RIP Blueberry...thanks for the miles :)

I was completely obsessed with our car. It was more than just transportation - it was an accessory, a soundboard, if I want to be honest, a friend (so sad). We affectionately called it Blueberry because it's a very blue jeep and in homage to one of the best television shows ever - "Psych".

Blueberry was purchased just before our son was born so we had a 4-door car to bring him home from the hospital in. In Blueberry, we have roadtripped, celebrated good news, found our new home, adopted our dog, Flynn, and basically all grown up. But, through all that - Blueberry grew old and started to not be our reliable "best friend".

It was time to find a new Blueberry.

This became particularly evident when last Thursday, Blueberry didn't start and left me walking 12 miles all over town to run errands for the next couple days. (Mantra: Awareness miles. Awareness miles. Awareness miles.)

On Saturday, we went out and bought a new car. It's a blue jeep.

Saying goodbye to Blueberry 1.0

Total Miles = 301

(Thanks for those extra miles, Blueberry)

My Dad's Snoring and Why I Love It

I said when I started this blog that I would get in to my personal story of Epilepsy and so far I have only scratched the surface. So, I dedicate this blog to my Dad's snoring.

I tease my Dad endlessly about his snoring - it is truly something out of Looney Tunes or an old Disney short (imagine a blanket rising up and down over the bed). But, in reality, the sound of my Dad snoring and the fact that he is actually sleeping is music to my ears. Here's why:

My first seizure was in the fall of my Sophomore year of high school. I was on a high - I was in the middle of an extraordinary tennis season that I worked really hard for, my grades were great, and I had an amazing group of friends. And then, one night I went to bed, I woke up in the middle of the night, and my parents heard me slam up against the bathroom door and engage in a 4 1/2 minute full body seizure. That's it - there were no signs, no symptoms, no stressors. My folks were blindsided.

To hear them recount this tale then - "we heard a thud, we tried to push open the door, there was nothing you could do, you just want to hold them and know you can't" - was horrible.  But, to hear them recount it now that I am a parent it is just devastating. I can't even imagine what my parents were going through, but I try and it makes us closer.

About 10% of the world's population has just one seizure in their lifetime, so after that first seizure and appointments with Neurologists, I was told to just wait it out and see.  But, my Dad didn't really sleep again. I can remember coming home at night, going to the bathroom at night, waking up earlier than him in the morning - in high school, Summers during college, even as an adult when my husband and I briefly lived with my folks while our house was being worked on and my Dad saying "Brig, is that you - everything ok?" And me saying, "Go back to sleep" with a smile.

Now 14-years seizure free and a parent and I finally hear my Dad snoring sometimes I think - yep, I get it. And, I love you too.

Daddy's Girl

Grin and Bear it...

When you are still 25 degrees below the average temperature in your beloved city - sometimes you just have to grin and bear it.  So, this past week, my mini-me and I took to the streets of Chicago and did some walking...in a sleet storm. It was not my best walking and we stopped (twice) for hot chocolate and tea but at the end of the day we got in 5 miles and a lot of awareness!

On the train and finally warm

In other news, it is finally MARCH - which means we are celebrating everything PURPLE!!  Who's with me?!?! I have so many events (presentations, school walk-a-thons, lollipop sales) going on this month - but I am SO looking forward to the first ever Purple Day Walk for Epilepsy and Brain Games! Anyone joining me? You can register at : http://purpledayeveryday.org/events/moawalk/

Finally, I have to give a huge shout out to my followers!!  I have heard from many of you this month who have been walking like crazy (putting me to shame really) and your new total (insert trumpet fanfare) is 1,105 miles!!! Keep moving - I am SO proud!!

An ode to my husband and his challenge

Today Jeff made me go to the gym and made me get on a treadmill...I was less than enthused about it.

Not sweat he's wiping off

But, because of him I made the daily miles I need to keep at my ambitious goal and so I thank him. (Kind of.) But, really I have A LOT to thank him for.

My last seizure was February 21st, 2001. I met Jeff on June 26th, 2001. By that knowledge, he has never witnessed one of my seizures. Unlike my parents or my brother, he wasn't with me during those hard times of trying to balance life and seizures. But, I can honestly say that Jeff has been with me through some of the hardest times living with my Epilepsy.

