Catch up...

Well, yet again, I've neglected my blog. Oops!

My life has had a significant change since my last post. Many of you already know about it, but I'll share it here. I was awakened late on Tuesday night in mid-January, to hear that my dad had bleeding in the brain and was in the ER. After some cat scans, he was taken, by ambulance, to UIHC. It was determined that he had had a brain aneurysm.

A brain aneurysm is bad, but my dad was on blood thinner for another condition, so, it was extra bad. Dad went into a coma before I ever saw him. I made it to the hospital that night and UIHC sort of became our home away from home (not in a good way) that week.

They did perform brain surgery on him and were able to sort of stop the bleeding, but the damage had been done. After several days and a meeting with the doctors, it was determined that Dad's condition would not improve. We made the difficult decision to take him off of life support. Dad passed away peacefully on January 25.

It's been a difficult time for all of us, and definitely a rough start to the year. Many of you know this, but I'm so incredibly appreciative of the thoughts, prayers, cards, donations, etc., that were sent my/our way. I'm very blessed to have the friends I do - believe me, I know it!

Since the funeral, I've been trying to get caught up and back into my routine. I finally feel like I'm in a place where I don't feel completely behind, which is good.

I've been running and enjoying it. In fact, the morning Dad passed, my friends Carrie, Erin, and I went for a run. I know Dad was smiling down on us! It was just what I needed.

I'm running a local 5K this Saturday, which should be fun. I don't have any big goals, other than to have a good race. After that, I'll be on hiatus for a few weeks (most of March). Remember this post? Well, that stupid toe still hasn't healed. I actually broke a piece of bone off...and it never reattached.

So, I have to get a little surgery on my little toe. So. Stupid. But, necessary. At some point, shoes shouldn't hurt (because your gigantic pinky toe doesn't fit in them). I'll be fairly immobile for a few days and then a bit better after that. I hope to be running sometime in late March.

Then, I'll be back at it and planning some races. I will not do a Spring marathon this year, as it's just not in the cards. But, I do hope to run a Fall marathon - not sure which one yet. Here's hoping I "come back" better, stronger, and faster (and not just in running)!