Thank Heaven for Little Boys

Almost 9 years ago when Mike and I started dating, we always said we would have a large family. But did I really picture myself being the mother to his THREE boys? Wow, I am not quite sure!
But my how I am over-joyed that just that is what God has made me. Very early in Motherhood,  I started realizing that God had given me boys to humble me.  Having children brings one down to earth always, but for a very girly girl, boys were just what I needed. Growing up as a dancer and a track runner with only sisters, I was certainly athlete but if you threw a ball or a bug at me, I surely would duck, scream, and run.  That's how girly ;)
Aside from how my personality changed, my soul certainly changed as well. The unconditional love pouring from my sons' eyes was with out a doubt the reason for living now.
I titled this entry, "Thank Heaven for Little Boys". But I also have to thank heaven for Big Boys too. Pierce is 6 and a half now, headed to practice for Kindergarten graduation today. And I am so amazed at the individual he is becoming. With another baby brother on the way, Pierce is definitely my big boy now. He takes so much pride in his role as the leader of his pack.
Counting my blessing this morning. Mainly ones named Michael, Pierce, Kade, and Hyde Hill :)

Easter/Baby Revealment Party

Finding out our baby is Hyde, another brother!!!

Hyde Christopher Hill

Reality Check...

Reality Check...I am not Superwoman :(

With many things in my life...I head into them thinking it will be a breeze because I am tough and brave. And that I am, but every now and then, I have to be reminded that you can be tough and brave but just still not quite super-human.
For instance this pregnancy. Although I taught dance through both pregnancies and ran throughout Kade's, I was not a fitness instructor yet. And was not a Homeschooling Mom to two little boys. When we decided to get pregnant, and the first couple weeks of knowing I was pregnant, I honestly believed I would have no change in the way I felt. I was going to be Supermom... barely grow a basket ball belly like I did with Kade, and stay in my jeans til 7months . When the Dr. asked me if  I had nausea yet at 5 weeks, I relied, "no, remember ,I don't get that! " Well, I should have found some darn wood to knock on!! Because at about 6/7 weeks, nausea and fatigue set in like a storm. The all day kind,not morning. I have to add I have not been vomiting , just nausea. And I certainly have not felt or been myself. A few weeks ago I never would have thought I would have fallen into some of the things I have.
My biggest battle has not been the nausea itself. It has been how  am treating the nausea... by overeating carbs. This accompanied with treating my caffeine addiction with sweets has resulted in some first trimester weight gain that I certainly didn't want or foresee. So here I am at my 10th week already at the weight I thought I'd be at two months from now!
So now that I have mentioned a few negatives, I must move on to positive. Obviously God knows I MUST exercise. Not only is it my income but it is also my love and sanity.  I feel my absolute best during and immediately after my workouts. Not once have I felt like garbage during Fusion, Bootcamp, or an on my own workout.  Now, motivation to get to these things is a little down but once I'm there, I am great! I haven't even had to lower my workouts' intensities or slow my run pace yet. So that's awesome!
So, finding a moral to this...
I have to believe that a false sense of ease will always win over worry or doubt. All of the tremendously gruelling physical challenges I have had in my life, I have always gone into thinking/saying, "Oh this will be a breeze". Were they ? Hell No! But... would I have tackled them if I had known that in advance? Not sure! So..I will stay in my world of overly positive. Because for me, it works. I know I have a long 7 months ahead. And I will take it one hour at a time.
Now excuse me while I go eat another piece of bread ;)

Pierce is 6, Kade is 4, and...

