Each Day Is a Gift

Wendy and I were so so so lucky to get in a run this morming! That was the best part of the day...things aren't going too well right now...but this shall pass and I must stay positive and hopeful.

Crazy day...NO running!  First off, staying overnight last night at hubby's bedside in the hospital (wearing Levis in a recliner) = ZERO sleep!!!  But I am not complaining because I really needed to be there.  After multiple veni-punctures, NPO after midnight, 3 units of RBCs, the hct creeped back from 20 up to 23.5.  Hubby kindly refused to stay in the hospital any longer.  So after I gave him his Enoxaparin (26 hr. since the last dose, which probably helped slow the bleeding) we were discharged at 9:30 am. 

Made a mad dash home to give him a quick hair cut, showered and drove up to JSMB for the luncheon meeting with the Area Presidency and their wives along with four other new mission presidents and their wives.  It was a wonderful meeting!  :)  SO SO SO GLAD we were able to do this.  :) :) :)

Then we drove back to the hospital lab for another CBC draw.  Hubby was exhausted.  While he napped, I did laundry, cleaned house, made a juicy steak dinner for him.  After dinner, he left to do his stake prez. interviews, setting apart three missionaries, etc.  I cannot believe how tough and dedicated he is to do all that he does in such an anemic and weakened state.

I desperately needed something to help me relax so I went to Yoga.  The regular Yoga instructor is gone for Spring Break, the substitute was a tad harder. 

Hubby didn't feel good about spacing the Enoxaparin for another 24 hrs. so he had me give him another injection just before midnight which means it will be that late tomorrow night and the next night and so on until the INR reaches 2.4

Walked a mile with hubby.  The walk made him feels better even though he's still quite pale and anemic.  It's been 8 days post procedure so I think he is getting better.

Ran by myself after bidding hubby goodbye (he walked another mile home) on the Murdock Canal Trail.  Lots of families out with bikes, scooters!  Such a beautiful day!  My Garmin batteries died at 1.5 mile from home.  AP: 9:27 

Today is Eric's 32nd birthday!  Felt bad that I did not send him anything...no time to shop the last 10 days due to being "prisoner" of the hospital. 

Company coming so spend the day cleaning and shopping.

Met our guests in Provo then went to Hailey's dorm to watch her open her mission call.  There were at least 80 of her college friends gathering for the occasion.  A world map was set up for those to write down their guesses of where she'd go.  Hubby and I of course guessed she'd be called to our mission, Australia Sydney South.  Guess what, we were close...she's called to serve in Australia Melborne, a mere 350 miles away! :) :) :)

We did not get home until 11pm after the celebration and visiting with our guests.

Slept in.  Hubby and I made a yummy breakfast for our guests.  Wendy texted me to see if I wanted to run since she had a late start too.  We didn't go very far when we ran into Karin and Heather and visited with them a bit.  By the time I got home, it was nearly noon, just in time to give hubby his Enoxaparin.  He is feeling much better.  Went shopping for shoes...comfy walking dressy missionary shoes! :)  A nice young man, Chris C., who has served in our mission a little over a year ago, was our sales person.  He helped me so much! :)

Our guests treated us to dinner at J-Dawg.  I'm not a hot-dog eater, but the J-Dawg sauce is DElish!!!  Then we went to Bryan's final concert with the Philharmonic Orchestra.  What a fabulous performance.  Kory conducted the "Rite of Spring" by Igor Stravinsky, a very difficult dynamic Russian ballet music written 100 years ago (very Pagan and politically contravercial of that era) BY MEMORY!!! WOW!!!  It was flawless!!!  No one played any "rest" notes,  everyone executed their parts perfectly.  It was both awesome to listen and to watch.  The audience were riveted garnering a standing ovation at the conclusion! :) :) :)  Bryan had so many friends coming up to hug and wish him well.  :) 

Needless to say, another LATE LATE NIGHT for us! :)