How is this possible?

He was right by my side as doctors poked and prodded me for many years determining whether I could get pregnant. And then for the months I was pregnant - he was there for endless appointments assuring me that everything was "normal".  And after we had a wonderfully healthy beautiful baby - he was there when my medicine went wacko and we were told that it was ill-advised for us to try and conceive again.

Then he was there for SEVEN medicine changes to try and find a new medicine fit and all the lovely side effects that come with them - including the hospital visit for the life-threatening rash and the extreme weight loss. (Just to mention a few.)

And, he's there every time I say "I'm feeling a little strange" and he squeezes my hand and says "tell me how" and somehow I feel less strange.

And then there was today when after everything he's done and all the miraculous amazing things we do and overcome he tells me, "you know, I'm walking those 2,015 miles too."

AND HE'S ALREADY BEATING ME! (I need to up my game.)

Seriously how cute is he?!?

Now comes the embarrassing part...

My TOTAL MILES: 168

Jeff's TOTAL MILES: 230 

Getting miles on strike and sounding the trumpet

Want to know what's great? When you get your awareness miles without even meaning to WHILE having fun!!

This weekend was crazy busy with the final two performances of Seussical: The Musical which my son is proudly a part of. On Sunday, after we all had a little sobfest that the shows were over and we took the adorable picture below, it was time to strike the fantastic set.

Striking a set is hard work - but fun! And, at the end of it all, I had totaled 15,000 steps for the day (not to mention the start of what I am sure will be some nice biceps come Summer #thankyouverymuch).

The tiniest Who with his super proud parents

Now, let's sound the trumpet for a moment because my Followers are amazing!!  I love hearing from you and knowing that you are all walking to raise awareness too - what a movement this is!  So far, you have sent in your miles - and I have totaled up 658....BAZINGA!  Keep them coming!

My Total Miles: 156.8

Seizure-a-versaries and celebrating the little things

February is an emotional month for me...February 21st is my seizure-a-versary.  For those of you who have Epilepsy or who have a loved one who has it, you know what I am talking about...it's the day that I wait for every year, the day I can say I have made it another year seizure free.

This year - if I am lucky enough - it will be 14 years since my last seizure.

It was February 21st, 2001 and I was a Senior in college.  I had just secured a job in broadcasting and I was moving to California right after graduation.  My roommate and I were celebrating my job by doing some retail-therapy at the mall and I hit the ground hard in a 5-minute tonic-clonic seizure.  Since, I was stupidly also chewing gum at the time, my breathing was cut off.  My roommate's mom retrieved the gum and was able to revive my breathing before paramedics arrived - I think about her all the time.

I think about that seizure all February long.  I think about it with every step I take towards 2,015 miles.

So, tell me - who are you walking for?  What seizure-a-versary is this?  In life, we have the celebrate the little things, so whether it's 3 weeks or 13 years...EMBRACE IT!

Celebrating 13 years in Disney - Hubby told me not to get used to that!

TOTAL MILES: 130

Snow Days and Shoelaces

Last night, we got 19.4" of snow.  In case you think that's a typo, I will confirm NINETEEN - POINT - FOUR INCHES.  For those who know me, I'm not a snow fan or a Winter fan or a cold fan...so this was an unwelcome visitor.  I can't even listen to the Frozen soundtrack today cause I'm so irritated by it all.

BUT - there is one silver lining.  My son's school has a SNOW DAY!!  Which means, we were in our jammies until 10 and he gets to lace up his purple laces for the first time and get some steps in with me.

Clearly not running at this moment

Again, there is no going outside to walk.  So we had a blast setting up an obstacle course in the house and running laps around to get in almost 2 miles!

And if you're wondering where you can pick up those adorable purple laces to match my son and I, check out the Purple Shop at https://secure.donationpay.org/purpledayeveryday/store.php

Miles to Date: 105 (not even thinking about how many to go!!)

Keep stepping up followers...and let me know how you're doing, I'm keeping track of you on my "Followers' Totals" - 275 Miles already!!! :)