Medal Me... Medal Easton.

I came home from a run the other day and noticed Terrence had put up a medal rack for all of my running accomplishments. I was terribly excited to celebrate my runs... yet, it had me thinking.  On a six miler today, Thanksgiving of all days, I started thinking about what I was proud of, thankful for, and countless other things I could put prepositions at the end of to showcase my poor grammar.  So what did I think about on this run, well, all those medals of course. I have medals for placing in my age group and finishing big races - but to be honest, the real runs that aren't honored on my medal rack are all the training runs that got me those medals. In particular I thought of an 8 mile run, back when the twins were very little.

The twins never slept, at least it seemed that way. By the time they were 6 weeks old, I was insane. I was sleeping 45 minutes some nights, 2 hours the next, and none the following. I slept in a chair. I could fall asleep on our steps, but was awoken immediately by crying. Thankfully, those days are over. It was so hard! I ran, a lot, then. To keep me sane. One night, I remember Easton wouldn't sleep, couldn't sleep, or both. I had maybe a few minutes of rest while Easton squalled - I was crazy. At 5 a.m., I packed him into the car and took off for the Greenway. I put him in the  stroller and took off. We ran the entire Greenway. I passed a cyclist who said "that baby has run more than I biked!" My goal was to get him to sleep. I was successful. It did not help my exhaustion, but I remember "this too shall pass." (In fact, I sleep at least 8 hours a night now.) In any case, it was cathartic. Yet, I received no medal for this monumental and exhausting run. Runs like this, have made me the determined, goal driven, and passionate runner I am. Yet. I have nothing but a memory I have described here, to show. Memories are a lot, but I cannot remember them all. So this is my medal and Easton's medal for that 8 miler after no sleep. Because it means more to me than a half marathon I did in Todd, NC once... long ago.

In a total different world, Easton was evaluated by the CDSA again this week. He qualified for the Infant-Toddler Program------ again. This time, I am not worried. He needs some oral motor therapy and has delayed fine motor skills. He refuses to color and stack blocks - big whoop, says the PT and the pediatrician, he will when he is ready.  My response, that's Easton. He is doing well over all. And guess what? No Cerebral Palsy! Isn't that awesome? I wanted to cry with joy. I am so proud of him! Thanks CDSA! I needed that... Easton medaled in awesomeness!