Got up early to go to the temple.  Everyone was tired after lunch, so they took a nap while I got caught up on emails and such.  Then we went shopping for dresses, suits.  We're so excited for General Conference Weekend.  :) :) :)

This announcement was made this morning:  http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-adjusts-mission-organization-implement-mission-leadership-council

Ran with Wendy and John (Zeus) on the Murdock Canal Trail east to Highland Glen Park.  Lots of runners, cyclists, families out enjoying the trail.  Perfect weather with cool temp and overcast sky, calm.  Made it home before General Conference started.  I should note that a sister said the opening prayer in the 1st session and Pres. Monson announced two new temples to be built!  :)  LOVED every single one of the talks!!!  :) :) :)

Today is my baby's birthday, 21, guess he's not a baby any more!!!  :)  He will be home in 9 weeks.  We will enter the MTC in 11 weeks!  Time's a flying!!!  :)

I am sitting here at the airport waiting to board a redeye flight to Boston, so thought I'd catch up on posting a bit. It's been a crazy busy week.

So, I think Monday was when father winter came back, right? I think it was windy and rainy and cold. Anyway, ran an hour on the track at the LC, Karen joined me 15 min.later. Then I went down to the pool where hubby was waiting. Swam 21 laps.

Still a cold rainy and windy. So we ran on the track at the LC again!

Finally Spring returns but still a tad cold. Ran east on the Murdock canal trail with Wendy and Karen (Sky) wearing long sleeve top and Capris. Workers were installing picnic table/bench at the trail rest stop where drinking fountain was already installed. I heard that the "grand opening" of the MC Trail is scheduled in May. guess I won't get to run the entire trail until I return from my mission in 3 years. Lots can change in 3 years! :)

Ran a quick 3 on the track then swam 25 laps.

Packed my bags before heading down to the MTC for our 6th and final training session.

Wendy was so nice to drop us off at the airport so so late at night. Our flight departs in an hour at 12:55am.

I have been so busy that this is the first time I get to sit down, put my feet up and catch up on my week's post. have not thought about how I am going to run Boston. My thoughts are occupied with the excitement and anticipation of seeing my two oldest children. I am excited to spend the weekend in Boston with them as well as with some of my running buddies, RAD, Lowell, TJ, MarcieN, MarcE and Ronnie. This is my 6th time running Boston and will be a few years before returning to run Boston again so I hope to have fun and enjoy the whole thing! :)

ALL IN FOR BOSTON!!! :) :) :)

Got here at 10 this morning after flying thru the night. Walking in the rain and wind from the Tstation to our hotel with a suitcase and huge duffle bag, on the bridge with traffic across the river to Tudor Wharf was quite an adventrure! We were soaked, cold and tired. But it was lovely to see Lowell and TJ whose room us just across the hall from ours! We should've taken Lowell's advise and taken a taxi instead! The four of us then headed over to the Hynes Convention Center for a bowl of clam chowder and roast beef sandwitch. We got to the Expo when it barely opens! It's already crowded! We gathered up freebies, ate samples, saw Kathryn Switzer, the famous first woman Boston athlete who nearly got pulled off mid race because BAA didn't allow female participant! Now there seem to be twice as many women than men crowding the Expo buying up loads off Boston official wardrobes! :). They had no sz xs women jacket this year, or completely sold out within the first hour! So I just bought a pair of capris. Lowell and TJ bought a gazillion stuff! We went to Legal Seafood at 5 to beat the crowd! hubby and I shared a lobster and steak dinner. Lowell had king crab legs and TJ had fish and chips. The Rick and Dick Hoyt team were at the table next to us! When we left the restaurant there was a long line of people waiting! So glad hubby was smart to get there early! We walked around Charlestown, grabbed desserts. Eric drove in at around 11pm. We hit the sack at 1am. Man, was I tired with no sleep for over 24 hours! Hope the rain and cold wind goes away tomorrow! :)

Boston experience is not complete without a trip to Fenway Park! :)

Hubby and I went to the Cambridge 1st Ward sacrament at 9am.  What a wonderfully diverse ward with sweet and spiritual testimony sharing.  After church, we went back to the hotel to change and then met up with the family, RAD, Lowell and TJ and saw some friends at the Old South Church for the Blessing of the Athletes.

