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IT'S A........

We found out today that we are having a new baby girl!!!! We are all very excited...especially Emma.

Run Chitown

The Chicago Marathon is over. I did a lot of training for this event. I've got to thank my wife for putting up with me and all of the running that I had to do. Every Saturday I had a long run and it would almost take up the entire day, including the icing after the run. I stayed the night before down town with my buddy Nick Vogelsang and his friend Seth, and their wives. I was the fifth wheel, but it was all good. We planned on running the race at about the same pace so we stuck together at the start of the race.

At the start of the race I was packed in there shoulder to shoulder. I was able to cross the start line about 10 min after the start of the race. Of course my time didn't start until I had crossed the mat. All runners are rigged with a chip attached to the shoe.
I was able to run the first half of the race close to my regular pace. It never really felt like I could just run comfortable because I had to constantly dodge people walking or that didn't run the same pace. After about half way through the race I didn't have to try and pass any body, everyone was going my same pace. My stomach knotted up from having drank Gatorade on the run and gulping down air with it. It also could have been from some of the energy eats that I had during the race. At about mile 19 I had slowed down to almost a walk. It was when I went under an under pass and smelt the nasty sewer smell that I started to burp/heave. I got out huge amounts of air that was trapped in my stomach. One spectator off to my left screamed, "What's wrong with that runner," as he pointed at me. I continued to belch like a bear. Surprisingly enough I had tons of energy after the pain in my stomach was gone.

I was able to get back to my normal pace to finish the race. So I finished the race in 3hrs 54 min, 32 seconds.

Crossing the finish line, right.
It took me about an hour after crossing the finish line to walk to the family reunite zone, part distance and fatigue. When I finally got to Alicia, it was great to see her. She had braved the estimated 1.15 million marathon family, friends and fans. Bennett had screamed the entire day, from being confined to sit in a tight spot on the train ride down to being surrounded by loud music and loud strangers. Alicia shed a tear of (joy/relief/exhaustion/insanity/pregnancy. ;) We hugged and I asked her how her 4 hr marathon was? One more tear. :)

Emma was there to first notice the medal around my neck given to everyone that finishes, even 9,560th.
She said, "Dad, I knew you were going to win.

I lost a lot of water weight during the race, to prove my point on my right I pasted an image of me taken before the race pushing a stroller. You might say I lost all my hair too.
The next marathon I run I've got some good ideas to make the post race pics better.

Smile.
We got the heck out of there pretty quick and waited an hour for the next train. We got great seats for such a packed train.

Bennett happy to be going home.
It felt good to have this behind me and be with my little family.

WOW!

I guess blogging is just not one of my strong points. I thought this was worth a post. We are expecting baby #3. We are very excited. The baby is due March 25 which is Emma's Birthday so she is extra excited! I have been feeling pretty good. This pregnancy seems a lot different from the other two but overall good. I find out in 3 weeks what we are having. We all have a hunch that it is going to be a girl but we would be happy with another boy as well. Tomorrow Devin is running the Chicago Marathon so pictures will be posted soon. We are very proud of him so stay tuned.....

Home is Where the Heart Is

It was 142 days since we were last together in Chicago. Man it is good to be back together as a family. It has been good to see all of our friends but no one has invited us over yet....what is going on????????? Here are some pictures from our adventures this summer.

In the distance is the beautiful Mt. Reineir. I was in Federal Way, WA for my first month. It was great and I saw a lot of good surgery.
The next rotation was in Utah where we were lucky enough to be able to stay with Alicia's Parents in Kaysville.

Here is Bennett at the fountains at Gateway Mall in Salt Lake City, UT.

Alicia, Emma, and Bennett
After a short month spent in Utah with the family, and a long month spent working in the VA SLC, it was off to Phoenix, AZ.

Half way between SLC and Phoenix.

Phoenix was hot and long, and it was good to get the heck out of there. This is on my last day at Phoenix. However, I will give a special thanks to the Stauffers for putting up with me for a month in Mesa.
I went from Phoenix, AZ all the way to Tacoma. The great thing about Tacoma was everything. After working a long hard month away from my family. Iwas able to spend a relaxed month with my family up in Tacoma. Alicia and the kids were able to come with because of the exceptional kindness of the Cahan family that I had met while in Federal Way. They put us up in their beautiful home in an above garage apartment completly to ourselves. It was fully furnished and perfect for our little family. They would not except any money for the month and were extremely courteous to any of our needs. They truthfully were a tender mercy from the Lord to be able to be together as a family and have much needed savings for the month on rent.

The family together in the Cahan families apartment.

Seattle, WA Pike's Place Market
After a great month back in Washington it was off to Detroit, MI. Detroit was the final month away from each other. The highlight of Detroit was going to church with Elder Tanner Wahlen.

Cuzins in Detroit, Grand River Branch
We sure are glad to be back together in Chicago. This is our last year here. So if you haven't visited us in Chicago, now's your last chance.

It's Almost Over!!!

I know I haven't posted for a very long time. I have no good reason. But some exciting news!!! In 12 short days I will be heading back to Chicago!!!!!! I can't wait. I never thought I would miss that place so much. After five of the hardest, longest months of my life I will be back living under the same roof as my husband even if it does mean in a tiny apartment. We have also had some very fun times. Visiting Seattle for 2 weeks was soooooo much fun. I adore Seattle. I have pictures but not the camera so I will post them later. I had so much fun in Boise with my sister-in-law Amy!! It was so fun to see Jessica and Tracy and Emma Loved hanging out with her all of her cousins. Then we went to Aberdeen to see the Wahlen's. We had a lot of fun swimming everyday. I am so grateful to all of my family for there help they were amazing and I couldn't have done it without them. Chicago here we come!!!!!

One Down 4 to Go

I know it has been forever since I last posted. I have been so burnt out of blogging and also very busy. We moved out of our duplex in Chicago and Emma, Bennett, and I moved to Utah with my parents in April and we are going to be here until Aug. Devin is doing rotations around the Country. He was in Seattle last month and is now in Utah...YA!!! He will be going from here to Arizona then back to Washington and at last Detroit. It is going to be a long summer apart but hopefully the time will go by fast and We will have some fun along the way. Emma has been enjoying being able to go outside whenever she wants and can't wrap her mind around the fact the she can play outside without me right by her side. Bennett is cruising around here and walking very well now. Devin is learning lots and enjoying different rotations and working soooo hard...thanks babe! and I am enjoying a built in babysitter thanks to my little sister Ellie...thanks Ell!! We are having fun with family and it is nice to be close to them but we do miss all of our friends in Chicago. Here are a few random pictures since we have been here.

GOOD BOOKS ANYONE????

I am in need of some good books!! I love to read but I don't know what I should read next. If you have any good ones let me know!!