I've suddenly had the realization that this blog is here to help overcome challenges - my Mom and her breast cancer and me and my running.  Well, here's to winning another battle!

I completed the Run to the Beat half-marathon on Sunday 27 September in 1 hour, 47 minutes and 10 seconds (1:47.10).

I was a little concerned about a niggle of pain in my left leg that I'd been experiencing from over-training, however I properly tappered and rested before the race, which left me pain-free come race day. In fact, I started resting two weeks prior to the race by not drinking alcohol and not having any late nights at all (except the night my neighbours played music until 5am - damn them!).

The day before the race I went to Runner's Need and bought a couple packets of glucose gel to keep my energy up during the race. That was my only extrenuous effort before the race, other than making myself some pasta and homemade sauce for my carbo-loaded dinner.

I felt confident that I was prepared for the race, however on race day when hearing other runners talk about their nerves, I got a tinge unsettled myself.  When this happens I just go quiet and turn inwards. However Mark did talk strategy with me which was very helpful. It was what I had planned, but helpful to just get the words out of my brain and into the air. The strategy being not to start too fast, find my pace and don't waste energy weaving around people.

The hills on the course didn't bother me either as I quite like running hills, plus it uses different muscles than just plodding along on a flat course, so it feels good in the legs. The only pain I experienced was at the end of the race when I stopped walking to remove the timing chip from my laces and my muslces tightened up.  Here's a tip of advice - post-race...keep walking!!

Thanks for my supporters Mark, Christie and Dan who came out to cheer me on. Having supporters along the route is truly invaluable. Thanks again!

...watch this space to find out if I get a place in the London Marathon - eeek!!

There's only two weeks left now until the Sony Run to the Beat half marathon. Friends, family and co-workers have generously donated £400, which puts me well above my fundraising goal of £300.

I was supposed to submit a picture of myself in my race jersey to the Run to the Beat media team in order to get some local press coverage for the race and my mom's website.  I never got a good picture of myself therefore I get no press coverage. Hey, it's been a hectic summer!

I've got a 10-mile run planned for tomorrow morning and then a few bits to pick up at the running shop this week. Otherwise, I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be for the big day.

I hope to see you at the finish line!

Today I emailed friends, family & co-workers with my fundraising page for the Run to the Beat half marathon in which I am supporting Breast Cancer Campaign. I am trying to raise £300 for the charity, and frankly I thought I would be collecting coins off the street to reach my goal.  I could not have been more wrong.

To say that I am absolutely gobsmacked by the support that I have received in one day would still be an understatement. I am just beside myself.  Within four hours of sending the email I was just shy of £150 – my half-way point!  It’s now coming to the end of day one and I only have £95 more pounds to raise.

I have been sending personal emails to thank each person who has so graciously opened up their wallet to support me and this cause, however here it is again: Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I’m grateful. I’m overwhelmed.

Seriously...legs, don’t fail me now!

xx

My millions of excuses of why I've yet to sign up for a half marathon have finally dried up. 27th September 2009 is when the truth shall be revealed. 

Have I got it in me to complete a half marathon or is all my running around the park just some silly little bit of movement doing little else than giving me yet another reason why it's ok to eat an entire bag of chocolate covered raisins and peanuts in one sitting? Hmmmm....

In the meantime, please do find it in your heart to make a small donation to the cause - support breast cancer reasearch! The minimum donation is £2, and I am perfectly OK with getting 150 £2 donations to reach my goal - beggars can't be choosers.

You can make your donation on my fundraising page.

Stay tuned!

I'm well aware of the fact that I don't write enough blog posts, and I'm not sure if I should be ok with that or not because I do this sort of thing for a living.  I'll take some more time to think over that latest guilt trip.

Well, I'm heading for a visit to see the family soon and I've not yet created a shadow box for mom.  I'll be turning up empty-handed...but that allows both hands for a big hug!  That's positive thinking.

Everyone is in good health and looking forward to spring and summer.  I suppose technically mom wasn't given the all-clear until August of 2007, so I shouldn't really be celebrating cancer-free until then.  However, since the ladies of the family have an annual Pink Tea Party every April/May to celebrate women, sisters, mothers, daughters and breasts...I feel like the two celebrations should go hand in hand.  Um, not breasts hand in hand...

