half crazy, full throttle

Since my last post, the following things have happened:

-my surprise 30^th birthday brunch

-NIH clinic (all scans, including full body and brain MRI are clean; bloodwork was fine!)

-Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2014!

It’s been crazy (again) since Adele’s adoption. Right after her adoption finalization on Nov. 25 we delved right into Thanksgiving followed by my surprise birthday party followed by a day-long trip to the NIH in Bethesda, MD, and back, for my NIH clinic, followed by Adele getting pneumonia (she is OK: on antibiotics and a nebulizer, and back at school after being home for two days – still eating, sleeping and playing like a champ!) PLUS I’ve been trying to prepare for my half marathon which is, all of a sudden, two days away.

But Adele’s illness plus terrible weather has prevented me from pretty much any real training.

And now my throat hurts which has me nervous.

But, here’s what’s going to go down on Sunday.

I am going to run the hell out of my first half marathon. Sore throat and all. 30-degree temps and all.

I have been doing everything I can to kill this (cold?) as it starts: lots of hot tea including organic chamomile and Tulsi; eating raw garlic; getting lots of sleep; Airborne, Sambuccol/elderberry; eating fruit; and taking my multivites. So, I THINK it’s just a throat thing and I’m HOPING it doesn’t develop into a full-blown cold.

I can run on a sore throat. It wont be pleasant but I’ll do it. I’ve put way too much into Sunday’s race.

Adele reading her first Highlights magazine after her dinner of kale, apple and Greek yogurt :)

On Sunday I will run because:

I got a clean brain MRI

I got a clean full body MRI

My bloodwork is clean

I am turning 30

I want to end 2014 with a BANG

We finalized Adele’s adoption

WE ARE OUT OF THE WOODS.

I can. I will. You’ve heard that before.

This time this particular race has even more meaning. A 30^th birthday is kind of a big deal. Another year of clean MRIs when you have LFS is kind of a big deal. Adopting a child is kind of a big deal. Running a half marathon in December in Pennsylvania is kind of a big deal.

Being a Mama with a full time job is kind of a big deal.

I am kind of a big deal and I’m celebrating being kind of a big deal.

And ya know what? I don’t care how or when, just that I finish. Slow? Fine? Terrible pace? Fine? I just want to finish. Any way that I finish will be MY running-the-hell-out-of-it. Because who does their first half marathon in December? This girl.

This year was phenomenal. 2015 will bring even more excitement and blessings and journeys.

"Oh, Mama, you are so hilarious!"

When you turn 30 you want to celebrate. Thank you to my amazing husband Sean, and my family and friends, who surprised me with my favorite brunch in honor of that.

Clearly, I was very surprised

Life is so, so short. I am reminded of that every day.

On Sunday I will run because life is short. I will run for Kara and Kayla, two Tour de Pink sisters who died from breast cancer in the past two years. When I run I think of them.

Life is so, so short. If we can run the hell out of a half marathon we absolutely should. Just because. Because I promised myself I would.