7 weeks post c section: Starting to Move Again:)

Its been 7 weeks post c section and the birth of my second child, our baby girl, Aiste. Winter has come, left and returned to Vernon. We have been up the mountain (Sovereign Lakes and Silverstar Mountain resort) cross country skiing the last 3 weekends and that has been great. I have had Aiste on my front in the Bjorn and Andrew has been pulling Tav in the sled. We have both been skate skiing. With me slowly increasing my strength and endurance and Andrew's added drag we are a fairly good match in our speeds at the moment. I love cross skiing as we can enjoy it as a family together, its a great workout and an effective cross training activity for SUP and all summer sports in fact. We have been also getting Tav on his skis each week and his development and stoke is insane.


I have also started re-introducing my body to running but its slow. I still have to throw in some walking when it starts to feel uncomfortable but each day it feels a little better. I push the double chariot and luckily both kids fall asleep. Its what Tav's been doing since he was born and now Aiste is getting used to it. I am also lucky that they both like being in there together... it is rather cramped for space, I have Aiste in the baby sling and Tav in the regular seat. I hope the chariot naps continue as it gets us all out int he fresh air and I get some exercise:)


I have been out for my first SUP this weekend. It was short, calm, and cruisy. It was so nice to get on the water and although cold a beauty time of year as the lake is silent and peaceful. I look forward to slowly increasing my intensity and power and start training properly for some races in 2018:)


At home: at night, or if both kids happen to be sleeping at the same time in the day, I started doing some strength work. Nothing sweaty yet just easy bodyweight exercises, some TRX, and band work. It's been short and sweet but again just a reintroduction as I slowly increase both intensity and time when it allows.

In general I have been feeling pretty good. Pretty hungry all the time and mildly permanently tired but oh so happy. Andrew and I work together with the kids and it makes it manageable and fun.

Looking forward to the ever changing adventures

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!
lina

On The Road to Recovery

Aiste has been a dream. My recovery tough at the beginning but I am back on track:)...

For a very active person the last 4 weeks have been mentally so tough. All I want to be able to do is pick up my toddler, play with him, play outside ie SUP, bike, ski, run etc and move freely without pain.... :) I am getting closer to my wish now but its been a mental battle. Its interesting as most people tell me to enjoy this time to relax and be with my newborn and put my feet up. The funny thing is for me relaxing is going for a run, a bike, a SUP, a ski, a gym workout, a swim,... or whatever other activity there is to do. They are my releases:) HA... I have tried to engage in more baking, I have been wanting to pick up another hobby but my heart just isnt into it like outdoor pursuits are...

I have been trying to just enjoy each precious day and not worry about things but as I like to get after it, I am thinking about 2018, my athletic goals, my calendar, the adventures I would like to have with my family etc.... haha. I can't stop planning for these things. I am so excited to do some adventuring with the family!!!!

My thoughts have been all over the map. Some days I do enjoy the fact I don't need to go train, and just focus on my recovery and my beautiful family and making sure they are happy, fed, healthy:) and then my thoughts swirl to my expectations of myself as an athlete, my athletic goals, my athletic career, etc etc. and then even further thinking of my teaching career and what other schooling I should think about doing to further that side of my life.

What is the most important is to be present and enjoy my kiddos who already are growing up way too fast... we now have a 22.5 month old and a 1 month old... craziness. I do think it is healthy to plan and create goals for all aspects of life.. goals are what fuel and drive us to keep pursuing our passions and living life to our fullest. Now, with two small children its going to be even more important to have a plan in order to accomplish different goals. I look forward to the challenge

Live, Love, Laugh,..DREAM!
lina

She arrived and our lives are forever changed....AGAIN:)

On Oct. 17th Aiste Jean Dye was born at 10:07am at 7lbs 1oz via C-Section. She killed it, nailed her tests and even nursed while they were sewing me up. A superstar already:)



 
We went for the surprise gender option.  I truly had no idea what we would have but the morning of my surgery we had a small delay and as we were waiting a perfect rainbow appeared and I had a feeling right then it would be a girl.

Post c section combined with new baby is not my favorite week in the world. Haha... I had some major ups and downs... the combo of not being able to move, breast getting majorly engorged, not being able to deal with first child, postpartum hormones, etc etc... it was not easy for anybody.

Luckily, Andrew is a true superstar, must have changed over 20 diapers a day, gotten up for both children in the night and had to deal with helping me move and survive.....

