I’m thankful that this is my 200th post. I can’t believe that I have had that much to say over the past year, and that you all have actually wanted to read it.

I’m thankful for my sister-in-law, Marcie, and my husband’s aunt and uncle, Brad and Therese, who have generously donated to Team in Training this week , and another big shout out to Kim for collecting donations from all the great people at the Toledo Hospital.

I’m thankful for my mom, who supports anything and everything I do. I love you.

I’m thankful for my dad, who not only ran 13 miles with me, but was the reason I kept going even when my legs said stop. Oh, and here’s proof that we actually finished. We came in 309th and 310th (we could have at least finished in the 270′s had I not “bonked”).

I’m thankful that my mother-in-law is feeling better (the doctors at the Clinic think she may have graft vs. host of the gut), and is getting her energy back. One of the things I look forward to most is seeing her cheering at the finish line of the marathon.

I’m thankful that the fundraising is taking off. I was going along thinking I had until at least May to raise the $1600 I committed to, so imagine my surprise when I opened a packet of information I received in the mail and found out that the deadline is April 1st. It’s time to get my butt in gear, and I am grateful to all of you for digging into your pockets to support me and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I’m thankful that Kade is showing signs of stepping into the role I thought was meant for me at one point. He just might be a physician in the making. For the past few days, every time he eats something he explains the digestive process to us – that the food goes in his mouth, through his body and ends up under his “pee-pee.” I have no idea where he learned this, or how it seems to make perfect sense to him, but I’m pretty impressed with his grasp of such an advanced concept. Chef, hair stylist, artist, doctor…he’s such a well-rounded little boy.

I’m thankful that Liv’s hair is finally showing signs of growth. At the rate she was going, she wouldn’t need a haircut until her 10th birthday (and I wouldn’t get to use any of the adorable hair barrettes I already have stashed away in her drawer). Her hair used to resemble her Nana’s fuzzy re-growth, but now Nana has far surpassed the little sprouts growing in on Liv’s head, so she has a lot of catching up to do.

I’m thankful that we got to go to dinner Monday night with our friends Brian and Melissa. The last time I went out with them I was 9 months pregnant and ready to burst…literally. It was nice to celebrate Brian’s birthday with him. Happy Belated Birthday, Brian!

I’m thankful that I have such a thoughtful and talented sister. We had this really bad, high school project-like painting on our living room wall as filler until we could afford something to replace it with. Britt’s been dabbling in painting prints and did a triptych one for us that looks even better than something you’d pay top dollar for at one of those trendy home furnishing stores. I love it, and I hope she can turn her undeniable talent into a lucrative business for herself. It’s funny how different siblings can be…I can barely draw stick figures, let alone paint something as awesome as this.

I’m thankful that Kyle tries to help with Liv at night, since I got in trouble for her many night feedings, and when I go in all she wants to do is eat. If only he had boobs…I guess he does, but he needs some that produce milk.

I’m thankful for one of the biggest benefits of running…carbo-loading. I can now eat as many carbs as I want with the excuse that I have to. I could devour a pint of Ben and Jerry’s right now…if I had one. Maybe this explains why I’m not losing as much weight as I thought I would…