Days 27, 28, and 29

Sorry blog friends. While the streak is going strong, my blogging has suffered... Here is a brief recap of my streak.

On Friday night, Lilly and I went for a run. I didn't really feel like going, but my training partner and my little boy inspired me.

On Saturday morning, I went for a run by myself. While running, I ran into my Mom and her dog, Dori. So, I ran Dori for a little while and dropped her off at home. After 28 days, I really feel like I am getting into better shape, which is a good thing, since I'm planning to run a 1/2 marathon with my friend Karen in September.

This morning, I ran with Lilly. It was a good run, but she runs much faster than I do, so I end up really tired by the end of my runs with her. But, she is a good encourager, like I hope Marvin and I are for Evan.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia has been continuing her streak, just like her mom is. For Friday's picture, she drew a cat. Not sure what inspired her to do that, but it is really cute...

For Day 28, Olivia drew a cute picture of a cute girl dog, which is completely understandable, since we live with Lilly!

Olivia's drawing from Day 29 is the result of a drawing contest she was having with her friend Aidan. It is a sweet picture of a dolphin and a rainbow. On a side note, we couldn't decide who should win the drawing contest, and Aidan refused to have a dance contest, so I guess Olivia won!

Day 26

Day 26 was really uneventful. Took Lilly out for a walk/run, and we both had a great time walking up the big hill across from our neighborhood. She especially enjoyed almost chasing a bunny. I'm looking forward to getting in a good run on Saturday (Day 28) morning! I wonder if Even ever looks forward to his therapy sessions...

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Not sure what the inspiration was behind this picture, but I like the person peeking out on the side...

DAY 25

Still a day behind in posting,but Day 25 was great. Had a super busy day, starting with a couple of media interviews at Evan's daycare. Two local TV stations came out to film Evan and his class on Purple Wednesday to raise awareness for pediatric strokes. Then, once that was done, I had a full day at work.

So, even through I was really tired, I took my training partner out and we ran in the evening.

OLIVIA'S STREAK 

Olivia absolutely loves school, so she has started to get a little sad for the school year to end. Today's picture is a tribute to Leon Springs Elementary!

Day 24

Today was a busy day. Got up early to run and get my streak in. Although I don't enjoy rolling out of bed just before 5:30, I always feel great on the days I run in the morning. Someone remind me about this when the streak is over... With all of this running I've been doing, I definitely feel like I'm getting more fit and stronger, so not only am I honoring Evan with my streak, but I'm finally learning to take care of myself.

So, after we got  home from a dinner out with the kiddos, I did my second workout of the day with Lilly. We didn't run, but we had a great walk around the hills in our neighborhood. All of this exercise is helping Lilly too. While she is still crazy, she seems to be a little more obedient and just a little calmer in general.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia had a great day at school today. She had a program to celebrate the last day of her Spanish Club, and she did a great job leading the class in counting by 10s to 100 and reciting the months of the year. But, the best part was when the teacher named her Spanish Student of the Year! We were so proud of her, and I think she was proud of herself...

Day 23

Took my sweet Lilly out for a run for Day 23. We did really well, except for the times when she saw another dog, a cat, a bunny, and a squirrel. It felt really good to get out and running. I think I'm actually enjoying this streak...

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia's picture is super sweet today. I like how the rain cloud has a heart in it.

Day 22

Finally finished with Day 22. It was a long day, but Lilly and I had a great run a little while ago. She has turned into a great runner, although she still stops suddenly every so often, which is not good for me, since I am a total clutz.

Feeling a little sore today after my two-a-day workout yesterday. I'm guessing this is how Evan feels after a busy day or a tough day at therapy. Sometimes I don't know how he does it, especially with a smile on his face. He is an amazing little boy, and I am so blessed to be his mother!

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia had a friend over today, so they both did drawings for her streak. There seems to be a theme to the drawings. A tree, a bird, and two friends! Thanks, Claire for your contribution.

Olivia's Artwork

Bonus Artwork by Claire

Day 21

Day 21 was a good one. It's 9:30 p.m., and I am dog tired. Started the day early with a morning run by myself, and I realized that I love to run by myself in the morning. I find a little alone time every so often does me good!

Had a great breakfast with Marvin's mom for her birthday, went to the graduation of an amazing friend of ours, and attended a birthday party for our neighbors' son. So, just when I was looking forward to relaxing and watching some basketball, my running partner started crying to go out and get  her exercise. I guess I've been relying on Lilly so many days during this streak, that I've trained her to exercise right after Evan goes to bed. So, I laced up my walking shoes, and we took a long walk around the neighborhood.

