Surviving Rolex

What a weekend! Last year I volunteered my 4 years of merchandising experience, thanks to Express, and lent a hand at the Rolex 3 Day Event held here in Lexington at the Horse Park. I was a co-chair for the official T-shirt and Hat tent for 4 days, preceded by 2 full days of set up. We had an outstanding year and raised a lot of money for the University of Kentucky Children's Hospital.
I was asked to return this year after a VERY successful year and move to the Official Rolex 3 Day Shop Main Tent. Last August I accepted the invitation and marked the week of April 21 - 26 off my calendar at work. Little did I know then that I would be 34 weeks pregnant when the event rolled around. At my last doctor’s visit I was put on restriction for this event. No set up and I could only work half days. She recommended I work only in the morning since it would be cooler and easier for my asthma. I then got the weather report – temperatures in the 80’s all weekend!!! I knew it would be a rough 4 days, but I really wanted to participate and be a part of this event. I made it through Thursday with no problems and left around 11:00. Friday wasn’t too bad either and I left the Horse Park around 12:30 after having a nice lunch with my mom and another co-chair. Saturday was a different story. We were short handed with volunteers and had spectators in our tent early. I jumped on a cash register and two hours later realized I had spent two hours standing in the hot sun and knew my feet weren’t going to be very happy with me (a BIG disadvantage to having a skin reaction to wearing a watch early in pregnancy, no concept of time without that watch!!) I managed to grab a chair for a few minutes, and then jumped back up to help some unfocused volunteers move polo shirts from one table to another and replace the empty table area with travel mugs… MISTAKE. I had been told all weekend, “take it easy and let someone else do the work, sit down, the rest of the co-chairs will all be fine”. I should have listened. By the time I left Saturday I had spent WAY too much time on my feet and boy could I tell when I got home. My ankles had officially swollen to cankles complete with sock lines – yuck, and my legs were killing me! I made it to my couch around 3:00 and woke up to a puddle of drool when Pat came home from work Saturday afternoon. After a nice dinner out at Old Chicago I finished the 3rd of 4 days around 11:00 pm. Needless to say Sunday I was worn out from the minute I woke up and so I drug Pat with me to the Horse Park. I remained posted behind the co-chair’s table and checked in volunteers, from a chair all day. For the first time I did not feel guilty not getting up. I overdid it the day before. Pat and I left yesterday around noon, and had a nice lunch and picked up a few gifts for Mother’s Day and for Pat before heading home to watch movies in the air conditioning. Thank goodness for the rest yesterday afternoon, or I would be toast today as well.
I’m realizing I just can’t do as much. The heat this week has really taken a toll on my asthma and required the use of an inhaler a few times, and I can’t wait for the moment when I realize I’ve gone more than 2 hours without needing to go to the bathroom. Just over 5 weeks left – WOO HOO! I’m not “miserable” as some of my friends have gotten. Not yet, at least. But I’m getting ready for Jacob to arrive.