I didn't blog when my sweet first born turned 6 the way I did when Kade turned 4...So let's talk Pierce Michael Hill for a minute.  I know you have all heard the idea before...Your first born teaches you how to be a Mom.  And this is so very true. You finally realize what your life is all about when you find out you will be a Mom. And the minute you hold that sweet soul, you immediately grow up.  The world stops, and nothing matters except creating a perfect world for your child. And God sure did give Pierce a sweet soul. When he loves, he loves bigger than I have seen. At 6 years old, he is one of the most passionate people I know!  I can honestly say that our boy is a great person and THAT feels really good.
So, when your children are 4 and 6, a question arises in your mind. Are we done having kids? We are pretty well past the baby years, and life is rolling a a fast pace between business, and the kids having their own little schedules now.  Even prior to dating, when we were still just friends, Mike and I talked about having a 'big' family...whatever that meant we didn't know yet.  So now going back to the question, "are we done having kids?" Knowing in my heart I was ready to answer that question, Mike and I started discussing the matter.  It was time to discuss because if we were done,it was time to have Mike have the 'permanent' procedure done (to make life a little easier if ya know what I mean).  So when we started talking that...we immediately realized we were not ready for the permanence. And decided we in fact were not 'done'.  So what does that mean? That means it's time to grow this Hill family again!! Mike and I have always been believers in "There is no time like the present; and details will always work themselves out". And well folks, The very first month we said "ok, what the heck? Let's give it a go"....WE NOW HAVE HILL BABY #3 COOKING! We saw and heard our third baby's strong heart beat yesterday!
Yes, you are reading this correctly! I am pregnant! We closed 2011 with an expansion of the family! As of today, I am heading into my 8th week! Mike and I were able to keep it from Pierce and Kade for a few days when we found out right around New Year's, and then we just couldn't stand it anymore. When we told them they were over the moon! They talk about the baby everyday and are of course, very inquisitive. I absolutely love the clarity that 4 and 6 year old minds bring to situations that adults complicate. Mike asked the boys kind of jokingly, "what are you going to do with a baby around here?!?" They both replied, "Duh, Dad, love it and hug it!!" And that's it. We know we have enough love to go around a family of five and everything else...we will figure out eventually! For now, we will bask in the excitement of my growing belly! Our wonderful families are overjoyed and supportive as always too. We are so lucky to have them all.
I know now-a-days less than 12 weeks is considered early to announce a pregnancy. But we want to be able to stop telling Pierce and Kade they can't tell anyone! We don't want them to feel like they can't be excited and proud. And Mike and I are pretty open people anyway. Oh and one more reason... I wear tight fitting workout clothes daily which already are starting to show my third-time-around uterus wanting to bulge already!! ;)
Pierce has, like Mike with his brothers, a great sense of pride in being the biggest and oldest, the protector. He has been saying often all the ways he will help take care of the baby. And Kade, he is going to be a BIG brother now!! You know he is over the moon about that! Pierce gives me extra hugs around my waist often saying they are for the baby. Kade asks me to open my mouth really big do he can yell into it to the baby things like, "When are you coming out?!?". And of course I let him. Afterall, the ears are developing this week and he or she better get used to Kade yelling.
And now for one of the questions I know you want to ask..."Will I still teach fitness?" 
Of Course I will! This baby will know dancing and dumbbells for sure! Pregnant booties can shake it too!! Just looking a little funny while doing it. I ran 6 days a week pushing Pierce in the jogging stroller all the way to the end with Kade in my belly. And my plan is to still do a Half Marathon in April.  My doc knows what I do and is all for me 'keepin' it up'. 
We are so very thankful for this blessing; there in none so great. We are very excited for what 2012 holds for our little Hill family that maybe I should stop calling little.

My First Marathon

Boy Oh, Boy Oh Boy!!  Sitting to write this while it is fresh on my mind. 

I'm going to start with the boring, runners stuff ;)
I purposefully ran "slowish" the first 13.1.  Holding just under a 9:45 min. pace.  I wanted to make sure I had some left for the second 13.1 without Mike.  My plan was to speed up to 9:15 pace the whole second half.   I felt TERRIFIC at 13.1! And continued to feel that way for another hour. Somewhere around 18 is when I started having to pay close attention to not dropping below a 9:50 or 10 min. pace to finish under my 4:30 goal.  See, around that time everyone around you is slowing down, walking , stopping to stretch out cramps, or even just stopping period, etc. So when you feel like you're rolling because you are passing everyone, you are not. From the time I was at 18- the end,  only about 2-5 people passed me. So, where was my "wall" ? it wasn't at 20 like everyone says. Mine was at 24! With only 2 miles to go, I slowed to a 10:30 pace. My lower body didn't want to move as fast as my mind wanted it to.  The second half was very hilly and windy! And of course when you were going uphill it was also against the wind!  With .2 to go, I found UMMPFF to pick it up strong to finish in Autozone.  Finished with a 9:58 average pace, 4:21 total finish. I was the 279th woman out of 1,071 women who completed the Full.

