A little bit of this...a little bit of that...

I must say, these have been a few great days at the Terrones household. In between Eleanor puking, we've managed to have some fun. I guess I should explain Eleanor before I go on...well, I guess I can't really explain Eleanor. She just spent a few mornings puking. We've cut off her dairy and she seems to be doing better...no fever, no bad attitude...just puking! Ah, good times...so here are the other good times.

I'm sorry, I can't see you...there is a dug-out in my way! Thanks Dick and Jolene...awesome Brewer's tickets!

Move over, Woody...there is a new Sheriff in town.

Eleanor tries lettuce for the first time and LOVES IT! Or...maybe she just loves dressing!

Mexican Fiesta! I think I should mail this to Goya and have my little white baby be the new spokesperson for Goya!

Argh...do I really have to go to work tomorrow?!

The Luck O' the Irish

Or...lack there of!

Saturday was my second (third counting Stain for the Brain) 5K - Run/Walk to Irish Fest and boy did it peeve me off! All I wanted was to run sub 30. Can I say I worked REALLY hard for that goal. No. Not running 2 - 3 times a week. But I did try.

Saturday came and I headed out the door around 8:30 AM. I wore a tank top and shorts. Nic asked if I was going to bring a long sleeve shirt as it was a little chilly at home. I decided against it, knowing I would get hot running. What a surprise I was in for!

Once I got down town, I was thirsty. I hadn't brought a water bottle because I knew there would be water on the route (didn't I learn anything during my first 5K?!) I received a small little dixie cup of water while waiting. I did some stretching and kind of paced around. My two co-pilots for the day were a little hungover, so I knew I was running solo. The humidity of the day was starting to set in. The clouds/fog/haze of the morning broke and the sun began to beat down on us. At this point I also was a little sad I hadn't done chip timing...but I quickly got over that and realized it was silly to pay for something my own watch can do. At this point, I don't need timed results for anything.

Soon it was time to line up. I was getting so excited! I love race day! Pretty soon there were heads bobbing up and down in front of me. Holy cow! The race started! No fan fare, no nothing! I could have been tying my shoe! I started slowly. I had my eyes on a girl that was wearing a Chicago Marathon in Training shirt. I thought she looked like a good person to follow. I made sure not to start to fast, but I was so excited! My legs felt really tight in the beginning, but quickly wore off and I was in the groove. I decided to put on my headphones (mistake #2, if you are counting). Mile 1 went by without a problem; however, it was HOT HOT HOT! Then, rather than running straight, we turned and started running back to our original destination. As I hadn't seen mile 2 or 3 markers, I knew I wasn't over....oh no...much worse. The course that I thought was the course wasn't the course! CRAP! Mistake #1 (or 2 or 3) from 5K #1!! Always know your course!

Then Marathon girl started walking. HA! I said as I ran past her, I don't need to walk! Around Mile 2, I started feeling chilled. Yet the sun continued to beat down on us and the humidity hung tight to the air. I was SO excited to see a water station at Mile 2 and slowed to a walk as I approached it. I walked a few more steps as I threw back my water and poured some over my head. There went Marathon girl, whizzing by me. I never saw her again.

The next mile was hell. I was cold, yet sweating, wanting to run, but not having the will to do so. I finally made it to Mile 3 and started out for my fast run to the finish line. Eh...I guess I just decided to keep my nice slow pace instead. I crossed the finish line...but I didn't make my goal. And I. Am. Pissed. So pissed. I ran to the water station and grabbed to waters. One went in my mouth, the other over my head. I felt terrible.

So, here I am. 2 days post race and no desire to run. I'm just mad. I can't even do a 5K sub 30. I don't care if it's only my 2nd. I don't care if I have only been running 3 months. I wanted that. Summer is such a hard time to run, but do you know what comes after summer? Winter. (yes, in our state, that's the order). And winter will be even harder, because running in cold weather brings the itchies. (oh don't even ask...you'll learn about them soon enough!).

I want the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. I know I need to be patient. 16 years of dancing didn't prepare me for marathons. I can't wake up one day and decide to run (even though that's what I did). But for now...I want to be crabby. I set a goal and didn't accomplish it. That's a hard thing to have happen.

Tomorrow, I run again. I have no idea what to do. Do I cut back on mileage and work for endurance? Do I keep at my 3 mile daily run and hope I can increase speed and decrease time? Please, I would LOVE your suggestion. Even if you have never posted before, post a comment now! I need help to get over this horrible race. My next race isn't scheduled until November and if I don't race that sub 30...I really might just quit!

Well...probably not.

Worst Mother Award

So I have been the recipient of this award many times, but this time does beat all (well, actually, the time I left Eleanor on the couch and she rolled off was probably the worst time!)

Do I even want to tell this story?!

So last Sunday Nic and I took the girls to State Fair. I LOVE State Fair. Really, Really love it!! We did all our favorite things - Milk, Potatoes, Cherry Sundaes (Wisconsin Products Pavilion in general!), the Expo Hall, the sheep...just all of it! Nic and I decided that next year we need to go twice. Once with the girls - once with out! They called it quits a little before we did!

