Mid Summer Mood

This summer hasn’t been like the others. I’m not sure what it is… the week-late start to break because of snow days, the lack of planning a trip, the nerve damage to my foot? Probably all of the above.

We had plans to go to Boston at the end of the summer…not quite the grand adventure of Iceland and Ireland like last year, but still something to look forward to. I had planned to run at least 20–25 miles a week, which I thought was a decent number. I was really enjoying running and was happy to be back at it. I felt good about my pace and heart rate, and I had hoped to sign up for a couple of summer races. I so badly wanted to run the Crim back home in Flint, MI.

Then one day, my foot said, “Oh no, girl… not this year.”

I found myself with a lovely diagnosis of Morton’s Neuroma. I can handle not running…but not walking and missing out on all the summer activities with my boys has definitely been the worst part. We have this really cool area that we love to explore. We can travel far back along the river and the rocks. We go fishing and just swim, but we haven’t been there even once this summer because of my foot.

Only recently have I been able to walk without shoe support in the house (though I still need cushioned slippers). So, I took the boys to Great Falls in Virginia. We had to use Charles’s 4th Grade National Parks Pass before it expires next month!

The park itself was much larger than I expected. Long hiking trails, a visitor center with exhibits for kids, and, of course, stunning lookouts for the falls. They were really impressive, and we were even treated to a Blackhawk helicopter that came in and circled the falls three times. The boys LOVED it!

Of course, it being July, the weather was hot and humid. We came prepared with snacks, water, and cooling neck gaiters/headbands that my mom bought for the boys. I also brought Gatorade for them for electrolytes. This summer, I learned through a very traumatizing experience that water alone isn’t enough in this heat.

Okay, well… now that I’ve said “traumatizing,” I guess I’ll explain (the short version).

When my mom came to visit at the end of June, we went to D.C. which of course meant a ton of walking. We had just finished lunch and were on our way to the Lincoln Memorial. We stopped at a refreshment stand adjacent to the memorial so Adrien could use the restroom. My mom bought some waters and we all slammed them.

Adrien instantly had a stomachache and very quickly declined. It was beyond a stomachache. He could no longer stand without help, said he couldn’t see, his stomach was cramping, and then he collapsed in my arms.

Thankfully, we were right next to the refreshment stand, so there was tons of support. Another patron happened to be a nurse, and with the help of literally dozens of people, we were able to get paramedics and park police. We laid him down, put ice and water all over him, and used a straw to get some Gatorade in him.

When the paramedics arrived, they took him in the ambulance, and eventually, he was able to recover. He got a cool Park Police patch from the officer as well.

That’s the quick version. I mostly just want to get the message out there: water isn’t enough on days like that. I later learned that eight people in Maryland died of heat stroke that week.

I don’t like thinking about that day. I know that if we hadn’t been near the refreshment stand, the outcome could’ve been very different…especially since my cell service wasn’t working (thanks for nothing, AT&T).

Basically, this summer has been nothing like I envisioned, and I feel so guilty about it. We haven’t gone to the beach, we haven’t had as many adventures, and I took away their one vacation because of my foot.

Thankfully, the boys only care about their fishing trip in September which is currently a HUGE stress for me. I have no idea when or how we’re getting there.

I’m glad they’re so easygoing. It’s really just me who thinks this summer has been kind of a dud.

At least, slowly but surely, my foot is getting better… but now I have a new anxiety when it comes to the heat!

At the very least the boys had a very successful swim season and both qualified for the All-Star meet this weekend. Then it’s a wrap!