Since I am a little sore and really tired, I am going to roll on my foam roller and go to bed.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia was having a little trouble coming up with an idea today, so I told her she should draw her manicure or pedicure. On May 1, we met some friends of ours who happen to be the mother and sister of a pediatric stroke survivor We moms got our toes painted purple, while the girls got their hands and toes painted purple. Olivia drew one of her hands, and coincidentally, it's her right hand, which is Evan's affected hand!

DAY 20

Pretty uneventful Day 20. Did an evening workout with Lilly. After a busy and active day at work, I felt a little tired, but after we got home from dinner, I laced up my running shoes and completed my streak for the day. Not only did my legs get a work out tonight, but Lilly saw a bunny and tried to chase it, so my arms got a work out as well.

Tomorrow will be a busy day, so the plan is to get up early to run! Wish me luck.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia was very excited about today's picture. She started working on it this morning before school. A few years ago, Olivia and I visited my sister and nieces in Albany for girls' weekend. One day, when it was raining, Olivia and Aunt Jennie went out for hot dogs, took their shoes off, and walked barefoot in the rain.

Day 19

Finally finished with Day 19. I had every intention of waking up early this morning to go running, but the truth is that I LOVE my bed. I slept in, so I had to run this evening with my dedicated running partner, Lilly. Next year, she is going to do a streak too! We had an excellent run. I swear, I always run better when I am running with her. Too bad they don't let dogs run in 1/2 marathons, or I would definitely get a personal record next time.

My Evan had a great day at school and at therapy today. I stopped by his school today to pick up some t-shirt supplies from Miss Molly (yes, I am going to make "Team Evan" t-shirts) and he was picking up some toys using lefty and righty. I am so proud of him for all of the progress he has made. He is an amazing little boy who tries his hardest despite having tough days and being tired. He is truly my inspiration!

OLIVIA'S STREAK

After dinner, Olivia, Evan, and I were coloring, and I asked her to make a cupcake for today's drawing. Here is her masterpiece!

Day 18

Day 18 was a tough one. I had a really busy day at work and was tired when I got home. Adding to that was the soreness I was feeling from running on Day 17. So, instead of running, I rode our exercise bike for 30 minutes while I watched Glee, one of my favorite shows. Biking definitely uses different muscles than running, so I fell like I still got a workout, and my muscles were happy!

That reminds me of why it is so important for Evan to use different muscles on his right side every day. While I'm not sure if his muscles get sore, his brain is still re-wiring and re-learning, so it is important that he does different exercises so that he can continue to make progress.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia went to the doctor, and she has strep throat. She must be feeling better, though, because she drew a beautiful picture of Evan's favorite stuffed animal, Puppy. Check out Puppy's TV debut on our link to the KENS-5 morning show!

Day 17

Day 17 is finally done, and I am ready to go to sleep. Lilly and I had a good evening walk/run. Was home with a sick Olivia today. We had a good time snuggling, watching tv, and taking a nap together. Every so often I have to remind myself how important it is for me to pay as much attention to Olivia as I can. I never want her to be jealous of the time we spend with Evan - taking him back and forth from therapy or working with him to use "Righty." It has to be difficult to be the sibling of a stroke survivor, but she does a great job.

I sent an email to the tv station that interviewed me on Saturday and asked them to post the link to the story. Here it is... http://www.kens5.com/news/Do-you-know-about-pediatric-stroke--122067989.html

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia is still not feeling up to par. In fact, when she did her drawing, her fever was just starting to come down from 104 degrees. It looks alot like yesterday's picture, but this time she added our whole family. I'm kind of digging how skinny I look in this picture:)

Day 16

Just finished my streak for Day 16. Lilly and I went running after we put Evan to bed. She is really turning into a great running partner. For some reason, she keeps me running longer and harder than when I run by myself - maybe it's because she is pulling me along...

I have to admit that running every day for 16 days has not been easy. My body feels old and tired, and my knee started hurting this weekend. So, after I finish writing this, I am going to go do some stretches to try to loosen up the muscles in my legs. Reminds me of how much better Evan does with his "Righty" after we stretch it. Even though he hates being stretched, it really does help him. Seems I'm learning alot from Evan's journey!

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia didn't feel well tonight. I picked her up from school a little early, because she was complaining of a stomach ache. We took a nap together when we got home, and when she finally woke up, her temperature was 102. Clearly, she is not feeling up to par, but being the little trooper that she is (and after some prodding from her Mom) she drew this picture of Evan and her. Maybe not her best work - she hasn't drawn stick figures in years - but still very sweet. She loves her little brother.

Day 15

Just finished my walk/run with Lilly this evening. Pretty uneventful for me, but exciting for Lilly. There were birds, squirrels, leaves, and a bunch of cool smells to keep her going. Fortunately for me, she keeps me going!