SO Glad I got this picture at the finish line the day before.  Little did I know!

Carb loading at Filipo. Mama Lulu made sure we had plenty of pasta, bread and salad! :)

After dinner, we walked to King's Bakery, long lines there, to grab the best Italian pastries in town.  We had a party at the hotel lobby lounge eating our desserts, watching recap of the Masters, laughing and making quite a rackus.  :)  

We carried the party back up in our room.  It was well past 11pm when I finally hit the sack after setting out my race clothes and gear.  Almost forgot that there's a race tomorrow...simply too happy to be here in Boston with my sweetheart and our two oldest children.  Tomorrow we will celebrate with the most yummiest post race seafood dinner.

Finally today (May 1) I find the time to sit and type up a report.  It's been over 2 weeks since that eventful day.  My emotions were too raw, too much to process at the time. 

This 117th Boston was to be my 6th and last Boston for the next 3-4 years because I will temporarily retire from marathon running to serve a 3 year mission for my church.  Of all the marathons I've run, Boston is my husband's favorite.  He loves Boston, the seafood, the people, family and friends.  My son, Eric, a podiatrist in his 2nd year of residency at the Cleveland Clinic volunteered again as a medic; and like last year he was assigned to the finish-line med tent.  My daughter, Larissa, and her friends, Beth & Julianne, decided at the last min to fly into Boston (after running their Blue Belle 10K in TX on Sat.) to cheer me and play tourists here and New York.  I was so looking forward to seeing them and also going to visit Eric's family (my grand babies) the very next morning after the race.  I seriously had not given much thought to the race.  I just wanted to enjoy the whole run and soak in all the things that make Boston Marathon SO special, wonderful, magnificent, to savor the time spent with my family and friends.

Woke up still sleepy but feeling pretty good on race morning.  After hubby gave me a blessing of a safe and joyful run, I went down to breakfast as planned at 6:15.  A few min. later RAD came down.  She is SO ready to have a race of her life, her very first Boston.  Am so excited for her. :) Then came TJ and this was to be his last and final marathon.  It made me kinda sad to think that he won't be running any more marathons with me.  Finally Lowell came down with only his running clothes on, no jacket, no bag...he was locked out of his room...silly boy!  So, RAD and I decided to leave the boys and walked to catch the T to Boston Common for the bus ride to Hopkinton.

I have never seen such long lines, like a maze, RAD and I could not find the end of any of the lines.  Finally we merged into one with friendly people to chat with.  I think our bus driver was slow because I do not remember the ride being this long and we were dropped off way at the back of the school.  But it was fun visiting with our seat mates, Martin, the Irish gentleman and a first time Boston girl.

As a 5 yr Boston veteran, I knew where the shortest pop line is.  It always brings back memory of when Teena and I were there years ago and accidentally opened a "vacant" door only to find a surprised occupant inside! Hehe! :)  With one pop visit out of the way, we made our way to the designated meeting place, the "It All Starts Here" sign.  Amidst the huge huge crowd in this nosy excited athlete village, we stood and paused for a moment of silence for the victims of Sandy Hooks. 

Donna Pizza is a cousin of Karen Beeston (my running partner and friend back home).  I hardly remember what she looks like; but she found us.  So, after RAD met up with Paul, we bid them good luck and goodbye, Donna and I decided to stay together since we're in the same corral and wave. 

Donna and I sat waiting at the village.  We wish KarenB was with us.  We missed her.

