What AM I Running For?

Cross posted from my running blog:

When I was in Jr. High, High School, even college, I hated running. I even got in serious trouble for refusing to run in gym class. (Oh, what a rebel I was at my VERY small private school!) How on earth did I get from there to here?


Five years ago last month, I lost my best friend to leukemia. A few months later, her husband, parents, and another friend raised money through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training by doing a century bike ride. My second child was a year old, and I wanted to get back in shape. My husband and I decided to do a fundraiser of our own. We ran our first half marathon in San Diego in June of 2008. We both caught the bug.

These days, I run for a number of reasons. I run for my health. I run to keep up with my children. (When my son makes a break for it, as he does at least twice a week, I need to be able to catch him. He's a fast little booger!) With four children, I run to get some me time.

As of today, I have a new reason to run. May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy complication that can potentially be life threatening to both mother and child. I am a three-time survivor. I signed up for my second marathon today, and I will be running to raise money for the Preeclampsia Foundation and to raise awareness of this devastating condition.

If you would like to sponsor me, you can visit the Preeclampsia Foundation's secure donation page and click on "Donate As a Guest". Be sure to select the box that says "This is a tribute in honor of" and enter my name. If you'd prefer to send a check, you can make it payable to the Preeclampsia Foundation and mail it to me. If you need my address, e-mail me at kingtaran at yahoo dot com.

While it is important to raise funds for research so we can end this condition, it's also important to raise awareness so mothers and babies can have the best chance of survival. I have a number of posts planned for this month. I knew nothing of preeclampsia before I was diagnosed, and it nearly cost me my life. It is so important to know the signs and symptoms and to advocate for yourself.

Memories

I was in Jr. High when Wayne's World came out. My friends and I saw it about 40 times together and especially loved the Bohemian Rhapsody scene. One day, my mom was driving us to a field trip in her Dodge Omni. We sang this at the top of our lungs and head banged away. The teacher driving behind us said the whole car was bouncing, and over the next week all four tires went flat. Ah, memories. J-JASS forever!

I've started a new blog for running, What You Running For. I plan to still keep this one for family stuff, and the other one will be specifically for running and pre-eclampsia advocacy. I want to use my running to raise awareness and research funds for this devastating condition that has had such a profound effect on my life.

The Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser is one of my favorite shows. In fact, I often do a treadmill workout while watching. But last night's episode was such a load of crap. The contestants are all going to quit because they only want to compete against people who "deserve" to be there? And it's not fair that eliminated contestants can come back, even though it's been done almost every previous season AND it was explicitly in the contract they read and signed?

The reason you deserve to be there is because you did the work to avoid elimination. Oh wait, I know for sure Mark, Conda, and Kim all spent time below the yellow line, maybe the others as well. Well, you deserve to be there because you made the right alliances to keep you safe and/or the person you were up against was hated more.

But the contestant who returns will also deserve to be there for having done what it takes to win the challenge.

This whole season has been a Mean Girls Club. First it was Mike, who was eliminated because he was a loudmouth. Then they transferred their hate to Adrian, who dared to be the new guy. Once he was gone, Kim was the target even though she had previously been one of the worst Mean Girls. And now it's all the returning contestants. And the Mean Girls are all going to quit, because if they can't get their way they just won't play. I had really thought Mark and Buddy, at least, were above all that, but they were the ones to actually go through with quitting. What a bunch of babies.

Sweetie is doing so well

Sweetie was diagnosed with kidney reflux a year ago. We were told that a Grade 1-2 will clear up on its own, while a Grade 4-5 definitely needs surgery. She was a Grade 3. We decided to wait for a year to see if she outgrew it. Even 3 months ago, she was complaining of pain every day, and I was convinced she'd need surgery.

Then one day I realized she wasn't complaining any more. In the last 2 months, she's gained some weight. Not a lot, but still. AND her preschool, Sunday school, and co-op teachers have all commented that she's participating more, making friends, and just happier.

She was retested a few weeks ago, and there's NO reflux. I didn't realize how much it affected her, but I'm so thrilled to see her blossoming. And so thrilled she doesn't need surgery.

DWTS Most Memorable Year

Last week was "Most Memorable Year" week on Dancing with the Stars. My most memorable year was 2009, the year the twins were born. I spent the first half of the year terrified I'd lose them and the second half struggling to care for them. But I'd do it all again to have them. So if I were on DWTS, the song I'd pick to represent my year would be Kelly Clarkson's My Life Would Suck Without You.



What's your most memorable year, and what song (released in that year) would you pick to go with it?

ER visit

I've had some mild chest pain, more of an ache, for two days. Yesterday, I had a low fever and a sinus headache, and my lungs felt heavy. Seemed like a typical cold. Today, the chest pain has localized to a small spot in my right lung. I also coughed up some blood. Because I have a blood clotting mutation (MTHFR a1298c) and because my sister has had a pulmonary embolism, I decided I should get checked out.

The EKG was fine, chest x-ray was clear, and blood work (including d-dimer which looks for blood clots) was normal. So I'm home with orders to rest, follow up with my doctor next week, and come back if the pain gets worse.