TRI THIS ON FOR SIZE!

Standing in line at the Port-o-Potty before the race, the feeling in my stomach was a cross between wanting to throw up and wanting to cry. I did neither until after the race. I set my stuff up to the best of my inexperienced ability and anxiously paced the transition zone making small adjustments. My number was written on my arm, my category and age on my calves and number plate pinned to my running shorts. 225 FYI my lucky numbers are 7 & 9. (2+2+5= 9.... hello fate!)



The swim sucked for the first 450 yards. I couldn't catch my breath, my arms felt like lead and I thought I was going to sink like a rock. I kept telling myself "you can't stop! Everyone is watching YOU, just keep going long and strong!" By the time I rounded the second buoy I found my pace, felt great and started to make my move past other swimmers into the finish. Struggled with the strap on the wetsuit a little but transitioned to the bike in under 1:30 after a 16 min swim.



Unfortunately I hadn't trained the bike because I don't love it as much as running and I wasn't scared to death of it like I was the swim. I suffered for the first 5 miles. People were passing me left and right when finally my energy shot of MonaVie kicked in and I rocked the climb. Stayed in the saddle and cranked it to gain a fair place and finished the bike in the big ring. Dismounted the bike, transition 2 went well under 40 sec. Other than completely numb legs for the first mile, the run went better than I could have hoped. In fact, I wish I would have gone a little harder. I didn't realize how good I would feel and how short the run felt and I saved a little too much in the reserve. But I finished strong and have never felt such a sense of accomplishment in my entire life. I wept with joy.


THANK YOU FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING MY DREAMS.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE THAT GIRL...#4

IT'S TIME TO TRI.
Two years ago when I weighed over 200 lbs, I never thought I'd ever participate in a sporting event for the rest of my life. I figured I was just destined to be a fat girl for the remainder of my life. I figured that everybody has their "moment" and that mine had passed early during collegiate tennis. After really HARD work emotionally and physically I am at my newest "moment." I am attempting my first triathlon. Last year I decided to do hard things, push myself physically, and face scary stuff with courage. I nervously lined up at my first 5K running race and 42 minutes later I crossed my first finish line and fell in love with running. I followed up with 2 10K races and decided I needed to do something even harder.
I am terrified of open water. When I do enter the water to wakeboard I lay flat on my back as to avoid putting any body part below the surface. I hate fish, I hate the smell of them, I hate the deep dark water and the stuff floating below. I usually hyperventilate for the first few minutes of entering a lake and then I'm OK as long as I don't fall and when I do, I use the wakeboard as a body board to float on top of until the boat comes to my rescue. So the idea of actually entering a triathlon by choice is not something I ever imagined doing.
Here it is... tomorrow is the day I am going to do something hard, I am going to face my fear with courage, and I'm going to challenge my body. I haven't been training as much as I'd like to have because I've been busy preparing for my next BIG challenge of motherhood. I may cross the finish line dead last (I finished my first 10 K second to last) but I don't care about results. I care about finishing the race without stopping, walking, or dying. If I can willingly swim 1/2 mile in a lake... I can survive infertility and adoption.
I'D NEVER THOUGHT I'D WILLINGLY SWIM 1/2 MILE IN A LAKE UNLESS I WAS DROWNING or BE ABLE TO SAY "I'M A TRIATHLETE."
(I know I'm not a triathlete just because I finished one race, but I already know I'm going to love it... because I've loved training for it)
Sday

SIMPLE BEGINNINGS

Three weeks until the due date of our birthmother and we're trying our best be prepare ourselves to be parents. We've heard the "you'll never be ready" speech, but I can't help but try to be as ready as possible. The house has been cleaned from top to bottom (and will probably be cleaned again if the baby isn't born for 3 more weeks), all drawers and cupboards have been organized, and the nursery has been started. If you know me at all, you would know that I am a planner. I would love to say that the nursery is ready down to the last detail but considering the circumstances, it's just a simple beginning. For now, we're mostly ready for the trip to California.