We stood in the slowest pop line ever, seriously for 45 min. we did not move.  Finally when the MC announced, "Wave 3 people need to make their way to baggage drop off now!",  everyone scattered, there was no wait, no line, no toilet papers!  :)  With the crowd gone, I saw Lowell, TJ and Lowell's niece Karen Tree a few feet away shedding their clothes.  I took Donna over there to introduce them.  (KarenT is Lowell's niece.  I ran with her and Lowell last year 'till mile 17 on that historically hot day).  Then after a few more kodak moments, we finally left the deserted village to drop off our bags. 

KarenT, me, DonnaP on our way to drop off our bags and the happy march to our corral.

The five of us started together and did a pretty good job keeping track of each other.  With Lowell's silly shinanagan, we soon lost him and TJ around mile 5.  I originally wanted to stay with TJ, this being his last marathon, especially with his heart issue; but soon found myself having so much fun with Donna and Karen that I just let them dictate the pace.  I did not look at the watch once, only the clock as we crossed each timing mat.

Donna and Karen are so much fun! :)

We lost Donna around mile 12.  So it's just Karen and I, looking for her family who were cheering along the route.  We'd stop and take pictures just like last year.

At Wellsley, I ran along the barricade, slapping hands with the girls, reading their clever signs, feeding off their incredible energy.  At the end of the "kiss alley".  I saw a little boy about 8 yrs of age standing stalwartly next to his parent, I went over and kissed him on his forehead.  I could hear: "Oh, how cute!" uttered from behind. :)

What a perfect day, cool temp, partly sunny sky, slight breeze which turned into a bit of cold headwind during the last half.  I was having a great run.  We took a swig of gatorade/water at every station.  I gu'd at mile 7, 13, 18 and 23.  Everything was clicking along smoothly.  I didn't walk one single step on the Newton hills.  In fact, I lost track of Heartbreak until I saw the big 'ole balloon arch announcing Heartbreak Is Over! :)  I did stop a couple times to take pictures for Karen and her family and jogged to wait for her when she stopped to use the pop.  I did not care for time or pace! :)  We leap-frog'd with a guy dressed as a chicken.  When people cheered:  "GO! chicken!"  I'd yelled back:  "He's a rooster!" We finally passed him for good after Heartbreak.

Everything felt great.  No pain, not even a hint of cramp.  Having a TERRIFIC run! :)

The backside of Heartbreak is my favorite with the crazy energetic Boston College kids screaming their heads off.  One kid slapped my hand so hard that it'd about yank my arm off the socket.  My hand hurts from all the high-fiving!! :) The last 5K was AWESOME, I was feeding off the energy of the spectators.  Total strangers cheering SO LOUDLY with enthusiasm and electrifying energy, reaching out to touch you, like you're a rock star. I LOVE BOSTON!!!! :)

Running strong and happy with a mile to go! :)

Singing Called To Serve Him in my head, I was running so happy and thought to myself:  "I'm gonna to see my hubby and daughter in 5 minutes.  They'll be so surprised.  I may go over to give hubby a kiss and my daughter and friends a hug!"  Such happy thoughts, positive tunes and springy strides all came to a halt at Mass. Ave.

About a half mile after we passed the Citgo Sign, Karen ran up to me and said her husband just called and told her to not finish the race, there's some kind of explosion at the finish.  I looked around me, the police did not show any sign of concern, the National Guards marching along in perfect strides, everyone is cheering.  I said to her:  "It's probably some kind of Patriot Day (or heaven forbid, tax day) celebration or re-enactment of the Revolution War.  This is Boston, baby!  I'm having the best run ever and nothing is going to stop me from finishing.  In less than 5 min. I'll cross the finish.