Had an interesting discussion with Olivia today. We talk alot about Evan having a stroke, but we never really talk about strokes in general - what causes them, what happens to people who have strokes, why it's so serious, and what can be done to prevent them. Today, she started asking all of those questions, and I had an "a-ha" moment. After listening to her Dad explain to her about strokes and how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle, I decided that I am going to be more healthy for my family and for myself. Let's face it, Olivia and I are both at risk of suffering from a stroke, so I have to be a good example for her and for Evan!

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia had a playdate with her friend Claire today, so she drew a picture of them together. Love their headbands or hats - maybe she was inspired by the royal wedding:)

Day 14

It has been a busy weekend. I guess that's why I'm a day behind on my blog. We had a busy Day 14, beginning with an early morning wakeup to get ready for Evan's TV debut and Mommy talking about pediatric stroke awareness month on Eyewitness News Saturday (KENS-5). Anyone who saw the segment can see that Evan is an energetic little boy with a great sense of humor. I'm not sure how I survived the interview, but somehow I got the message out that kids have strokes.

After we got home and enjoyed some celebratory donuts, I took my running partner, Lilly, out for a run. It was a beautiful morning, sunny but breezy, so we really enjoyed our workout.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia is studying bugs at school, so we played her lady bug game, and that was the inspiration for her drawing.

Day 13

Enjoyed an early morning run today. Another beautiful morning in San Antonio - crisp and chilly. Remind me to enjoy this weather for as long as I can.

Despite having a long week, I felt really strong this morning, so I pushed myself to run harder and longer than usual. I love when I am able to do that, because I feel a real sense of accomplishment. I'm guessing that's how Evan feels after a good day at therapy or after finishing his "Righty" activities.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia drew this picture after she had an excellent visit to the dentist yesterday. Notice her big, cavity-free smile.

Day 12

Okay, so I'm one day late posting my update, but day 12 went well. I didn't wake up in the morning, but after a long day at work, my Lilly doggie and I went for an evening run. After a much needed rain storm in San Antonio, the weather was beautiful.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia drew this picture in response to a story I told her about Evan. When I picked Evan up from Occupational Therapy, his therapist was trying to get him to tell me what they worked on. She asked him, what did we make out of putty when we rolled it out and rolled it up. He looked at her and answered, "Gary." (Spongebob's snail.) I love that boy's sense of humor!

DAY 11

Woke up early and got my run in this morning. I'm glad I did, because I am super tired tonight. It felt good to get out and get moving this morning. We have a busy weekend coming up, so I'll have to find my motivation to keep the streak up. Fortunately, I have Evan. I only have to run for 30 minutes tomorrow.  He has to have an hour of speech therapy, an hour of physical therapy, and an hour of occupational therapy. And, he'll do it all without complaining.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

This picture is my absolute favorite. I asked Olivia if this was a picture of me going out the door running, and she quickly answered, "No, Mom. This is a picture of you shaking your booty." Enough said!

DAY 10

Day 10 is in the books. Honestly, I wasn't sure if it was going to happen or if my streak was going to stop. I was a little too tired to work out this morning, so I saved it for this evening. Then, after a long day at work, I wasn't really in the mood to go. But, again, I didn't want to let all of my friends, fellow streakers, and stroke survivors down, so I laced up my running shoes and went out with my favorite running partner, Lilly. She is a great runner - she drags me along when I start getting tired! I'm sure that's how Evan feels about us some days, when he doesn't want to do therapy or work with Righty.

Now that I'm done with day 10, I'm feeling really good about myself and this streak. Bring on day 11!

OLIVIA'S STREAK

For day 10, Olivia drew some puffy clouds. I think she told me they were heart clouds, but they could be clouds with birds in them. Guess it's open to interpretation!

DAY 9

They say better late than never. I just finished my streak for today. Wasn't sure I would get it done today, but after I put Evan to bed, I knew I had to live up to my commitment. I expect so much of that little boy, the least I can do is go running for 30 minutes. So, my best running partner, Lilly, and I hit the road. It was more like a fast walk, but we still got it done!

I'm sure it will be tough getting up early tomorrow to run, but I'll do it for my little boy who surprises me every day with his accomplishments.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia drew two of her favorite things. A cupcake and a frog. I'm so proud of my girl for keeping her streak going. She is a wonderful artist, and a fabulous big sister to Evan!

Day 8

One week and still going... Had a good Mother's Day walk/run with my sweet baby dog, Lilly. For a dog that is really full of energy, this walk/run took alot out of her. She is super tired!

After a week of this streak, I am feeling proud of myself and of all the families and friends of pediatric stroke survivors who are making a commitment during Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month!

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia started this picture this morning as a "tribute" to our sweet dog, Max, who passed away the Monday after Easter. Then, for some reason, she drew a piece of bacon and added her own caption, "I love Max and Bacon..." She is a kid after my own heart!

