Vision Walk 2010. Team Katie Starr.

Should I begin this post by saying; "The best laid plans of mice and men" or should I begin by saying, "Say it isn't so?"

Today was Lily's much anticipated 5K. She raised a lot of money and couldn't wait to walk the walk. She has been talking the talk for weeks now and she was ready. At least she was ready when she hopped into bed last night. Her clothes were laid out ready, her water bottles chilling in the fridge, her new sneakers were at the front door with her socks placed neatly next to them, the sunscreen was in our bag, ditto the bug spray and her epi-pen, the cameras were charged and last but not least her picnic lunch was packed and ready to be grabbed at 7.50 this morning when we left the house to drive to Fort Lauderdale.

I set my alarm for 6.03 and came downstairs, moments later Lily followed me and in this odd, high pitched, raspy voice she told me she felt ill. She said her throat hurt, her head hurt and her legs were very wobbly. I probably stared at her for a few seconds with my mouth wide open. I touched her head and she was hot, really hot. Lily NEVER gets sick. The last time she had a fever we were in China, nearly 3 years ago. I gave her a huge cold drink and she sat on the couch looking so miserable and things just got worse when I said she couldn't do the walk. She begged and pleaded. I told her, no. I told her I would do it with Rosie in her name and she would have to stay home with Daddy. I dosed her with some M*trin, made her comfy and headed to the shower...rather late.

By the time I was out her fever was already down so I started to get dressed and get Rosie ready. At the last second I took her temp and she was at 98.8. Okay kiddo you can come but under one condition, you have to sit in Rosie's pushchair. I will push you both and when we are done it is straight back in the car and we are coming home. No face painting, no bouncehouse, no picnic and no playing. She agreed. All she cared about was doing the walk. A lot of people had sponsored her and she wanted to keep her end of the deal for Katie Starr.

We left the house late and arrived for the 9 am registration at 9.30 but we made it. The Katie Starr team was all kitted out in really awesome team shirts. Lori had done an amazing job of fundraising and the Katie Starr team was in the lead. I kept Lily in the shade sitting down and another Mum went and got her a smoothie, she had an apple and said she felt great. Her temp was back to normal ( I took the thermometre with me) and she was ready to go. After all the teams were introduced we had a quick pep rally, and a warm up. (warm up? Who are you kidding it was hot as all heck and we were sweating before we started LOL.) Lori came over to us and handed Lily a pin that she was given. It was for being an All Star. Lori's team raised $10,000 for The Foundation Fighting Blindness and as the team captain she was honoured with a pin. She told Lily that she deserved it for her fundraising it was very touching but then again that's Lori. Lily beamed.

I forced her to sit in the stroller because she was still very pale and looked ucky. I went as fast as I could, pushing a stroller with 80+lbs of weight in it. It was hot and sticky and I needed to get around as fast as possible then head back home. Both girls were drinking water so they were fine. After awhile Lily said she had to walk at least for awhile cos that was why people had sponsored her. One thing is for sure she is not a quitter. I let her get out and off she went. She didn't last long but she did it.

Once we got back to the start I grabbed her another cold drink and told both girls we would have our picnic in the car and we said our good byes. Neither of them questioned me and we walked slowly back to the car. I put the cooler between them both of them were asleep before they had a bite to eat. Lily doesn't sleep in the day, she might miss something!

When we got home Jacob and I carried them both into the house and plopped them on the couch. Lily didn't move all afternoon. She got up for awhile and played play-d*ugh, had some soup and a popsicle and then after her shower we watched a little television before she went back to sleep.

The walk was incredible. So many people, the Katie Starr team alone had 85 members! Again, that's the Weinstock way. So many people were all walking to raise money for research. Hopefully there won't be a walk next year because a cure for hereditary blindness will have been found but just in case we are signing up again.

Katie Starr and many others deserve this.

Team Captain, Lori with Katie Starr and the Mischief Man, Ethan. ( he felt a little forgotten today because eh kept hearing Lori and Katie Starrs names mentioned but not his.)

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Not looking so hot...she had no idea I was looking at her.

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Putting on her brave face and beginning to feel better.

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Not one to be left out, she loved the fact that she got a team shirt too.

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Everywhere you looked it was a sea of red for Katie Starr.

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These little signs were all along the walk.

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These HUGE spiders were everywhere. When you looked up all you see were these rather scary chaps. Urghhhh

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This pushchair was not made for this much weight!!! ( nor was this Mama!)

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Lily's team I.D. with the pin that Lori gave her.

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Here she is walking the walk, just as she promised.

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Such a fabulous quote on the front of the team shirts.

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Sweet Katie Starr, you will see your future because you have an amazing family who will stop at nothing to ensure that happens.

(side note: Andie since you cannot see Y*u Tube from Afghanistan I posted the video through dr*pshots. Let me know if you can see it. If you can I will continue to do it this way until you get back home))