Then suddenly motorcycle cops sped by, and wham! with less than half mile to go, we were stopped!  There was no sign of panic, just confused look, no explanation, just following orders.  We just stood there not knowing what to do.  I did not stop my watch thinking the cops will re-route us any minute.   Karen confirmed that there was an explosion near the finish.  I immediately pulled out my cell phone to call hubby, Eric, Larissa only to get busy signals.  I started to cry worrying about their safety and wanting to go to them.  A kind Japanese lady next to me comforted me saying,  "We'll be alright.  It's safer to stay together.  We can keep each other warm by staying close."  Karen noticed her Altra shoes and asked how she likes them.  We started to talk about our families.  She's from NY and has a daughter in her 3rd yr of med. school, same age as my 3rd yr med school son, David.  Then her husband and daughter appeared out of nowhere and they started hugging and crying.  The sight of her reuniting with her family intensified my worry and need to find my family.  I told Karen we should just get out and go to the finish, we're SO CLOSE, my Garmin read 25.85 miles.  We're right there, right on Hereford, then left onto Boylston where you'd find yourself in "runners heaven". As runners, we have only one thing in mind, cross the finish!!!

We sneaked out between the barricades crossing Mass. Ave. but the police stopped us from going onto Boylston.  Having stood for I don't know how long, may be 10 or 15 min., our legs froze up, we could not run, so we just walked down Commonwealth (which parallels Boylston) eastward on the tree-lined dirt median.  I was freezing, calling on my cell phone continuously.  Karen's cell phone died so she used mine.  We could only receive text messages but could not reply nor get any calls thru.  Then suddenly, a call came in from Ann Takasaki.  She's my sister-in-law's sis-in-law from Spanish Fork.  She wanted to know if I finished and if I was ok.  I asked her to call my husband for and let him know I was ok.  Then as quickly as her call came, it was intercepted with numerous text messages all expressing their concerns for me. 

We finally reached Boston Commons at Arlington where we could turn south.  As we crossed Boylston, I could see the clothing bag buses lined along the streets.  But there were barricades and cops not letting us through.  The cop said the bags would be put in boxes and taken to Boston Commons.  I saw no such activity at Boston Commons; in fact, the whole place seemed rather deserted.  Karen wanted to go back to her hotel, Westin at Copley Square.  So I told her I'd take her there and may be use the bathroom and the phone there to call my family.

We didn't make it to Copley Square at all as there were cops blocking every which way.  We finally went inside a dark and empty restaurant, the Melting Pot, to use the restroom.  This restaurant is across the street from the Paul Revere Hotel (previously the Radisson) where we used to stay for the last 4 years.  I felt prompted to walk down Stuart where the family reunion is located (with the first letter of the family name alphabetically posted on lamp posts). 

Karen followed me to the family letter L at the intersection where barricades again stopped us from crossing.  The place is deserted except with a handful of volunteers.  This would normally be crowded with families and runners hugging, taking pictures, with happy smiles and joyful exhaustion on their faces.  Not today, I stood in the middle of the eerily quiet street shivering, crying, worrying about my family.  Some random person gave me his space blanket and a lady urged me to seek warmth inside the building.  I just wanted to stand there and wait for my family who would surely show up.  The lady said, "this is now a crime scene, everyone is evacuated or ordered out, you'd be safer going inside that "store". 

So Karen and I went inside, she immediately headed over to the counter to use their phone.  Suddenly my phone rang, it was Teena.  We both cried.  She was relieved to know I'm okay.  I was so so glad to hear her voice.  She asked me if I knew what happened.  I really didn't know any details.  Someone tapped me on my shoulder and had me turn around (I was facing the door, looking out in the street to make sure I won't miss seeing my family if they come).  Then I realized I was in a bar and there were TV sets on the wall.  There were people sitting at the bar but no one was talking, all glued to the TV.  I saw the headline streaming across the screen: 2 explosions, 2 dead, 63 injured.  I told Teena we had to hang up so I could call Larry.  As soon as she hang up, I heard Larry's voice, he kept saying hello hello hello but could not hear me.  So I hang up and dialed him and this time my call connected.

I was SO happy to hear his voice.  I kept telling him:  "Don't hang up!  Don't hang up!  Stay on the line! Stay on the line!" while I told him exactly where I was.  Turned out he and the rest of the family were standing at the traffic "island" on Stuart/Arlington, not too far from me.  I told him I would walk towards the Revere Hotel and kept describing what I just walked past.  In the excitement of connecting with him, I forgot to say goodbye to Karen.  I figured she would call her husband from the bar and get back to her hotel.

