I Get Knocked Down...but I Get Up Again...

You're Never Gonna Keep Me Down.....
My mantra the last few weeks.  
Last week, I actually followed the Dr's orders and rested. Well except for the 3 times I went to bootcamp....and the soccer game I played in on Saturday(parents vs. kids) so much fun!

the kids won..of course...4-8..

these were some FAST kids!!

....but other than that...I rested.

Monday I ran a quick 4 miles to test out my leg and it felt a little better. The swelling has gone down a little and the pain is not as sharp. I'm trusting in God's healing power and hopeful that this will not affect my race on Nov 5th.  I'm so hopeful that this will be a complete NON-ISSUE, that I registered for 2 more marathons!

Rocket City in Huntsville, AL-12/10/11

and 

Rock 'n Roll New Orleans!!
03/04/12

I think I'm hooked!!!

10 days until I run Savannah Georgia....people keep asking if I'm ready.  My answer...I guess.  When I signed up for this race I was prepared to do two things. Run and raise money for the Fetal Hope Foundation.

I will be ready to run on November 5th.  And so far I have raised an amazing $595.00! Not quite my goal of $1000.00, but there is still time left.  If you haven't donated yet, please do.  I have a great giveaway/raffle HERE with awesome prizes for runners.  It only takes a minimum donation of $5 to enter!!  Please help support this amazing foundation.

Fetal syndromes affect 800,000 pregnancies per year in the US alone. This is four times the amount of cases per year as breast cancer.
We lose more than 200 babies a day to fetal distresses and syndromes.
With your donation, we can make a difference in bringing hope and changing lives.

Hope you are all having an amazing week!  What are you currently training for?

Grace and peace,

 

Who wants a Road ID??

In case you haven't been by my blog recently, I am having a giveaway/raffle to raise money for the Fetal Hope Foundation.
For a minimum donation of $5.00 you can be entered to win some really great prizes from Running Chics, NUUN, Allied Medal Displays, Balancing Act Clothing, Iron Girl...and today, I am adding one more prize to the package!

 Road ID

If you are a runner, cyclist, triathlete or just an active person, Road ID is for you. In the event of an accident, if you can't speak for yourself, your Road ID will. It's not just a piece of gear - it's peace of mind. 

 The winner will have their choice of either

the Wrist ID Sport:

OR

the Wrist ID Slim:

So how do you enter?

All you have to do is make a minimum donation of $5 to the Fetal Hope Foundation

  Go HERE

or click on the link on my blog sidebar to find our how...

Thank you for all of your support!

Grace and peace,

Oh the paces you'll go...

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.  And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets.  Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

~Dr. Seuss

First of all...if you haven't already, please check out my "runners" giveaway HERE 

Saturday I ran the Rebuilding Together 5k.  It's a flat, fast, course. Last year I set a PR with a 24:10.  This year I expected another PR...and I did.  I ran a 23:55..avg pace 7:41.  So why was I disappointed?  This year my training is twice what it was last year. I could have and should have(according to my training) run it in under 23mins.  So why didn't I?  A few factors.
I am not that great at internally gauging my pace.  I started out pretty fast and felt good...so I slowed down.  I was afraid if I went out too fast I wouldn't have anything left at the end.  I was wrong. Too much self doubt!
I finished and felt like I still had a good bit left. I have decided to run another 5k in two weeks. The Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5k.  This time I have a friend, a Fleet Feet Racer, who offered to pace me to a PR. My goal is a sub 23.

Last night my training schedule called for 6miles w/6 strides.  

Mile 1:  8:12

Mile 2: 7:51

Mile 3: 8:20

Mile 4: 8:10

Mile 5: 8:12

Mile 6: 7:56

Most of my training for this marathon has been solo.  There have been times where I feel like I'm just not pushing myself hard enough.  Or that I was too ambitious thinking I could ever qualify for Boston. Last night, before my run I considered calling it a rest day.  I just wasn't feeling it.  I was tired..the kids have all been sick....it was cold outside.  I had come up with every excuse I could think of to NOT run.  In fact, by 5pm I was already in my pajamas and ready to have an "I can't do this" pity party.
And then....
I got mad.  I got mad at myself for letting doubt creep in.  For letting a "feeling" get the best of me. I got mad enough that I put my running shoes on and hit the pavement.
I had to remind myself that my goal to BQ is not just a "feeling". I won't always "feel" like running or stretching or eating right. But every time I choose to push through...every good choice I make gets me one step closer to my goal and makes me that much stronger.