Grandma came over from England... not sure what we would have done without her.... family is so important and amazing.

Friends and community are pretty amazing as well. We had people drop by with food and gifts and just provide good conversations. We live in a pretty amazing little nook and are surrounded by some truly special people. THANK You beautiful souls:)

So we made it through week one. Aiste is excelling past her benchmarks and I am slowly healing... The weather has been amazing and the wind has been pumping so I have been dying inside not being able to get out for some downwinds on my SUP or mtn bike the trails in the beautiful changing forest... BUT I do have a precious beautiful family so I am not really complaining.... just surface complaining:)

Now, its all about a smooth recovery with tons of baby steps and figuring out life with a new born and a toddler:)

life truly is one amazing adventure...

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!
lina

Excited/Nervous: Chaos in our household coming SOON!

from 13 days ago.....

I have officially started my mat leave and I have 13 days or less until "shrimp 2" comes out. I am ready physically to not be pregnant anymore... The last month is not my favorite... uncomfortable sleeps, and awkward moving around is not ideal for someone who loves to be active all the time. I also LOVE FALL for outdoor adventures especially mtn biking and trail running....

I am a very lucky pregnant person in that I am still able to be physically active enough to stay sane. I bike almost everyday with the chariot for Tav's naps... I am able to bike the wide trails off road in the park and on good days I choose the hilly routes and on tired days I choose the less hilly ones... so that gives me a little bit of a feeling of what its like out in the trails. I also walk a lot to the park with Tav, I try to keep him outside and he loves it and I love it so win win there... I am still getting out on the SUP but a little less than in the summer as we don't head to the lake everyday anymore.... in the summer it was a sure fact we would walk down to the beach and most of the time i would bring my inflatable SUP as well. The lake is super calm and quiet which is great for those peaceful flow state non thinking paddles. Also, I don't want to fall anymore. The combo of cold water and having a tough time getting back on is not so appealing at this time:)

I have been getting out do some hikes but they usually leave me more tired and with swollen feet nowadays but when its beautiful out and i get a chance to head in the mountains I can never say NO so I go and suffer a little afterwards but to me its always worth it:)

With some BIG SUP races happening in the last few months it has fueled my stoke to get back into it. I will be forever changed mentally since being a mother and especially a mother of such young kids but I am not done and I can feel the fire burning inside of me.... this is exciting stuff but a logistical nightmare to wrap my head around:) hahaha.

TODAY:

I had one last chariot bike ride with Tav before the big day. Tomorrow is the day: Oct 17th 2017. C section again... Totally excited and ready but pretty nervous as well. Its going to be tough for the first few weeks, not being to lift Tav or be active but I know it won't last forever. I am so excited to meet this little creature that has been living and growing inside of me...hahaha. We are ready for the new adventure ahead of us as we grow to become a family of 4. WOOHOO! Thank you all for the support and the love and we are looking forward to sharing our news when we can:)

live, love, laugh,..DREAM!
lina

Tired, Uncomfortable, Can't Sleep, Terrified, Thrilled, PREGNANT:)

(written a week ago...) I know I am pretty lucky thus far with both my pregnancies. I have been able to do so much despite also creating a new being inside of me. The past week I think my body is finally telling me to slow down and enjoy the last 7 weeks... I have been tired, and dont even feel anxious or annoyed that I didn't get to do some lina style exercise some days... Don't get me wrong I am still active but have had to tone it down because I just am not feeling it.

Sleeping is getting uncomfortable and with lack of a good nights rest as you can imagine the rest of the day just doesn't go as smoothly which creates a nice a domino affect throughout the week.... To top it all off its back to school which means back to teaching for me. All fun and great but I am at a new school teaching a new subject so with that comes lots of planning and figuring out.

Tav is also just getting busier as he discovers what he can do... like climbing things he shouldn't, running away, jumping off things a little too high or awkward for his little body....hahaha... hectic times for sure.

I do love it... I love it all.

I also love moments like today where I got to play a small part in an amazing camp developed by Brad Swanson at Kalastar. One of the perks of being a world champion is you get invited to some pretty amazing things and this was one of them... the coolest part.. it is right here in Coldstream, BC. Josh Dueck and Mike Shaw both admirable human beings that have had some tough luck but have come out stronger and wiser and are able to share and deliver some powerful messages to others. I love this stuff:)

(now)
First week of school is in the bag. I do love being a teacher...phew (thats a relief). I am tired but am feeling surprisingly better than last week so have been able to bike to work and get out on the SUP a little. The smoke has returned and the water temp is quickly descending but we are still getting out on and in the water and enjoying some quiet beach time...

