Oh, my. This summer is blazing by very quickly. I spent some time today really cleaning the house. Picked up my bedroom, did some laundry, vacuumed, put laundry away, had the kids clean their bedroom. I feel like it was a very productive day.
I have been trying to run at least twice a week (really I aim for three times, but am happy with two). I am moving into the last third of a training program on my phone. It's running punctuated by some sprinting. I like it because it's laid out so specifically. Every segment is announced as I'm running, so I know exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.
The other night, though, I had a rough go of things. It was more humid than it's been for most of the summer. I have a water belt but it doesn't fit me yet. It fit me at one time but now it doesn't. I refuse to get rid of it because I'm hopeful that by next summer it will fit me.
Meanwhile, I have been running without water. It's not ideal, even on a cool day. On a humid day where the sun is blazing, it's really quite dangerous.
I tend to run in the evening, around 6, after Brian gets home from work. On Wednesdays I go out at about 7:30. Sometimes, if I'm very ambitious, I go on a Sunday night, usually a bit earlier. I don't like to eat a lot before I go but that gets tricky, too.
I am at a point where I need new shoes. I am planning on making a stop at The Running Depot in downtown Crystal Lake. I have wide feet and typically wear New Balance stability shoes, owing to the orthotics I wear to correct pronation. I haven't changed my brand of shoe in a few years and I think it's time to get reevaluated. The problem is of course the finances. I spend more money on my running shoes than I spend on clothes and shoes combined for a year. And I buy at least 4-5 pairs a year. In fact, I've not bought a pair of shoes (new or otherwise) aside from running shoes for at least 3 years. I'm actually quite proud of that, owing to the fact that I have several pairs of pretty nice shoes in my closet. Maybe they're in style, maybe they're not. It used to be quite an addiction for me and so I'm glad I've been able to quit it.
I see buying high-quality running shoes as a worthy investment. I spend a lot of time on my feet, even when I'm not running. I need the extra support in general, but you add in my burgeoning back problems and I need them even more. I have some things in the pipeline that should enable me to buy a new pair of shoes before mid-August. I'm a little excited about that, honestly.
Meanwhile, Jeremy's birthday is upon us. Last year we weren't able to give him any kind of party. We just didn't have the budget for it. He told us he wanted a party at Monkey Joe's. We were determined to do just that for him this year.
Then a funny thing happened. Monkey Joe's closed and Jeremy decided he wanted a party at our house. That, in my opinion, is a double jackpot. Parties at Monkey Joe's cost $150-200 easy. I can produce a very nice party at our house for a fraction of that cost. Second, I liked Monkey Joe's okay but there were limits to how many kids you could invite. That's always a tricky thing. Now, we can invite everyone he wants (I'm sure some won't be able to make it) and not have to worry about the extra cost.
I've already decided we are getting pizzas from Little Caesar's. I personally can't stand them and think they taste like crap. The kids, though, don't have quite as discerning palates as I. It's really the $5 price that I like the best. Throw in some snacks, a homemade cake, juice boxes and decorations and I'd say we'll spend no more than $75. Phew!!
Jeremy has been a handful at times this summer. It has been tough to manage the emotions I know got managed by his teachers over the school year. The bright spot has been that he's been invited to 3 different birthday parties. It makes me happy because it reminds me that though he drives me nuts, he has some friends. He has kids in his life who are willing to look past the quirks and tics and see that he's a good kid. He had a meltdown the other day at a play date. There were about 10 kids and they were picking teams. He was upset not because he didn't get picked but because he and his sister (his best friend, according to him) weren't put on the same team.
It's hard sometimes to separate the autism from Jeremy. It seems like they are inexorably enmeshed in one another. I have to remember that he doesn't get embarrassed about his behavior the way I do. I won't apologize and I don't feel ashamed about that. It's tough to admit but it's the truth. I get embarrassed when he flings himself down on the ground, screams or in other ways makes a scene.
Oddly enough, he doesn't.
I prayed all summer last year that God would send kids into his life that would be good to him. I have seen a few kids treat Jeremy as inferior. For the most part, though, I have seen kids embrace him and welcome him into their lives. It helps me to remember that God has his hand on Jeremy. I picked his name before we ever got pregnant. I found out later that it means "God will exalt."
And really, He has.
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