Tinsley May Martin
9lbs 5oz
21 inches long
May 2, 2012 @ 4:53pm
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Lump
"So I go to the doctor, and he did the bio... the b... the... the bios... the... b... the "bobopsy." Inside the lump he found teeth and a spinal cord. Yes. Inside the lump was my twin." - My Big Fat Greek Wedding
I am so behind on blogging that I find it just pointless to even go back to where I left off. So I figured I would try to move forward and do better. :) I have been thinking a lot about trials lately and why we get the ones we do, and why it seems like sometimes others don't get any at all. Chris and I feel like we had a calm from the storms of life for awhile and then I found a lump in my left breast. I don't think I would have thought anything of it, except that my Mom had breast cancer 2 years ago. I decided to have my high risk doctor take a look at it and go from there. She was concerned and sent me to a breast center to have to checked out. My lump is the size of a walnut and immovable. The specialist ordered me to have an ultrasound and biopsy done a few days later. When the ultrasound was done the mass was huge! I tried to make a joke to the technician "It isn't the size of a pea is it?" to which she seriously said "No, it's not." I began to worry because she didn't say anything but told me that the doctor would come into talk to me about it. When the doctor came in to do the biopsy he said he thought it looked like a fibroid cyst, but the results would let us know for sure. After a PAINFUL biopsy...I went home feeling at peace about everything, and knew that no matter what happened our family would be okay. I felt strongly that I wasn't alone while having my procedure done, and that the Lord was with me.
After a LONG weekend, I finally got the call that the results were clear. My heart was filled with gratitude to my family for their fasting and prayers and to a loving Heavenly Father who answered my prayers. I don't know what the future holds, having a big history of breast cancer in my family I have almost come to grips with the fact that I may get it...eventually. No matter what happens I know that we can get through anything if we remain faithful and roll with the punches. There were times during this experience of pure fear and sadness, but I kept telling myself that we will be okay no matter what happens.
"Come what may, and love it."
I am so behind on blogging that I find it just pointless to even go back to where I left off. So I figured I would try to move forward and do better. :) I have been thinking a lot about trials lately and why we get the ones we do, and why it seems like sometimes others don't get any at all. Chris and I feel like we had a calm from the storms of life for awhile and then I found a lump in my left breast. I don't think I would have thought anything of it, except that my Mom had breast cancer 2 years ago. I decided to have my high risk doctor take a look at it and go from there. She was concerned and sent me to a breast center to have to checked out. My lump is the size of a walnut and immovable. The specialist ordered me to have an ultrasound and biopsy done a few days later. When the ultrasound was done the mass was huge! I tried to make a joke to the technician "It isn't the size of a pea is it?" to which she seriously said "No, it's not." I began to worry because she didn't say anything but told me that the doctor would come into talk to me about it. When the doctor came in to do the biopsy he said he thought it looked like a fibroid cyst, but the results would let us know for sure. After a PAINFUL biopsy...I went home feeling at peace about everything, and knew that no matter what happened our family would be okay. I felt strongly that I wasn't alone while having my procedure done, and that the Lord was with me.
After a LONG weekend, I finally got the call that the results were clear. My heart was filled with gratitude to my family for their fasting and prayers and to a loving Heavenly Father who answered my prayers. I don't know what the future holds, having a big history of breast cancer in my family I have almost come to grips with the fact that I may get it...eventually. No matter what happens I know that we can get through anything if we remain faithful and roll with the punches. There were times during this experience of pure fear and sadness, but I kept telling myself that we will be okay no matter what happens.
"Come what may, and love it."
Friday, December 2, 2011
Arista-isms
This little girl cracks me up. I am so behind on blogging, but I just had to share this. Tonight Arista kept saying "My tummy". When I asked her what was wrong with it, she said there was a baby in it. She kept saying "Baby in my tummy." When Chris asked her what her baby's name was she said "Brylie". SOOOOO cute! She has never said my name before, and now the little baby in her tummy shares my name. She is so stinkin' cute! Now she is pointing to Daddy's baby in his tummy.
