The boys had their first track meet last night. Between my mom and my husband, I was able to see a lot of it, before it got too rainy and I became too tired.


Cameron ran the mile and got first for his age group, with a time of 7 min. 11 sec.


Max got first for his age in the 400 meters.

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My mom arranged a luncheon for my friends from my Spiritual Spa (Bible Study) group today. It was nice to be together again with this group of wonderful ladies. And I'm very grateful for all the work my mom did.

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Tomorrow I have more chemo, and Friday I have an appt with a neurologist.

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1 Peter 2:9 (New International Version)
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Since my white blood cell count was still low 2 weeks ago, my oncologist ordered more bloodwork to be done in 2 weeks.

Two weeks has passed, and my WBC count is still low. It's slightly higher, but still below normal. But all the other blood count tests that they do came back normal. So I don't really know if I should be concerned. My doctor was on vacation, but the nurse said I can call and speak to her on Monday.

The thing is, aside from my newfound paranoia that the cancer will return and some recent migraines/headaches, I feel totally fine. Actually, I'm not sure how a low white blood cell count affects your health, except that I think you're more prone to infection. But I haven't been sick at all. I'm still running and looking to get into a more consistent pattern with my marathon training workouts.

Yes, in case you forgot, I'm still training for a marathon in January. Which might lead some people to believe that I'm quite sick after all.

Running in circles

Cameron, Max and my four visiting nieces all competed in a track meet the other night.

Ajah running the 400 meters.
Elyce competing in the softball throw.
Cameron and Max showing off their blues.
Philicia sprinting in the long jump.
Philyce jogging the 400 meters.
They competed in all the races....but I'm pretty sure I did most of the running!

Running with Mickey

Part of getting back to my regular life involves running....a marathon.

My friend Lanette got me interested in running long way back in 2000. That's when I completed my first marathon...The Suzuki Rock N Roll Marathon in San Diego.

Ever since that year, when I haven't been having babies, we've run a marathon together. In addition to the Rock N Roll Marathon, we've run Twin Cities, Chicago and the Nike Women's Marathon in San Fransisco (Lanette has run a couple more). Lanette, my sister Dana, and I were supposed to run the Marine Corps marathon last fall, but well, cancer sorta knocked that run off our racing circuit.

We don't run fast. We even walk when we need to. We're not out to break any records...or to qualify for Boston. But we're fine with that. We spend our race talking, telling stories, and catching up...especially since we now live 1000 miles away. We have fun.

So once I got this breathing issue under control and figured out when I'd be having my reconstructive surgery(probably mid/end of January), I just had to find the soonest marathon I could be prepared to run. Just so that I could feel like I'm back to normal (although I know many people who wouldn't consider running a marathon normal).

On January 11th, I'll be running the Disney Marathon. Lanette and Dana will be joining me. The course works its way through all the big parks, and we even get to run through the big Magic Kingdom castle. My mom and husband will be running the 5K, and we're going to register Cameron for the mile run.

It should be a lot of fun. Anyone want to join us?

Go Ella Go!

Run Forest Run...I mean Cameron, Max & Ella.

The kids are running track this year. This is Cameron's third year, Max's first year, and Ella participates (sorta) in the Stillwater All-comer meet, where they don't care how old you are.


They had their second meet tonight.



Cameron ran his best mile yet, a 7:48. (I'm not even sure I could run a mile that fast right now!)And this was after already running a 55m, 400m and 100m. His response after the race: "Mommy, my armpits are wet! And they smell."



Max was doing his hot & cold attitude routine that he does way too often. He lined up for the 55m, but then decided to barely run it, and walk, until I grabbed his hand and finished with him. After threatening him with no ice cream, he ran the next two races, 100m & 200m, with no trouble. Later in the meet, he said, "Mom, do you want to know why I walked in that first race....It was because it was boring." Oh sure, that makes sense.



Ella was being her typical two year old tyrant. She basically wandered all over the middle of the football field (thank goodness the track is enclosed by a fence). When it came time to running the races that she willingly did last week, she just screamed NO! and continued playing in the dirt or pulling up grass. However, once she saw the first race start, (which would be HER race), then she'd run to the beginning to line up for a race...which meant she would end up running with the boys, or some older kids. In this particular meet, every kid gets a ribbon. When Ella finished, she came to me with her ribbon and said, "Look what I found!"



Seeing the kids run is a lot of fun. Trying to keep track of all three kids, and their ribbons, and their drinks, and take one to the potty while another is running and still another refuses to get off her butt and go anywhere with me, makes for quite the exhausting experience.

I'm going to see if I can post a video in another post.

