9 weeks out from Seattle 2012!

Left my shoes with my custom orthotics in Salt Lake.  Bummer.  Walked with my 2nd pair minus the ever important orthotics and it went well.  Experienced some hot spots after just 3 miles, but feel it was due to not having the orthotics or the liner in the shoes.  I keep the liner out because it is too cramped when I put the O's in. 

The walk was just fabulous though.  The weather is so perfect for walking.  No stifling heat/humidity combo that I dealt with in midwest.  Loving Seattle Summers! 

Plan tonight is to walk around Green Lake.  This was the lake I started each long training run around when I trained for my marathon.  I may pop my head into Super Jock 'n' Jill to buy me some goodies for the walk while I am there.  :)

A roadblock turned detour

In 2011 my husband and I raised $$$ and prepared to walk 60 miles during the Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure event in Dallas, TX.  Unfortunately after throwing my back out yet again we ended up not being able to walk which was a blessing in some ways.  We didn't realize at the time that we would be moving to Seattle, Washington a few months later.  Dec. 28th we closed on our new home.  We are unpacked and settling in to this new adventure in the Emerald city.  Just last week I spoke with a representative for the SGK organization and she was so kind and patient as she registered both of us for the 2012 event and changed our walking location to SEATTLE!!  Our registration is unique (because it is being transferred from '11) and we feel so thankful that they will allow us to walk this year with the knowledge that we raised our required funds and are not required to raise any more to participate.  No need to be burdened down with fundraising this year, however  I have the sneaking suspicion that I will get the urge to start fundraising again before the walk.  In total we have raised over $7,000 and I'm itching to attempt to pass the 10k mark... 

I'm grateful for another shot at the ability to help put an end to breast cancer.  Every step that I am able to take, every breath I breathe I am grateful.  :)  Today I am especially grateful that our roadblock turned into a detour and that we have a new date to look forward to-Sep. 14-16, 2012!

Where to start...

After raising $4800.00 for breast cancer research I have further injured my back and I am unable to participate in the SGK 3-Day for a cure walk this year in Dallas.

I have a history of back issues and in August I sustained another injury.  I have been in physical therapy off and on for over a year and a half and was starting to experience some pain-free days.  But, with the latest injury I haven't been able to recover and each day has consisted of heat or ice, stretching/core exercises and lots of meds.

I petitioned to Susan G Komen to allow my team to transfer our registration to 2012, knowing that as a rule they do not allow this.  Thankfully, after my case was reviewed the transfer was granted.  I am really sad about not being able to walk in 3 weeks, but I want it to be a good experience and I don't want to end up in an ED after attempting to walk when I'm not physically able to do so.

I want to thank EVERYONE that helped us with our fundraising.  I hope you forgive us for not walking this year, but trust me we WILL walk next year and it will be documented so that you can hear all about it.  Pictures will be posted too.  Lots and lots of pictures.  :)  So, thank you!  Susan G Komen was still given all $4,800 and putting it to good use.  Hopefully, to find a cure for breast cancer soon!!

On a positive note, my husband promised to take me somewhere fun that weekend since we already have babysitting lined up.  We will get some much needed alone time to relax a bit before a big move back to SEATTLE!!

Life is good!

So much to be thankful for.

Recently a sweet neighbor stopped in front of my house while the children and I were enjoying popsicles on a very hot St Louis day.   She had some good news to share.  "I got my tickets!"  She exclaimed happily with a bright smile on her face.  "Tickets?"  I asked.  "To Dallas!  I got my tickets to go to the Race!"  I think my jaw dropped.  My neighbor who has been so supportive in my fundraising, was going to be at the 3-Day for the Cure to watch Brady and I walk.  We are amazed and so excited to think that we will have someone in the cheering station!  In 2007 at my first walk I realized how important those cheering stations were.  It was so fun walking past the crowds of people, giving high-fives, being handed treats, stickers and water (from some hot firefighters.  Literally hot.  It was blazing that day...)  :) .  The only thing that would have made it better was having someone to cheer us on that we knew.  This year we will!!  I am still hoping that my sister and her family will be able to cheer us on as well.  We didn't know to ask them at our last walk!