So, now the mental and emotional side of the whole day. The first half was simply put...Fun! Mike and I found my Uncle at mile 2 and we all ran together until 8. What an amazing course to run! After your first hill you come upon the first large crowd of spectators as you run down Beale Street, and immediately followed by a percussion band of young guys and Riverside Drive , and then St. Jude campus around mile 4. That stretch makes the entire 3 months of training well worth it for any runner.  Simply put. It's amazing.  We definitely had a giant lump in our throats during the stretch.  You feel a part of something big. The families aren't just monotonous in there cheers. They are genuine and personal.  We saw my younger cousin cheering there, an added bonus. Then, the nice stretch down North Parkway and the even prettier through Overton Park.  At mile 10 we saw my other 2 cousins, where we proudly told them that their Dad was not too far behind us.  At 12, the full keep on going and the half turn to finish. I had mentally prepared myself for this. Knowing I was on my own for the rest. And..that I was only half way.  The first tears of the day came out of my (and Mike's) eyes as I told Mike to go finish strong and we said our I love you's. Mike had been fighting a quadricep cramp since the 11 mile marker. And he told me to do awesome. (Interlude he is the best man in the wide world!)  As I ran through miles 13-16, I was feeling great. I picked up my pace a bit knowing I had everything like breath and hydration under control.  Around 14, I saw a couple of my friends along this part and that was awesome. Having loved ones along the way truly helps!  Many of the signs put a lump in your throat. "Run for Jake", "Pain is weakness leaving the body", "Run because (she) can't.  The crowd support of this race is extraordinary.  Complete strangers making eye contact with you , telling you you're doing great, an truly meaning it.   So now we are at 17-22. This part of the course is heading North on East Parkway. The side of the road we are on in slanted, not flat and gradual up hill.  I still felt good though, as I said above. And this is where I realized I was going to finish! And most likely at my goal time!  As long as I kept that pace or slightly slower.  When I had 5k left, I still felt OK. I was in rhythm, and mentally there.  At mile 24, I had a change.  My body was not striding like my mind wanted it too. When I walked to drink my sips of water at stations, it was a task to start back up again. So, I did not stop at the 25 water station.  For 24.5-26.2 , I had to dig every bit as deep as I did to deliver my Kade drug free. If not more.  At 25, I looked at my watch and actually thought to myself...' I COULD walk this mile to 26 and STILL come in under 4:30'.   So, I walked a few steps. Then, I told myself what I tell my clients all of the time.  "Just do it. Don't think about it. Go!" And picked t back up to a run.  I saw my great friend, Laura, at 26. Her energy gave me energy. I am thankful for her presence on the course for sure! And then , I was there. Sharp turn into Autozone park and crossed the finish line. A girl who I have taught dance to for over 10 years+, and her mom, were who gave me my blanket. That was very special.   You would think that you have all kinds of ...ohhhh I just ran a marathon ....thoughts and emotion. But...your mind is actually shut off.  At least mine was.  I was happy, don't get me wrong. Just not basking in glory yet. That came after about an hour when my muscles stopped burning.    I sure was glad to be DONE! Immediately after crossing the finish and getting my picture taken,  I sat on the field for a couple minutes to stretch and sit for the first time in over 4  hours. The first clear thoughts that I remember from immediately are that I want to be a volunteer next year instead of a runner.  I want  to experience that event from that perspective as well . I think I am a good cheerleader! Next, came walking up to my family.  I sure did feel those stairs! Some pain did set in. More than I expected.  I was overcome with joy to see my family  . I am so very glad and thankful  that they were able to be there.  

It is definitely one of those challenges in life where in hindsight, it wasn't that bad! You start thinking of all the ways you could have done better. Don't get me wrong, I am proud of my 4hr 21 min finish , but being who I am, I feel that I could have changed strategy around mile 20 and finished better.  But I can only assume that is how every athlete feels after an event of this caliber.

You might think that on this day, the day after running my first marathon, with very sore leg muscles, that I would not want to think about running again anytime soon. Wrong! Notice I titled this, 'My FIRST Marathon'! I trained the right way in my book and would like to help myself and others feel the feeling of accomplishment again that comes on this day.  And most importantly ,uninjured. Far too many run these races injured or injure themselves during. My muscles are quite sore; they carried me 26.2 miles. But they are not broken.  Along with other phases of my career, I want to help runners train and race free of injury.  I truly know that my  training being a comprehensive plan of strength training, dance (cross training), stretching, and running is a winning one. And that marathon running is mostly overall fitness and willpower, not how long or how much you actually run.  My husband, Mike successfully running two half marathons this year with respectable times and uninjured is another testament to this as well. We each ran at most 70% of our race mileage, which is common in Europe ( I trained to 18.5 and he trained to 10).

