Week 21-Slightly off Kilter

This is one of those blah weeks. I hate admitting that I have those weeks when things just don't work. I let my emotions get the best of me and I pushed my body too far. I have an odd sensation where I really can't feel anything. I can't feel the soreness in my body, the bruises or the pain. I would have killed for this feeling to happen a few weeks or even a few months ago but know (being oh so much more wise) it freaks me out. Dustin also says this is bad news bears. He noticed it correlated with my most recent flair up. This one was much worse than any I have had since starting the diet for my crohn's. It is like my pain receptors took a vacation and told my body to deal with itself for a change. Bummer dude!! I did get to do the soccer drills again at PT, but that might have been because I didn't tell Dustin about the (anti)pain until after... No, the answer is no, I will never learn :)

On a lighter note I did run my fastest 5k this week! That's right and I have to run 5 miles by tomorrow evening so wish me luck! I also got pictures back from the race so for your viewing pleasure:

This week I also got to do some more fun things with my three little mobile weights/ mini trainers. 

and my running partner

The best part of weeks like this one is that I know it will next week even better because I have something not so wonderful to compare it to. Thank you God for reminding me that things go on and I don't have to fight the tough times because you are their for me. 

The Lord fights for you, you need only be still- Exodus 14:14

Week 20- Chocolate, birthdays and an Exciting New Opportunity

Finally caught up! week 20 is this week. I can make my post less winded and fresh now! This week started with the hot chocolate race that my sister Kelli and I entered. It was so awesome, a 5k in down town Dallas and it was actually on the day of Emi's birthday. What a way to celebrate!! Kelli and I finished and did it in a record time for the two of us running together. As a side note Kelli just decided to be a runner a little while ago and since then she has amazed me with how she just tackles it. She didn't walk once during the entire race and that was also the longest she had run since starting to train. In terms of my hip after the race, I have been sore this last week from the run but I won't stay down for long.

Her food is the delicious one with the chocolate, mine sadly is the other

This week was awesome in PT too, we added a ton of new drills all surrounding soccer and it was a blast. I got to do volleys will balancing on a bosu ball, headers while hopping on one foot and so much more. Best valentine's day present ever! 

I also got a call from the Leukemia and Lymphoma research foundation. They contacted me to become one of their "Team in Training Athletes". What will God possibly come up with next because honestly he ceases to amaze me everyday. If you want to learn more about my new cause you can check it out Here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/rnr12/kokeefgbto. It is my personal fundraising page!

Did I mention I turned 21 this week, it was a much different birthday than I was expecting to have a month ago but it was still wonderful and I was greatly reminded how blessed I am. I even get to go see my friend Dan because of his uber generous gift! God is good and he has taken my weaknesses and used them for way better things than I am capable of =]

21 for 21

Wow this year, I don't know even how to explain it but I can say I never thought I would be where I am now, (thanks Kelli =]) and getting all of these incredible opportunities that I have been so blessed by.

As I have explained I hurt myself a little less than a year and a half ago, but one year ago today I decided (with the help of my parents) not just accept that pain. So, I was literally in four states on this day exactly a year ago from Iowa and I drove to Nebraska, to have a lay over in Colorado, and finally landed late that night in California. Oh yeah, it was my 20^th birthday. I have talked about a lot of the trials but I want to spend today talking specifically what I have learned with this life changing experience. So here are 21 things to celebrate God teaching me on my 21^st birthday:

1.   God will never cease to amaze, so don’t expect to stop being shocked by his grace.

2.     Be proactive not reactive, but if you must react do it with as much poise and humor you and find inside.

3.     I was born into the best group of people in the world. I have 9 people that are always cheering me on and setting me straight when I go a little sideways. I think my siblings are like the Incredibles, they each have distinct super powers.

4.     God doesn’t make mistakes when things good or bad happen for you.

5.     Your body can do a lot more than people tell you it can, on the flip side it isn’t made of steal so occasionally it does in deed need a break

6.     Your best friend can have four legs.

7.     Friends aren’t friend because they are close in proximity; they are friends because you know that despite the distance, the last time you talked and anything else, they are the first people you call when you are ecstatic or barely holding on.

