As a new parent I'm constantly slapped in the face by how quickly the cute and innocent stuff turns messy/dangerous/hilarious. Here are some examples:











I could keep going with these pictures because Katie and I are new parents, and as new parents we take too many pictures. So I'll leave you with a final picture of E's new choppers.




Not much training going on right now. Between the grad school app, our wedding, and stats/physiology my plate has been way too full. This will all change next Tuesday. What happens Tuesday? I officially start the ultimate juggling act: family, work, school, and training. Until then I'll enjoy reading for pleasure and 1 day of chilling. LATER
H A R R I S O N A V E I S H A R D C O R E

I wish I could avoid it, but I've got to go to DNP school and the application is due 1-15-08. I'm out until my professional goals statement is completed and submitted. Later.
Wait! I almost forgot to post a pic from baby-brawl 08 "Too Much UFC, Not Enough Love"

We're Legit!!!

Projectile Vomiting and Christmas Parties

Nothing says welcome to parenthood like a baby puking all over your house. I'll spare you the details. Katie and I did manage to squeeze in two holiday parties prior to E's Exorcist inspired vomit sessions. We are all in varying stages of wellness and hopefully we'll be back up to speed for the holidays. I'd like blogger to let me upload pics. Later.

Somebody in my house can walk. Not for great distances or in a way that one would call sober.

There's some pics for the fam. We have been so busy the last 3 weeks. Week long meetings, grad school applications, parenting, planning a celebration, holidays, and attempting to stay in shape. Better updates as soon as time permits.

Moab & Square 1

Elijah at balancing rock

E loving the pack

Family shot at the primitive loop trail head

E, Uncle Lucas and I on the trail

E trying to figure out one of the new additions to our house

We had a great family trip to Moab. Nice hiking in arches and at fischer towers. Nice grub at the condo. Just a good time that we'll be sure to repeat over the winter and spring. Elijah did fairly well on the drive down and hated the drive home. Crying builds character.

Square One:
That's where I'm at in the fitness game. On my ride today I got passed by a large man in red sweat pants, riding a full-squish bike with flat tires. That's what you get when you spend a whole season below recovery watts. Next month marks the start of the re-build process. Here's to the challenges that lay ahead.

The Feet Are At The Heart Of It

My appointment with the podiatrist last wednesday went well. The conclusion is that my left foot needs more support. He went with a low-tech felt wedge under the arch of my existing foot bed. Did it work? I just worked 4 12 hour shifts in row without knee pain. Now I need to find some foot beds the fit well in my bike shoes and get them set up by the podiatrist. Wednesday was a big day for another reason as well. The College of Nursing held a grad school info session. This session was both informative and disappointing. I am now faced with a dilema: attend the U for 4.5 years and obtain a doctorate the enables me to sit for FNP boards, or attend another school for two years and obtain a master's that enables me to sit for FNP boards. Here's the kicker: there's no difference in pay or scope of practice between the two options.
What do you think???????


Elijah sleeping while I research grad schools


Elijah meets his new roomy


The position feels better with every ride.

Time Flies When You're Being Lazy!!!!

We've been having a great time on our "vacation". It's been nice to just chill at home and get things done around the house. The biggest deal of the "vacation" was Elijah getting to meet his great-grandparents. We're starting to plan a Jan. trip to NM to see them again and visit Bucky and Bama.



I also got the chance to watch my able bodied friends race CX at RMR. The course looked fun and challenging. This was the first time in two years that I have watched my group race from the bleachers. I left pretty motivated to get my knees feeling better for next year.
Activity log:
Sat: 20 min stretching x 2, core, and quality rest
Sun: 20 min stretching, upper body, towed Elijah to see GGS
Mon: 45 min spin, core, 20 min stretching
Tues: 52 min spin, 20 min stretching, upper body, mini-stretching
Knees:
Left knee is still hurting consistently. Looking forward to my follow-up with the podiatrist tomorrow. Out of everything I've done so far the foot beds have helped the most. Also, the new fit feels pretty good. I've had my saddle too low and too far forward, so it will be a few months of baby-steps to transition me into the best position. Mike from Canyon did a great job. I can see why so many docs and therapists recommended him.