The sisters and I have a new project on the horizon: A sisters baking blog.  More to come soon, but of course this is one more thing to keep me from writing in this blog. Hrmmph.

More to come. x

Welcome 2009!  I look forward to a year of good health and strong spirit.

Mom continues to stay healthy as we approach the two year mark of her diagnosis. As for me, well, I'm not one for New Year resolutions, but if I were to have one this year (ok, I have a few kicking around my noggin') it would be to update this site more often and even (don't hold your breath) make a few more cards.  Recently I've picked up an old hobby of making shadow boxes.  If nothing else, I'd like to create a shadow box to mark mom's 2nd year of being cancer-free.  You can bet that if I get this done, there will be evidence of it on this site.


So here we go...another year ahead of us.  Enjoy the ride!

x

I know it's been far too long since any updates have happened to the site, but let's just say I've been a little busy.   You will see major updates before the end of August...  

but enough about me :)

Yesterday was mom's final chemo session - YEAH!!!

Jessica and Maddy   took mom to her first and third sessions, mom went alone to her second session,   and Jenna & Morgan took mom to her 4th and final session yesterday.   As usual, the drugs dripped in and the babies are always a hit with the nurses and patients!

Usually when I speak with mom after a round of chemo she sounds really tired.   It is knowing what lies ahead of you... days of feeling sick and tired followed by days of thinking you are well, only to over-exert oneself and be back on the couch for another day.

However, yesterday was different.   I called mom to check in and, although tired, she had a tone of excitement in her voice.   The excitement of knowing that this was her Chemo Graduation Day with the additional wonderful news of no follow-up shots at the hospital today.

So....the doctor says that in 6 weeks, she'll feel like a whole new woman.   She will go back for blood tests around 3 months from now to make sure she is all clear.... but in the meantime it's back to gardening, babysitting and spending time at the cottage.   Go back to work?!   Nahhh......

...and to the kind gentleman at the Rye Refuse Centre, "Thanks for supporting mom and cheering her on over the past few months   and also for helping with the trash when she was too tired and weak.   Chivalry is not dead!"

That's all for now, but I will fill in all the blanks from start to finish very soon.   I will also post 2 more chemocards.   Plus, lots of pictures to be postetd after the upcoming visit home.

Here's three cheers for mom: Hip hip hooray!!   hip hip hooray!     HIP HIP   HOORAY!!!

xx

Until my mom is ready to write about her experience, you get to read my ramblings...

--

A big family doesn't often allow for many dull moments and we always track our mishaps in bundles of 3, but this year must hold some kind of record.  Pregnancies and births, car accidents, graduations, twin sweet 16's, special birthdays (40 & 60!), a flat purchase, loss of loved ones, and always lots of personal lessons and growth for everyone.  It must be our Catholic upbringing that allows my mind to fathom the equation: 2 healthy babies = 1 cancer

Our Polish Catholic God is always punishing us!   (This is humor, not a religious rant!)

And so...before Mark and I left for our holiday in South Africa, I requested of the sisters that if anything happens that I need to know about, send me a text that says, "Check your e-mail," and I will comply.  Two days left in a two week holiday, sitting amongst the spiders and "treetops" somewhere along the Garden Route, I turn my phone on and hear the beeping alert of a text message.

The text is from Jessica and it reads..."Check your e-mail".

For the next 5 minutes I tried to look busy and useful to Mark but found myself repeating the same tasks over and over and fumbling around our "tent".  I gave specific instructions to only send this text if something was urgent..so it must be urgent.  I couldn't think straight!  I folded the same shirt 3 times and reorganized my already organized suitcase and checked my flip flops for spiders and scorpions but I could not focus.  Mark, knowing my manic ways, encouraged me to head up to the owner’s house to inquire about using their computer to check my e-mail.

I don’t know what I expected to read when I opened the e-mail.  I expected something not-so-great, but never did I imagine the likes of, “mom has a lump in her breast. She went to the doctor for a biopsy and it’s malignant.”  The word cancer wasn’t in the e-mail...it didn’t have to be.