After a very long writer's block, I've been inspired to pick up the proverbial blogging pen again.
I am sure I've told you all before that I tend to shy away from writing when things get crazy. It's counter-intuitive, really, as I usually process best when I write. I think I just get tired of hearing myself sort it all out.
So to recap the last few months...
regarding health: Mattie is being treated for Celiac. From mid-April to the end of June, she grew a whole inch and is finally starting to see some new hair growth and thickness (and I don't just mean longer hair. I mean she had patches that weren't growing and now they are). Going gluten-free has been tricky, but rewarding. And only one step of our journey...
which leads me to Collin. After following my instincts, we discovered his milk allergy led to a partial paralysis of his stomach muscle (gastroparesis). Basically, his stomach does not contract on its own anymore. He has been on medication and we have seen significant improvement, but we are still in the process of figuring out what works for him at what stage. We will be making a trip to Riley in August to meet with their gastro docs.
Miss Makenna has had weird reactions pop up, like allergy induced asthma, and an allergic reaction or intolerance to Neosporin, which until recently I never knew was possible.
But here's what I really wanted to tell you all... I've been running. (GASP). I know. There are some of you reading this who have just choked, or fallen out of a chair, or had to pick your jaw up off the floor having just read that. It's all true, though. And I actually kind of love it. I know why I hated it before... it's 90% mental strength which, until recently, I haven't had.
I've done my fair share of "picking myself up by my bootstraps". But that doesn't make you strong, really, it just means you're still standing. I really haven't felt strong in a l-o-n-g time. Just surviving. Do any of you know that feeling? Of just surviving? On this side of it, I can see times or events that have been contributing to building up of my strength, but I have never felt it until I started running. (I'll save the "why" I started running for the next post). I had no idea I really had it in me to push past those moments of just wanting to throw in the towel and push that stop button on the treadmill. I am starting to love going head-to-head with what I have always considered to be my arch nemesis, looking that display straight on, and saying "I will NOT stop. I CAN do this." It really does put a whole new spin on Paul's writings on running the race and the endurance and perseverance it requires, as well our ability to really take our thoughts captive. More on that later, too.
That's all for now. Just wanted to tell you, blog friends, that I really have missed you. And now to go stalk catch up on YOUR blogs! :)
