Marathon

Back in March I decided to train for the Portland Marathon. It was one of the highly ambitious no common sense Laura moments where I really think I have the time, energy, and patience to do something.

Then when that something comes around I have no common sense and energy and patience to actually train for it. So on Sunday I tried to run the marathon when I hadn't trained since end of August. I call it "Hensleying it" b/c I get that from my father. I watched him many times throughout my life just do something when he wasn't really prepared for it and it usually turned out okay. Guts and Gumption were my motto. I figured it would hurt and I played it up in my head that it would be horrible b/c then it might be one of those things that wasn't so horrible but at least I prepared for the worst. It was horrible... it was everything I thought it would be. Don't you hate it when you are right.

If you ever wondered what running a marathon is like here is my play by play (this is more for my memory than your interest):

Mile 1:

Holy cow it is raining hard and cold... why am I in WAVE A. Why am I at the beginning and not back towards the end? Guy next to me says it is the worst weather he's ever ran in and he's done 7 of these. Why did he tell me that? Jerk. Am I wearing too much clothing? Why are they all almost naked? Where are their supplies? Gel? Camelbacks? Once again why am I starting at the beginning? OH, and we are off. Oh... this is fun... there is music and drummers... nice. This older man in front of me looks like he has a good pace. I will draft him. Man everyone is running fast.

Mile 4:

Okay I'm tired. Should I be tired so early? Everyone is still passing me and running fast. Your okay Laura stay tight and contained. You got a long ways to go. Just keep staring at all the hot guys, man some hot guys run this thing. Everyone has great legs. Oh take the GEL. Yes that is better.... maybe I should've ate more this morning than one banana.

Mile 10:

Good-bye Half Marathoners... really tempted to go with them. Now the pack is smaller and not so many people passing me. Legs hurt, but not intolerable. Maybe I should get my ipod out now. UGH! My fingers are so swollen can't work my ipod all I can get to play is Jagged Little Pill! Okay doing good... tight and contained just make it to mile 14 running then you can walk a little. Gel again... like that gel... I'm hungry. So wet out. Who set my hamstrings on fire?

Mile 14:

YES! Can I quit now? Really why do we run anymore than this. Okay now it is like giving birth b/c when you want to stop you can't. Every muscle hurts, people are starting to stop and stretch. Maybe I should stretch, but I'm afraid to stop... maybe I won't be able to start again. Okay here is the plan Laura you run until you can't. You run until your legs tell you to stop. Good plan. Just passed a speedwalker... and no, she just passed me... stupid speedwalkers. Can I get the epidural now? I can see the bridge... just make it to the bridge. Pacers 4:30 are still behind you... doing good Laura (lots of cheerleading at this point)

Mile 18:

HELP... I want to cry. OMG my legs hurt. Why it the road so bumpy? I need thicker insoles. Need more gel... no more gel... I'm screwed... okay make it until your legs quit... legs quit... guts and gumption. Think of BCS. Bobby Gaeta would be telling me suck it up and run faster :) He had guts and gumption. Run with me BCS. Who is stabbing my knee? Two more miles than you can walk. Bob Seger playing "Fire inside" I got a fire inside my entire body.

Mile 20:

And I'm walking... but it's so cold. Not an inch of me is dry. OMG my legs hurt and my forearms which is weird. But I can walk... walk two miles Laura then you can run again, maybe your knees will feel good by then. Hello port o potties... it's warm in here. I think I will stay in here for a little bit to warm up. If someone just gave me a sweatshirt I think I could do this thing. I could call for a ride? NO... do it! Think of childbirth... you can walk six miles in the rain with the pain. Contractions were WAY worse. Seriously though if I could take a pain pill right now I think I could run this to the end. Lots of people running now and then walking and then stretching. How do they do that? All I can do is walk. When I try to run I feel like my knees will break off. This is a really nice neighborhood.

