milestones

Another milestone has been reached! Praise God!!! Putting this 15 month possible recovery zone to shame! I over 4 years!!!!!  Yesterday, we found a snowboard for Zach at Toys R Us. We headed out to give it a whirl at the sledding hill at our Elementary school. I planned to bring the inner tube & to ride it to the bottom of the hill & take video of Zach's first tries on the board. After climbing up the easier side with Darren's arm assist, I lined up for my intended first & only ride down the hill. I say only because that hill has been a fear of mine for the past few years. I have always had to have Darren's assist up to the top using the easier side, so I thought that there was no way I'd make it up the sledding hill. I climbed onto the tube & Kadin hoped on top. We blasted down the hill, Kadin screamed in delight! When we finally came to a stop, I secretly fretted about getting back across the field to the bottom of the hill. Before I even got a chance to let my fear & worry set in, Kadin jumped up and said 'come on Momma, let's go again!' How could I say no to that? I breathed deep, looked at the hill and started up. I confirmed my fear & the potential outcome : Falling - and then I thought, just try!!! So I did! Guess what, I MADE IT! Wahoo!!! Victory! My boys congratulated me at the top of the hill. Over the rest of the time there I slid & climbed up the hill with both my boys. Victory for sure!!! Praise God! I stumbled once when I lost my focus, but I recovered without falling backward down the hill. My sweet boy Zach was instantly by my side seeing if he could help - what a treasure he is! I told him ' no, thank you, Momma had to do this on her own.' I'm not sure he understood that, but he graciously stepped aside. It was a big afternoon!!! Zach did awesome at his first tries snowboarding. He got up all the way.... Wahoo!

So beyond blessed to be here for this & to finally feel part of it. I don't think I've totally conquered that hill in the winter because snow can be so diverse depending on the weather, but I will try again!

Blessings!

Hooray

Today was the ceremonial start of the Iditarod and that stirs up so many emotions for me.  I remember going downtown as a kid and watching the mushers & dogs.  You could feel the excitement in the air. The mushers hustled around their sleds double checking that every dog was securely in their harness. Dogs were jumping, panting, barking, ready to go.  For years, I didn't give much attention to The Last Great Race, but I couldn't help but pay attention four years ago.  I was in ICU at Alaska Regional and a day or so before the start of the Iditarod Nurse Shamese decided I needed a room with a better view.  The morning of the Iditarod my room starting buzzing with family & nurses' anxious to see the teams.  I so longed to be out of that hospital bed and out in the cold, cheering on the dogs.  Two years after that day, I was on the sidelines cheering the teams on as they headed out of town.  Hooray for getting better!!!