Plenty of Milestones

I came home this afternoon and collapsed in sheer exhaustion. I was also hiding from the children who were fighting over one marker but we'll just blame being tired.

As usual, we've been going nonstop lately. Really, we've been nonstop all year.

Starting the new job has been amazing and I love it but it's been a lot to learn and trying to take in all of that information and manage day to day tasks is no small feat. Next week is six months and it's flown by and I am looking forward to many more months and years with MEDIC.

Additionally, we had #CHKM marathon season. This was the hardest year I can remember in at least 8 years. Altman worked more than 60 hours per week every week from late January through mid-April. Yes, mid-April. And no, the answer to the question is no. He doesn't get a day off on the day after the marathon. The two weeks post-CHKM are still 60 hour weeks while he returns equipment, follows up with all partners and then finalizes results for the company and school challenges among other things.

We launched right in to a crazy May with work travel, a huge MEDIC event and wrapping up school and pre-school. Suddenly, it's the end of June and I am in the midst of major milestones in our life.

On Saturday, itty bitty turned 6. I don't even know how that is possible. I do but at the same time I can't comprehend it. He's heading to kindergarten in just a few weeks. Kindergarten!!!!! Say what????

He's a little person. He uses big words and he's hilarious. And he's cute and he is sweet and kind to other people. We have our days (many of them) and it's possibly because he's a lot like me but I am so grateful to be his mommy. He completed our family and will always be my baby.

It's a big milestone and his birthday was a big deal but we aren't done yet..................................

In less than two weeks, Jackson will be 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10.

Double digits.

10.

Did you catch that?

10.

I realize I am biased and I don't even care. He is smart. Really smart. And he's kind. He is the nicest human that I've ever met besides his father. The apple definitely doesn't fall far from the tree there.

This one made me a mother. I never dreamed of having kids when I was growing up. In fact, I didn't want them. When we decided to have kids, I had no idea how challenging it is to raise a tiny human and keep them alive each day.

He made me a mother and he's been a blessing. He's been kind and patient since birth as Jason and I try to figure this parenting thing out. We've had many #parentingfails but he's always called us the best parents ever.

Once we reach his birthday then we are on the fast track to the new school year. You know, the time when we will have a kindergartner and a 4th grader.

Wowza.

So. Many. Milestones.

And yet, there are so many more to come.

See you on the roads. 

Staring Down Marathon Week

I pushed Karson in the jog stroller today. Because of our schedule, it was the only way to get in the miles for all of us. It was hard. He is heavy. Everything feels heavy right now.

We are at the starting line of marathon week. Participants are tapered and anxious for race day. We are in the throws of several “marathon” days before we get to the weekend when the days run into nights then late nights and early mornings and there is no rest. And, you should know that we are anxious too.

This has been one of the hardest planning years that I can remember. Whether I was a KTC staff member or not, I have been part of this event since year one.

In the early years of volunteering and with Altman as Director, we didn’t sleep at all. The last few years, there is a little sleep but never more than 4 or 5 hours. I suspect that there will be less than that this year.

Everything is new again. The finish line change really does change everything.

It’s been challenging. Scratch that. It’s been hard.

It’s not just the race changes that have made things hard. Life is always challenging. We have a new normal with my transition to MEDIC (which I LOVE but more on that later). 
Raising kids is hard. It would be silly to say otherwise. We have two amazing boys who have very different personalities and interests and they rarely get along for more than 10 minutes at a time. They have activities and homework and we have to integrate their schedules with ours. 

I wouldn’t change any of it. I tell them that we are blessed with opportunity and I mean it.

That said, everything feels kind of heavy right now as I look at the week ahead. Keeping things together at home while Altman works 16+ hours a day isn’t easy. He starts working as soon as he is up and he works late in to every night. This week, I won’t see him in the evening until Thursday. He has to be out every night this week with final prep for the weekend. That’s probably not a big deal to many of you but he’s my person and I miss him when we can't be together and catch up.

The kids need to be fed, homework needs to be completed, laundry needs to be done and so much more. On top of those things, I still have that full-time job where I am still learning so much and also planning for our next fiscal year. :)
I'm also fortunate (and grateful and humbled) to have been invited back to do live coverage on Sunday with WBIR and have a little more studying to do before race day. 

Is this the year when I fail to do all the things?

No. No it’s not but I can tell you that not one extra thing will be allowed this week. We are in survive and advance mode. 

It’s race time for the Altman family and we will shrug the weight off our shoulders. We will be focused on keeping up with the pace during this marathon week. And note that I didn't say finish line because that is well over a month away, but if we can get through this week then we are past the proverbial “wall” and can make it to the end.

See you next weekend.

Hello Self!

It’s been ages since I wrote and published a post. I’ve written several in the last year or so but left so many in the draft folder.

Why is that?

I am not really sure. My best explanation is that I feel different these days.

I don’t know that I have been unhappy over the last few years but now I recognize that I was moving through life trying to figure out what’s best for the family and me.

I spent a long time first voluneering then working for KTC. When I got the call in spring 2017 about a new opportunity, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. But leaving KTC left me in a weird place and wondering about my identity. I had been affiliated with the club for so long that I wasn’t sure who I should be....

I wasn’t unhappy at Leadership Knoxville/Connect Knox but I think I always knew I wouldn’t be there long-term. It was a great job and a great organization but my gut told me that I would get the initiative launched and something else would come along. And it did.

When I learned about the opportunity with MEDIC, I was over the moon with excitement because I knew that it would be a great job for me. And it is. I wake up before the alarm every day excited to go to work.

I titled this blog “Hello Self” because for the first time in a long-time, I feel like the version of myself that is focused, disciplined and ready to handle anything that comes my way. I think I have been afraid to publish blog posts because what I wrote were just words without real emotion and honesty behind them and that’s just not me.

I am happy these days. The boys are funny and smart (and infuriating) and growing up quickly. Altman is still my bestie and still inspiring me every day. It’s not all roses and good times but these last two months are different than the last few years.

I don’t miss workouts these days. There is a renewed fire to take better care of myself. I have been injured over and over since Karson was born and have used those injuries as a crutch to do the minimum. I am ready to be healthy and stay healthy in whatever version that becomes.

I am not over-committed these days and it’s amazing. I still serve on a few boards but am very conscious about agreeing to do things. I have control of my overall schedule and that allows us to be flexible during this time of year when Altman’s schedule is not his own.

These days, myself and my family come first.

Cheers to a new year, new goals and new adventures! Look forward to sharing them with you.