I was so so so relieved to see everyone safe and sound.  Eric has blood stain on his clothes.  We hugged and cried.  Larissa gave me her hoodie, Beth gave me her scarf to keep me warm.  They texted RAD to tell her where we would meet up, back to Boston Commons at the corner of Arlington/Boylston.  Hubby tried again to retrieve my bag as we saw throngs of runners exiting the barricades with their bags; but again denied entry by the police.  While waiting for RAD, suddenly Lowell and TJ showed up on their way to McDonalds (a post-race ritual of Lowell's).  

You have no idea how happy I was that everyone in our party is safe and reunited.  I have lost track of time.  In fact I had no idea when the bombs went off and when we finally reunited.  Later on from looking at the times of my cell phone calls, I realized it took us till near 6pm (over 2 hours) to reunite.  When I later saw the clock time at 4:09:43, I shuddered to think that would've been my BQ time and had I not been staying with Karen taking picture, goofing off, I'd be tempted to run a BQ time today!  Hubby, daughter and friends were standing outside Prudential Center (where he always waits, cheers because it's right outside the mall where he could grab a bite to eat after watching the Elites come in).  They saw the explosions across the street.  Eric saw and treated the wounded in the med. tent which immediately turned into a triage unit.  Again so grateful we were all safe!!! 

We got separated again when everyone went different ways, Lowell to McDonald, me and TJ to Four Season to use the bathroom (but was denied entry, as well as at Park Plaza, guess all the hotels were under locked down), hubby to clothing bus, Eric being interviewed.  I went back to where we last saw each other finding myself alone again and just started to cry.  A local TV station (abc) camera man and reporter interviewed me.  I don't think they aired the interview because I was kinda mad at Four Seasons for turning away a distraught, cold, little lady runner seeking only to use their restroom, all in the name of "protecting their registered guests."  C'mon, this is Boston, strangers would give the shirts off their back to help you; but apparently not the ritzy Four Seasons!  I won't be staying there anytime in the near future, ha! :)

Larissa came back to find me and we walked to McDonald's, the only place not under locked down.  Teena called and told me that they're releasing runner's bags at Berkely.  So we sent hubby to get mine, Eric to get Lowell's and TJ's.  I did not realize I had not eaten since breakfast and the last Gu at mile 23 until Beth bought me a burger and milk (with chocolate syrup, they ran out of chocolate milk).  Finally we were able to get on the T outbound to our hotel.  The hotel staff had pizza and salad for us in the lobby/lounge.  For the first time I saw on the hotel TV, images of the bombings and victims rushed to the med. tent and I just broke down.  I did not want to look at those images, I did not want to eat.  I just wanted to go up to the room.

I took a warm shower and the first call came from Gary, my bro-in-law, from Hong Kong.  He was supposed to be running this Boston but didn't due to work.  We talked to Gary, still not believing what had happened.  We sat down and numbly watched the day's event unfold on TV, so surreal.  It broke my heart to hear of those killed and severely injured.  RAD came with a bag of chips and salsa and we sat numbly.  I had bazillion text messages and missed calls and voice messages from friends and family expressing their love and concern. 

I just want to thank everyone here on the blog and all our friends and families all over the country and across the seas for your many kindness, love, thoughts and prayers.  It has sustained me over these last 15 days.

I will never understand such evil acts of violence to destroy innocent lives.  My heart goes out to the victims and their families.  I pray for them as well as for the perpetrators' families.  How great the loneliness, hurt and hate they must've felt to cause others such devastating injuries and loss.  If only each of us know that we are all God's children, that we ARE family.  If only we would treat each other as sons and daughters of God who loves us.  If only...

