WEEK #16 - Only 2 to go!

Great Results! And even Higher now!

Fun at the Byron with Cameron & Megan

CUTLER UPDATE: Great news - his latest bone marrow test results show he's now at 93% (picture above was 88%)! This means that his bone marrow transplant is still proving to be successful, and as a result, his medication for GVHD (graft vs. host disease) has been decreased with the intent of taking him off the meds completely within a month or so. WOOT! :o) Cutler really is a "Superbaby"! So happy for the Fricke family to see him improve on a daily basis.
TRAINING UPDATE: Taper mode is Awwwesome!!! I only had to run 8 MILES this week, hallelujah! Just a little walk in the park... ;) I had to skip running with the Team in order to make it to the Byron Nelson in time for my shift, so I ran by myself in my neighborhood. Aside from the wind, it was a good run - and apparently my church is exactly 4 miles from our house, so I ran there and back! But I definitely missed the Team environment! There's something special about being a part of something bigger, and sharing in the experience side-by-side with others. I told my husband that I bleed Purple (TNT color) now! I love my Team! By the way, did you know that TEAM stands for Train, Endure, Achieve, Matter ??? I believe that's exactly what each of us are doing. GO T.E.A.M.!
FUNDRAISING UPDATE: People, can I tell you just how Amazing you are?! I received an overwhelming response to my update email last week, bringing my grand total up to $5,726! And that means...

**I have met (exceeded!) my personal goal of $5,000!!!**

THANK YOU SO MUCH for supporting me, Cutler, Team In Training and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! And if you still plan to make a donation, please do - it's not too late, and every dollar counts! Also, because of your generosity, I am able to transfer my earnings from the Byron [sidenote: what a fun time I had with Catherine, Megan and Cameron!] to some of my fellow teammates who still need help with their fundraising. Paying it forward never felt so good! My gratitude is neverending...

WEEK #15

Looking back - 5th day in hospital (9/'09)

Happy to be done with my 20!
Aaah, the dreaded ice bath (w/ 'light reading')!

CUTLER UPDATE: Speaking of remembering how far he's come, I thought one way of doing this would be to reflect back on when Cutler was first diagnosed. Just 8 months ago, he was admitted to the hospital to begin treatment for Infantile AML (Acute Mylocytic Leukemia). I've included a picture from his 5th day in the hospital. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about all that he and the Fricke's have endured - chemo, vomiting, fever, infections, anesthesia, central line, bone marrow transplant, feeding tube, sleepless nights, and the list goes on and on. And to see him now - praise be to God, the ultimate Healer! Cutler continues to be a blessing to me, and makes me proud to be doing this marathon in his honor!

TRAINING UPDATE: What, 20 miles? I got this! Yes, that's right, my Team and I ran 20 MILES this weekend! Our longest training run of the season is behind us, yea! What a relief :o) Thank you all for the prayers! Now the tapering officially begins... we get to cut back on mileage between now and race day. I'm glad to have this one under my belt, and glad for my time of 3:30 (avg. 10-1/2 minute miles)! The ice bath afterwards? Not so much, but hey, it's a big part of recovery and I do what my coaches tell me! Now we can all start looking forward to the big day and enjoying sunny San Diego. Can't wait! Go TEAM (Cathy, Raquel, Rebecca, Char, Garrick, Cameron and Eric - you all ROCK)!

FUNDRAISING UPDATE: Another $160 came in this week, bringing the grand total up to $4,891! I am confident I can reach my personal goal of $5,000 in the next 9 days (fundraising deadline is Wed. 5/26)! Also, I'm volunteering at the Byron Nelson golf tournament this weekend so please stop by the Pavilion if you're going to be there! And finally, thanks again to everyone who has donated to this cause. I appreciate each and every one of you!!! :o)

14 WEEKS DOWN, 4 TO GO!!!

Another 14 down! And check out my Germanfest t-shirt! ;)

Superbaby Cutler in action!