8.     The answer to the question is in the Bible, if you didn’t see it you weren’t looking very hard.

9.     There is no such thing as too much sleep.

10 Coffee is a food group, a very large one at that.

11 Mom really does know best.

12 People are pretty incredible and it is worth loving them and in turn letting them love you.

13 If you smile enough you can get anything for free.

14 The gym is best at 5am when the Joey Tribioni’s of the world are still sleeping.

15 Always have an extra outfit in the car for everyone, and for toddlers, two outfits aren’t a bad idea.

16 Take out frustration at a work out not a person.

17 God didn’t put limits on how much I can accomplish so neither should I.

18 I have no idea where I will end up as soon as a year from now

19 God gives us all gifts and special things about us. To not use them is to basically say "Thanks but no thanks"

20 Some one tiny can teach you the biggest lessons in life and love.

21 A heart takes far less time to break than heal.

These are my lessons, and I am sure others have totally different takes, but in the last year this is what I have learned. I am almost nervous to see what year 21 has to teach me. Let’s do this God…

Week 18-19 Getting stronger

A Funny thing happened these to weeks. I got stronger. I don't just mean emotionally with the break up stuff. I mean I just got stronger as a person. I did not go to PT these two weeks but, I decided hiding in a hole was only hurting me and making me suffer, so I stopped. I continued working out hard and I added more lifting and intensified my cardio, because I all the sudden could handle it. I also decided I wanted another job so I called up the store I wanted to work at and told them they needed me. Believe it or not that worked. I dove into God's word and decided that I really can't change what has happened but I can chose how I react to it. So although I was still in pain during these two weeks I got stronger.

This is the first time I have worn heels since the surgery and that is something else I added to what I want to accomplish before I am done "healing". I was watching my baby sister perform at a basketball game.

The kids are also great motivators for all of this, so I really threw myself into them these two weeks and got a part of me back. 

The three best reasons to keep moving and keep getting better, they count on me pulling myself together monday-friday to feed them, dress them and kiss all "hurts" while mommy makes the money. Thank God for them because I don't know if I would be getting stronger this quickly without them!

Week 16 and 17- Lots of pain

For two reasons these two weeks have melted to my mind as the weeks of pain. I wasn't sure I should share this online, regardless of people "following" me or not. I thought and prayed over it and decided if I really want to remember this journey I need to record it all: the great, the terrible and the down right painful.

My boyfriend and I broke up at the start of week 16. Daniel was my best friend and took me to the hospital the night I did all of this to my hip. He was their for me when I needed him then. I have never had my heart broken until now and  I didn't know it would physically and emotionally hit so hard. I ended up taking off two days of all exercising and eating so at least it evened out. I went to PT and Dustin, working his magic, was able to get my mind off everything and make me focus on what I had been for so long. That man is worth every penny that insurance and I pay for him =]

The second thing that cause the pain was my fantastic gym membership that I signed up for. I then began making the gym my second home. I feel as though I live there even now. I now have a new way to add in my PT I started alternating between running and going to the gym each day. It was amazingly unexpected how sore my body was these two weeks getting back into a routine but I am thankful I did it.

In times like this Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" is something I am blessed to have and to hear from the people around me. 




No pictures these weeks for obvious reasons, I am still a girl and didn't want to have red noised pictures :)

Week 14 and 15- Sometimes I feel like I live in a zoo

No, literally I am at the zoo a lot :). My sister's in-laws got her and I passes as well as the three kids so I take them all the time and let me tell you it adds a whole new facet to my training. The three of them together weigh around 80 pounds give or take. This was during week 14 and we loved it. I also was getting strength tested and ready to see my surgeon week 15.

Is this what they mean by light free weights?

Week 15 was a huge break through for me. My Surgeon saw me and he said I was way farther than he thought I would have gone. It was so awesome to hear that from such a prestigious doctor. All because of God's grace. I can't believe these blessings. I passed all of my strengths tests from him and the surgery was deemed a success. He never gave up on me like all of the doctors before me. He is why I now believe that not everyone needs to believe in you or even think that something is possible but you just need one that is willing to help. My leg is proof of that. 