Fall Hikes



Chasing Elijah

Yesterday was another long day in the ICU. Out the door at 628AM and back home at 827PM. It was also a trying day. It's amazing to come home from work to the smell of good food, my beautiful wife, and the sound of a loud, happy baby. I've got two ED shifts this weekend and then a solid block of time off. We are looking forward to a "vacation" in SLC.
Today I went for a run with Katie and E. I'm glad shoes can't flat like the jogger. Tonight is soup night at Jen's house. Should be fun. Gotta run.
Thursday: Work.
Friday: 50 minute run. Monster walks. Basic core. Stretching.
KNEES: They felt pretty good at work and during the run. This on-off deal with the pain is odd.

The Ferrous will see some leaf crunching action next week.

One pic. No over-the-top rambling. Just a quick update. Here goes:

1) Knee exercises (- 1), Core, Stretching, Speed Lap of Da Hood.
2) The left knee is pissed about me being on my feet for 12.5 hrs at work yesterday. This is the worst the pain has been for a while. This really bums me out. It seems like I get 1-2 weeks without pain followed by 1-2 weeks of pain. I'll just have to see how my follow-up appointments go.

Activity Log:
Mon: Long walk at liberty while Katie ran. Knee exercises. Core. Stretching.
Knees:
They're feeling much better. The pain is down to an ache from stabbing. My follow-up appointments are coming up.

What's that noise???

Can't walk. Won't take a bottle. No problem.

Activity log:
Night shifts and a wicked head cold have put the brakes on my plans for this week.
Knee Report:
The insoles seem to be helping.

Elijah just realized he likes baby food. We just realized how fast time flies by when you're chasing little E around.
I'm starting to make some progress with the knee issues. I over-pronate in a big time way. Between the insoles I just started rocking and my exercises/stretching this thing should be history by next cross season. I'll be sitting this season out. It's taken me a while to see this as a good thing. So instead of racing this fall/winter I'll be working on my knees and laying down some serious base miles for racing the SS and CX in 2008.

Here's A Photo Dump

Wednesday: Short on time. 1 Hr on the "B" bike. Tried several upper endurance intervals. Knees seemed to tolerate the additional strain.
Thursday: 2 Hrs on the "B" machine. Knees ached afterwards. Upper body stuff. Knee exercises. Stretching. Knees seemed to get more painful as the day progressed.
Friday: 1 Hr mellow on the ferrous. Knees still ache a little from yesterday. Core. Stretching. Knee exercises.
Some conclusions about my knee pain:
1. No more flip-flops or old clogs. These both seem to contribute to the issues. I'm going to be sticking to my PI running shoes.
2. I really feel that the PT stuff is helping. I just need to keep it mellow on the bike a while longer.
3. Need to get my position looked at again.
4. The ferrous does not bother my knees. I can ride at a moderate intensity on the ferrous and experience no knee pain.


5. The "B" bike can really flare things up at times.


Gotta run. It's pizza night and time's a wasting!

The boy is getting bigger and bolder.
Worked another 3 day run in the ICU. This 50% ED and 50% SICU deal is nice. Just when you start getting in the groove, you get to start working in the other unit. The only drawback is the scheduling. There's also the crap that my co-workers, from both units, give me for not being full time.
Activity Log:
Sat: 13 hour day in the SICU. Rode the ferrous to work.
Sun: Another 13 hour day in the SICU. Rode the ferrous again.
Mon: Yet another 13 hour day in the SICU. Rode the ferrous to work again.
Tuesday: 1 hour mellow spin on the ferrous through the hood and up into the Avenues. Knee exercises. Stretching. Upper body stuff.
Goal for Weds: 2 plus hours on the bike. I'm thinking "B" bike on the road with some warmish wheeler farm laps thrown in.