This week we were back to fall training for Cheer, it is starting to feel more real that we are prepping for Comp Season!

He said

This week we fell into a lot of our old routines. There was work, there was daily bike rides, there was school, there was Cheer, and, there was time with friends… the one old routine that we didn’t “love” was this nasty-ass cold that has plagued the house for a month or more. It started with Emelia getting a hacking cough that just wouldn’t go away. She Covid tested negative, she went to see the doctor and even had a chest x-ray and everything was find. She started with a puffer, and then was on antibiotics. But even after all that was done, it just lingers on frustratingly so. And the worst part is it is at its worst when she tries to sleep.

Then, it showed up on Danielle’s dance card and she had very much the same journey. It really impacted our weekends at the trailer and even our week off together, three weeks ago. And her she is still battling it today in the same way that Emelia is. There were a couple days in the last few weeks where I was certain it had found me, but in typical me fashion in about 12 hours the symptoms had subsided and I was better. The thing with all the bike riding is that a good hour of exercise has always helped me overcome any virus or cold. And this was the case for me. But days I felt the symptoms coming on, I got on the bike and that helped immensely.

However, on Friday it started feeling a little more persistent. By yesterday at the end of my shift at work, it was clear I wasn’t likely getting off as easily as I had up til now. While Danielle & Emelia were on the upswing and got better sleeps, my sleep last night was littered with coughing and working out phlegm (attractive, I know!). But, this morning, with having a day off and a ‘fuck you‘ approach, I got up and out the door for an 8:30am date with London Cycling Club and my first ride with them this season—aren’t adult schedules a pain in the hind quarters? The Sunday Social ride was a 60km route out to St Thomas and back, and I knew if I could make on the saddle and the first crank the three hours on the bike would do me so much good.

And, that turned out to be true. I’m definitely not over the symptoms with that bike ride, but I certainly feel better now than I did this morning before going. And, I am going to guess that tonight’s sleep might be more of the same unless all the snot rockets I got out on the bike ride have had the impact that I was hoping for. The weather for the ride couldn’t have been more perfect—very light winds, and summer like temps. There was a group of fourteen of us in the Social Ride and it felt really good to put down a distance that triples my normal daily rides. We’ll hope that snottin’ & sweatin‘ helps in the way that I hope it does, but at the very least I got my ride in which is what matters to me!

She said

This week was back to our normal busy life, which is actually a bit of a comfort. We are back in the thick of school, work and sports. We are moving fully into what will be Emelia’s last year in competitive cheer. She is loving everything about it so far, she loves her teams and the routines. So far things are looking great and I am loving getting to the gym as much as I can to soak in this last season. To say this last year will be bitter sweet is an understatement. For the last 8 years we have been going to see Emelia train in one competitive sport or another. We have spent weekends in hotels and in gyms watching her in her element. And it will be done sooner than we know it. So to see her happy and loving her year is everything we could ask for.

The big issue this week is as John mentioned is the battle with this never-ending cough. Poor Emelia has been at the worst of it, she has really been slammed with one thing after another since mid-July. She is taking it all in stride and is still keeping up with her social life, her sports life, her work life and most importantly her school life. She seems to be finally coughing less so I am hoping that when we do this post this time next week we are all on the other side of this virus.

Now that we are into the fall we are also in the thick of the University student return, campus has been busy and buzzing with lots of activities. I was even happy to see one of Emelia’s besties that started at Western last week on campus. I love seeing all the kids back and realize more and more the sentiment that the days are long but the years are short. I look at the students on campus and realize that will be Emelia next year. It has gone by all too fast, and I want to soak it all in.