Mile 23:

OH GOD... not down hill... that hurts a whole other group of muscles.... need the techno going now. At least I'm passing people... finally at mile 23 I'm passing people. Pretty sure the 4:30 pacer group is ahead of me by several minutes... okay hours. Must've passed me when I was warming up in the pot o potty (don't laugh... it was warm in there). Is that beer up ahead. NICE they are handing out beer. Okay I need something harder... and no just one cup of beer. WHATEVER. So cold. DO IT LAURA DO IT... look at that guy... wow is he hurting... and he looks in much better shape than me. Amazing how it doesn't matter what appearances look like... it's about your strength in side. Okay maybe I can run this last three miles... ouch ouch ouch... try faster.... OUCH! Okay and I'm walking.

Mile 25:

I can't believe I'm going to make it. Starting to tear up. WOW this is an amazing journey. But really why do humans do this? I guess it's the downside to having the ability to reason and therefore have an ego. I'm pretty any other species would look at us like, "What's the point?" I'm sure my Jack Russel would've quit at mile 4 b/c he tired and when you are tired you quit and conserve your energy, but not crazy humans. If we think it will really hurt and therefore make us special we do it. THIS IS THE LONGEST MILE EVER. I have to run the end... I have too. It hurts, but I'm running. Ann is up there somewhere and I have to run when she sees me or what's the point. You can do it Laura you can do it... BCS... BCS! I see ANN! I'm so excited... I have fans. THAT does feel good! I can do this... look how happy Ann is for me... okay I can do this. TURN THE CORNER and there is the finish line! I DID IT! I can't believe it. They announced my name... and I crossed it. Okay I really just want to hug the girl giving me the space blanket and cry and tell her how hard it was and sit down... why don't they have benches?

Mile 26.2

Teeth are chattering... so cold and wet... legs hurt, knees hurt, neck hurts... just want to eat or sleep or take a bath. I can't function. But I did it. I finished. Bucket List number whatever... BIG CHECK!

MILE 25.itwillneverend

Ann Jason and Natalie met me at the end... I am posing for this (standing still) b/c when I saw them they were all surrounding Natalie trying to get her to stop waving the giant yellow umbrella around and hitting people. I had to yell "ANN"! I wish I would've had a picture of that.

Clancy One Year

How did you go from picture three to picture two and one? I am confused? Nice to see you have food on you in both... that's a Hensley. Also nice to see you are confident enough to wear your pink cupcake bid AND play with your Tonka truck. On your way to professional ballerina who flies his mom to NY on the weekends to watch you perform and meet all your famous ballerina girlfriends and then also owns 100 sheep and wranglers on the side. Yes, that is how your parents think about your future. They wish you to grow up and be just like them but better. Okay that last picture is driving me crazy... someone wipe that milk off his cheek!

Sorry this is just a tease. I find it harder to social network nowadays. I would rather you all just come over and see the pictures on my laptop or I email them to you. Still refuse to facebook so don't even say it... if you know my past you know why... yes I was a professional ballerina who use to sell sheep on the black market.

Laptop Pictures, your FAVORITE!

I should really just have a blog devoted to the pictures one can take on a Mac laptop. I think I would have a pretty big following.... of my friends and family that already follow my blog. Clancy and Matt came to visit me after work one day and these are the pictures that followed.

Matt's hot. I think him and Clancy are making the same face.

Not your best angle baby boy... Auntie Carrie needs to teach you your camera pose.

Oh, much better... this is a good power pose. You show those highlighters who is the boss! Clancy is the boss! Boss of my sanity level and sleep level and bicep strength level. AMAZING how strong those puppies get just holding him and for once in my life something on the left side of my body is stronger than the right (b/c you carry him with the left arm to free up the right.. for those of you who didn't catch that). He is crawling now. HOLY COW why didn't someone tell me my house was so dirty and all this stuff was all over the place. He puts stuff in his mouth I'm convinced teleported to my house b/c I do not remember it being there before. This morning we found carpet in his mouth while buckling him in the car. CARPET? The other day I found some sort of tape, parts of a noodle, pine needle, and my favorite dirt. ?????????? I give up... no I don't b/c if I do he will choke and die. Just realized my life has been turned upside down and I wish I lived in one of those houses that is decorated so modern they don't have any furniture, carpets, or stuff... just air. Air is the major decorating focal point. Clancy try to choke on air... ha ha! Mom 1, Clancy 0!

