On Fit Mama Friday today, meet Wendy Ennis, a full-time mama and a part-time writer. Wendy and her husband, T. Scott Ennis, are the proud parents of their 22 month old daughter, Susanna and are expecting their second daughter very soon (Wendy is 8 months pregnant). Both Wendy and her husband live a life of gratitude, partly because of what they have gone through as a result of Scott suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from an accident. This is one fit mama who doesn’t take for granted her ability to move her body and enjoy every moment of her life. 

Meet Wendy.

Tell me about how your love for fitness and activity came about. What’s your background when it comes to working out?

My fitness background looks a bit like this… Early on, I preferred water to land. Swimming was easy for me, but running came a close second. Bikes were always scary to me, so triathlons have been out. Yoga has always been near the top of my loves, along with anything mental (e.g. fencing, archery, etc.).

I won the 100-yard dash as a kindergartener (still have my ribbon) in a race that had me coming from behind and then charging ahead. That foreshadowed my love of distance and endurance events, mainly swimming and long yoga practices, though I have completed one trail marathon.

I moved often as a kid (Navy brat) and then on my own, so I had to be flexible with my schedule and preferred workouts. Not everywhere had a pool, and I prefer trails to roads for running which requires a different level of adapting (and a willingness to drive farther in some states for good trails).

Before Susanna was conceived, I was at my healthiest mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. During her pregnancy we moved again, and that shifted everything, but more on that later.

You’ve described yourself as ‘flexible’ when it comes to what you choose to do for your physical activity. How have you become so adaptable when it comes to working out?

I’ve always been a “come as you go..” or a “live and let flow” person. I embrace each moment for what it is, and do my best to accept it and make the most of it. (I’m human, after all!)

That has impacted my activity undertaking such that I’m very low-key. When I lived in an area with good trails, I sought out running on trails. When my body rejected the pool (chlorine sensitivity) with my first pregnancy, I stayed away from it. When we moved to Utah at 20 weeks with our first pregnancy, I embraced hiking and increased my lifting and core workouts.

With this pregnancy, I’ve been blessed with a tremendous pool system very close, so I can swim as often as I like. We don’t have trails very close, so running has been out – unless I want to run on the beach in intense winds. (We moved to Washington when our first daughter was 8 months old. We’re done moving for a few years.)

Yoga is something I can practice anywhere, any time (mostly), and only depends on my willingness. Some times I practice at rest areas during travel. Other times, it’s with my toddler climbing on me. If I desire, I wake up early and practice, but often it’s just a short time before bed.

How has pregnancy number two differed from your first pregnancy with Susanna?

With Susanna, I was very focused on staying fit. I was super body and weight conscious, and yet, I had a hard time staying active after we moved to Utah. The summer heat hurt. I don’t do well in hot areas. Hiking was good, but it wasn’t trail running for me. However, hiking allowed me to see incredible areas during pregnancy and postpartum, like Ben Lomond and gorgeous parts of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

With Susanna’s little sister, we’ve been in Washington the entire pregnancy. Early on we learned we were having twins and then lost one at 12 weeks. Upon learning we were having twins, I dove into the pool and haven’t looked back.

Swimming has been my constant with this pregnancy and I love it! It’s easy. It’s smooth. It’s peaceful. It’s awesome! I’d say that I’m more fit cardio-wise during this pregnancy than with Susanna based on all of the swims.

I’m so sorry for your loss, Wendy. I know you and your husband have been through a lot, with him suffering from a TBI. How that has impacted your view of life and health and your goals for your children?

My husband experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury on 29 April 2010 along with a multitude of other injuries. They stemmed from an accident when he was riding his bicycle (helmeted and following all rules) and a car struck him while making a left turn. Sunlight and trees were the major factors of impairing the driver who had no intent to hit him (and likely never, ever saw him).