After a restless night, Larissa got up at 5am to shower and pack and then left for their 8:15 bus ride to NYC with her friends, Beth and Julianne.  I was so tired that I didn't even get out of bed to give her a hug!  It was not how I envisioned our visit in Boston to be.  We didn't even take her and her friends to a wonderful Boston seafood celebration dinner last night (like we traditionally do after the race). 

Eric, hubby and I grabbed breakfast, packed then went back down to the lobby to say goodbye to Lowell, Terry and RAD who were having breakfast. We took the T to the end of the red line at Allewife where there is a commuter parking lot right outside the T station.  Good planning on Eric's part.  Got in his car and he drove us home to Parma, OH (Cleveland).  There were armed national guards at every station.  None of that day after Boston Marathon glow, smile or pride to be seen! :(

Our hearts were heavy with sadness for the victims of the bombings.  We felt a small ray of peace as we drove past the Boston Temple in Belmont.  We drove thru upstate New York.  It rained the whole way.  We stopped for gas, lunch and dinner and it felt good to stretch out my legs a bit.  It was well past 10pm when we reached Eric's home.  Emi woke up...she gave us a happy welcome hug!  Marianne is so relieved to have Eric home safe and sound!  :)  They were so kind to give us their bed and room while they slept on the sofa cushions in the living room.

Happy Birthday to Marianne and Emi!!!  :) :) :)

Emi changed her clothes at least three times a day...funny girl!  :)

Last day of our visit with our grandkids in Parma!  

The cold north wind didn't help with my terrible head cold.  4 easy miles with Karen and Wendy just to chat about Boston.

Hubby and I talked about what happened in Boston exactly a week ago, from celebration to devastation, commaradery to chaos, dream to drudgery, triumph to tragedy. Larissa called. Eric called. I think we all are still dealing with post traumatic syndrome. Sigh! We mostly felt very sad and bad for those who lost lifes and limbs and their families whose lives are forever scared! Continual prayers for their healing, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Today is our 35th Anniversary! Hubby and I nearly forgot! After picking up his suits and returning my dress, we went to a movie and dinner.

Too cold to be outside especially with my terrible head cold...cough, sneeze, cough, cough cough! :(

3 miles on the track.  AP: 8:45.  There was only one other girl running and tons of walkers.  I kept passing hubby and Elder and Sister Cook!  Silly me. :)

21 laps in the pool alternating between freestyle and backstroke.  Hoping the jaccuzi would help with my cold, guess not. :(

7 easy miles with Wendy and Karen on the MC trail.  AP: 9:45  Lots of coughing, spitting, nose blowing, coughing and more coughing. 

Temple in Provo with hubby and grandma.  Met one of our sister missionary who's attending BYU and leaving for home in VA tomorrow (originally from Bountiful) and back to the MTC in Aug.  I can tell she's going to be a great missionary.  :)

AM:  Only had time for 6 miles with Karen down 2600 N, north on rail trail east on MC trail.  Hacking up a lung.

Quick shower then went visiting teaching.

PM:  Graduation Commencement at the Marriott Center.  Bryan graduated with a B.A. in music performance with the honor of Summa Cum Laude (top 1% of graduating class).  So proud of his accomplishment. 

Evening:  sicker than a dog... :(

AM:  Made a BIG MISTAKE last night by taking a MuccinexD and Symbicort inhaler before bed time thinking it would help loosen up the lungs.   I laid wide awake all night tossing turning coughing aching.  ZERO sleep = one super super tired Smooth!  Hubby dragged me out the door to walk around the block for some fresh air. 

PM:  Then we went to Provo to pick up Bryan who has to move out of his apartment by noon. Then we took him to HFAC for his graduation convocation. 

Boy, was I sleepy!  I dozed off sitting in the deJong Concert Hall when they played the prelude organ.  Thankfully, the speakers were really fun with some cool film presentation.  Bryan's best friend, Spencer, performed the Saxophone accompanied by Rachel Ostler, the violinist in his quartet.  The music performance grads also sang a rousing number.  The whole thing lasted exactly 90 min. unlike some other colleges with huge numbers of grads lasting over two hours. 

