
We have a long road ahead of us still. Not everything is intelligible. I still have a hard time once and a while. And the people who don’t see him on a regular basis really struggle still. But the progress is there. He is talking in sentences. Sometimes the sentence structure is a little jumbled. But I am not going to worry about that part of the disorder when the stranger on the street can understand him more.

The Great Weight Loss Challenge

Let the Competition Begin
My sister in law had an epiphany. She decided to challenge pretty much everyone she knows to a “Biggest Loser” type competition. We started today with the challenge. We sent in our current weight and the game is on. On April 15th we head to a party at her house for the final “weigh in.”
I really thought I would totally kick tail in this but after today, I think I need a little more will power. I did great first thing this morning. I had an egg white and veggie omelet did my Pilates and drank like three glasses of water. Then Lane needed to help out at his parent’s house and that’s when it went downhill. Dodie has the GREATEST snacks in the world. And all of them you may ever want. She’s got the crackers and cheese, the cookies, the chocolate, nuts, and of course my favorite, the jellied fruit candies. I tried really hard but I did end up indulging in 2 triscuts, a couple handfuls of almonds and cashews and of course 3 or 4 of the jellied candies. I feel SO terrible.
I am so happy to have gotten Sarah’s email letting me know about her tough day too. But tomorrow is a new day and not a holiday so GAME ON!!! Watch out this Barlow is going to win!!!