Treadmill trotting

I was able to run a little bit today.

Slow...and not too far, but at least it was something.

I ran a mile, walked a 1/4th, ran a mile, walked a 1/4th, ran a 1/2.

Maybe watching all the pretty, little, skinny things on America's Next Top Model helped keep me motivated, and my mind off my breathing issues, because I was able to complete it without any problems.

Wonder if I should start looking for a marathon to train for....okay, maybe not yet.

Better breathing...but more tests.

It seems that my shortness of breath is getting better. Guess the antibiotic my husband prescribed and the steroids my radiation oncologist prescribed actually did something. I'm not having trouble climbing stairs anymore. However, my running is still less than desirable, as I tried to go for a little jog last weekend. I say try, because I found myself stopping every 5 minutes to catch my breath, running only for a total of 20 minutes, and only downhill or on flat land. I'm going to try again to get out there tomorrow. Hopefully I can do better.



My husband ran into my oncologist at the hospital on Monday. He told her about my recent breathing issues, so she immediately ordered a heart scan...called a MUGA. It's what they did before chemo to make sure my heart could handle it. With radiation and chemo, there's always concern about heart damage. I had the scan yesterday, and today my oncologist called. All is good! No broken heart!



She now wants me to have a PET scan. My whole body will be scanned for cancer (I think). I had it done when I was first diagnosed. I wasn't supposed to have another scan until August, but for some reason my onocologist wants to go ahead and do it now.



If all is clear on my PET Scan (let's pray!), I'll have a very minor surgery to have this Port removed. I wasn't going to have it removed until I was put under for my reconstruction, but since that won't occur for quite some time, it's best to have this foreign object removed sooner. I'll be so happy to have this ugly thing protruding from below my neck like an odd bone gone for good. It was great to have for chemo...but now I have no need for it!



With all that said, I humbly as for prayers for a cancer free scan!

At least one of us can run.

Before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was training to run the Marine Corps Marathon with my friend Lanette and my sister. This was to be my 5th marathon. For obvious reasons...surgery, chemo...I couldn't run the race which was scheduled in the fall.

I've run on and off during my treatments. Nothing at all consistent. Nothing at all to brag about. Only here and there...everyone once in a long while.

I couldn't wait to be done with radiation so I could get back on the road. With this spring weather, there's nothing I'd rather do than get out there and hit the pavement. After radiation, when it was still too cold to run outside, I took to the treadmill a few times. I'd run a mile, walk a 1/4 mile, run a mile and a half, walk 1/4 mile, etc. I think I made it up to 4 miles, with a little walking in between.

But then this shortness of breath issue suddenly came on. Because even walking up the stairs had me practically gasping for oxygen, I was afraid to even attempt to run. My radiation oncologist's solution so far has been to pump me with more steroids, but it's not doing anything for my breathing.

I met a fellow cancer survivor today to walk around a local lake. During the walk, I felt completely fine. But this didn't surprise me, as to be honest, when you're used to running, walking is a "break." I walked the 2 mile loop, drank some water, and decided that I felt so good, I'd attempt a little running.

Bad idea.

I hadn't run for more than 20 meters when I found myself struggling to breathe. I hit a very short hill, and that was the end of me. I just couldn't run.

I don't want to call my doctor again, because I don't want to just be told to take more steroids. Something is not right. Me being able to run, then suddenly NOT be able to run, means something wrong is going on inside of me. And I'm really frustrated. Because I need to run.

On a different, and much more positive note, Cameron ran the mile in gym last week. Now I don't know how accurate the distance was, but he clocked a 7:59. He was first for the entire 1st grade, and even beat most of the 5th graders in the one class that ran with them.

I do hope we can go running together soon.

It's a good cause.

My brother is running a race to benefit the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. If you'd like to donate, you can go here: http://www.firstgiving.com/scottspitz.

Every little bit count!

A girl and her shoes

Except for being able to run with my best friend Lanette, nothing motivates me more to hit the pavement than a new pair of running shoes. With my Marine Corps marathon training starting soon, I definitely needed some serious motivation.

Today when I went into the running store, I had only 2 requirements for my shoes (okay I had a price requirement as well, but in order to meet my first two requirements, I had pretend I never made the pricing one).

Requirement #1: The shoe had to be a high cushion shoe.
Requirement #2: The shoe had to be PINK!

I don’t know what it is, but since having a little girl, I’ve fallen in love with all things pink. Not pastel pink, but bright, fun pink.

So I walked out of the store with these. Today I did 7 miles on the treadmill, and so far so good. They don’t make me any faster, or help me go any longer….but they sure do look cute!