In short, he was life flighted, spent 9 days in a coma, 3 months in ICU, 3 months in rehab and his injuries (which still make me tremble as I write this) included but were not limited to: bleeding in the brain (hence the TBI), full left side paralysis, fractured ribs, a right ankle that was nearly completely severed, and fractured left finger.

At the time of the accident, I didn’t know him. Many stepped in and took care of him, including his Mom, a fellow triathlete who was the first person on the scene beyond the driver, his seven siblings, and so many others.

Of all of his injuries, his TBI has impacted him and us the most. As he explained to my former students when he taught a lesson on it, the brain impacts Everything. As a result, all that we do, all that we share with our daughter and others, is a result of this incredible organ that impacts Everything.

We live a life of gratitude for our health and for the medical professionals who support and supported us. We embrace each moment and seek to live a healthy life, because we know what can happen. We are less caught up in numbers (Scott, my wonderful hub, was pretty peeved that he ran a 3:06 at Boston in 2009. He wanted sub-3 which he did later that year at Philly).

We work with what our bodies give us. We push ourselves a bit. We rest a lot! We understand rest (and some times, maybe, wish our daughter did, too). We listen to our bodies. We know that what we put into our bodies matters. We appreciate the ability to chew and digest real food (Scott was on a feeding tube for quite a while and then had a famous M&M drawer as he lost so much weight).

As far as how all of this impacts our children, it’s quite simple. We embrace them for who they are and what they like. We focus on safety. We listen to them, and challenge them. We encourage them fully. We live in the moment, and we take family naps!

I think it could be summed up by the woman who hit Scott when she said that she had never known true love until she met his family. (Forgiveness was immediate from them.) We love. We love ourselves. Our lives. Our body. Our health. We go forth with gratitude, love, and compassion in as balanced of a way as possible.

That’s a beautiful way of looking at life and beautifully written. As a writer, do you find working out affects your creativity?

I love this question! It all depends on the moment. Most days as I swim, I’m focused solely on swimming. Each lap I repeat for the entire lap, “thank you 1/2/3…” It’s how I count distance, and I know that not every person is able to do what she would like activity-wise during pregnancy, hence my gratitude which also extends to my body, our living where we do, etc.

There are moments, however, during a swim session or yoga practice when other thoughts come into my head. I pick and choose what I want to do with them at the moment.

Working at home, alongside my husband (a full-time writer), while raising our super active, sunshine daughter; however, means that the simplicity of stroking my arms and kicking my legs, while focused on my core and breathing is a gift. I love letting go of all of my “head stuff,” and just embracing the activity and the black line.

However, sometimes ideas are there, so I go with them. I mentally write as I work out, thoughts sometimes look like this, “thank you 4.. idea… edit.. thank you 5.. continued thought.. reminder to research something.. thank you 6.. oh, that’s brilliant.. I must add that.. thank you 7.. will that sound silly? Just note it and keep going.. ‘long and strong’.. oh, I’m at the end of the lane already… thank you 8…”

Thank you so much for sharing your story on Fit Mama Friday today, Wendy. I love your outlook on life and the love and gratitude you share with your family. Enjoy the last weeks of pregnancy before welcoming your new daughter!

To read more from Wendy, please check out the following sites:

Wendy’s blog, New Moms Talk

Connect with Wendy on Instagram

You can also check out Scott’s writing here:

Scott’s main site, Sonnettics

Scott’s kids site, Kids Eep!

 

Fit Mama Friday – Fit Dad Friday

Every Friday on Fine Fit Day I feature a Fit Mama or a Fit Dad story of how and why a fit and healthy mama or dad ensures fitness is a priority in her or his life. You’ll read about all kinds of parents and their fitness stories. Some are stay-at-home parents, some are single parents, some juggle more than one job on top of parenthood, but they are all committed to a fit and healthy lifestyle. As you’re getting ready for your weekend, I hope you’re inspired to be active after reading about these kick-ass mamas and dads on Fit Mama Friday – Fit Dad Friday!

 

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