PF Changs ~ 13.1

Trying on my outfit and getting my bib pinned on the night before.

Pre race picture! Almost start time!

Eric was at the finish line and captured a pic of me! GO ME!

Post race!! We did it! Now, can someone airlift us off this curb cuz we are stuck!!

We did it!!! Last Sunday Amanda and I walked the PF Changs 10th Annual Half Marathon!!!

Let me back up to last September when I wrote this post. Well, I started off with high hopes. I never did take a "before" picture of my body. By October my back was bothering me again. It was flaring up it seemed every 3 months since I had Paige. Since October I have not had a day of 100% relief. It's been chronic symptoms. So I had to back off my training but I didn't stop completely. I really wanted to accomplish this goal. By January I needed a MRI and I was told by 2 doctors not to aggravate my back by jogging the half marathon. I agreed to walk the whole thing. Amanda agreed to walk with me. What a true friend! I would never want someone to hold themselves back from their goal but she was completely willing to support me. I don't have an "after" picture of my body. I have only been able to keep myself at status quo at best but I did lose 6lbs. Almost back to my pre Paige baby weight but not where I want to be. I may not get in super swim suit shape but being happy and feeling good is more important. Now that the marathon is over I am going to just focus on healing my back. I am not sure how that will happen but I am considering some options. I have a 1CM herniated disk in my lower lumbar. Apparently 6-7mm is a moderately large herniation so 1cm=10mm. YIKES! I am not a candidate for surgery.....yet. I am learning to distinguish "discomfort" from "pain" so that I can keep a realistic check on my symptoms. It's definitely frustrating to have this back issue be so front and center in my life right now. I have no idea what exactly caused this herniation but I know it started right after I gave birth to Paige. My Xray showed arthritic changes so that's a part of the problem. Am I really only 35?! I do have faith this will get better and I am ready to focus on that goal now!

These girlies have been quite the handful lately. Just being sisters! They love each other but boy oh boy can Claire still be rough with her. Claire loves her so much....too much sometimes.