Clarine Lorraine Ellingson Barker

My sweet grand-mother passed away on August 8, 2009. Just 6 days after we had visited her in Tucson. On Sunday before we left we spent a very special moment with her. One that is too special for me to blog about. She was fortunate enough to have spent her last days at the home of her oldest daughter and son-in-law. Christine was by her side as she slipped away from this earth life.




On Monday, August 17, 2009 our family gathered to wish her a final farewell and leave her at her final resting place. She is now in the arms of her Heavenly Father and her sweet husband Arthur W. Barker who passed away on January 15, 1995.

My grandmother was affectionately named Puppa by my oldest cousin Matthew when he was a little boy. He also named my grandfather Boppy and the names stuck.

Puppa was a strong-willed woman, but loving. She liked to do things on her own. She was still mowing her own yard at the age of 80. She was always in the kitchen cooking or washing dishes and there was nothing anyone could do to get her out of there until the task was done. She was the wife of a Lt. Colonel and the mother of 3 children. She was the grand-mother of 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. She loved the "babies"!! Her eyes would brighten and she would smile so big. She was tender and loving and loved to see her family. She loved to just be in the room watching her family interact.

It is a new page for our family. Puppa and Boppy were the glue of the family. Everything revolved around them. It's going to be different now, but the memories we have of them will sustain us and help us maintain that bond as a family.

These are some of the very last pictures we have of her with our family.

I'm so grateful to have spent the little time with her I had in Tucson. Even though she may not have been able to express how she felt, I know she knew we were there for her. I'm so happy that she is able to be with her husband now after almost 15 years of separation. I know that he was waiting for her with open arms.

I love you Puppa!

Tucson

At the end of July Seth, Jana, Ethan, Ammon, Lucas and I headed down to Tucson, AZ to see my grandmother, aunt and uncle. My aunt and uncle own a bed & breakfast called The Azure Gate. We went because my grandmother had not been doing very well and we wanted to make sure we were able to see her one more time. The bonus was that we had a fantastic time! We played in the pool, walked around their 5 acre property, hiked into Sabino Canyon, the boys had a golfing trip and the girls had a mani/pedi trip, fun family dinners and some great time together!

Here are a few pictures from the Azure Gate property. It was beautiful and I fell in love with it! Anyone who knows me well, knows that I do not like heat, nor have I ever been a fan of Arizona, for reasons that I don't even know. But I did come to the conclusion that I did not like Phoenix. We flew into Phoenix and then drove down to Tucson. But I L-O-V-E-D Tucson. I really want to go back soon.







My uncle playing in the pool with the kids. Ammon calls him his Grand-uncle.


Luke hung out in his Panda Bear float.


In Sabino Canyon - a hooded skunk. My aunt had literally said 2 seconds earlier that they had seen a skunk the last time they were there, and I turned around and there it was.

My Aunt Christine & Uncle Denny

Walking in Sabino Canyon. I think we had just stopped to listen to a Bobcat growling. We couldn't see it, but it was very close!

I've limited myself to the number of pictures, but needless to say - there were many pictures taken.

We stopped at this little place to listen to the frogs, owls and watch the sunset. We even saw some fish pop out of the water.

This was our view from the rock we were sitting on. Beautiful!

The most handsome and adorable 2 year-old EVER!

Inaugural Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

I did it! Yes, I'm posting almost two months later, but oh well.

So this journey started on February 14, 2009. Yup, Valentine's Day. That was my first training day with the Joints in Motion group. This is a group that is done through the Arthritis Foundation where I work. I trained along side 6 other co-workers in a group of 38 people. We met each Saturday at 8am to do timed and distance trainings. We did a grueling 9 mile day that entailed hills...lots of hills. Our unofficial coach assured us that they were only rolling hills. YEAH RIGHT!!! We also did another 10 mile day and several 7-8 mile days amongst 90-120 minute days. That was on top of the weekday trainings.

I haven't blogged about our trip to Utah and I probably won't at this point. Here's why - I took the boys to Utah with me and the second day we were there Luke got really sick with the flu. I managed to do really well and made sure to take all of the preventative steps to not get sick like washing hands, etc. Yeah, didn't work. I was sick the day after we got back. It just so happened that the marathon was the upcoming Saturday. I was hoping that I would be well enough to do it and feel good. Friday rolled around and I still wasn't feeling well. My co-workers and I went to the pre-race expo to pick up our running bibs and t-shirts and walk around to see what free stuff they were handing out. We also had our carbo-loading party that night. I decided that I would skip the party - even though I was bummed out about missing it - and head home to rest. I had been playing tug-of-war with my thoughts about whether to do the race or not. I was really sick all week long and was still pretty sick.

