Regional Track Meet

For the first time he got to come home prior to a track meet. We learned a lesson- he should have eaten something. The curved back roads gave him a motion sickness headache that then turned into a migraine as the evening started.

Thankfully I messaged prior to arriving and we purchased a kids meal with rootbeer to help him out. He just ate one piece of chicken and had some of the rootbeer and some motrin. There was enough time before he ran that it all set in and he was feeling a little better.

There were quite a few boys running the 4 by 400m race for this Regional Meet. There was really tough competition. I could see how nervous he was as well as his teammates.

I waited all night to see this yawn, it always shows me his head is in the meet and he is ready to go.

I know he was nervous about going down. The previous couple of meets prior to this one he had trouble. He probably could have pushed a little harder, but he just didn't know.

While they didn't win a spot for State and came in last for their heat I was just so proud to see him running. I am excited to see how the summer goes, hoping he can run most days and just really become stronger and be ready for the 2016-2017 Senior Year Cross Country and  Track Seasons.

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District Track Meet High School Day 2

Now this is the boy I know. Less stress, just back in the zone and joking with a team mate

I can still see that he is nervous but he doesn't seem like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. His fellow team mate made it to the 400 m race, which ran again to place for the top 3 from 8. While he didn't make it, it was an honor to watch him run. Gotta be tough to now a couple hours later compete again and we prayed he would have enough endurance to help his fellow team. 

What is different about this race is one of the guys had never run with them before. I know that made them a little nervous. The hand off in this is truly important.

I love how the coach chats with them. They have this, they can do it~

He will run the third leg

Waiting for his team mate to run in, this has to be the longest nearly 2 minutes.. He did amazing. He ran his leg in 51 seconds. His best time for a 400 m. I was filming the race and wanted to get lap four of his team mate. I saw him exit the field a little wobbly. By the time his team mate made it around he was going down. I am thankful that the security at the gate let me go in to be there when he woke back up. I am so grateful for amazing coaches that understand this doesn't happen every time. There is no risk to him physically and that we have no answers as to why it occurs. All doctors have cleared him to run and since he has been back on the track we have seen less episodes. Sometimes I feel like if he got enough mileage in every day that we wouldn't see any episodes. Its almost like his body reboots. I pray over the summer we can continue to eat more and more non processed items. Come up with breakfast and lunch that is completely home made and help him build more muscle and become even stronger. He amazes me. I just can't even know what he truly goes through. I do have trouble with seizure like activity but I can't say that I would want to run and compete knowing that is a risk at the end of each race. I am thankful for his faith in the Lord and that he seeks him for guidance.

Winning Track UIL after being off for two summers and a full school year, felt great! He got his celebratory chocolate shake from Whataburger after his meet. Sure was hard getting up for school Friday morning. What a truly busy week.

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District Track Meet High School Day One

District Track Meet. I could see as he walked around how nervous he was. This is what it leads up to from all season long. Two final races. A 400 today and a 1600 Meter Relay the next day. Having this the day after Choir UIL and not feeling like that went well was pretty tough.

He did this a few times before the race. He just kept praying. He couldn't seem to find his peace.

He led prayer for his fellow teammates. I am so thankful to see this, I love how they support one another.

He ran the 400 m race, there were three heats, he did not get to run with his team mate in his. He scored 53 seconds but it just wasn't good enough. He would not go on to race again the next day for the top 3 spot out of 8. I know he was disappointed.

Concellation was a stop at Ross for new shoes, because he needed some and it would cheer him up. Then a stop at Five Guys and Fries. He was craving them. Told me his body was depleted in potassium. The guy was so awesome. He filled the bag and talked to him about track. 

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Caldwell Track Meet Junior Year

This weeks meet Zekaryah ran the 400 and the mile. He has not run the mile since Freshman year track so he was a little nervous

I love that these young men take time to pray before they run

We always know when he has his mind in the "game/run" He starts yawning. Its funny, but this time I caught in a photo.