What gets you moving?

It seems like every couple of months, Runner’s World publishes a “Motivation Issue.” I could use one of these every week. But for now, here are my own motivation triggers for running:

1. Sign up for a marathon. Once you spend the hefty registration fee, you can’t NOT train for a 26.2 mile run.

2. Sign up for a marathon with some friends. Now you really have to train, since others are counting on you.

3. Put on the jeans that fit you two months ago but are now cutting off your circulation at the thighs.

4. Borrow someone else’s iPod and go for a jog just to see what they have playing.

5. Take your son to any kind of practice at the end of the day when you really are not in the best of moods and are too tired and impatient for small talk with the other parents, so you need something else to do…like going for a run.

6. Remember that the Lemon Lime Gatorade tastes just like a margarita…and if you run far or fast enough, the endorphins at the end will make you feel like there were more than just electrolytes in that drink.

7. Look at ANY clothes catalog…where all the models are size zero with C-D cups making everything look perfect on them…and then when you try the outfit on, you just look plain fat.

8. Remember that when you’re running, you’re ALONE…with no whining, screaming, ungrateful kids nagging at your side.

9. Get a sexy husband (like mine) who works around young, flirtatious, pretty women all day…not that he’s looking….but I see them.

10. Go bathing suit shopping. But warning, not only might you start running, but you also might stop eating.

Those are my motivational techniques for now. And although I’ve been running a lot these past few weeks, I haven’t dropped a pound, and my belly hasn’t shrunk an inch, the cellulite is still showing on my thighs and butt, and those too tight jeans are still too tight. Oh well….I’m trying.

Genes

My husband always says to me, “He’s definitely your son,” when referring to Cameron’s forgetful and emotional behavior. But yesterday he had a different reason to say such. Yesterday Cameron had a track meet, and because of weather and other commitments only about a couple dozen kids showed up (unlike the usual hundred or so), so the kids could run as many events as they wanted. Cameron decided to do ALL of them. He ran the 55 meters, then the 400, next the 100, then the 800 and finally the 200 meters. And he managed to run around in between each race cheering on the other runners. Oh yes, he’s definitely my son.

Now Max on the other hand….I know I birthed him, but I constantly question if he’s my son. Episode in the car today:
Max is spitting…and spitting…and spitting.
“Max stop spitting!”
“Why?” he asked in between spits.
“Because that’s gross. Now stop!”
He stops for a couple seconds, then says, “I spit one more time.” And he proceeds to do so.
Then he says, “Mommy, you spit.”
“No, Max, I’m not spitting.”
“Why not? It’s fun. You should spit.”
Ugh!

iLess Confused

I finally sorta figured out my iPod. Who knew Apple had a help function on its site explaining exactly how to operate it (although I’d still rather have a paper manual).

The first song I downloaded…..from my middle school idol…….”Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, of course…along with a few other songs of hers.

Then I added some uplifting Kirk Franklin from a CD that I lost years ago.

And then…I hit the jackpot. Somehow I came across a page that showcased songs under the title “Running through the 90s.” Since I’m downloading music mostly to distract me during my marathon training, I thought this would be perfect. I found a whole bunch of songs from my college and post college years.

Now when I pass by people as I run, I wonder what they might be listening to. Because I’m sure they have no idea that I’m running to the beat of Naughty by Nature’s “O.P.P,” House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” or Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie.”

Now if only I could figure out how to turn this damn thing off....oh yeah, and put my "bad" songs in different folders so that when my 6 year old sons uses my iPod, he's not singing, Bel Biv DeVoe's "Poison" in the shower...or the Violent Femmes "Add It Up" on the playground.

Just Do It.

Marine Corps Marathon

Washington D.C.

October 28th

Registration begins May 9th, and fills up very quickly...within a couple days if not sooner.

Consider joining us!

Racing out the door

It's almost 10 PM. At 5:30 AM tomorrow, I'm supposed to leave here to catch an airplane to the East Coast. I haven't even begun to pack yet. But I'm only packing for one!

I'm running a half-marathon with my friend Lanette in Central Park. Being the slacker that I am, I've hardly trained and am not really prepared. But I figure once you've run 26.2 miles, 13.1 should be a piece of cake.....right?

Of course the race is just an excuse for us to talk for a few hours without interruptions. And a couple chocolate martini's afterwards....but only a couple this time!

I wonder if it will be harder for me to run this half marathon, or harder for my husband to take care of all three kids all weekend by himself. Hmmmm. I guess it will depend on whether the screamfests occur with him as much as they do with me. What do you think?