Saturday morning came and I felt a bit better. I got up early. (I know it was before 5) I wanted to take a shower to clear out my nasal passages and lungs. (Gross, I know. Sorry!) Anyway, I met up with my co-worker Tara, her friend, her mom and aunt. We headed over to catch the shuttle down to the starting line. By this time I could feel myself starting to drag a bit, but I kept going. Tara's mom, Diane and I were training partners so I was looking forward to having her set the pace. We had achieved some really good times on our training days. My goal was to finish the 1/2 marathon in 3 hours or less and before I got sick I thought I would achieve that goal.

We got down to the starting line and found our starting corral and waited, and waited and waited. The race started at 7am and we finally reached the starting line at 7:58am. Yes, there were 25,000 people registered for the Inaugural Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon.

Me and my co-worker Tara at the starting area

Diane, Me and Tara's Aunt, Vicky at the starting area

So we started. Diane set the pace....and I struggled to keep up with her. I was doing okay up until about mile 3. Then I decided it just wasn't worth it and slowed to my sick pace. It was about mile 3 that I also started to feel blisters developing. MILE 3!!! I had blister patches on, did the whole foot glide thing and even had on friction resistant socks. Take it from me, they don't work!!! I think everything started to become a blur after that. I do remember seeing a bald eagle on the stretch by Lake Washington - that was awesome! I remember being totally grossed out by the Cytomax sport drink they were serving and wishing for really cold water at each station - it was only luke warm. I remember the three people I saw being helped by the medics as I trudged on. Serious situations, one lady fell and hit her head about 10 yards ahead of me just at mile 1, another person had just been hooked up to an IV on the express lanes of I-90 and another person was being loaded into an ambulance at the end of the express lanes. Needless to say I felt very lucky to have not been in any of those situations. Although, there were several times as I would pass a medic station that I thought I should just call it quits. I wasn't feeling good and my blisters hurt! But I kept going. I think I was just numb to the whole thing.

So, I finished. I didn't make my time goal, but I didn't care. I finished. My time was 3 hours, 37 minutes and 37 seconds. I was also excited to see Seth, Jana, Ethan, Ammon and Lucas at the end. The Arthritis Foundation had a tent set up for us to meet at, and I told them I would meet them there and told them my original predicted time. I felt bad for making them wait! They had headed over to the finish line to see me cross, but we had missed each other. After I crossed the finish line I wandered through the finish area just in a daze pretty much and held it together until I found our tent. When I got there my boss's wife made sure to get some less than attractive pictures of me. I kind of started to settle in and sat down with a cool, wet cloth when I hear my nephews coming toward me with Luna Bar and Gatorade Powder leis. I wanted to hug them, but I had started to come down from the adrenaline that I was operating on and got that urgent "I'm going to throw up" feeling. I headed behind the tent to spare everyone that sight and my dear sister-in-law came to help me. She got me ice to put on my neck and that seemed to help. Luckily, I didn't throw up! Phew! But that was it. I was done. A couple more pictures and we were out of there!

(Seth held the flowers so well that I've decided that he'll be my maid of honor when I get married.)

Immediately after the marathon I said I would absolutely never do one again. About a week later I said it would be nice to do one without being sick. Now, I don't think I'll do it again. I just totally wore myself out with getting up every Saturday morning to do trainings and it was just too much for me. But I am glad that I at least pushed myself to accomplish this once. That is enough for me! Especially after the blisters on my feet. They are still not completely healed - probably about 95% of the way.

This one hurt the most! And you can't even see the whole blister - it was yucky! Part of training is to tell where you may have "hot spots" that become blisters. Well, the side of my foot was a new one that I discovered on the 1/2 marathon course.....a little too late. On top of the blisters I managed to have a tendonitis flare-up in my left foot afterward. It's usually my right foot, but I think I was compensating on my left foot because that darn blister hurt so badly. Oh well.

Pike Place Market

I guess I need to finish up with the Fourth of July weekend posting! We went to Pike Place Market to just wander around and have fun. I think it was the busiest I've ever seen it! Seth and I had fun taking pictures of everything....I mean EVERYTHING!!! I bought a beautiful bouquet of flowers and the smell filled up my house! Loved it!



Here are some pictures of the main area with the produce stands and floral vendors, etc. I didn't get any pictures of the fish throwing - not because I didn't want fish guts flung on to my camera - but they weren't really doing any exciting sales at the time we passed through. Not to mention that it was super jam packed and we were lucky to be able to stick together.





