Arista has just learned how to say "I love you" and says it all the time.
Grandma Mary got her some big girl panties for her birthday and she carries them around everywhere! They had to go to the grocery store and the library with us.
She calls The Little Mermaid "Lema" and Rapunzel "Punny"
She loves to tell us to "move" and everything is "mine".
Every cat's name is "Chewby".
Everything is the color "buh-yellow".
She called Vader "Via".
She knows the entire song of "Somewhere over the rainbow", "Popcorn Popping", "I see the moon" and "Rock A Bye".
Arista wants to watch "Winnie the Pooh" DAILY and sings all the songs.
She has to sleep with her princess shoes, baby Ashley, and a teacup and spoon.
Everyone poops except for her, and she loves to tell you all the people who do.
Dancing to music is Arista's favorite thing to do.
Man has she grown up fast. :(
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
VHTRC Women's Half Marathon
After ten weeks of training I finally participated in my first ever half marathon. 4days prior to the race the weather was horrible with flooding rains, thunder, lightning, and not a chance of letting up for the race. Fortunately a miracle accrued and the rain stopped! The main road to the race was closed due to flooding, but that didn't stop us from making it to the park. Chad and Sue came over at 7am to watch Arista while Chris drove me to the park. We stopped at McDonald's for some oatmeal, and then reached Fountain Head State Park about 30 minutes prior to the race. After choking down energy beans, drinking a gallon of water, and doing some light stretching, it was time to get ready to start.
I decided the best strategy would be to stay in the middle of the pack to start, since it was all trail running. I didn't want to be stuck behind someone really slow. Fortunately we all spaced out pretty well after we made it to the "Do Loop" and passing was easy. First obnoxious thing to go wrong, I had to go to the bathroom. There were times when I seriously considered going behind a tree. Secondly, I couldn't get my ipod to turn on at all, so I kept myself entertained by thinking, practising kegels(NEVER drink too much water before a race) singing primary songs, and repeating over and over and over "This is the trail that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends."
The "Do Loop" was HARD. I had run on the "Do Loop" twice before, but somehow never did the entire thing. I think we read the map wrong. The loop felt like it went on forever and ever. Luckily they had a water station right when we got out of there.
After the famous loop we headed on a trail back to where we started, and then we entered the trail for the last 5 miles. Right as I went into the trail the leader was heading out. It was a little disheartening to know that I still had 5 miles to go and she was done, however it was nice knowing I was on the final stretch. The last 5miles were tough tough tough. I pulled a groin muscle, which was very painful and didn't help since there were a lot of steep hills covered in rocky mud. At times it took all my will power not to just stop. There were a few times when I would trip over a branch or rock, but luckily it was smooth sailing.
When I finally reached the turnaround point I got a burst of energy, and just wanted to finish. I grabbed some water and a handful of M&M's(mistake) and took off running. I think the last few miles were the longest of the entire race, and I just kept thinking about how much I hated trail running, and swore to myself I would never run one again. Finally, finally, finally, I made it out. I first saw Chad and Arista sitting on the grass waving, and then Chris with the camera.
I did it! I made it! The first thing I did was kiss Chris then walked straight to the bathroom. Then we took some photos. Oh I looked so lovely and smelled just like the great outdoors.
I was so proud of myself and relieved that I finished. I am so grateful for Chris' parents and Chris and Arista coming to cheer me on at the end. It meant so much to me that they were all so supportive. I have learned a few things about myself and things for future races. 1. I am much stronger than I think. 2. Training is important, and I am grateful I stuck with it. 3. NEVER drink too much water before a race. 4. Test Ipod before a race. 5. No matter how many people tell you it will be hard, or you can't do it, you can, and you did!
Happy trails to you!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Born To Run
I read this little article this morning, and I felt like I could relate so well with it. It's sad how negative our thoughts about ourselves can be. This is just what I needed to start my day.
BORN. TO. RUN.
