Welcome back faithful readers. Two updates in one month!. How about that!!!
This update probably won't be as interesting as the last becuase it's more Jim and less kiddies and Karen, but hey, they can get their own web sites! (Just kidding.)
I have started running again for the 10th time. For those of you that know me, you may recall I spent about five years running pretty consistently from 1990 to 1995. I then faded out to pretty much cycling only over the last ten years or so except for training for the Marine Corps marathon with Karen back in 2001. The primary reason my running faded was ankle injuries became more frequent and serious and frankly, my career and other things took priority.
I would like to do a marathon myself. And if all goes well I should be in shape to do one about the time I turn forty next year in May. May is not a particularly popular time for marathons because of the temps, so I might have to look north or northwest to find one in May.
In addition to checking off "marathon" on my lifetime to-do list, running provides me - and Karen - a few minutes each day to reset our compasses. It provides some of the best alone time you could ask for and, if your joints can take it, immeasureable health benefits. As I mentioned earlier the primary reason I quit running was that my ankles, particularly my right ankle, likes to roll. The sprains I have gotten in full stride have been worse than some breaks. But the fact is I just healed and went back to what I was doing before with no ankle specific conditioning. That is where I'm hoping to make a difference this time around. I've got some supportive, motion control shoes. I'm doing ankle specific exercises before and after each run. Lastly, I'm being more careful. No risky surfaces like trails with roots. It's either asphalt or cinder surface trails.
So let's see how it goes, eh? I hope to have a training calendar/log up here in the next month or so, so keep an eye out for that.
Thanks for checking in and checking out the Preis family goings on.
PS - The pictures page now has pics all the way up through September of '07 I believe. Click away and I hope they make you smile as widely as I do when I look at them. Love those boys and my wife!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Drought, Boys Update, Love
Hello again from 608 Gravel Brook Court! Today is 6 October and it's actually wet outside. We've been under drought conditions for many months this year and the last two rains have done little to erase a massive deficit. It would take a monster rainfall of tropical storm proportions to get us back to where we should be, but even then that would not help the many trees and lawns long since permanently browned. But we're thankful it's raining today and we'll see what the future brings and optimism never hurts!
David started preschool about a month ago and is making friends, eating sand and having a good time in general. He's in a class with about a half dozen other kids his age and I think the small confines of the physical room are a challenge for him (think tempest/teapot). But we don't get to choose everything and the exercises in control will serve him well in the future. Academically David is probably more in line with 1st or 2nd grade expectations. He's more than mastered the alphabet. He's almost gotten to the point with his numbers where he's figured out how to count indefinitely. And I have a funny feeling we'll be teaching him some basic arithmetic before long. The threes have seen their moments of challenge for David (and his parents) but those moments of challenge are always followed by accomplishment and learning milestones.
Not to be outdone by his older brother, Camden has really begun to shine with accomplishments. First, he's interacting with everyone in the family much more discretely and can name all of us on sight. His articulation will improve with practice, but we continue to be amazed by his verbal achievements and the variety of sounds he's learned to create is very promising. There has also been much development on the cognitive front. Camden can clap on demand. He can problem solve in the physical world; like moving object A to facilitate access to object B. He can roll a ball back and forth with a partner. And, oh by the way, he can caress your forearm gently when you're feeding him his nighttime bottle and man is that worth whatever you had to get through that day to enjoy. Camden's biggest challenge at present is the continuation of his gross motor skills development. He has just learned to execute a rudimentary crawl and he can easily sit on his own with confidence. In fact, he can stand if you hold his hands. For clarity, he has more than ample leg strength to support his weight of 21 pounds. He simply lacks the balance to complete the trick. As his gross skills become more robust, he'll accomplish the standing milestone. The net-net is that Camden is doing more than well. He's blowing away our expectations. And if corporate America has taught his mother and I anything, that means raised expectations are right around the corner. And if Karen and I have taught Camden anything yet it is to do the impossible today and put the simply difficult stuff off until tomorrow!
I wanted to update everyone on how Karen and I are doing as well, but the sounds coming from the monitor tell me that Camden is not long from waking. Thus it's time to make cereal and formula and settle in for a feed session. The net-net on Karen and I is that we continue to be each others rock. If I'm stressed or I need to disappear for a two hour bike ride, she's there for me. And should I come home to find Karen's had a 25 hour day in only 12 hours, I'm her man. I have worked out some flex time at work to help us coordinate preschool, speech, developmental and physical therapies as well as Dr's appointments. Karen's sister Lynn has also been a God send and helps with some chauffeuring that gets paid for in love and appreciation. We can't thank her enough for her help.
I hope this update finds everyone well.
David started preschool about a month ago and is making friends, eating sand and having a good time in general. He's in a class with about a half dozen other kids his age and I think the small confines of the physical room are a challenge for him (think tempest/teapot). But we don't get to choose everything and the exercises in control will serve him well in the future. Academically David is probably more in line with 1st or 2nd grade expectations. He's more than mastered the alphabet. He's almost gotten to the point with his numbers where he's figured out how to count indefinitely. And I have a funny feeling we'll be teaching him some basic arithmetic before long. The threes have seen their moments of challenge for David (and his parents) but those moments of challenge are always followed by accomplishment and learning milestones.
Not to be outdone by his older brother, Camden has really begun to shine with accomplishments. First, he's interacting with everyone in the family much more discretely and can name all of us on sight. His articulation will improve with practice, but we continue to be amazed by his verbal achievements and the variety of sounds he's learned to create is very promising. There has also been much development on the cognitive front. Camden can clap on demand. He can problem solve in the physical world; like moving object A to facilitate access to object B. He can roll a ball back and forth with a partner. And, oh by the way, he can caress your forearm gently when you're feeding him his nighttime bottle and man is that worth whatever you had to get through that day to enjoy. Camden's biggest challenge at present is the continuation of his gross motor skills development. He has just learned to execute a rudimentary crawl and he can easily sit on his own with confidence. In fact, he can stand if you hold his hands. For clarity, he has more than ample leg strength to support his weight of 21 pounds. He simply lacks the balance to complete the trick. As his gross skills become more robust, he'll accomplish the standing milestone. The net-net is that Camden is doing more than well. He's blowing away our expectations. And if corporate America has taught his mother and I anything, that means raised expectations are right around the corner. And if Karen and I have taught Camden anything yet it is to do the impossible today and put the simply difficult stuff off until tomorrow!
I wanted to update everyone on how Karen and I are doing as well, but the sounds coming from the monitor tell me that Camden is not long from waking. Thus it's time to make cereal and formula and settle in for a feed session. The net-net on Karen and I is that we continue to be each others rock. If I'm stressed or I need to disappear for a two hour bike ride, she's there for me. And should I come home to find Karen's had a 25 hour day in only 12 hours, I'm her man. I have worked out some flex time at work to help us coordinate preschool, speech, developmental and physical therapies as well as Dr's appointments. Karen's sister Lynn has also been a God send and helps with some chauffeuring that gets paid for in love and appreciation. We can't thank her enough for her help.
I hope this update finds everyone well.
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