It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Doesn't it seem like I just finished talking about the NYC Marathon?!?

For those who haven't heard, the Spina Bifida Association was chosen again this year, to be one of the partner charities for the NYC Marathon. The Big Day is November 6, 2011.

The National Spina Bifida Association had applied for 20 runners...and we would have filled those 20 spots in an instant. So many people inquired about being on our team, from many mommies of kids with Spina Bifida, to family members, to friends, and even Emily's physical therapist was hoping for a spot.

But we were only given 5, and while it's not 20, I am certainly grateful that we have the 5 spots back. Last year we raised $31,000 that went directly to the Spina Bifida Association, and of course we are looking to top that this year. This year we also welcome two new team members: Sherrie, who is a lifelong family friend of teammate Scott; and Adrienne, who many of you know from Texas Triggs.

As I was running today, on this beautiful spring day, I thought about what this time of the year means to me. Marathon training for me begins July 4, allowing me 18 weeks. I have about 2 months of pre-training left, where I can ensure I'm hitting the base of 26-38 miles per week and working in 2-3 strength training and spin classes a week. Last year my training peaked at 40 miles a week, I had three 20-mile long runs, and I didn't start spinning until 10 weeks into the 18 week plan. I ran 1 half marathon during training.

This year ("sub5 NYC" as I like to call it), my weekly miles will peak at 55. I won't be running less than 44 miles in any week (except for taper weeks), and I have two 20-mile long runs and four 22-mile long runs. I ran a half marathon 3 weeks ago, and I have another one in two weeks. I will complete an additional 4 before November 6th. I'll be strength training and spinning 4-5 times a week.

Training is very time consuming, and to say I'll need to maximize time management this year is an understatement. I am in the process of starting a business: The Sassy Damsel, LLC. It is handmade accessories for girls, such as hair bows, clips, ribbon sculptures, headbands, hairbow holders, tutus, pacifier holders, etc. Hopefully the website will be live in about 4 weeks. It's all very exciting! Between Emily's crazy schedule, the impending training season, and the new business, it's all very busy...good thing I don't sleep much, and I have a hubby who helps me out (and never complains about the neglected housework).

But I love this. And I think it goes hand in hand with spring, and the idea of rebirth. Two years ago when we received Emily's diagnosis January 13th, I was at the lowest point of my life. I was there for a long time. Months. I never imagined I would be out of it, and I never thought there would be a rebirth. It was a long January. February. March. By April, we had weathered the worst, and at some point, subconsciously, I made the decision to accept the diagnosis and Fight. Survive. Persevere. Win. I was reborn, and my path in life was reborn.

Last year when I decided in June, to be one of the 5 runners for the SBA, I was no where near ready to do so. But much like the previous year, in order to accomplish this goal (a goal which, were it not for Emily or her diagnosis, I would never have had), I had to fight. Survive. Persevere. Win.

So this year I welcome that challenge once again. Now, spring brings with it, for me, a reminder that life isn't simple and isn't easy. It requires you to push yourself and ask more than you otherwise though you were capable of. And when you accomplish what you set forth, you come out stronger, better, and inspired to push yourself even further the next time.

A stranger on Amazon gets the best of me...

Did you every notice that the world seems full of people who aren't aware of anything past their own life? People who are so self-centered or insensitive that they don't can't conceive of a wold not exactly like their own?

I have come to expect this type of stuff outside the home, like the Mom who, after staring at Emily's legs for 5 minutes (while I stare back at her, waiting for her to realize what she's doing), turns to me and say "....um...can I ask you something?"

And I wince. Here it comes. A statement. A question. An opinion I didn't ask for. A story I don't care to hear. Like, "Sometimes the ups and downs of having kids is so hard. When my son fell and broke his arm, I was a wreck. Just a wreck. It was so hard, having to go to the ER. But he was okay. Your daughter will be too. I know what you're going through..." Will it be filled with insensitivity, such as "What's wrong with her"? Will it be filled with unsolicited advise, like "isn't she too big to be carrying around the store?" Will it be filled with comparisons"So-and-so was walking at 11 months. 11 Months! How old is your daughter?"

But lately the insensitive stuff is happening...online. I mean, how naive of me to think the walls of my house could keep this stuff out.

Case and point, another SB Mommy found knee pads on Amazon and shared the link with everyone on our *Online Mommy Support Group* It was an awesome find. I've been saying for the past few months that Emily needs knee pads. Her little knees are rug-burned and sore, and it's only going to get ten times worse once she has shorts on. Or once she's outside on concrete. And keeping her in pants won't work (one of the meds she's on causes overheating).

So I went on over to Amazon, and before investing 20 bucks in them read the reviews. First the good ones. Then I went to the 1-start reviews. There I found this:

"This company must be in kahoots with Walking Wings to corner the market on one-time use, money wasting produced geared to overprotective parents with nothing better to do than worry about jr. This time, it's the impact of floors and carpets on knees. If a child is crawling enough to damage their knees, then they should start walking. By the time my son's knees were red from carpet burns, he figured out walking was faster and less painful. Ta-da, a three week preemie walking before 12 months. Use the money for something important, like a college fund."

This *Product Review* by Charles H Randall...oh wait, it's not a *Product Review* at all. It certainly doesn't review the durability or use of the product. Instead, it's a parenting review. This guy went out of his way to cast judgement on anyone who buys this product. He assumed certain factors, and then doles out parenting directive. Apparently, if Charles' kid can do it, then shame on everyone else who can't. And shame on their parents, too, because we don't know how to parent. The implication he has here is, if we were *good* parents, or we had *smart* kids, we wouldn't think twice about buying these and our kids would just learn to walk of their own. That must be a pretty nice bubble this guys lives in. It doesn't even dawn on him that some kids can't walk. It's not even on his radar.

You know what, Charles? You are right on some points. I am a bit overprotective. Like when my kid won't stop vomiting and we rush to the ER to rule out a shunt malfunction. And no, I don't have anything better to than to worry about my baby, like after she's choked during lunch again and I worry, Is this it? Has her asymptomatic Arnold Chiari malformation become symptomatic? Or spending endless hours at night worrying about her kidney reflux.

I guess in this guys eyes, all these things disqualify me for his parent-of-the-year award. But you know what? He can keep his award. There are worse things in the world than being an overprotective parent...like thinking you're the world's best parent...or sitting on your high horse casting judgment on everyone else...or not realizing that people with disabilities or delays are part of the world.