Raising $ for CHLA's Oncology Department & Training for a Triathlon

Last Monday, we celebrated Elizabeth's 10th birthday (the 4th one since she died). It was a hard day, knowing how excited she would have been to hit double digits and realizing how grown up she would have been by now. She always was more mature than her age (what an old soul!), and I am so curious to see how she would have managed the tween years. Would she be into Twilight? Would she still insist on wearing mis-matched socks? Would she still stack bracelets up her arms? She was always quite the funky fashionista!

We brought beautiful flowers, all pinks, purples, and shades of white (I think she would still be partial to those colors even at 10 years old), and the boys picked out a birthday balloon pick to include. They also got a sparkly glitter heart pick to stick in the ground.

The boys each wanted a latex balloon to send to Elizabeth, so they each picked one out (Danny got purple w/ purple ribbon, Mike got pink w/ pink ribbon, and Matt got purple w/ pink ribbon). Danny and Matt had notes to tie on as well. When we got to the cemetery, we all unloaded from the car with flowers and balloons. Danny somehow got the balloon untied from his wrist and let it go too soon, as we were walking to Elizabeth's grave. But we still had two balloons, so it was okay.

Then, when we were placing the flowers and cleaning things up, Mike was sitting on the grass and his balloon touched the grass... and promptly popped. But we still had one balloon, so it was okay.

We tied both Danny's note and Matt's note to Matt's one remaining balloon. The boys excitedly let go of the balloon and watched as it moved up, then just sideways... sideways and a little up... right into a tall neighboring tree... notes dangling from a very high branch, balloon nestled in between branches and leaves. Three balloons down, none of them reaching Elizabeth. Not that any of them ever actually do reach her, right? But sometimes it is just the thought that they might that is enough to lighten the burden of knowing every second of every day that I am just killing time until we are together again.

On September 12th, 2010, I will be participating in my first triathlon--the Nautica Malibu Sprint distance triathlon. It is a fundraiser for CHLA's oncology department, and I have signed up to fundraise. Any $ amount is greatly appreciated--even a $5 donation instead of picking up a Starbuck's latte makes a difference! Every year thousands and thousands of dollars are raised through this event specifically for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. This is the place that gave Elizabeth 2 more years when UCLA said we were done with treatment. When I was in my 20's, I always swore I would do a triathlon before I was 35 years old. This summer is it! Almost 35, and it is time. I am starting my intense training now so that I don't embarass myself... help out with any donation you can spare.

Here is the link to a page with more information: http://www.nauticamalibutri.com/
Here is the link to my fundraising page (also with information about Elizabeth): http://nauticamalibutriathlon.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=345244&lis=0&kntae345244=6BC673A9A95F4C83A7ED2D5FE312AD44