Just Starting Out!

I'm really excited to be starting this blog so I can share my experiences as a single mom of kids with special needs, as well as networking with other runners who embrace charitable causes. Maybe I'll even inspire some donations for Autism Speaks, a terrific organization for parents, kids and the larger scientific community that focuses on helping families to find the best services and therapy for their kids. They're also funding research into the causes and treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder, an increasing problem, especially in developed countries. Here's the link so you can read more about them if you want: http://www.autismspeaks.org/

We recently got back from a trip to California to see my dad, Dr. Thomas F. Wales, and my sister, brother and old friends. I have been in Oregon for so long that I really do consider myself to be a native Oregonian, webbed feet and all, but it was very nice to get to experience California sunshine, beaches and delicious ocean breezes once again! I haven't seen Dad since Mom's funeral 3 years ago--it's been tough to get the money for a trip together--and he was very surprised by how different I looked compared with 2007! Sometimes I forget how much I've changed, especially since most of my work colleagues only know Fit Heather.

Nate and Asher, my two sons with ASD, had a bit of trouble with the change in routine occasioned by our week-long vacation, but most of the wrinkles could be smoothed out with a bit of quiet talking and reassurance... They all seemed to rally when we went to Disneyland--Nate especially went NUTS for Space Mountain and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rides! It was great to see them enjoying themselves.

On our final day of vacation, we went to Hangar 18, an indoor-climbing gym, with my sister's church group. Unfortunately, one of autism's most common traits is a lack of danger awareness, and while I was busy filling out the liability forms and watching my youngest, Asher, hurtle around like a little racehorse, Nate snuck to the back of the building and attempted to climb the wall without helmet, safety gear, or anything at all.

No one saw the accident, but from what I could gather from Nate, he climbed up, slid down, and then fell the rest of the way, landing on his right foot and breaking it in two places. Luckily, my sis knew where the nearest hospital was, so we were treated to excellent, speedy care at the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, CA. I think it kind of helped that as a nurse, I knew the lingo and the plan of care, and THEY knew that I knew--so Nate was treated and streeted with very little fuss.

He's been to see the orthopedist and the second set of X-rays showed a small gap between the metatarsals that shouldn't be there, but we're going to follow up in two weeks to see if surgery will be necessary after all. Hopefully Nate will be able to get away with a mere 6-8 weeks in a walking cast--though he is forbidden from putting any weight on the foot for at least 3 weeks. I would hate for him to have to suffer through surgery!

All 3 boys were real troopers on the drive back from LA to Portland. We stopped in Red Bluff, CA, overnight, and made it back home by 1pm the next day. All in all, a very eventful trip! Here's a picture of the climbing gym:

And here's Nate with his temporary cast, resting on my sister's couch:

 Now a short blurb about my running (yes, I know you are all cheering!):

I downloaded a training schedule from Runner's World using their SmartCoach feature and I am eager to do my 7-miler today. I use MapMyRun.com to figure routes and mileage--aside from the iPhone ads, it's a great resource for any runner, especially if you don't want to wear a big old clunky Garmin GPS on your wrist!

I have signed up for the Foot Traffic Flat Half-Marathon on July 4th, and of course, the biggie is going to be the 2010 Portland Marathon on October 10th. That, I am running to raise funds for Autism Speaks, and to honor my mom, Jo Wales, who ran her own marathon at the age of 42 in Palos Verdes, CA, just to see if she could do it!

Mom's death from cancer in May of 2007 was a horrible blow--she was my support and my confidante when the stress and strain of coping with the responsibilities of my life and household just got to be too much. So that's why I am running, folks! It's a great stress-reliever, a chance to listen to my tunes, and a way I can actually help others. Yay! 'Bye for now, all.