We love and appreciate so so so much Dr. Claudine Bigelow, Bryan's viola professor, mentor, examplar, who has literally raised him up with a beautiful heart.  She was his teacher since he was 10 years old.

Evening:  Dinner with Elder David Baxter and his wife Diane in the Garden Restaurant in JSMB.  I was coughing so much, very embarrassing, and not able to converse which is just as well because there is so much to learn from Elder and Sister Baxter. :)  I also felt asleep during all the car rides to and from Provo>Lehi>SL>Lehi....zzzz....so so so tired.  I have not had a solid night sleep for over two weeks now! :(

Woke up to Karen's text inviting me to run with her.  She was planning to run 21+ miles on the MC trail.  My ribs and sternum hurt so bad with every cough that there is no way I would be able to run.   I didn't want to slow her down so I declined.  I texted Wendy who has already left for her daughter's soccer game and was running around on the trail by the soccer field.  I was so tempted to crawl back to bed...but I had so much laundry and stuff to catch up.  Went to the post office to mail off our visa application.  There was NO food in the fridge (it was emptied before we left for Boston) so I walked around the store like a zombie...$109 later all I got for food was milk, juice, fruits and veggies...should've made a grocery list.

Wonderful dinner with the stake presidency and their wives, Elder Baxter and Doxey before Saturday evening adult session of our stake conference.  It was a good thing I sat between Wendy and Karen because I was having some embarrassing coughing convulsions.

Today is little Luke's 5th birthday! :)

Hubby was released in our stake conference after having served eight years as stake president.  Elder Doxey read the letter from the First Presidency of the honorable release.  It was a bittersweet day.  There was an overwhelming out-pouring of love and appreciation from the members of the stake.  I know how much he loves the people and the wonderful association with those whom he served.

My family and I sat on the second row.  I was bawling my eyes out in between coughing fits.  The choir sang with tears in their eyes the closing song,  "God Be With You Till Me Meet Again!"

In the 18 years that we've lived in this home, he served the first year as stake young men president, 4 years as stake clerk, 5 years as counselor in the stake presidency and finally the last 8 years as stake president.  Previous to our move to this home, he served 5 years as bishop, stake high council, elders quorum pres.  It will be nice to sit next to him in church now and soon we will serve as mission companions for three years! :)

Last night Larissa gave me some goodd tips on treating the cough and insomnia:  drank warm tea made of clover honey and lemon essential oil (didn't have any lemon on hand) to soothe the irritated throat,  rub peppermint essential oil on throat and chest to ease breathing along with Symbicort inhaler to bring down inflammation, rub lavender essential oil on the bottom of feet.  For the first time in over two weeks, I was able to get some sleep, still waken to coughs but able to fall back to sleep.

AM:  Ran easy with Karen and Wendy...lots of spitting, coughing, blowing nose...at least the ribs and sternum not hurting as bad.

PM:  RAD came over and bestowed my Boston 2013 medal on me.  It made me cry.  :)  I left Boston early the next morning without picking up my medal so Lowell used his lawyer magic and got it for me.  It was so good to see RAD and her two little boys.  Nice break from cleaning/dejunking of my house which is an ongoing major project right now.

Evening:  went to the pool with the intent to swim, only managed to get 10 laps because the leisure pool was crowded with children and families. 

Too cold, too sick to run outside, still coughing, lots of congestion that has spread to the chest. Hubby and I went to the LC after cleaning out one of the bedrooms all day. We walked and jogged every other lap for a mile then went down to the pool. I did 21 laps alternating between freestyle and backstroke. Felt good to let the jacuzzi jet hit my face and chest.

Tonight is the first time in 17 years that hubby does not have stake meetings and interviews. His former stake clerk came by to have him looked over some papers and forms to sign and commented that he's never seem my husband in regular clothes, only in suits! :)