God reminded me during my run last night:
This is also how faith works. Faith is NOT a feeling. I don't always "feel" God around me.  I can't always see Him moving and working in my life. But I KNOW that God is here always working and moving on my behalf.  There are times when I "feel" like I have come against a wall or that the devil is testing me; those are the times when I KNOW that if I push through...if I don't let my feelings and circumstances dictated to me what to do..the blessings are always on the other side...and I will always come out stronger.

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

~Dr. Seuss 

Grace and Peace,

Please check out my giveaway HERE

Fetal Hope

There is an issue near and dear to my heart that I have not yet shared with you.  I just wasn't ready to.
I realize now though, that sharing my experience and the experience of so many who have dealt with any type of fetal syndrome can give a voice to a topic that is so unknown to many.
The best place for me to start is at the beginning....let me share...

Our Story
It all started almost 8 years ago in 2003.  The news of twins was surreal. We had been trying to get preggo but never expected this.  Twins don't run in our family. We were over the top with joy.  That joy was short lived.
Our Dr. detected an abnormality on an ultrasound when I was only 10 weeks along. Not sure what it was, if anything, she had me come back the next week for a better look.  I was quickly referred to a local fetal specialist who gave us an official diagnosis of TTTS with and an Acardiac Twin or twin to twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) syndrome.

Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) affects 1 in 7 monochorionic (shared placenta, identical twins) pregnancies and, if left untreated, has a near 100% mortality rate.

An acardiac twin or Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion (TRAP) syndrome is an unusual form of TTTS. In these twins, one twin develops normally while the other twin fails to develop a heart as well as other body structures. The abnormal twin is called an acardiac twin. In these pregnancies, the umbilical cord from the acardiac twin branches directly from the umbilical cord of the normal twin. Blood flow to the acardiac twin comes from the normal twin which is also known as a pump twin. Without treatment, more than 50% of cases of TRAP will result in the death of the pump twin.

Because TRAP can sometimes be difficult to explain or read about, HERE is a link if you want to know more.

He then referred us to one of the top fetal specialists and surgeons in the U.S., Dr. Ruben Quintero in Tampa, Florida. We were the 80th diagnosed case. 
Thankfully, the diagnosis was made very early on in my pregnancy. At 24 weeks we flew to Tampa, FL to see Dr. Ruben Quintero for an umbilical cord occlusion.  At that point, the "pump" twin was almost 30% smaller than the acardiac twin.  Of course, we were given all of the scary statistics of what could go wrong.  They said there was only a 66% chance that either baby would make it and a greater chance of a neurologic injury during the in-utero surgery.
Honestly, I don't remember a lot of the details of the pregnancy I was pretty numb. I think I was emotionally detached because of fear of losing both babies. There was so little information or support regarding TTTS and TRAP. We were even advised 3 times to abort the pregnancy. 
I do remember every detail of meeting Dr. Quintero and his staff for the first time and remember feeling so much relief because they had so much knowledge about what I was going through.
I was awake during the surgery and through tv monitors and a camera inside the womb I was able to see both babies. It was amazing and bittersweet.
We lost Eugene Paul as soon as the surgery was completed.
After flying back home I was on strict bedrest and  monitored weekly with ultrasound.  At 29 weeks I had a rupture in the membrane which caused the amniotic fluid to leak.  I was put in the hospital on strict bedrest for almost 2 weeks.  At 31 weeks I developed an infection of the amniotic fluid and delivered via c-section.  I choose not to see Eugene Paul.  Sebastian Allen was born weighing a hefty 4lbs 8oz.  He only spent 1 week in the NICU.

He was perfect! Strong, healthy, and beautiful! Nothing like what I had imagined or what the Dr's had prepared me for.

Sebastian had a few cognitive delays and we had a therapist come to the house once a week for a couple months.  By his second b-day he had caught up and is now a happy, healthy, loving boy.

When we went through this there was little information for us.  Now, there are places like The Fetal Hope Foundation that educate and support families who are dealing with similar circumstances.  The donations that people make to the Fetal HopeFoundation go to not only raise awareness, but to help families with travel expenses and treatments.

Now, to the main point.....It took a while huh?

I am running the Rock n Roll Savannah Marathon on November 5th, to raise money for The Fetal Hope Foundation. My goal is to raise $1000.00 by November 5th. I would love it if you would support this cause as well.

Thank you for allowing me to share with you a piece of my heart.

God is good, all the time, even when our circumstances say otherwise.

Grace and peace,