I realized today that regardless of what happens in California my life is going to change in a major way in just 19 days. Honestly, I'm scared. I wish I could put it into more poetic words but I'm not a great writer. Kevin and I have set out on this adventure knowing full well that it could result in 1 of 2 polar opposite scenarios. Our greatest dreams as a couple could come to reality and we could have the chance to finally be parents together. We could be given a gift that we'll cherish forever. Or, one more time our hopes will be dashed and we could fall to the darkest place in our lives. We know that we have the support of friends and family regardless of the outcome, but to face the final countdown to the moments that could change everything is nerve wracking. If things don't work out, life will go on and we'll still be "Shevin." I'm happy in my life today, I'm in a great place and I will remember that. We love each other very much and our life is very blessed and we are happy. But in 19 days our life could change.
Am I ready?
Yes. I can do this. I have strength, Kevin, and God.

BELLY PIC! NOT BAD FOR BEING DUE IN 4 WEEKS!

ADOPTION DUE DATE: July 10, 2009
PLACE: California
WHO: Baby girl
That's it, the secret is out! I can't take it anymore! You may all think I'm crazy for posting about this when so many things could still change. However, I'm willing to take the risks because the end of the story could be amazing.
We began emailing with a wonderfully selfless birthmother from California through LDS Family Services over the weekend of the St. George MTB race. At that point, we found out that we were 1 of 3 possible couples that she was considering to place her baby with. Over the next few weeks and months we continued to answer her questions through email and build a relationship. On April 8th Kevin got a phone call from our caseworker telling us that we'd been tentatively chosen but she wanted to meet us. Our hearts and minds were racing as we prepared for our trip to Switzerland on the 17th and then to meet with the birth parents as soon as we got home. The face to face meeting was the day before Mother's Day and it was perfect, scary but perfect. I ironed Kevin's shirt 2 times and worried about my chipped toenails and every other un-important detail. When we got home we've started making preparations, I'm cleaning every square inch of the house with a toothbrush and vacuuming the vacuum. Lots of prayers, fasting, and blessings have been a part of this process and we have great faith that God will place this baby girl with the family that he feels will be best for her life. California law allows birth parents 10 days after relinquishing their rights to recall their right to parent the child. So we will be staying with the baby for a few weeks in California until the court says we can cross state lines and bring her home. Her birth parents are amazing, very loving and selfless to consider what's best for their baby's life. We are so excited to share this experience with family and friends and to dream about finally becoming parents. It doesn't seem real most of the time but the days are passing quickly as we try our best to prepare for this experience.... come what may and have faith in the Lord.

KEVIN LOOKS GOOD IN GOLD at the Worlds toughest advertising competition

I married the most humble man I know. You ask him about the results of a bike race he did well in and you get a response similar to, "Oh, it was fun race." You ask him about why he's in Washington D.C. this weekend and you heard, "Oh, it's for work." Well I'm WAY less humble than him and I love to put him up on the pedestal he deserves to stand high on and announce to the world how fabulous he is.

Kevin is in D.C because he won a GOLD MEDAL for his design skills at this advertising event." The World's Largest Advertising Competition
With over 60,000 entries annually, the ADDY® Awards are the world's largest and arguably toughest advertising competition. The ADDY® Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world. The American Advertising Federation, a not-for-profit industry association conducts the ADDY® Awards through its 200 member advertising clubs and 15 districts. It is the only creative awards program administered by the advertising industry for the industry."

I'm so proud of you Kevin! You have amazing talent at everything from bike racing to design. I love you and win or lose, gold or coal, YOU ARE MY FAVORITE!

NO YOU'RE NOT SEEING DOUBLE VISION

Once upon a time there were 2 Kevin and Shannon's. They were best of friends. They shared many memories, laughter, tears and doorbell ditching together. Until one day, one of the Kevin and Shannon's decided to move all the way across the country to Maryland. Though nothing in this world could keep the Kevin"s apart or the Shannon's apart. This weekend Kevin Day has been given the honor to fly out to Washington D.C for his talent that won a National Advertising Award. Meanwhile, Shannon from the East coast is in Utah for a baby shower! So once again the stars have aligned and the Kevin's and the Shannon's are back together again. The only thing better would be if they were all together spending the summer at Deep Creek Lake. To be continued...

NO FLASHING HERE

Thanks to Biker's Edge in Kaysville, I'm hooked up with the Zoot Flash Wetsuit for the triathlon. Just trying the suit on was enough effort that I broke out into a sweat. I think I'm more afraid to actually sport the suit in public than to do the event. Today I'm picking up my training swim suit and buoy as well as picking up a new pair of runners, all thanks to my unspent christmas gift cards to Sports Authority. Let's pray that I survive this triathlon. For personal reasons that will be explained later, my training has been pitiful and very minimal. However, I committed to do it and I won't let anything stop me.