What a week!

April 20, 2013:

I'm glad it's the weekend.  Sure, I often feel this way - a time to regroup, spend time with my family, sleep a little extra.  But this weekend feels even more welcome than most.  While we don't live in Boston or know anyone affected by the bombings this week, it feels like it hits so close to home.  I've found myself so saddened all this week.  Such a tragic, unnecessary loss of lives.  Not only loss of lives and lives forever physically and emotionally scarred for life, it's an attack on a sporting event that is so very near and dear to our hearts.

An attack on a marathon - some of the nicest, most supportive athletes and spectators in all of sports.  Long distance running is a community of people who support one another.  Not that other sporting events don't have this comradery, but when was the last time you witnessed a drunken spectator yelling, swearing, fighting at a fellow runner?  It just doesn't happen like it does at a football, hockey or baseball game.  Rivalry is all great, but it honestly just doesn't exist at running events.  Everyone cheers for everyone, not just "their guy" (or girl).  So, the innocence of racing events seems so lost this week - and likely for weeks, months, and years to come.

On one hand, I want to say, like many, that the events of this week won't influence my choice to run in races.  That that is what these terrorists want, to strip away the safe and secure environment and create fear that paralyzes us.  I want to say I'm bigger than that and running will go on.  But I have to say, I am a little more fearful.  When you have an event in such a large public place, 26+ miles in this case, how do you ever fully secure the event?  How would any of those spectators on Monday be expected to sense or forecast this awful event.  It's nearly impossible.

And to know that we make these events family events - we want to model healthy behaviors for our children and have them join in the fun of spectating.  And for what?  For them to lose their lives or forever be scared in a way that will be very difficult to resume normalcy.  I want to be able to freely take my kids to these events to cheer on mom and dad, and hope that one day, if they choose, they will follow in our footsteps.  But this week, I feel like sheltering our little guy.

We made no mention of the attack to Gavin.  I can't find a way to even discuss this act of senselessness with a four year old.  Will he fear mom and dad running in marathons?  Or feel coming to spectate is putting his health and life in danger?

I did see several people on Facebook posting a quote from Mr. Rogers that just brought tears to my eyes.  Such a good thing to say in the event your kids do catch news coverage of scary, violent stories:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”  

It's so very true - take their eyes away from the blood and destruction and focus their attention on all of the good people helping. So true of this week - from tragedy come heroes, everyday people transformed. 

Needless to say, I'm glad that they now have both suspects - breathing a little easier in Boston.

Tuesday marked 31 weeks and 6 days in our pregnancy with Baby Clark #3.  This is the gestational age, to the day, that Grace was born.  Another milestone in our journey.  It was emotional leading up to this point, just like all previous milestones.  We had an appointment with the MFM specialist on this day and baby girl is continuing to do very well.  She is measuring 4 pounds, 7 ounces (54th percentile) - so reassuring given my history of having tiny peanut babies.  I think she's going to be our big baby.  We've now got all of the essentials ready for her arrival, letting our guard down even more with each passing week.  It continues to feel good.

Aside from the Boston Marathon tragedy and emotions of 31 weeks 6 days, I was so fortunate (insert sarcasm) to have norovirus on Wednesday of this week.  Down for the count.  Not fun, particularly when 32 weeks pregnant, already tagged as "high risk", worrying that this evil virus is going to harm my little girl.  Ugh!  Knock on wood, it was just me and we're praying that Gavin and Brad stay healthy.  I quarantined myself in an effort to contain this nasty virus, one that our household knows all too well this winter (well, actually, isn't it spring?).  

And our city is dealing with absolutely crazy weather and dangerous flooding.  It will be an interesting weekend as the river swells beyond capacity, record levels they are predicting.  I'm ready for some dry, sunny and warm weather, though it doesn't seem to be on the horizon any time soon. 

So, hello weekend, time to decompress!  

As I type this post, Gavin is busy making a surprise book as a present for his Uncle Dude (my brother Tim) for his birthday.  He's so excited to be drawing multiple pages of pictures.  Saying "let's make this a surprise.  We'll wrap it so Uncle Dude doesn't know what it is.  I'm the best book maker.  I know that Uncle Dude's name is really Tim, I know that."  And so on, very cute.  And he's quite focused on the little project.  He's really come to love coloring and is getting very good at staying in the lines now and choosing "appropriate" colors for various objects.  He does still love to just doodle freely, too, though, instead of making "real" things.  It's fun to watch.

Here are some random photos that haven't made their way to the blog yet.  They make me smile :)

Easter Sunday, all dressed up (30 and a 1/2 weeks pregnant)

 Box creations are one of our favorite things to do lately.  Thanks Amazon for creating this fun!

Finally, a Merida bow and arrow set.

This is one of my faves.  I didn't even realize it, but I bought this maternity shirt at the Gap when we were in Chicago a few weeks ago.  And then ordered Gavin a very similar shirt from Old Navy.  It's the same fabric!  This is me at 31 and a 1/2 weeks pregnant.

Here he is making his book for Uncle Dude, supporting Boston!