Marine Corps Marathon!! 4:21:49

On Sunday I run a marathon 7 month after having a tumor removed from my spinal canal and my chest wall!?! I did it in honor of Jamison he is little boy who lives in Tennessee, who can’t run. What an honor it was, to run through our nation’s capital for Jamison and myself. There were points at the race, when I was yelling “I AM DOING”! Sitting here I get chock up at the thought of what I have been through over the last year.

This was right before the race!

Right after I crossed the finish line!

It was the hardest marathon I have ever run, not because of the course or the mileage it was because of the pain in my back. I try so hard to pretend that the pain is gone but the truth is it’s not gone, and it showed its ugly face around mile 16 of the race. By mile 22 I was in tears running but I wouldn’t stop. I wasn’t just running for myself, I was running for Jamison and I wasn’t going to let him down for anything. When I came across the finish line, I came to my knees. I know I did not run on Sunday alone. I run saying prayers the whole race. I couldn't have done it without the Lord by my side. He carried across that finish line. Giving up never crossed my mind. I knew I could do it. Pain is only temporary the glory of running a marathon for Jamison will last a life time.

Special Kids Marine Corps Marathon Team

The best part of the Marathon was that my older brother Eric and Cousin Angela ran the marathon with me and my Aunt Veronica ran the 10K. It was truly a family event. We had a blast! It was Eric (my brothers) first marathon, he did Awesome. He beat my first marathon time by 5 minutes!! Way to GO ERIC!! Angela is my cousin who lives in New England we see her every few years, this was her second marathon. I loved sharing the road with both of them, running at different points with both. I remember telling Angela at one point, that 7 months ago I was lying in ICU with a chest tube and now I’m running a marathon! I didn’t get to run next to Veronica but I was so proud of her for coming out to DC and RUNNING a 10K. She has lost a ton of weight over the last 2 years, and never though she could have done this. I knew she could, we are running the Disney Goofy race in January 2010 together! Yes, she is running a marathon!! It’s amazing what a race can do for you. We plan to run it for Special Kids so get your check books ready again!

Eric, Angie and Me before the race started

Everyone before the race!
I have to blog about the rest of our time in DC because it was so much fun!!

The first night we got there, we where all having a good time. When we heard the door, it wasn’t some one knocking it was so someone using a key to get into the room. At first, we thought it was my dad playing around. Then all the sudden my dad said, there is two men from China at our door with a key. They had double booked our room. YES, they had key that worked on our room. We laughed so hard, about our visitors. It all got worked out and gave us all good laugh.

Veronica, me and my mom On Friday, my parents took Alana to the DC ZOO she had a blast more on the metro to and from the ZOO. While, they hang out at the ZOO my Aunt and I went to the expo for the Marathon. Let me just tell you if you haven’t been to an expo you should go just for all free food alone. We ate the whole time we where there. On our way back on the metro we both had a stomach ache. We both got some really cool marathon gear that you can’t find in stores. My favorite is my new hair band that says “MARATHON MOMMY”!

That night, we where all so tired from the day of actives we where in bed by 8pm. Alana was playing around us and then all the sudden she climb in the bed and went to sleep. We all slept through the phone ringing at 10:30 that night but not Veronica she answered it. I was out, I didn’t even know the phone had rang until the morning when my mom asked her who called. She looked at my mom and said the phone rang? She didn’t remember the phone ringing let alone answering it. We all had a good laugh about that.

On Saturday, we woke up to pouring down rain. It was cold, windy and rainy. My brother and his family had come in so we all went down to the mall area to meet them. Alana loved having her cousin there. I wish we could have spent more time with them. I miss seeing them so much, we try and see them a few times a year but with the distance between us it is becoming less and less. Now, that Alana is older I need to go there more, she was so sad when they had to leave.

Brandon, Justin and Alana We spent Monday being tourist around DC. We went and watched the changing of the guards at the Arlington Cemetery. I have been many times but it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. This time it really got me, I think it because one of my close friends husband is over in Iraq. It hit close to home for me. Did, I say how COLD and WET it was! OMG, it was WINTER. The day before it had been 71 and I think the high on Monday was 40! I felt great that day I walked around and had just a little soreness. I was so glad for that because Alana was a handful for me. Of course she was an angel for my parents, that’s all that really matters.

When we got back to the hotel that afternoon, I got an email from RUNNERS WORLD!! I had sent them my story and few months back. They had actually contacted me on Sunday after the race but I didn’t check my email. I was in shock to say the least! I don’t know if my story will get picked up or not what an honor it was to be considered for it. I should know in a few weeks, I am so excited!!

Me, Angie and Eric after the race!We had a great time! I can’t wait to run The Marine Corps Marathon again! I don’t want to run a race twice but this one I could 100 times and still walk away wanting to do it again. If you want to run a marathon and don’t where to start this is a great race! I am doing it again on November 16, 2008 in San Antonio. So keep my legs in your prayers they will need it!

At the Start of the Race! Baby Kyle
Julie and Eric

Our Weekend in Houston!