In the shopping area across the street there's a store called Sotte Vocce. They sell infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars. It's a very fun store!! This is where we spent majority of our time. Mostly because we had fun taking pictures and the kiddos enjoyed sampling the bread and flavored oils. I loved the ceiling lanterns!









This is the olive oil that I got - thank you for the gift dad!


I love this picture of Jana & Ethan!!


After Sotte Vocce and a little (like 5 mintes) of more window shopping it was time for lunch at Lowell's. We ate lunch and had a great view of the Puget Sound.












We did a bit more walking around, but when it was time to go home....I think we were all ready!


It was a ton of fun!! Pike Place should be a must for anyone visiting Seattle! (and a great place for those who live here)

4th of July and Trifle

This year we had a very fun 4th of July that actually started on the 3rd with a trip to Pike Place Market (I'll post later).

We had a low-key day with an attempt at swimming in a pool with a whale slide; however, the picture made the pool look twice as big as it really was. Not to mention that Lucas was not happy about the cold temperature of the water. He only calmed down after his cousin Sofia came over and stood in the water. He then decided (after a brief temper tantrum) that it wasn't so bad. Ethan decided to have a water fight with me, so I ended up soaked; which was fine since I had planned on swimming anyway.

We then had a fun time with Jana's family and my dad at dinner. We had huli huli chicken and the fixin's to go with it. We topped it off with Trifle for dessert. I decided that it would be fun to attempt since I have never made one. It turned out very yummy!! The funniest part of the evening was Luke. After we were wrapping things up to head out for the fireworks he decided that he wanted to eat more Trifle. At this point he had been put into PJ's and he decided that his outfit wouldn't be complete without his Army hat.

Notice that he has a small child's spoon to dig in with.

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of him.

He's so excited to be eating Trifle! Then he figures out that there's a much bigger spoon in the bowl!
Needless to say, there wasn't ANY trifle left. He polished it all off!!

We had a great time watching fireworks from the roof of my building and then we crashed out! The fireworks start so late here, and by the time they are done it's way past my bed time! Not to mention that it was cold!!

Milestone...achieved!

Friday morning I went to get some blood work done. I had put it off for about 2 months...okay 2 1/2 months and it was just time to get it over with. Those who know me know my fear of needles and the things that follow an appointment with needles. I wanted to get there early so I wouldn't have to take much time off of work. I went first to a lab in a building adjacent to the hospital. There were two other gentlemen there before me so I was happy that there wasn't a huge line. (Oh, the lab tech was walking out right as I was walking in and said he'd be right back......15 minutes later! Apparently he needed to get breakfast.) So after the two guys were done I walked into the room to see a chair....no bed. I asked the tech if the chair reclined and informed him of my tendency to get light-headed. He tried, but no luck. (I think he just wanted to eat his breakfast he brought back.) So he directed me to the hospital lab where they would most definitely have a bed. I got there and luckily there was no one in there. I guess no one wants to get their blood drawn at 7 in the morning!! Better to get it over with since you have to fast! So the lady that took me back kindly showed me to a bed and went to verify some of the tests that I needed to get done. She came back in and was really sweet and gentle and really understood my fear of needles. After looking at my left arm she said "you have small veins." Not really what you want to hear, especially when I have veins that like to roll when they sense a foreign metal object approaching. So then she looked at my right arm and found a "good one." As I look away she continued to talk to me and then says "okay, enough questions." I take a deep breath and then she sticks me, and gets it on the first try!!!!!!!!!!!! NO ONE, I mean NO ONE has EVER been able to do that before!!!! I really wanted to jump up right then and hug her, but decided that that might not be such a good idea. So after 3 vials of blood, I was done. Now comes the next amazing part!! I didn't feel light-headed, or nauseous and I was thrilled that I could actually get up and walk out on my own. That was something I was worried about since I was by myself. I only have a small bruise where she poked me, but this is nothing compared to what I have had in the past.

The other part about this is that my tech was so sweet and I really had a wonderful conversation with her. She was very encouraging and things she said to me were things I needed to hear. The other part is that she is from the Phillipines and it made me feel like I was back in Hawaii. She was just so sweet.

I never thought I would be able to say that I had a "great" experience with getting my blood drawn, but Friday I did. I'm so grateful for this lady (who is my age), and for her patience and gentleness!!

I hope I can find her the next time I need an IV for something!

Wow! My first blog entry. I haven't ever had a real desire to start one, but here we go. It took me a while to figure out what to title my blog and I figured that since I have much still to come in this life "Along the Way" seemed apppropriate. I'll try to keep this updated and try even harder to have things to write about!!!