All Kinds of Activities

What's been going on with the Debricks?

1. Clancy is wearing 18 months clothes b/c he needs the extra room in the waist. I don't have the heart to tell him he is only 8 months old. He doesn't need a complex.

2. Matt and I are going to Reno the first weekend in June for a sheep show. I've never been to a sheep "convention" of this sorts. Nor Reno. Is it like a Star Wars convention and everyone dresses like their favorite sheep breed and we tour various booths and discuss if the Death Star really could've made foot fungus disappear? No? I kid. It's where all the big names in the sheep biz show up and show and sell their sheep. Big deal... Big DEATH STAR deal! I'll try to have pictures for you. Clancy isn't going... OMG it's a date. What should I wear?

3. I signed up to run the Portland Marathon 10/10/10. St. Agatha is my team name. I'm the only one in my team. I'm accepting applications. St. Agatha is one of the patron saints of breast cancer.

4. Matt spends most of his time either in the sheep barn, sheep field, feed store, his truck, the trailer attached to the truck, or home.

5. We are coming to Iowa in June. We will leave probably the 17th or 18th and arrive in Omaha area the 20th or 21st. Clancy and I will be at mom and dads most of the time. Matt will be sheeping it with Tyson "big deal" Rule in Haywarden (sp?) Iowa and then down to Missouri for the Midwest Ram Sheep Show (something like that). Is there an update I typed that didn't involve sheep in it?

So pictures... pictures... pictures... I think they are in the Death Star.

What's new...

You know what's not new... this background and my pictures! Good lord I'm bad at this blog stuff.

Easter...

Clancy and his great grandpa Ben. Yes, Clancy is 25 now and in med school. I mean really, doesn't he look so old? When did that happen? I swear I've been paying attention.

Our little Catholic....

Helmet boy

I call this "Natalie At Window"... part of her wander aimlessly collection.

WE did it! They are Catholics. We continued the line of many many many many generations of Wolf, Reinig, and Hensley Catholics. Check that off the list of accomplishments.... whew. I did feel like this was the first milestone I "got done" in Clancy's life. Baptism then off to first day of school. I was Natalie's Godmother and Dad was her surrogate Godfather. Ann was Clancy's Godfather and Matt's brother Mike was his Godfather. It is a tradition in the church that the babies were all white, so no I was not trying to go for the Elvis during the Vegas years with Clancy's clothes.

Joe and Deb are like grandparents to Clancy and will be wonderful spiritual leaders for him, probably better than his mom and dad! Doesn't Clancy look like a doll in that picture? It is him right?

THE DRESS... PUFFY SLEEVES!

Clancy did really well with the water, but tried to avoid the "holy spirt"... Matt leaned over and whispered it was his side that was causing all the trouble.

Natalie wasn't sure why we wanted to put her hair in that bowl... and really... she brings up a good point.

Love this picture... PUFFY SLEEVES AND BOW IN THE BACK... wish I could wear that dress.

AGH... why are they sooooo cute. Can't stand it sometimes.

Baptism

Clancy and Natalie are getting baptized this Sunday at Mt. Angel Catholic Church after the 10:00 mass. I am positive they will be the oldest kids there since you are suppose to baptize your kids when they are still considered newborns and don't have "chub" everywhere or can verbally tell you NO!

Natalie's dress... oh my gosh Natalie's dress. When I first saw it I asked Ann when we can go wedding dress shopping for Natalie. It's all fluffy white satin with pretty little beads work on it. PUFFY SLEEVES! The shoes of course are to DIE FOR (in a high pitch voice).

Clancy's dress... is not a dress, boy's just get to wear satin white suits with crosses on the lapels. It is a super cute outfit, but still not a pretty little girl's dress.

Matt's dress... oh is so super fun! It is yellow, pale yellow with pink flowers and blue rainbows and lots of purple bows throughout.

So look for pictures after Sunday.

And I'm back..