By Laurel Christensen
August 22, 2011
I walked into the New Balance store feeling just a little out of place. I knew I wanted to be a runner but I also knew I wasn’t. And I knew anyone looking at me could tell that I wasn’t.
And when the sales guy told me to put on a pair and run across the little mat on the floor (you know the little contraption that tells them what shoes might be best for you?), I felt awkward and silly.
But his words stopped me (okay, the fact that I felt silly pretending to run might have stopped me too): “You know, I think you were born to be a runner.”
Now, sure, maybe he says that to everyone to get them to buy the $138 cute running shoes (yes, they really were but don’t judge me. I had a gift card that needed to be used). But, honestly, when he said it, something inside me felt like I was waking up.
And I found myself thinking about that a lot over the course of the next few weeks.
And then I had to ask myself, “Laurel, what if you were? What if you really were born to be a runner? And what if you’ve just never done what it would take to find that out?”
Thoughts like that haunt me sometimes.
But this isn't about those other thoughts.
It's about this one.
And, I'm not going to lie…
Changing my life pattern...changing my perception of myself...reprogramming my brain to believe something differently about myself...well, it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done. And it has been a great irony for me because I truly believe that "You Are What You Believe" and I also truly believe it is possible to change. I really do. For everyone else.
But THIS kind of change? For me?
I mean, you're talking about a girl who spent way too much of her life with negative thoughts about herself, with a really messed up relationship with food, who couldn't conceive that she would ever be "normal". (Am I saying all that out loud? Yep, I sure am.)
But, I knew in some very deep place inside me that I wasn’t entirely living as the girl I was born to be. And for some reason, I knew the sales guy was right. I really did believe I was born to run.
And I came to know God believed it too.
One of the greatest things I have learned on this journey is that I can’t experience change of any kind without Him.
And since He created me, I knew He could confirm to me who I was born to be.
And He did. He helped me believe and then know I was, in fact, born to do this.
Turns out, the sales guy was right. I am born to run.
BORN. TO. RUN.
By Laurel Christensen
August 22, 2011
I walked into the New Balance store feeling just a little out of place. I knew I wanted to be a runner but I also knew I wasn’t. And I knew anyone looking at me could tell that I wasn’t.
And when the sales guy told me to put on a pair and run across the little mat on the floor (you know the little contraption that tells them what shoes might be best for you?), I felt awkward and silly.
But his words stopped me (okay, the fact that I felt silly pretending to run might have stopped me too): “You know, I think you were born to be a runner.”
Now, sure, maybe he says that to everyone to get them to buy the $138 cute running shoes (yes, they really were but don’t judge me. I had a gift card that needed to be used). But, honestly, when he said it, something inside me felt like I was waking up.
And I found myself thinking about that a lot over the course of the next few weeks.
And then I had to ask myself, “Laurel, what if you were? What if you really were born to be a runner? And what if you’ve just never done what it would take to find that out?”
Thoughts like that haunt me sometimes.
But this isn't about those other thoughts.
It's about this one.
And, I'm not going to lie…
Changing my life pattern...changing my perception of myself...reprogramming my brain to believe something differently about myself...well, it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done. And it has been a great irony for me because I truly believe that "You Are What You Believe" and I also truly believe it is possible to change. I really do. For everyone else.
But THIS kind of change? For me?
I mean, you're talking about a girl who spent way too much of her life with negative thoughts about herself, with a really messed up relationship with food, who couldn't conceive that she would ever be "normal". (Am I saying all that out loud? Yep, I sure am.)
But, I knew in some very deep place inside me that I wasn’t entirely living as the girl I was born to be. And for some reason, I knew the sales guy was right. I really did believe I was born to run.
And I came to know God believed it too.
One of the greatest things I have learned on this journey is that I can’t experience change of any kind without Him.
And since He created me, I knew He could confirm to me who I was born to be.
And He did. He helped me believe and then know I was, in fact, born to do this.
Turns out, the sales guy was right. I am born to run.
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