Day 7

Had a good run today. Was nice to take my time and not have to rush to get the kids up for school and get ready to work. And, best of all, I was able to sleep in late and get a late start to my run.

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Clearly, Olivia was a little tired this morning after a late play date. She drew a quick picture of a rainbow for her streak!

Day 6

Well  I finished my streak by 6:07 a.m. today, but I am just now getting a chance to update the blog. I had a really nice run this morning. Quiet and peaceful - a great time to do some thinking about why I'm doing this. It really does make me run harder and better to think about how hard pediatric stroke survivors, like Evan, have to work all the time to accomplish many things that I take for granted.

Looking forward to sleeping in a little tomorrow and enjoying a longer, more leisurely run!

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Today, Olivia chose to draw a picture of our dog Lilly, who loves to run. She runs around the house with toys, she runs with me sometimes, but last year we found out she loves to run after bunnies.

Lilly with a bunny, her running inspiration, in the background!

DAY 5

Wow. It was really hard to get out of bed this morning. I had a really busy day yesterday, and I guess it just caught up with me. I have to admit that I thought about turning off the alarm and going back to sleep, but I thought about all of my friends at CHASA and all of my co-streakers, and I didn't want to let anyone down - especially me! So, I got up and completed my run. Not the best run of my life, but I did it.

Looking forward to the weekend and getting some good runs in!

OLIVIA'S STREAK

Olivia's picture features her Grandmare (my mom). According to Olivia, Grandmare is cheering her on while she runs.

DAY 4

Well, it's 7:05 a.m., and today's streak is done. Was an early morning wake up call at 5:15 in order to get everything accomplished this morning, but I stumbled out of bed and out the door for my morning run. It felt good to get up and moving, and I was moving a little faster than usual, thanks to the 48 degree temperatures outside.

I have to admit that it is not easy for me to get out of bed every morning to run. I love to sleep. But, as soon as I think about Evan, and how hard he works every day and the sacrifices he makes, it is a whole lot easier to get motivated.

So, I'm looking forward to a busy day, a good night sleep, and a great run on day 5!

OLIVIA'S STREAK
I love Olivia's picture today. I talk about Evan inspiring me, but Olivia inspires me in different ways. She is so sweet and positive, and she thinks it's cool that her mom is a "runner." I want to show  her that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

Olivia's Advice: Go As Fast As You Can

EVAN'S CONTRIBUTION
Wanted to add a beautiful picture that Evan painted in therapy yesterday. Thought it was the perfect color for Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month.

DAY 3

Another unseasonably chilly morning here in South Texas - 46 degrees to be exact. I am proud to report that I completed day three of my streak for pediatric strokes, but it wasn't easy. This morning, when I wanted to quit about half way through my run, I thought of Evan and how we never let him quit. So, I didn't quit either!

I have a very good friend whose sister had a stroke when she was in her early 20s. One day, when Evan was first diagnosed, he told me something that I will never forget. He said, when someone in your family has a stroke, your family changes a little, and you become a stroke family. As Evan has gotten older, we have really become a stroke family. From participating in this streak to making sure he uses "righty" to bringing him to therapy to celebrating his accomplishments, everyone in our family has been an active partipant in Evan's progress, and I venture to say that we are all inspired by him.

Cheers to all of the pediatric stroke survivors who work so hard every day and don't quit. And hats off to their stroke families, who help them along the way!

OLIVIA'S STREAK
Today's picture features Olivia with one of her best friends - her brother Evan. She's clearly exited about 31 days for Evan!

DAY TWO

Getting my streak on today wasn't too difficult. It was a relatively cool day for May in South Texas - a crisp, windy, and beautiful morning for a run.

About half way through my run, I got a cramp in my side, and I started to think about my inspiration...my three-year-old son, Evan. I thought about how much it hurts him when we stretch his right hand and his right leg. I thought about how difficult it is for him to run and keep his balance. I thought about the hours of therapy he does in order to use his right side. And, I kept running, and I will tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that...

OLIVIA'S STREAK
I was a little chilly when I came inside after my run, so she drew a picture of me during my run.

DAY 1 OF 31 DAYS FOR EVAN

Day one completed and it wasn't too difficult. My training buddy, Lilly, and I were able to complete 35 minutes of running this morning, in honor of Evan, our pediatric stroke survivor. Weather was perfect here in San Antonio, warm, but not too hot to run.

Olivia and I had a great time with Kate and Emma getting our toes painted purple in honor of Pediatric Storke Awareness Month.

And, in the meantime, Olivia drew an excellent picture of me with Lilly on day one of the streak for pediatric stroke.

Weather tomorrow looks a little chilly, but it will be a great day for a run. Looking forward to getting out to run for Pedatric Stoke Awareness.