So, wrapping this up.
I will go back to my prequel blog.
Why? and the answer is still, Why not? There are so many in this world that can't. We should all do it for them . Do it for the funds raised during.  This event of 13,000 runners raised almost 4 million dollars. Amazing . And guess what? That will run St. Jude for almost two days. It takes almost 2 million a day to keep their doors open. To save lives everyday like they do.  Let us all be thankful for our health and our families' health. Let us all go out of our way to help those who are not healthy and do not have healthy families.

Happy Thanksgiving!

First, this morning I am thankful that I gave my Bootcampers the day off and was able to wake up two hours later than any other Thursday of the year.  :)
What stands out the most in my mind this morning was reinforced with a baby's tee shirt that I just came upon on Pinterest. ( this quiet morning has allowed for me to discover Pinterest) It said, "I am why we can't have nice things".  That's it right there... I am thankful that my "nice things" are the 3 most amazing people in the whole wide world.  I am thankful that our lifestyles allow for us to teach our boys to dream and reach big but keep each day and hour simple.  Yesterday, we made their "what I am thankful for" turkeys.  Pierce's first feather was "Kade".  Kade's first feather was "Pierce".  Without a second of thought, they were first thankful for each other.  Next Kade said, "wood".  Of course I LOL'd! "Kade, why wood?" As I wrote it on his next feather he said, "We wouldn't have our house without wood, Mom!".  They continued their feathers with "Mom, Dad, everyone, Pinella, and Oliver, and toys".  But the top two warm my heart and remind us it's what holds the home together, not the house...that really counts. 
We must look into the future, and teach our children to do the same.  However, more importantly I think we should try to live in the moments that make up each day, so that when we get to the future, we have less regrets of being preoccupied while living our lives.  Kids teach us that, and sometimes that's why we lose our patience with them . They are just living in the moment and being thankful for  the simple things like wood and toys  ;)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

MMMmmmmmarathon Prequel ;)

A lot of my job as a personal trainer, and group fitness instructor is helping my clients find ways to "heart and mind over matter" whatever the obstacle at hand is. We can all be just a little bigger and stronger than anything that lies in our way as long as we think we can.  I do owe a lot of this- sounding like an old inspirational CD on repeat- to my Mom. She is the one that helped me chant, "I think I can", as I did anything that was difficult for me from as far back a I can remember. As I grew into a pre-teen and she was still trying to make us all sing, "I am woman, hear me roar" while trying to put up a tent together....It all became corny and cheesy to me.  And there were definitely times, even a short ago as when I was in labor with my two boys, that I wanted to throw something at her head for being SO positive when I felt SO low.  But ya know what...it worked!! Always.. "it" works.  Being "glass half full" will always accomplish more than "glass half empty".   For the next two weeks and one day, I will think of and repeat to myself every positive, inspiring, motivational saying that I have heard from my Mom or anywhere else in my 28 years.
Maybe tomorrow I will not feel this nervous. This week, I have been very nervous about my morning on Dec. 3rd. I know my body is strong, which I am so very thankful for. I know I WILL cross the finish line and get my medal.  I also KNOW it will be hard! The running books, blogs, etc. are right one thing for sure... Marathon training is every bit as much for your mind as it is for your body.  Three, Four, heck maybe even 5 hours of running is a long dang time!
So...why do it?  to make a long answer short...  Why Not??!!
I think life challenges keep us human, humble, and limitless.
I sure hope I finish as strong as my Pierce can!! ;)

"Homeschool"

So, why the quotation marks? Here is why...
The thing that I have really come to realize over the past month is that now that we are homeschooling, life is... not much different than it has been for the Hills leading up to August. Our time spent working on Language, Math, etc just now has a LABEL. It used to be "lets work on our words or numbers " and now it is "let's do our school work" as far as the time sitting down at the desks or the tables. ( the desks that Santa built for the boys have now proved awesome!) And there is also so much education going on away from the desks and tables as well, (i.e. our outings, sports,  and Art class)  that now are respected more as a double activity. Fun and Education.
THIS is where our little family belongs. 200% we know this. Both Kade and Pierce have blown my mind in the past month of what they are learning and retaining. And doing it together is all the more rewarding.

Thank You so very much to everyone who has supported us. We appreciate your love and acceptance.  Just a short blog today that I did not proof read. Just wanted to let you all know we are LOVING our decision to educate at home. :)