They were really so good the entire time and it was SO HOT! As we were leaving, we told Emma she could get one more treat. She decided on a frozen chocolate covered banana with sprinkles. After one bite, she decided she didn't like it and so my little bottomless pit decided she would eat it instead. Eleanor actually loved it! As we wove through the people and out to our car, everyone was staring at our stroller and laughing. The banana was bigger than Eleanor's head and she was a chocolaty disaster! 1/2 way through the banana, I looked at Nic. One of the options for the banana was rainbow sprinkles. The other option - PEANUTS! Nic, how closer were the peanuts to the rainbow sprinkles? Not close, he assures me. Then Eleanor starts holding the banana over the edge of the stroller. All done, I ask, taking the banana. And there it was. Staring me in the face.

God, I can see it in the picture. A PEANUT!!!!! I almost died. And there I was, at State Fair, with my allergic daughter and a peanut on a stick. No Epi-Pen. No Benadryl. I am freaking out inside! I am going nuts (No Pun Intended!). Get me to a Walgreens NOW. I carry Eleanor so I can see right away if she has any reaction. What I was going to do is beyond me. We get to Walgreen's and Eleanor still is not showing any signs of reaction. I buy the Benadryl and Nic and I decide to closely monitor her before we actually administer the Benadryl (which is ultimately going to just knock her out).

Bottom Line - She never reacted. At all. Was that the only peanut on the banana? Who knows? Could it be that Eleanor's allergy isn't THAT bad. Who knows. What I do know, is that I don't want to find out. I am never going to be in a situation where I don't have an Epi-Pen or Benadryl. I am not going to be so careless. Eleanor has a nut allergy. It's not fun, it's not easy, but it's life. I can not continue to be so carefree about this. It's her life! Sure, all signs point to a pretty mild allergy. We won't know for sure until next summer when her pediatric allergist has agreed to give her a blood test. Until then, I HAVE to start being more careful. Especially in "foreign" locations such as festivals and fairs. If I'm not sure, I'm not giving it to her. And that means sacrifice for Nic and I too. We can't eat anything without her wanting some. When in doubt, skip it. That was just too close!

Oh dear...I really am the worst mother!

Baby Bug

JUST yesterday I said to a friend at work, "You know, for having a small child, I haven't missed a lot of work". Karma is a bitch.

Today, Eleanor has a nasty virus.

Eleanor woke up last night crying. Twice. The second time I went in to check on her, she was pretty warm to the touch, although her room was cool. I tried asking her if she hurt, but I don't think she understands that question yet. She fell asleep in my arms pretty quickly, so I took my tired self back to bed.

This morning I could hear her fish (don't ask - it's a little thing in her crib...) around 5:30. Given how tired I was from being up with her a few times last night, I knew she couldn't be up. But I never heard another peep. At 6:45, I needed to wake her up so I could get to work. She was burning up! Just laying there looking at me. I picked her up and took her temperature right away! 101 degrees + that extra degree for taking it under the arm. OK, I told myself, don't freak out. Baby E was shivering and whimpering. Awww. First I called my stand-in boss. Being a mom herself, I kinda threw in...ummmm...what should I do? I'll admit, part of me wanted to throw her in the car and drive to children's. HEY, my baby is SICK! We agreed to just call the doctor nurse line.

Next call - Aurora Advanced Healthcare Call Center. I do hate that I have to leave a message with a rep just to have a nurse call me back. Can't they just have a nurse I can call into?!

Next call - Nic. Baby E is sick. We make plans for him to come home as I have interviews this afternoon and need to get to work.

Baby E is still shivering on my lap, moaning. Then, she sits up and looks at me. Then, she throws up on me. Awesome. Regurgitated hot dog all over my pretty green shirt that matched my shoes so nicely. I carry her to the bathroom and try to hold her over the sink. Poor baby E is crying now and shivering. She's so cute though...still talking to me. E, can I take off my shirt first? I ask her. Yesth, she responds, still crying and looking at the mashed hot dog on her hand and leg. (I guess I know what Nic gave her for dinner last night). Baby E, now do you want some water...Yesth. First should we change you...yesth. (I love her little lisp) First I change, then I get E changed. Then the nurse calls. Apparently, no one gets real concerned until your child has a fever of 103. Eh, what's a degree? They basically tell me some horrible virus is going around and the best thing I can do is get her to go back to sleep. The nurse told me that they want E's stomach to rest for at least 2 hours and then I can try clear liquids. They said parents push fluids too quickly after a child throws up and that causes them to throw up longer (Good thing I never got around to the glass of water I promised E). She also said that this virus usually only has the one bout of vomiting and then it goes away.

Next call - Patty. Sorry Patty....I hope E didn't bring it to daycare!!

So, E is sleeping now. I'm trying to work - well...at least I have my e-mail up. And I'm waiting for Nic to come home. I really hope when E wakes up her fever is gone and she can keep down some water. Maybe even a saltine or two.

Don't worry baby E. I threw up hot dogs when I was a kid too. It only took me 10 years before I could eat them again! :) Thanks for reading about baby E's stomach bug!!