CUTLER UPDATE: As I was thinking of what to write here this week, at first I thought 'well, his update is about the same every week, and people will get tired of the same thing' and then it hit me like a ton of bricks -- What better update can I provide than continued positive progress? DUH!!! ;) Thank God for bringing Cutler to the place he's at right now. Looking back over the last 13 weeks I've been doing this blog, it's easy to see just how far Cutler has come. I'm realizing how important it is to never lose sight of where you come from and to be grateful for the present. Amen? Amen!
TRAINING UPDATE: With only 4 weeks to go until race day, I must confess, I'm starting to grow tired of running! Physically I feel like I'm ready and I just want it to be over already :) but mentally I'm not so sure. As Murphy's Law goes, after last week's great results at the Heels & Hills half (my official time was 2:03, not 2:04 as previously reported!), this week was a bit of an 'off' week for me. We did 14 MILES and it took me around 2:35 which was pretty disappointing. But then I tried to cut myself some slack and recognize that I just ran 14 miles. And then I remembered, this isn't about me and things quickly began to come back into focus... Next week is our longest training run of the season (20 miles) so I really need my body and mind to get back in sync. Please pray for a good week of short runs, eating right, staying hydrated, and the discipline to take care of myself properly in preparation for Saturday's long run!
FUNDRAISING UPDATE: No additional donations this week, but I have a handful of people to follow up with :o) My final fundraising deadline is May 26 and approaching fast, so please consider making a donation if you haven't yet but would like to (and thank you in advance!). I am hoping to reach my personal goal of $5,000 before it's all said and done! Also, we're having a Team fundraiser this Thursday evening at Cross Timbers Winery in Grapevine. Tickets for the event are $25/ea, and $10 of that goes towards my fundraising account. The other portion gets you 5 tastings of some great wines! And there will be lots of silent auction items to bid on while you're there. Should be a fun evening! If you'd like to come please let me know ASAP as I am selling tickets in advance. THANKS!

WEEK #13

Look at that face!!! :o)

Me & Mascot Dave

My teammates Kristi, Holly, Cathy and GarrickThe Garage Sale

CUTLER UPDATE: He is doing great! The doctor has given him clearance to be around other kids, so he and his brother recently went to the zoo! And (fingers crossed), there's a very small possibility that the Fricke's may come to San Diego to see me cross the finish line! I don't want to get my hopes up just yet, but I'm so excited even at the thought of it. We'll see... On another note, our Team Mascot Dave (he's actually our Honored Hero/cancer survivor but prefers to be called 'mascot') is now fighting his 4th battle with leukemia... Please add him to your prayers! Not only is he our Team Honored Hero, a cancer survivor, and currently fighting the disease, he's also a participant currently fundraising for San Diego just like me (speechless? me too)! I've posted a picture of us from Heels & Hills (see below) - mostly women participants, and the men often dress in skirts etc. just for the heck of it :o)
TRAINING UPDATE: What an awesome week! Not so much for the running, but more for learning the true meaning of being on a team. This week was my Team's first big event of the summer season and for many of them, their big day had come - the Heels & Hills Half Marathon. I signed up to do the event as a training run, and although I've already run more than 13.1 MILES this season, it was technically the first half marathon I've ever participated in. I finished in record time (2:04) and was ready to wind down, grab some snacks and head home. But as I began to notice my purple-clad teammates trickle in every so often, I felt compelled to stay and cheer them on as they neared the finish line. After over an hour of being a cheerleader, I noticed that a cheerleading squad had formed and was continually growing as each person finished. By the time our last teammate came in, there was a sea of purple by her side escorting her in - clapping, cheering, yelling 'Go Team!' It was truly a wonderful experience to have been a part of, and one that I will remember fondly. What a great group of teammates I have this season!

FUNDRAISING UPDATE: This weekend we had our 2nd of 2 garage sales at our house to raise funds for the big day. The weather was awesome and we did really well! :) Thanks again to those who donated items for our sale. On top of that, another $75 in donations came through, bringing my total amount raised up to $4,731!!! Wahoooooo! I am grateful for each donor and every dollar you've shared. Thank you so very much!