Sorry for the blog hiatus. I just needed a break from all THE PRESSURE! Just kidding, there was no pressure except the own I put on myself to make sure this was updated all the time with Clancy pictures. Which for those of you who know me... is a lot of pressure. Especially now that I'm working it seems even harder to stay current in the photo department. Also, what I enjoy most about blogging is being able to write. I was always much better at reading someone else's diary (Ann's) then keeping my own. No wait, seven year old Laura did keep a diary and it was called verbal vomit at recess to anyone who would listen. I have never had a good filter when it comes to talking about how I feel ... to random people. I guess that's why I liked to blog b/c it was like I was seven again trying to explain to my friends on the jungle bars why our secret club shouldn't be called "My Little Ponies" ... so unoriginal.

No really, in 2nd grade we moved to Kansas from Iowa and the new school we went to was a far cry from the farm kids of Iowa. It was a preppy school on the right side of the tracks. We went there b/c we lived in the only apartment complex in the school zoning. This school was so wealthy, or it seemed that way at 7, that they had live gardens growing in the middle of the school INSIDE. Trees, shrubs, everything! The school was even called Village. I mean really... how on the right side of the tracks does that sound. So anyway, the Village girls wanted to start a club and they wanted to call it My Little Ponies. I wanted it to be based on My Little Ponies, but I wanted something more creative like the Princess of Horses or The Olympians of Four Legs. I lost that battle with my big mouth and some cool points. We eventually got the house built, moved to the other side of the tracks, and went to a school with normal stuff in the halls like vomit and glue and kids who could use their imagination b/c they didn't own every toy made.

What was my point? Oh yes, the blog is back. But don't expect a lot of pictures. I could include exerts from Ann's diaries? Just kidding... no really I know where they are.

Hot Mess...

Went to the gym this morning and was getting dressed afterwards. Pull out a sweatshirt to wear, turned it inside out, HUGE throw up stain from Clancy pancy. Grabbed the sweatshirt I wore to the gym as back up (dressed in the dark) notice that it too had a HUGE throw up stain. Ah.... I'm officially a mom huh? I cleaned up the first one, still smells like day old formula, and went to work. I figured between the BO and pot smells radiating from my students I should fit right in :)

Validation...

Since Matt took over as the primary care taker of Clancy he has repeatedly insisted he never needs a break or some alone time. I was starting to feel like I'm the Britney Spears of the relationship and the only one who had the potential at some point to shave my entire head out of baby insanity until yesterday. Matt showed up at school and I took Clancy home from there. When Matt got home around 7:00 he had this huge grin on his face and said the following, "I found myself at Carl's Jr eating a cheeseburger... alone... and it was quite.... and nice." Then he said he went and worked in the sheep barn after that and had a great time doing something relaxing by himself. I said, "Yes, I know! See isn't it nice to not be responsible for another human being for a couple of hours?" He said yes. VALIDATION!!!!!!! And now I will begin to feel sorry for him and empathize with how hard it is to be a stay at home dad which was very hard to do when he repeatedly told me how easy his job was and how he never needed a break.

Matt if you read this.... THANK YOU! Your job is hard and you deserve breaks.

Clancy if you are reading this... tell Dad to stop dressing you in summer clothes. If it's above the elbow or knee it can not be. Just gurgle that to him while he is changing your diaper.

Bugs

So the reason he is called Bugs is b/c when my Aunt Mary sent this crazy eyed sheep to us, we own a dorset sheep (all white, white face and body) that had these crazy eyes.

I have xmas pics but they are in my camera and I haven't downloaded yet.

Pictures! Not in any order...

Clancy came to visit me at work and YES this was taken using the laptop! Ha!

Is this what they do all day?
These two already look like trouble... I can hear it already "So mom Caden and I were to going to come home on time but there was this deer and a lazy chair...."
I would've helped, but see I was holding the camera and someone has to hold the camera!
Cousins
Wolf Family at the Portland Zoo lights!
Some call him the "Lizard King" (The Doors)
The Debricks... I can't tell you how hard it was to get this picture.
Aunt Step!
Great Grandma Debrick... "Oh, stretch and grow an inch" my favorite quote.
LOVED this outfit!
No comment.
Clancy decided we needed to help mom and dad pour concrete!

Pouring concrete... they are in their 60's and my dad still makes my mom help him pour concrete. He even yelled at her to make her gravel shovels bigger. I would've helped but I was holding the camera!

