by Sarah | Sep 13, 2012 | All About Denver, Cross Country, The Teenager
[flickr id=”6087274981″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]We aren’t really a sports family. Denver never really was a sports kid. He played soccer for a while, but then the cost outweighed his enjoyment factor and we let it go. For a while he played an instrument, but again he didn’t care for it as much.
So just before 7th grade he told us he wanted to run.
And he ran.
Last year in 8th grade he excelled beyond measure, his pride in his abilities grew. The kid was on his game. We were proud of him, he was proud of himself. It was a pretty stellar way to end middle school.
This year he’s in high school and joined the team again.
But this year there’s a problem.
Pain in his knees – and a new severe pain in his back are crippling his ability to run. He barely makes it a mile in practice.
So tomorrow we go and do something I never thought this family would see. A sports medicine doctor. Try to help his pain levels before the season is over. So that maybe he can again enjoy the sport he loves so much – and achieve the excellence we all know he has in him.
by Sarah | Aug 9, 2012 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Me, Cross Country, Friday Fragments, Random, The Teenager
[flickr id=”7665949676″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]I’ve been having a good week…month…year. Whatevs, it’s all good. Okay, so there’s been ups and downs, but as I said recently I feel like I’ve hit my prime.
But for whatever reason my mind can’t wrap around a cohesive lengthy post today so you get the ever-marvelous bullet list of awesome.
- School starts in less than a week. Three kids. Gone all day. Makes me salivate at the thought of all that might get accomplished.
- Erik is doing a lot better. We’ve had a change in diagnosis & treatment plan, and things are looking up. Hopefully soon we’ll dive more into it – when he’s ready.
- In case you missed it – I’m being published. I so cannot wait until February to cross that sucker off my 45X45 list.
- The teen is entering high school. Honestly, not sure if this goes on a list of awesome b/c it sort of freaks me out – but it is happening. He’s in JV Cross Country practices now.
- We’re going to the State Fair on Monday. I’m actually pretty excited for this. Been a long time since I’ve done this.
- Erik & I have started walking together every night. It gives us added exercise & some time for just the two of us.
- I still have this 5k coming up but with the heat I have lapsed on training. Starting again real soon because time is running out (pardon the unintentional pun)
- Did I mention school starts soon? No? Well, it DOES.
- Oh, make sure you come by here tomorrow…I’m having a fun, flirty, sexy giveaway you do NOT want to miss.
by Sarah | Sep 22, 2011 | All About Denver, Cross Country
[flickr id=”6083043811″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]In the past several weeks, Brandon has gone from being improved over the previous year and turned into a DYNAMO.
In just two weeks he’s gone from a best time of 12:21 for the 1.9 mile race…
To a best time of 11:40!!!
40 seconds improvement.
While watching the race today, several of the female team members were standing near us (near the finish line). As the runners came in, our team was in 1st, 3rd, 5th…and then several more runners started trucking in. As they came into view the girls were saying, “Oh, there’s one of ours. It must be…” And they rattled off another kids name. Once he was in full view they all gasped, “It’s BRANDON!!”
Shocked and thrilled, screaming for him like we were.
He’s now 4th on his team. He’s competing in ALL the meets, where last year he had to sit out because they only let in the top 7 runners.
He’s kicking ass. Competing against himself and winning.
And we couldn’t be more proud.
So expect to keep hearing about it for the next couple of weeks.
(Don’t worry. The season is over by mid- October)
by Sarah | Aug 26, 2011 | All About Denver, Cross Country, Cystic Fibrosis
[flickr id=”6083043811″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”] I knew he’d do me proud.
That was never in question.
But right out of the gate.
First meet of the season.
He blew me (and everyone that knew him) away.
He paced himself well.
Drafting behind another kid.
Then at the end hauled ass like you wouldn’t believe (see picture).
Pulling in 6th place overall.
4th on his team.
A final time (in the 1.9 mile race)…
Of 12 minutes, 12 seconds!!!!!
That is an entire minute than his best ever time.
His best placing ever.
The kid is a rocket.
And ready to roll the rest of the season.
He made me proud.
Okay, he made me cry – but I didn’t embarrass him by blubbering all over him.
Best.Race.Ever. Until next week 😀
*******
P.S. Can I tell you how hard it is to photograph when you’re screaming your heart out for your kid?
by Sarah | Aug 17, 2011 | All About Denver, Cross Country
(All these pictures were taken last year. His first meet is not for a week)
Last year out of the blue, he decided he wanted to take part in a sport. The one that seemed best suited, the one that he wanted was Cross Country. This year he’s still in it.
It’s great to see him as part of a team.
[flickr id=”5008090207″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
To see him run with determination.
[flickr id=”6052893997″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
To find his place.
[flickr id=”6052893449″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
Knowing that each step, each strong breath builds his lung strength. Each meet builds friendships.
[flickr id=”6053444260″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
He’s growing up. Finding his place.
Even though sometimes he frustrates me. He’s a teenager.
He’s a good kid. And he’s growing up too fast.
by Sarah | Oct 1, 2010 | All About Learning, All About Molly, Autism, Cross Country
Earlier this week Archie got a call from the woman we’re working with in Special Services. She has recommended moving Riley to All-Day Kindergarten.
In essence she’s saying “There’s something going on, she does have issues – but we wont’ give you an IEP or diagnosis yet.”
The reasons were….
1) All-Day Kindergarten is for children that “need more attention.”
2) All-Day Kindergarten would give her more time in the day to evaluate her.
3) All-Day Kindergarten would give Riley more time to adjust to her day and settle in before it’s all over.
4) All-Day Kindergarten has a smaller class size – less chaos, more individualized attention.
All valid points. All reasons to go for it.
But then there’s…
1) All-Day Kindergarten lends toward more chances for Fire/Tornado drills (oh won’t that be fun).
2) All-Day Kindergarten means lunch. Riley can’t handle the chaos of snacktime in a classroom – you think she’s going to handle lunch in a crowded cafeteria?
3) She loses her comfort zones – her teacher and her best friend J.
4) All-Day Kindergarten means all day. Means behaving to the best of her ability all day. Means putting all that effort into being good at school – what unholy hell will we be unleashing upon ourselves by asking her to do this?
****
Well, we’re taking that risk.
I’d be lying if I said the thought of All-Day Kindergarten didn’t scare me on a number of levels…
But the thought of them having more time to evaluate her and getting this all out of the way is what’s holding me together. I still am not confident in the school’s ability to get this done – but at this point it’s our only hope. With the changes in insurance, getting her evaluated at the hospital is totally not in our pocketbook’s reach.
(And yes, it totally pisses me off that because of sh*tty insurance we have to rely on the school for Molly’s evaluation and diagnosis…and no, the geneticists diagnosis is NOT enough for us to get the insurance assistance we need. I’ve tried it before. We need one from a psych…thus we are dealing with the school…but that’s a totally different post that I won’t write for many reasons.)