Pretty stoked that I got out and tried some single track mtn biking despite being 33 weeks pregnant.. I think riding with the chariot every day to nap Tav has really helped me stay stronger than I think I am. Its deceiving when you are bulging out and bloated... 24 hours a day...

I am ready for the smoke to leave and I am ready to see who this creature that has been growing  inside of me turns out to be...hahaha..

Mentally this has been a tough week for me. First week of class teaching in a classsroom always gives me the nerves,... its World ISA week and its so super strange for me not to be there racing... I have been so busy though its been even hard to follow... when I am not chasing Tav around I am lesson planning/cooking/cleaning/etc.... so free time is limited.... Kal classic happened last weekend and thats another odd one not to be a part of.... and my hormones are all over the place.. I am emotional on a whim sometimes for no reason at all... BUT the cool thing is... I am confident in myself, I love my fam, my home, my jobs, my friends,...etc.... and this is all part of this crazy adventure of life that I would not have any other way....

Thank you all for being a part of this amazing journey called LIFE:)

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!
lina

I am back to Blogging: Pregnant, toddler, training, teaching, family fun.....

Its been busy times in the last 6 months. I just realized I have totally neglected my blog. So much to share and write about but its tough to fit it all in sometimes... Especially, with a growing family, jobs, training, etc.

With the new little one coming in October and some exciting new goals for the near future I thought I would resurrect the blog or at least try to:)

We have been busy, canoeing, SUPing, hiking, biking, camping, and basically exploring all that life has to offer around our home... We love taking our little man out on adventures.... with a toddler it sometimes feels like we are going on epic adventures which are just down the road:) I love it....

I am currently 30 weeks pregnant with number 2 and Tav is 19.5 months old.... its summer time so I am off from teaching in school but have been doing a bit of SUP fitness and teaching SUP throughout the summer. Its nice to feel like I am still involved in the community of SUP despite not racing this year.

Its been an interesting pregnancy this time around... Trying to juggle life with a toddler, teaching, staying in shape, home life, and socializing when I can is tough and takes a lot of will power to keep things exciting and fun.

I have learned that if you want to do exciting things whilst pregnant and with a toddler... it does take planning and effort and a strong will to go. It always seems worth it in the end because you are out adventuring, exploring and having fun and sharing it with your offspring.... We head down to our local beach everyday.... and its never an easy task, especially when I decide I want to take my SUP as well.. It takes us about 30 min or more just to get ready and get out of the house,.... and then I am that weirdo walking for 10 min to the beach with a chariot with tons of things hanging off it, a toddler in it and carrying my SUP in the other hand plus being quite pregnant and doing it all in 30+ degree heat... hahaha.. it must seem ridiculous to most...but I kind of love it hahaha....

Tav always naps in the chariot and before I was too preggos I would run him to sleep which was awesome as I would get some exercise and he would be outside and sleeping away... happy on all fronts.... then running just got uncomfortable as the pregnancy creeped on... and walking just didn't cut it for me (not enough stimulus or feeling of exertion)... so I decided I would ride him to sleep behind the bike... Again, setting up the system, getting the gear organized, etc etc... never an easy straight forward task yet I would persevere through my resisting mind and body and know once I am out there on the bike it would be awesome..... I started finding road and wide dirt routes and its been so fun.... Tav falls asleep and I get to ride my bike:)

I will be back teaching for a few weeks before I have number two and on mat leave (thank you Canada) My motivation to stay in shape and find adventures has increased as I have set new goals for myself in the athletic world.... I might not share them just yet but I am pumped and excited and oh so curious how my body and mind will react to these goals...

Its going to take so much strength, determination, spirit and desire to get myself and my kids out and moving but I feed off adventure and the outdoors and I think its strong enough that no matter how annoying it is to go explore and get everyone organized and ready we will always choose the hard path inn order to get out there and explore the world little by little and cherish every moment we have as a family. I am lucky that Andrew goes along with some of my crazier ideas and is willing to do things most dads would not choose to do:)

I will keep you posted on how its all going being an athlete, a teacher, a mom of soon to be 2 small children, and the struggles, the love and the motivation:)

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!
lina