New Year - New Me?!

It's been over a month since my last blog, and about a week since I started writing this one!  My last blog was written at an anxious time.  Waiting to find out about when scans for Isla would be done, and hoping for good results!

Isla had a great time in London, and still mentions Big Ben nearly everyday, and also keeps asking when we're going back on a plane to see it!  Ross and I also enjoyed the visit to London, sharing Isla's story with people at the annual SSAFA carol concert.
The week after our trip to London, we were in hospital for four days for Isla's scans.  Isla has forgotten about staying in hospital, which is a great thing in a way, but also meant she had difficulty staying asleep all night.  The first night she was keeping the nurses entertained with stories of a monster mouse with big teeth and claws, until I received a phone call to see if I could get her back to sleep.  The following nights she woke during the night again and both times she climbed into her pushchair to go to sleep.  I only took the pushchair with us, as it's easy to bring her back through the long walk from nuclear medicine when she's sleeping in it.  We did manage an afternoon and evening out of the hospital to see Happy Feet 2 in the cinema, followed by Nandos.
We got home from hospital on Friday evening and within an hour Isla had a high temperature.  All weekend she spent lying on the couch for cuddles burning up.  Paracetemol and Ibruprofen were not managing to keep her temperature down.  She had just recovered from a cold before the hospital visit and managed to pick something else up.  We did end up taking Isla to the GP again where she was prescribed antibiotics for a nasty throat infection.  I'm glad she got them as she started to improve after a few days, her last dose of antibiotic was on Christmas Day. 
The Tuesday following the scans, Isla's consultant phoned to give us the good news that she was still in remission.  The liver was the same as last time.  That's definately the quickest we've ever had results. I'm putting it down to hospital staff getting as much done before Christmas.  Christmas was a lovely day, Isla was particularly impressed with the pink balance bike and snow white house from Santa.  We had family round for dinner, so Isla was very happy to be surrounded by lots of loved ones.
As you could probably have guessed, I gave up on the diet, and I'm not bothered by it.  But now, it's time to get back on it.  This time I have also set myself a challenge to help shift the pounds.  I looked at different charity events for charities we support. I kept being drawn to cycling events, as I do like to cycle, although it's only been occasionally in recent years.  I was quite interested in the idea of the London to Paris cycle, but after considering it, I wasn't keen on the idea of trying to get my bike down to London or raising lots of money just to be spent on accommodation and travel back to London from Paris.
I've decided to complete a 100 mile cycle around Moray (where I live) in September this year.  It will be over a weekend with one nights camping, so I'm not having to pay out.  All sponsor money will go to charity.  I've decided to raise money once again for my daughter's appeal.  I do hope one day we don't need to use it for Isla's treatment and that we can give it to research for neuroblastoma.
The route is based on a new walking route called 'The Moray Way'.  I will leave home from Elgin on the Saturday morning following the national cycle route 1 to take me to Forres, where I will then complete the Dava Way to Grantown on Spey, followed by completing the Speyside Way to Garmouth and then back onto the national cycle route 1 to take me back to Elgin at some point on the Sunday.  Some parts of the route will be by road, and other parts paths. 
Here is a link to the moray way for walkers -  http://www.morayways.org.uk/routedetails.asp?routeid=202

I've looked out a training schedule, and have started going to the local gym for cardio to build up my fitness, shopped on ebay for some cycling clothes, and today I went back to weight watchers to begin the diet.
It's been 12 weeks since I went, I really didn't think it had been that long, and I've managed to gain 7lb.  I'm jsut glad I'm not back to my starting weight. 
So here goes again, my main goal is to cycle 100 miles for charity, with the added bonus of shifting some weight at the same time.  If you would like to join me for my cycle, please get in touch.  You could do it for a charity of your choice, or if you would like to sponsor me you can do it with the link at the top of the blog.  Thanks