He was super frustrated over the starting blocks, its the first year he has used them and they are an issue. He had two of the same foot blocks, he had to run back and grab the right one, then set them up, took off on his practice steps and they slid. It was not a good thing for the start of this race. They need time to practice with them during the week.

He was doing great, but lost speed around the corner, he ended up taking 6th place.

It was amazing to see his team mate pass him up. The hard thing with these meets is that they leave part way through the day and some meets they do not stop for food. Its hard to judge how much food to send, what to send prior to running etc. It makes it hard for him to keep his body balanced. Its been a work in progress since the season is so short. I am curious to see how Senior year will be since we are learning more about his endocrine system and just how to help him have better days with physical activity.

One of the best things was the weather, every other meet had been cold, it was so nice and warm and the sun was amazing for a nice Spring Day/Evening.

Eventually I hope to get a better camera. Trying to get these night shots is difficult.

He started so strong, was way out front, then in the middle, then back towards the front again, pacing is the key but to have been off the mile for nearly 2 years it was tough. He did well coming in 4th place.

The coach was giving him a hard time about needing a wheelbarrow for all his stuff. It was so cold last week that he brought a comforter. It was kind of funny. Seems I need to make a small TShirt quilt maybe.

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Second Track Meet

The second track meet was a little tough only because it collided with the start of Jakob's spring break from college. We went up Thursday night to get him after his 6 pm class but he needed to work Friday morning for Work Study so we had to wait. It was a nice break for us though.

Jakob got off about 12:30 and then we had to rush from Dallas to Tomball to make Zekaryah's meet. I am thankful the running events started after 6 pm. We made it in time for those.

Izzy grabbed him subway for lunch and took it to the school. I was thankful. I wanted him to eat really well before the meet, to ensure good blood sugar before the race. He did so well. He ran the first part of the 400 in 40 seconds, he was so fast~

Just about the other side of the corner on the second lap is when he died out a little, he hadn't run an 800 except for the meet before, they don't practice it after school and he never ran short distance in the past years so this is all new. I think he will do better at the next week. Still 5th place is excellent.

Their team came in 2nd place for the 4 by 4 this time. Again it was so cold once the sun went down. We need extra blankets next time.

It was nice to have Jakob with us, it was the first track meet he has ever attended. School always got in the way when he was at the High School with them or when they were in Junior High. It was nice for him to support his brother and he brought some games for the guys to enjoy.

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Track Season 2016

First Track meet was rough. Zekaryah had been out the week before two days with a stomach bug, so he didn't get much running in and then the week of the meet he was out a few days from giving blood and church. He ran the 800 and the 4 by 4 races.

It was so COLD~~~ He ran so well in the 800, however after the race he collapsed, in that seizure like episode he has. He came to after a couple minutes and then was fine. He ate, felt better and ran the 4 by 4. Their team came in first. The coach said he has never seen anything quite like it or him. I am so thankful he listened to us and let him run. It is scary at times but he knows his body and he had one of his best times, despite the odds.

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Track Season

We have had some unusually cold weather here in Texas. I don't really care for it. I was a little surprised the other morning when we had a pretty good amount of sleet and the weather was 25 degrees out that the kids were running. I think that this has caused our kiddos some issues since they truly are not used to these conditions. Zekaryah has been complaining of major shortness of breath, to the point of some heart pressure and also passing out. He has also been complaining of his ankles, back and one of his legs.

We have been doing some physical therapy for MeKenzei so it has been hard to get Zekaryah into the dr.. Paul finally came home from his business trip to Ohio so I scheduled appointments for both of them, since Mekenzei's PT is right across the hall. I was happy to see the dr was taking this seriously because it didn't feel like it was otherwise. She did a heart reading, and also some oxygen readings. He will start using an inhaler before running each time and also is going into the PT for an adjustment. Will have to see if we progress with some xrays for him as well since that is the next course of action for MeKenzei. I am hoping the inhaler will help him with his oxygen levels and the adjustment to his legs  and back will not only help him feel better but breath better. I think these kiddos pushed too hard during cross country.

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Wordless Wednesday

Four Hours in the Life of our family