I'm gonna Huff and Puff and .......... probably collapse

Whew!  So much has been going on!  I jumped in full force this week on my half marathon training and boy am I feeling it!  I ran almost 16 miles from Tuesday to Saturday.  I also added in a 10-mile bike ride (complete with the most killer hill I've EVER climbed on a bike), soccer practice, and helping a friend move and unpack.  My mind has also been in non-stop fundraiser mode.  It's no wonder that I just want to collapse in to a deep and dreamless sleep.  After this week, 13 more weeks to go!  I'm actually excited to see what my progress is week to week.

I decided to commit to this challenge for a couple of reasons.  Namely, Tami and Matthew.  I hope they don't mind me sharing this next little bit.  You may have read on my donation site that about 10 years ago, both Tami and Matt were in the hospital at the same time.  For 3 months, in fact.  It was really hard for me during that time, as they were both very sick and I was constantly worried about them.  I was also going to school and had just started my first job.  My dad was at work during the day, then would go visit during the evenings, and my mom would split her time between the 2 hospitals (we had to get special permission/clearance to have Tami switch to the hospital that shared with the Childrens hospital -- I don't really remember how it all worked, but it still took a while) all day and night, and I was often-times a shuttle driver to and from the hospitals.  I spent a lot of time at the hospitals as well, visiting and sleeping over.  It was a very strange routine and a very quiet household when I was home.

At one point, Tami had a bad allergic reaction to some medication and it was very scary to watch.  I remember running out in to the nurse's station yelling for somebody to come in her room to help her.  I cried.  I was so frightened for her.  I also remember sleeping in the chair-bed right next Matthew's hospital bed and holding his hand through the night soon after he had surgery.  I wanted to visit them both often.  But sometimes it was hard.  One night I couldn't make myself go over there.  Just thinking about walking in the hospital doors and down the halls to the elevators, taking in the smells and sounds, was just too much for me.  I couldn't make myself do it.  And I have felt guilty about those feelings all these years.  I should have been more available to them.  I've never been hospitalized or stuck in a foreign room, sometimes with another sick person sharing a bathroom, or not able to get out of bed to walk around.  And this is what they both had to go through for SUCH a long time!  It doesn't seem so much of a burden for me to just go up and sit and visit with them.  I've just felt so bad about those feelings I had of not being able to make myself go sometimes.

And this is why when I got the flyer in the mail about CCFA's Team Challenge, I was SO excited to learn more and see what it was all about.  This is my way of finally making it up to Tami and Matt.  My way of giving back.  My way of saying I LOVE YOU and I'm so sorry for what you've had to go through.  It's such a little thing that I'm doing in comparison to what they've been through, but I hope that great results come from it.  I'm grateful that I am healthy enough to take on this challenge and am so happy for this excuse to keep Tami and Matt in my constant thoughts.  It's been a pretty emotional couple of weeks for me thinking about everything and going through all the preparations.  Each donation notification has brought tears to my eyes.  I am so grateful for such kind, giving people who would be so moved to help me on behalf of Tami & Matt and all other people suffering.

I assume this will be my life for the next 3 months, and I'm totally pumped!  Add to the mix my soccer games, and you'll have a good idea of what I'm up to.  I'll continue to update my CCFA blog so you can read more about my training and progress:  www.ccfa-mleblakemore.blogspot.com In fact, there's a new update now! Check it out, and don't forget to visit my donation site as well:  www.active.com/donate/lv09dcvirginia/eblakemore

This time,    What happens in Vegas........  will lead to CURES!!