Running Update:

11/25/2018	Run		7.7 mi	1:15:13
11/27/2018	Swim		1500.0 yd
11/28/2018	Run		7.6 mi	1:15:37
12/1/2018	Swim		2100.0 yd
12/2/2018	Run		7.6 mi	1:19:06
12/7/2018	Run		3.3 mi	32:10
12/8/2018	Swim		2100.0 yd
12/9/2018	Run		5.0 mi	49:13
12/12/2018	Run		5.0 mi	49:23
12/15/2018	Swim		2100.0 yd
12/16/2018	Run		5.0 mi	49:45
12/21/2018	Swim		2100.0 yd
12/22/2018	Run		5.0 mi	49:27
12/23/2018	Swim		2100.0 yd

I'm only at 956 miles for the year, so it looks like I'll miss 1000 miles for the first time in 6 years!  I knew when we entered December that I'd really have to be diligent and do several long runs in order to top 1000, and I decided I didn't want to work that hard :)  I've continued running and swimming, but just for "fun".  (Actually, if I add in my 47.7 swimming miles it bumps me over 1000 miles, so I’ll take it!)

It’s all worth it.  Running those 956 miles helped me raise $17,361 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation in 2018!  Thanks to all of you who donated to help us #EndNF!

I’ve already registered to run the 2019 NYC Half Marathon in March, the Vermont City Marathon in May, and the New Haven Road Race Half Marathon in September, all for CTF.  My fall marathon is still up in the air—maybe Chicago this year?  Watch this space!

NF Update:

Jane has been tolerating 30mg of selumetinib twice a day since our last visit to NIH three months ago.  In an effort to prevent her from receiving a sub-therapeutic dose of the medication, which is based on height and weight, we had Jane re-measured at her pediatrician’s office a few weeks ago.  Sure enough, she’s grown another inch since she was last measured, so we’re going to increase her selumetinib dose again.  Starting in January she’ll go to 35mg in the morning and 30mg in the evening until we return to NIH in mid-February.

Jane Update:

Jane’s been a busy girl this past month.  On December 1st Jane held her own food drive!  Jane’s class is studying food and water insecurity at school and for a project Jane decided to hold a food drive to benefit the Madison Food Pantry. She did pretty much all the work herself and had a tremendous response!

Geting started

A full basket after only 20 minutes!

With one of her teachers <3

A cartful in just under an hour!

Grandma donated

With her social studies teacher

After 2 hour!

With another favorite teacher

All packed up and proud (with a celebratory cup of hot chocolate)

In the end she collected 168 cans of tuna, 19 jars of peanut butter, 19 boxes of cereal, 49 boxes of pasta, 63 cans of soup, assorted other groceries, and $49.65 in cash! <3

Afterwards, Jane submitted this reflection to her teachers:

”For the food drive we were successful.  We collected 331 items of food such as 168 cans of tuna, which we needed the most, 63 cans of soup and $49.65 in cash donations. The reason why I think it was so successful was because we had one person standing outside handing out slips saying what food was needed for the food drive, and one person sitting at the exit collecting the food and donations.  We also posted the announcement to the Town of Madison Facebook page.  It felt weird when I was asking for food because I had food and I didn’t need any. And when I was collecting the food I felt gratitude for the people who donated because they spent a little extra money for the people in need that they didn’t know.”

The thoughtful note we received from Jane's teachers

~~~

Then last week Jane became one of three finalists in her sixth grade Geography Bee!  In January she’ll go on to compete against the seventh and eighth graders in our town.  We’re so proud!

The contest started with each student answering questions individually.  Once only six students remained, the format changed to a panel.  The three students who had the most correct answers in this final round advance to the next contest.  Below is a clip of the final round (courtesy of our friend Dana).  Jane is in pink at the far left.  

For those who don’t want to watch the whole four minutes, the final three questions were: 

1  The Orange River lies in Lesotho in the Drakensburg Mountains on which continent?

2  The City of Auckland is home to the largest concentration of indigenous Maori people in what country?

3  The southernmost portion of the Yucatan Peninsula is made up of Belize and which other Central American country?

Speaking of foreign geography, we’ll be headed to the prairies of mid-western Canada to celebrate the New Year :)  Have a wonderful holiday week, everyone!  See you in 2019.