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Name: Chris Warren
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Posted by Chris Warren on Thursday, January 22, 2009 8:49:41 AM
I intended to blog about running & politics and probably will again someday soon.
 
Following up from a previous post, my wife and I received word that our unborn son had a neural tube defect. After much worry, many prayers, and sleepless nights, my wife had an MRI where they "scanned" the baby. The diagnosis is Spina Bifida with a Chiari II malformation on S-2 of the sacrum. According to the doctor, this is a "better case" scenario and holds a good prognosis for our son being able to walk. There is always the potential that nerve damage could be present and he could need assistance walking or have bowel/bladder control issues. Overall, the prognosis is good. Like many babies with spinal bifida, he has fluid on his brain, causing pressure. (Again the doctor said it was mild and the prognosis for normal intellect was good).
 
The next hurdle will be surgical intervention. Pediatric neurosurgeons will have to "close the opening" on his spine immediately after birth. He will most likely have to have a shunt placed to drain fluid from the brain into the abdomen.
 
Please continue to pray for our unborn son's health, my wife, son, and I, as well as the medical staff who will take care of our son.
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Prayers Needed

Posted by Chris Warren on Saturday, January 10, 2009 10:37:26 PM
Monday January 5th, my wife and I headed to the OB-GYN to have a 2nd sonogram and find out the sex of our baby. (Who turned out to be a boy). We heard the words parents (or parents-to-be) live in fear of. "We think we see something". A couple of hours later at the peri-natal specialist, it was basically confirmed that our son has a neural tube defect. This was like a pipe-wrench to the head.
 
We start out early this week with the tests. Monday or Tuesday will be the amniocentesis to test for chromosomal issues. Many of which are frigtening without neural tube defects (NTD). Thursday my wife goes for an MRI where they will determine the extent of the NTD.
 
My wife and I are Christians have a strong Christian support network. For that we are truly blessed. We are trying to be strong and maintain a positive frame of mind, but it is a challenge. For any who may read this, send up a prayer for our unborn son, and for my wife and I. We need strength. Also pray for our not quite 2 year old son who isn't getting "mommy & daddy" at their very best at the moment.
 
Thanks,
 
Chris
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Last Day of Vacation

Posted by Chris Warren on Sunday, January 04, 2009 4:40:15 PM
Tomorrow is the "big day" of many levels. I go back to work, we have a scheduled sonogram to let us know our baby's sex. True to my impatient nature, I can't wait to find out "boy or girl". However, I could put off work another few days if I could.
 
My quest to lose weight kicked into high gear today. I'm using a modified version of First Place, a Bible-based healthy living program. The nutrition part of it is based off the diabetic exchange list. Based on your gender and weight you eat (for me 1800) calories per day. This is further broken down into "exchanges" or servings...milk, meat, fruit, vegatables, bread, and fat. The program strongly suggests keeping a log of what you eat. It works much better for me to do this.
 
I just finished my "jog" today. And that is truly what is was. I took a relaxing not quite 3 mile jog. I did manage to trip while trying to cross the road, thus "busting my a**" on the asphault in front of several cars. Dignity is over-rated....
 
Hopefully I can find time to get in some quality minutes/miles of running this week. I have a 2 day trip to New Orleans for work and have yet to actually run when I go there. (Bad running location....I'll have to find the hotel gym).
 
Thats all for now. For those going back to work for the first time in '09 tomorrow....Good Luck!
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It Keeps Me Running

Posted by Chris Warren on Saturday, January 03, 2009 3:32:37 PM
The thought of keeping my extra 25 lbs (or so) is keeping me at it. Like the Doobie Bro's song...It Keeps You Running. The more I think about it the more motivated I get. I pray that this motivation stays.
 
Today its a humid 70-something degrees in Ft. Worth....that coupled with a few ill-timed cups of coffee and I looked like the human water fountain out jogging. Aerobic-wise my fitness level is pretty good. I have to get my leg strength and muscle stamina caught up with my lungs. I hate speed work with an unhealthy passion, but I may have to break down and do some to break my current "speed" stalemate.
 
I believe I hear my toddler waking from his nap. Time for "Wow Wow Wubbzy" and "Wonder Pets"....so over and out!
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5 Mile Run

Posted by Chris Warren on Friday, January 02, 2009 2:51:29 PM
In keeping with my resolution, I have "suffered" through eating healthy yet again today. No pizza buffets, still no pop tarts...although I did take a tiny taste of coffee cake my wife made. Funny how much better I feel when I "suffer" through eating healthy. (Shocker, huh?) Along with eating healthy...the inevitable happens with me, my coffee consumption sky-rockets. I can go from a 4 cup average to a 6-7 cup average overnight. But....I like coffee so no complaints here.
 
I'm trying to gradually up the mileage I run. So far this week I've logged 18.8 miles. I completed a 5 mile run today. I did it slow, 48 min. and 16 sec. That's ok though, I did it. I felt better than yesterday. I felt energetic. Now if I could just find speed....
 
I'm using a neat tool to log in my exercise and weight. It's called Tulsa Million Miles. You can use it online or download it as I did for cheap (I think $2.99) to your iPhone. You can log in your baseline weight and keep track. You can log in your time/miles/effort, etc. into it for running, walking, cycling, swimming, and it prepares you a e-log. Whether you enter your info online or via the iPhone you can sync both. Anyway enough of my bad infommerical here...I like it and if your looking for an online tool its a good one.
 
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The Man Cave

Posted by Chris Warren on Thursday, January 01, 2009 4:14:26 PM

Unfortunately there are no secret entrances or coded spot lights that shoot into the night sky...but I have my Man Cave. Granted its because we decided to turn the upstairs "game room" into an oversized playroom....and the "media room" which was funtioning as the playroom became open. The media room is now my Man Cave. It is a tad shy on the "media" part of the media room (i.e. no TV yet and no stereo...detail, details....). That will come in time. My Man Cave now houses all my cool nautical decore...and Navy photo's. Of course with any "Man Cave" comes the pro-longed "payment period". What my wife determines that payment to be is TBD. It doesn't matter. I now have a Man Cave. I can go in there and work, read, drink coffee, or sit and act like Al Bundy. The possibilities are endless.

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And it begins...

Posted by Chris Warren on Thursday, January 01, 2009 3:14:08 PM
2008 went out with a boom. The boom was my 22 month old son having a melt-down at the Sunday School NYE party at about 10:30pm. My wife and I decided we would take him home. Apparently as we made our way to the door several other couples with young kids followed in hot pursuit...they just needed to see someone else leave first. (So glad we could be "that" couple...)
 
We ended up going to bed just before midnight...(yes, sad, I know...). Our son decided 7:30am was a good wake up time, so its been a long day already.
 
None the less, I have vowed to work on eating healthy (instead of excersing only and eating garbage). So I gave up the morning poptarts and broke out the corn flakes and skim milk. I also managed to eat a fairly healthy lunch...so I'm off to a respectable start.
 
I went for the 1st run of '09 today...3.8 miles. I have recently jogging 5 miles, but today my legs were like barbells, and I ran a shorter route. Hopefully I'll get a little rest for my legs they were toast today.
 
My wife and I our cleaning efforts (i.e. turning the bedroom/storage unit) into an actual bedroom have been going through old boxes. I found old track ribbons where I had made all district at the 2 mile run, 3200 meter relay...and newspaper clippings with a few of my 5k times on them. (At one time I had a PR of 17:48). Today running my 3.8 miles in 38 minutes (granted not race pace) was a reality check.
 
Anyway enough moaning and groaning...I do actually enjoy running (even when slow).
 
Happy New Years to All!
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