This past weekend Alana and I went to see John and his family in Houston. We had a blast!! We got to see John’s Brother Peter and his wife Micah a ton. They have a niece (Grace) that is three weeks older than Alana, Alana feel in love with Grace! By the end of the weekend you would have thought the girls had known each other for years. The weekend went by so fast, before we knew it Alana and I where boarding a plane to come back to El Paso. Here is a recap of our weekend.

On Friday, while everyone worked Alana and I went to the Houston ZOO and had a blast. She is getting so big she walked the whole zoo no stroller for us anymore. We got to see some baby Elephants, that where born the same year as Alana. She thought that was so cool, we spent a good 45 minutes checking out the Elephants. Then we fed the Ducks, again Alana was so excited. She was showing them her back pack. I tried to explain to her that they couldn’t understand her but she is 2 so you know how that turned out. I can’t wait to take her back. It’s really close to the hotel John is staying at. I’m sure we will spend many mornings there in November.

On Saturday, we went to the Children’s Museums with Grace. Alana and Grace had matching outfits on that my mom had made them (thanks Mom) they looked so cute together. They run around as fast as they could play with stuff, it was a busy couple of hours but all in good fun. At lunch, the girls had a blast running around, dancing. They put on show for us. I know Micah and Peter loved seeing the two together. I just wish we could get a picture of them together, but they are both 2, that won’t happen.

On Sunday, we went to Micah and Peter’s church that John and I love. Every time we go, we leaving wishing we could find a church like that here in El Paso. Alana went into Grace’s bible class like she owned the place they said she had a blast even singing the songs. She is so easy going when it comes to new places, just adapts, like she has done it 100 times before. I’m so grateful for that, I think back when she was a baby and nobody but I could hold her. Life has changed so much in her short little life.

Alana did great when John took us to the airport, I was so worried she would cry but she surprised both of us and had a big smile and said see you in two weeks daddy. It was hard to watch him walk away wishing we could stay with him, but we had to come back to catch our next plane for DC. It was a nightmare getting home on Sunday night, we boarded our plane and they shut the doors and everything. Then all of the sudden the pilot came on and said we have to de-board the plane due to mechanical issue with the left wing. In the end we didn’t get home until 1 am. Alana did GREAT!! She is such a trooper she just went with the flow. Thank goodness for my friend Ingrid, she picked us up. By the time I got to her and handed Alana off so I could get my bag, I was barley moving. It had been a long day! She was right there taking Alana with a smile. Good thing for GREAT friends. They make life so much easier. She is the one picking us up next Tuesday night when we come back from DC, we are on the same flight let’s hope we get home on time.

Another Conversation with Alana:

On the way to school on Thursday, I was telling Alana that I would be picking her up with Auntie Ingrid and we would get on a plane and go see daddy. This is what happened after that:

Alana: (with her hand near her ear) Mommy do you hear that??

Mommy: Hear what Alana?

Alana: I hear Carter crying in his bed!!!

Mommy: Really, why is he crying?

Alana: because he needs me, hurry turn the car around. We better go get him!

Alana loves her Carter. She told me today that Carter was her best friend. They are going to miss each together so much over the next few months!!

Alana wants to be an Astronaut!

Yesterday, I was telling Alana that I loved her to the moon and back. Here is our conversation after that:

Mommy: I love you to the moon and back Alana

Alana: I want to go the moon mommy….

Mommy: You have to be an Astronaut

Alana: I want to be an Astronaut and fly on Rocket to the moon with Caillou!

Mommy: Really, when you grow up, you want to be Astronaut?

Alana: Yep, when I get big like Daddy, I want to be Astronaut.

Mommy: You mean big like mommy and daddy

Alana: No silly mommy you’re not big like daddy!

So, I guess I’m not big like Daddy! Alana is so much fun to be around these days, she is always making me laugh.

Alana First Roller Coaster!

Yesterday, some girlfriends and I took our kids to Western Play Land a local amusement park. We had a blast the kids run around the park wanting to ride everything even the biggest Roller Coaster they had. For some reason I was the adult who took the kids on the FUN rides. I love Roller Coaster so, in the end I think I had more fun than the kids did.

They had a kiddy Roller Coaster Carter, Cade, Lexi, Madison, Parker and Hunter jumped on so of course my little I do everything they do had to ride it.

Alana and I before the ride

Me telling her one more time!

After the ride!

At the end everyone was clapping for Alana. Alana looked at me and said “I NOT DO THAT AGAIN, IT SCARED ME”. She couldn’t wait to tell Daddy about her roller coaster ride though. I still can’t believe my 2 year old went on a roller coaster. She has to do what everyone else is doing let’s hope she becomes the leader of the pack before long.

Here are some more pictures of the kids. Alana loves hanging out with her friends, she ask me everyday “Are we going to see my friend’s today mommy?” One Friday she cried when we saw Jenn, because Jenn told her that her kids where in school. She was so upset, we tried to tell her that she would see them later that day but Alana wanted them right then! Of course, when she saw them a few hours later she was so excited, jumping up and down.


The Mom's

Alana loving the Car Ride

Alana and Carter

Hunter

Alana and Madison

Lexi and Carter

Carter, Cade and Parker

Madison and I

Parker and Jenn getting Hunter

Amber, Cade and Lexi

Us before the BIG roller coaster!