Thursday, December 31, 2009

Hard to imagine....

Here comes 2010. The past 10 years have been Huge for me. Huge. I turn 40 next week. One week from tomorrow. Gulp.
So rewind 10 years. Mark gathered all my best friends and threw a big surprise 30th for me. It was fun. I had a 4 1/2 month old baby in my arms and I a husband of 1.5 years... we were just starting out.
Clearly, I can't write about all the events that soaked up the first 10 years of this millennium. They were my 30s. My 30s came in with the year 2000 and are about to be gone. I'm not sure how I feel about that!
Let's see.... my little Cameron was a baby. He grew and grew into a toddler. I worked as Speech-Language Pathologist at the time. When we realized we were expecting our second baby, I left my job. Indefinitely. A decision I have never regretted. Tommy was born in 2001. A few months after 9/11. I remember clutching my stomach as I watched the twin towers fall. We had two boys and our world was full of diapers, and nap times, and sweet baby boy snuggles. Mark took over his Dad's business in 2004. A few months later, little baby Nicholas was born.. Frighteningly early. After a dramatic emergency c-section we were sent to Maine Med for several weeks. As you can see by my pictures and stories, everyone is fine. Little Nick was tough and never looked back once we got home. We will never stop appreciating how fragile life is and how lucky we are that all 3 boys are healthy. (rough start for Cameron too but that was in 1999 and didn't make this decade!)Since then, I have spent my days taking care of these 3 boys with all my energy.

In 2006 I discovered a way to enjoy some personal time. Triathlon!!! I was hooked after my first race. I did that race with sneakers on the bike and with hope that someone would stop to help me with my dropped chain! Ha! But somehow I finished 14th oa and decided to do more. And then, a few weeks later, Crash. The bike went down hard---with me on it. Say goodbye to Season #1! I had surgery 5 months later and started the painfully slow recovery of a torn rotator cuff. A victory in my first race back made all the hard work of rehab well worth it.

Now, triathlon is a major part of our lives. My daily training routine is an understood and accepted activity. My boys have learned so much about healthy living and keeping their bodies moving. I have raced my first Ironman and made it to Kona. All before turning 40. Cool. I just wish it made turning 40 a little easier.

When I think about the last 10 years and realize how big they have been in our lives...I can't imagine what the next 10 will bring. It's a little overwhelming I dare say. Ten years from now, when we get ready for 2020, I will have a 20year old, an 18 y.o. and a 15 y.o!!!!!! I can't even stand that thought. Just forget how old I will be at that time! I plan to fight the aging process every step of the way.

So for now, one day at a time.

I suppose I have my resolutions. However I work off goals all year long so January 1st doesn't really change that for me.

It's been an amazing 10 years....I'm excited and curious to see where the next 10 take me.

9 comments:

Kim said...

yay ange, what a crazy 10 years it has been for you, and closing out your 30s with an amazing triathlon season is one you should be so proud of! happy new year to you and your family - and happy early birthday! here's to a fabulous 2010 being 40!

Anonymous said...

Whew! Awesome and happy new year!

GetBackJoJo said...

Ahh.. It was a great decade!
Congrats on everything you did during this time, Ange!
The next 10 years will be equally good.

Jennifer Harrison said...

FORTY SMORTY BLAH.
Most of these gals hope to be as fast as you are at 40 in their 30s!

2010 in the 40-44 AG will ROCK, I promise!

Let's GOOOOO!

TriGirl Kate O said...

You're gonna be in my AG now. Welcome! I better HTFU so I can at least attempt to keep up.

Running and living said...

What a great recap! I am getting close to turning 40, too, and am working hard to convince myself that age is really just a number! From the pics you post, you look 30sh. You alo have the energy and the enthusiams of someone younger than your actual age. Have a great 2010 and 40s bday!

BreeWee said...

HOT MOMMA! Most HAPPY New Year to you! I hope we end up at one of the same races together this season! ALL THE BEST for a GREAT year in life, love, and sport :)

mjcaron said...

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday! Life is like a box of chocolates. You know the rest. :)

Swimming for ME said...

Wait just look at that picture of you at the finish line with your lei around your neck and tell me again that doing Kona has not made turning 40 any easier!.... You are awesome! Happy Birthday girl!