This injury that would "never heal"

(the week after it happened)

Has turned into my single biggest motivated 

(the day of week 15 I was cleared)

By this point I had ben running up to 2.56 miles, only a month until the 5k! 

Week 13- Happy New Years!

This was the week after Christmas and I was running between 1-2 miles. I also go to bring my brother Joey down to Texas and show him around. He even got to come to PT with me =] I think Dustin was amused that I brought a posy along with me. My pain came back a little its the same weird pain that I can't describe. It is not dull but it isn't sharp, it more feels like my hip is going to fall out of socket.

I also got to bring him to SMU and just explore. My hip got a ton of activity this week but all so worth it!

I am back to my old tricks, I have yet to meet a fountain I wouldn't jump in, true story

The three of us had so much fun this week and although I was in minimal pain, how blessed was I to get to see my smalls and spend family time. Is there any better gift in the world? The three of us were stuck together this week, we also fittingly saw the Movie New Year's Eve but had a very hard time finding it and I would up running to much on my hip and limping into the movie, can you say classy? 

Week 12- Best Christmas Present Ever

Week 12 was incredible, spectacular, a dream come true, the week that was 15 months in the making! It was the week I started running pain free for the first time since my injury. What better timing than the week of Christmas and accompanied by my mom (who I had never see run before).

Did I mention is was raining ice at the time, I don't know why I though the scarf was going to save me.

This was me getting ready to go. 

This was me after the half a mile run, yes that is all lol gotta start somewhere! I don't think I have had a picture that captured this much excitement for me that I can recall.  Yes, rocking the USC shirt =] 

That week I was in Kansas to see all my family for the holiday and I went up before everyone with my mom and niece. It was such a special week and I can't believe everything that happened. I got to put a ton of christmas decorations, blast Bing Crosby and take Emi for lots of walks.

I also got to hang out with my siblings that I hadn't got to in a while and climb over everything and go crazy. This was the best week of my year, no questions!

My mom also taught Emi to do this and I still think it is hilarious.

Weeks 10 and 11- Preface to Awesome

These were the two weeks before all of my fun! It may seem as though I am cheating by combining weeks but I want to get everything down as quickly as possible so I don't forget important information. These weeks I spent the majority of my time doing stuff for christmas and pestering Dustin to let me do more at physical therapy. He always challenged me but never let me do anything "too soon", LAME :). Who does he think he is, my physical therapist or something?!? Oh, Wait. I was really cold at the time so not running wasn't as painful as it usually was do to the rain storms. Texas doesn't mess around with rain storms.

Getting to pick up the kids and go out really helped us too.

 We go to the Aquarium all the time and took them to see santa at Bass Pro.

With these being the last two weeks until I could run I will be completely honest when saying my anxiety was through the roof because I was so ready to get moving so if anyone that had to deal with me those weeks reads this, I am so sorry!

I also started the Specific Carbohydrate Diet during these weeks for my Crohn's. I don't know if I mentioned that before but I have Crohn's disease. I have been battling it for about 7 years and this last year was the worst with a flair up that lasted almost 8 months, more on that later...

Week 12 is so far the best week of my recovery. I will let you all about it tomorrow!

Week 8 and 9- No Place Like Home

During week 8 I was preparing to go home to California and can say that because I was so focused on doing that and getting myself packed, I don't recall much other than being excited for the journey. It was also during the time of Thanksgiving. I started doing more balancing drills on my hip. I had just regained feeling in my hip around this time as well. Those nerves take a long time to wake up! I was able to walk all the way to the park with the kids though. Another goal met!

In california, week 9,  I was going to visit family and my then boyfriend. I also had a few goals in mind and one was walking on the beach again, california girl anyone? I hadn't been able to do that since before the injury because it was to painful. I love the ocean and it is probably my number one destination when ever I am given a choice.

 Well, God gave me another gift and something to be thankful for, so fitting don't you thing? It may have hurt a little but not until much after all of the excitement and adrenaline wore off :)

I hated leaving that place. California is home to me and there are so many people I love there but I know God has a plan for me here in Texas right now. Oh nostalgia...