Behind the {31 Day} Scenes

Even though I faithfully posted every day in the month of October, I feel like I was absent from my blog all month since I wasn't able to share some of the big events that happened to our family throughout the month. Now I get to play catch up and cram all the "behind the scenes" into one newsy post! 

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At the beginning of the month, my kids started a gym class for homeschoolers at one of the local universities.  Because it is taught by students who are studying to be gym teachers, we get an incredible rate of $25 total for my four oldest kids to take the class once a week for the entire semester.

Well, it was supposed to be the four oldest!  On the first day, Benjamin got a little spooked when he and his class walked into the gym while I waited in the hall for the other kids' classes to be called.  By the time I went into the gym about two minutes later, he was a crying mess and his gym class career was over.  Thankfully, the three oldest kids count the days until class each week. 

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Benjamin turned four on October 10th!  We planned his small family party for the following Wednesday since we had weekend plans, but on Friday evening when we realized they were forecasting rain for Sunday, we changed his party to Sunday afternoon at the last minute!  Sometimes spur of the moment plans are the best, though.  Our family of seven shared a warm soup dinner and enjoyed cake and conversation in the dry house on a dreary afternoon with our seven guests. 

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The next Saturday we had plans to attend another birthday party.  In fact, I posted on my Facebook page that we had just celebrated a 4th birthday the weekend before and were about to celebrate a 75th birthday today.  Instead, while she was supposed to be napping Alaine climbed up Maddie's bunk bed ladder, lost her balance, and fell to the floor.  Brian put her back to bed and she fell asleep, but when nap time was over, she cried and cried about her sore foot and refused to walk on it. We ended up in the ER with x-rays and a diagnosis of...a sore foot.  No breaks, no swelling, no nothing. 

We eventually made our way to the birthday party (about two hours late), but it took eleven days, an Ace bandage, a visit to the orthopedist, a splint, many pleas of "hold you," and weary Mommy arms before she  began walking again. 

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The day after the ER visit, I was on the phone with my mom updating her on Alaine's injury when I looked out the sliding glass door and saw Kitt (our cat) carrying something in her mouth.  On closer inspection, I discovered it was a kitten!  We settled mama and baby in a corner of the master bathroom with a blanket. Later that evening, Kitt went outside to use the bathroom and came back with another kitten.  

We had suspected she was having kittens and the plan was to keep one and find home for the rest, but how do you choose between only two kittens?  How do you pick one and give away one?  I suspect that both kittens are going to become permanent residents, but we're waiting on the final word from Brian. 

We've named them Dott and Alvin.  It's funny to see such bitty things develop their own personalities.  Dott is quiet and gentle, while Alvin is always noisy and mewing!   Can you guess from the photo who is who?

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At the end of October, we made a trip to a deluxe, semi-local Fall Festival. For one flat family rate, we could navigate two different corn mazes, slide on giant slides, play pumpkin tic-tac-toe and pumpkin checkers, ride a mini zipline, visit the petting zoo, play on a rope swing, have hand-pump rubber ducky races, and each choose a pumpkin to take home.  We also indulged in warm apple donuts! 

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At the very end of the month, we hunkered down for Hurricane Sandy.  Aside from our ditches overflowing
and flooding the back yard, we had minimal damage on our property.  We didn't even lose power.  Instead, we stayed inside and savored the time together.  After a long and intense season at work, the two days off were a welcome rest for Brian.  He's only been off for one other rain day this entire year! 

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And last, but not least, during the month of October, I began something I thought I would never do.  In fact, I thought it was something I hated (and maybe I still do).  What is it, you ask? 

Running.

I hate to exercise, but I've been looking for something to keep me active.  I decided to try the Couch to 5K program by Cool Running.  From the first day, I realized this was going to be tough.  Either I'm totally out-of-shape (probably) or I'm not good at pushing myself (maybe), but I wasn't even able to complete Day 1.  Instead, I gradually worked on building my endurance over two weeks and then attempted Day 1 again and I did it!  I progressed though Week 1 and Week 2 routines.  Then I had to take a week off because the hurricane left the ground too soggy to run.  When I tried to start the Week 3 routine, I wasn't able to finish its Day 1. 

Part of the problem is my knees.  When I start running each day, they feel stiff, but they loosen up the longer I run.  However, when I'm done, they ache for hours (or days, sometimes).  After talking it over with Brian, I decided to switch to an even gentler, slower program.  Since my ultimate goal is to run a 5K in the spring, there is no hurry. 

I'm going to begin a series of training programs from Prevention magazine.  I'll begin with the 6-week Walk-Run Program, progress to the 6-week Run-Walk Program, and ultimately (hopefully) complete the 6-week All Run Program.

Has anyone completed a Couch to 5K program?  How long did it take? Do you have any advice for me?

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