The biggest news...$2,300 is a decent sized fundraising goal and when it is doubled that is pretty lofty.  I would think that some would get a little overwhelmed at the prospect of raising almost $5,000.  It is a happy day today.  We reached our goal!!!  $4,800 has been raised and sent directly to the Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure organization.  It will help pay for life-saving treatments and research, cancer prevention information and screenings.

Lastly school is starting today!  My Carter will be in Kindergarten!  How fun for him.  He will love being able to experience all that his big brother has been telling him from his 4 years experience in elementary school.  Nick will be in the 4th grade (which is amazing to me as well.  Middle school is right around the corner!)  It will be the twins school day as well.  In 7 hours all 4 children will be in school.  I will be home alone to sleep (I work the night shift) and train train train.  My long walks are now going to be on Tuesdays since I will be fully rested and have a full kid-free day!  Wednesday-Friday we will be taking our shorter walks (the twins and I) because it will be easier for them to be in the heat the shorter amount of time.  Luckily the weather has started cooling and it is getting easier to be out there.

So,  good news abounds.  I feel so blessed right now.  Life is good.

Soooo Close!!!

Only $99 left to raise to get to goal!!!  We have actually hit over 100% of our team goal, but Brady needs a few small $$ to get to his goal.  Each participant must raise $2,300 to participate in the walk.  He is at $2,201.

T-Shirt?  Cookies?  Flocking?  Babysitting?  I will do anything (short of being immoral or illegal) to get to goal this week.  Just let me know!!  I will gladly take donations just out of the goodness of your heart as well!  I can't believe we are this close!

I guess I should start training...

I've been diligently pulling in some serious money for our 3-Day Walk, almost to goal.  Getting so excited reading about the first 2011 3-Day happening last weekend in Boston.  My Dallas walk still seems so far away, yet it's in only 15 weeks and I have yet to begin serious training.  If it wasn't 90-100 degrees EVERY DAY for most of the summer I would have been pounding the pavement with the double stroller and getting my walks in.  But, I know that it will happen soon, it has to...  Honestly I wouldn't have any problem getting out in the heat, but I have some darling wee ones that would be dreadfully hot and miserable and I would hate to put them through that.  Plus, with all my physical therapy appointments robbing me dry of all my babysitting money I can't stand the thought of paying a babysitter to sweat it out in the heat.  But, somehow it has to be done.  Get my treadmill serviced?  That should probably be on the top of my list.  It's definitely not the same as hitting the pavement, but it would certainly be a start.  Plus, in a couple of weeks school starts again and I will have a whole day to myself for my long walks.  I will cherish it.  Until I realize that walking 15 miles by myself will be seriously boring.  It's not like running where I am too out of breath to talk to anyone and music is my lifeline.  Plus, long walks take a significant amount of time.  Much longer than running.  Gosh, am I complaining?  Making excuses?  This is when I need to remember that people with cancer have no choice but to put their head down and burrow through it.  IT being chemo, radiation, weight gain, hair loss, loss of appetite, loss of revenue, medical bills up the kazoo, an uncertain future...etc. etc. etc.  I guess I'll be calling for a service repair man to tune up my treadmill. 

So, in reading up on the Boston 3-Day last weekend, I heard that the Bostonians raised $4.8 million dollars last weekend.  1,700 walkers in 90 degree heat walked Boston.  I bow to you!!


Only 9% more until goal...

Goal is in sight!!

88% toward goal of $5,000!!  After the rest of the claimed shirts are delivered we will have LESS than 

$500 to raise!!  So close.  Almost there...  :)

Oh, and did I mention that my 2 year old twins start school TODAY!!!  Woo Hoo!!  Preschool here we come!