The woman behind me....

This is my mom....

My girls call her Mimi, a great name for a young grandmother.

She is a fabulous woman who has always supported me in whatever I wanted to do. (My dad did to but that it another post)  She carted me an hour each way when I decided that I wanted to take voice lessons.  She and dad helped me pay my way through college to get a Vocal Performance degree.  She supported me when I married my husband right out of college, and moved to Boston for more vocal training and didn't bat an eyelash when I said I was going back to school for an accounting degree.

She loves all her grand kids to distraction and she is a survivor.  My mom almost didn't get to meet any of her grandchildren.  In July of 2006 she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and while it was in an early stage this is an ugly cancer.  I was pregnant with Boogie at the time and hoped that her first grandchild would give her some strength to make it through what lay ahead for her.  She spent months in the hospital getting treatments, and battling the cancer.  She missed the baby shower that she was throwing for me, but she moved heaven and earth to be there for Boogie's birth.  Actually one of my favorite pictures of her and my dad is from that time.

Just shows how good spirited she was in spite of everything.  She was appreciative of the wig, but said it itched like mad, so dad took it off her hands for a little while.

Her hair eventually grew back, although it did come in darker then before. I love this picture because Boogie is only a month and a half old but she has more hair then mom does. She finished up her treatments and was declared in remission.  There was a celebration at our house for sure.  The best news is that as of this July she has been in remission for 4 years, another huge milestone for my mom, and her resiliency.

Now all of that being said was just to show how tough my mom is, and how much she supports and fights for herself and for us.  When I told mom that I was going to run the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon she didn't bat an eyelash, and said she fully supported me.  She also said that she and my dad would be there to cheer me on, no hesitation.  I had lots of hesitation my mom had none.  I started training and quickly realized that cheap shoes while good for somethings, are not good for running further then say to the end of the driveway.  However finances being tight with two cutie pie girls and just coming off of maternity leave, new shoes were not in the budget.  In steps my mom, my very own Fairy Godmother, and Cinderella got a new pair of shoes.

Aren't they gorgeous, just like glass slippers only its probably not a good idea to run 13.1 miles in glass slippers.  I love the colors, silver and diva blue, perfect.  So thanks to my wonderful, loving, gracious, fabulous, beautiful mommy, my shins will no longer be screaming in agony after trying to out run a rain storm. My feet will be beautifully and comfortably encased in breathable mesh and gel padding. My legs will be cushioned by the special plug thingies that they put in the heal to absorb impact and my high arches will be properly supported for all 13.1 miles. While I doubt this fabulous shoe is going to turn me into a running god it will keep me from dying in agony at the end of every run around the neighborhood.  Thanks mom, for everything, the love, the support, the trips to voice lessons, for beating cancer with a big ole stick and most recently thanks for the fabulous shoes!!  When I run in February it will be nice to know that on my feet are shoes given with love by my Fairy Godmother.