Crew to do

The fall rowing season at Granby Crew is really about shock and awe.  The shock of the rowers having practice again 6 days a week, and the awe of parents beginning to realize what they’ve signed up for… By the way, anyone want Virginia Diner Peanuts?  Just kidding…

The Head of the Lafayette Regatta makes it all worthwhile though.  It’s a distance race – and gives the novice rowers a heady taste of the thrill and exertion of rowing.  It’s a staggered start, so not as exciting for spectators, but the sight of all the boats in the water is pretty sensational.  It’s also right around halloween, and sometimes the teams will “dress up” or wear coordinating shirts or hats.  Last year Ian’s boat mates dressed like Vikings.  This year he was more interested in winning and didn’t want anything that would slow them down!

Sunday’s event was fun for us because due to the wind there was a last minute switch to the alternate course, the start point of which is on the portion of the Lafayette River behind our house.  We had to walk down to the end of the street to get a good view, but it was great for getting pictures!  The finish of this course is also in water surrounded by homes, so unless you know someone with a dock near the finish line, it’s hard to see the end.  But, you don’t know anything  about winners until the times are posted anyway…

We are quite happy for Ian!  Two of his boatmates from the Spring are running cross country for the fall, but came to practice last week and pulled it together to row and win First Place in Mens Varsity 4.  These are the guys with whom he won silver medals in the Mens Junior 4 at States in May.  In the photo below, Ian is in a gray shirt, the rower closest to you.  Bri, the tiny coxwain, is sitting behind Nate, who is in the yellow shirt.

Ian is the stroke seat. This boat is a bow loader so the coxswain is in the front facing the direction that they are going. The rowers have their backs to the finish line.

There are more photos on the Granby Crew website.

You might wonder about the son…

Yes!  He’s still around!  And I’m actually seeing more of him now that Crew season is over.  Practice 5 days a week, plus Saturday morning is not only a demanding schedule, but means that when he is home – he has to prioritize his remaining time:  food, sleep, text his girlfriend, update facebook, maybe a little homework, talk to the mother, in that order. 

His team was delighted to win a Silver Medal at Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championship (photos below)!  And you’ll also find a  (sanctioned by the son) picture from Junior Prom.  

His back, is back on track!   The new drug, Embrel seems to be working.  Doctor says to  stop the methotrexate, and he has been able to run for several weeks now!   

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More backtracking…

Thanks to all who have been praying for Ian! 

It has been eventful the last few weeks, with exotic (for us anyway..we rarely go to the doctor) tests, and physical therapy twice a week.  Odd that in the midst of the hippocratic hecticness Ian timed a personal best record on a 6K ERG (that’s a very fancy rowing machine) at crew practice putting him up with a few of the top rowers in his weight. 

So, Friday morning was a bit of a shocker as we learned that Ian has a condition with a big Latin name that ends in itis which means inflammation, and in the middle, spondo which means spine.  He will need to take an immuno-suppressant drug to get his immune system to back down from “over protecting” his spine.  This over protection creates the swelling, which is giving him pain.  So far so good, except this medication has to be injected…by needle…every week…by me. 

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

Pour it on LORD, I’m going to need it!

As we left the doctor’s office, my mind buzzed about things that need to “change” in the household to accommodate his injection, his reduced immune capacity, and my queasiness at sticking needles full of cytotoxic medicine into my son.  Ian was…hungry. 

 ”Can we go to Subway?” 

Ah the resilience of youth.  Lunch.  After lunch, ”You know, Mom, there’s really no point in going back to school now.”  So off to therapy, and then to the boathouse for  Crew practice.  Ian’s fine…

I’m not.  But I will be. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understand; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.   Prov 3:5-6

Back tracking…

Thanks to all of you who are praying and asking about Ian!  We have found the last week or so an interesting journey into the world of Sports Medicine!   The most recent test was an MRI at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, which was last night, September 22, and we hope to know more about the test results after Ian’s first physical therapy session this afternoon.  The doctor has promised to stop by and brief us while Ian is getting his therapy. 

To provide perspective, you should know that Ian rowed yesterday without pain, and helped carry the boat up to the boat house as is the norm, albeit with his now-very-familiar limp.  

Finding the reason Ian has pain when he runs, and oddly, when he is completely still in bed, and yet can happily row,  has involved side tracks and back tracks much like sourcing a leak in the roof of a 90 year old house, something else we unfortunately have learned a lot about!  After you scurry to  place buckets at the point(s) where rain is actually dripping into your house, the next logical step is to fix the area directly above said point(s), only to find later that the leak originates somewhere else…