As you can see... Clancy needs a helmet (left side sloped).
"Say AH-GOO" Great Grandpa Dawson... Clancy was named after him "Ben".

So what does the pig say?

Back to Work...

Today was my first day back (I left on a Friday so I had to come back on a Friday). I was feeling really good about getting dressed up for a purpose this morning... I hugged Clancy really tight and kissed him non-stop and then I realized it was time to leave and I started balling... saying stuff like "I don't want to go!".

Sucked it up, went to work and I was fine the rest of the day. It helps that I can call my daycare person (Matt) anytime of the day and ask annoying questions like "What's he doing now?" " When did he poop?" "How much did he eat?" "Did he mention how much he missed me?" Things I probably can't call real daycare and bugged them all day with.

And work felt good, but weird. It's like I forgot how to do my job. I have an amazing assistant who basically held my hand all day. Bonus... I found I don't eat all day at work... I don't eat cookies and chips and grilled cheese sandwiches and fancy coffee drinks... so maybe that part will get better. Additional bonus... I HAVE INTERNET AGAIN!

Matt called me about noon to report he had finished the last load of laundry, went grocery shopping, and had vacuumed. Ha... first dayers... I did all that too until I realize I had only slept 4 hours in three days and didn't care anymore if my clothes smelled like formula and yesterdays dinner was on Clancy's back. Just kidding... he is going to do great and probably make it look easier with less whining. Definitely less whining.

Update!

I go back to work on Friday and all next week so I will post some pictures then where internet is more accessible.

So an update...

Clancy will probably have to wear a helmet to get his head shaped "normal". It's called positional plaeco...phy...is... something like that (I don't know how to spell it). The more people I talk to the more I find out how common this is nowadays... ever since they switch from front to back sleeping in the 90's. We went to the dr. on Monday for the diagnosis and he recommended we wait one more month and see what happens. Clancy loves to look left... so much so he sloped his left half of his head and caused his left ear to more forward. The helmet will get his head portioned, but his ears will always be a little off. I look at it as the one thing he can always share at show in tell like how I use to do my thumb dislocation if I forgot my toy that day. Anyway he was measured at a 12mm difference and on Monday he measured 10mm which means all our hard work on tummy time and getting him to only look right has paid off. The doctor said he wouldn't recommend the helmet if he gets to a 6, but he pretty sure that will probably not happen. If he measures in a 7-10 area it will be our call. Most adults average a 3 or 4. The doctor said with the helmet he can get Clancy to even a possible 0. I say strap that helmet on and let's go crazy for two months!

And next time I have a baby... I will immediately pay attention (like right out of the birth canal) as to what side my baby favors. This all could've been prevented if we would've known to look for it ASAP and don't believe those people that tell you it will "work itself out". That only applies to flatheads that are right square in the back. The physical therapist said she wished more doctors and nurses prepared new moms for this condition, instead it is something usually never talked about or mentioned. In my "What to expect the first year" book I found one paragraph on it and their recommendation was that "it works itself out". You can tell I was really fired up about this when I felt like bad mom for not paying more attention at the beginning. AH.... I'm done.

http://demagsheepco.com

Go to our new website for DeMag Sheep Co.

An Ode to Charles Dickens

"Please Sir, can I have some more?" This is his what I call his Oliver Twist outfit. I swear I had it turned the right way and then when I imported it, it did this... stupid technology.

Oh boy, this will be Clancy's home when Dad takes over. He came home with this the other night very excited. We put Clancanator in it and he is too little and hit his head on the metal bar hence Matt's face in the picture and my panic induced hot-flash that followed. Now I have officially stunted Clancy's brain development by letting him watch daytime television and hitting his head. If he ends up smarter than Rex at least that will be some small accomplishment. If not... well him and Aimmus will be best friends.

My Aunt Sharon died Oct. 30th of a long battle with breast cancer. She was a fighter and truly embraced life. Her memorial is tomorrow in Grand Junction, CO. I wish I could be there with my parents and extended family to celebrate her life. Instead I will remember her here and make sure I hug Clancy and Matt extra tight tomorrow and everyday after that. Love you Aunt Sharon.