Dat Dat Has Taken Over the Blog

Dat Dat has taken over the blog!!!! Enjoy the picture of Todd with his trophy. Yes, Todd Jr. was part of a 10-0 season (The Lions should draft him) that ended with him preserving the shutout. It was the second to last play and they ran right at him (What a mistake that was), everyone was blocked including Todd. It looked like they were going to run for a 70 yard touchdown, the hole was there when all of a sudden this #75 (looked like Howie Long to me) heaved his blocker off (threw him to the ground on his back), and took the ball carrier out with a massive hit to the midsection (he finally listened to his Dat Dat on how to shed a block and tackle). The hit was so hard that the ball carrier almost fumbled the ball. The Panama City Barracudas were barely able to get off one more play after that. Below is a picture from earlier in the year when Todd Jr. was a captain.

Tomorrow Todd Jr. and I head down to the Bay after we take Robin dog to puppy prison, I mean, the spa (poor Robin). I can't wait to see my lovely wife and beautiful children. We will have a wonderful 10 days together before we have to return. I want to thank everyone for the prayers for Natalia, they are working and please keep them up. Nat went to the Dr. on Wednesday and had a great report.

Please be safe if you are traveling espceially up north. It sounds like you will have your share of snow. I feel for you all but will enjoy the 80 degree Christmas Day. We love you all very much and have a blessed Christmas Day.

Dat Dat

Bay County Tiny Mites Champs!!!!!

Thant is right, Todd Jr's team won their championship game 32-0 for a 10-0 undefeated season!!!!!!! I am so excited I was able to be there... he even made a great tackle! He says he wants to play next year, so, we will see. I am back in Tampa.... Meme and Foe Foe loaded Grant, Grady and myself into their car and brought us this way. It was tight, but we made it. The weather is really beautiful here Meme, Foe Foe, the boys and myself were able to go to Clearwater to visit the Columbia Restaurant... on of my favorites... for a 1905 Salad. We had a good time and even made it there and back with out too much Grady Drama.

Yesterday was Chemo... glad it is done... my next one is on the 30th "Happy New Year!" Apparently all my lab numbers were good and I slept through the entire thing which is always really nice.

MeMe and Foe Foe have taken the boys out for the day to have some good quality time before they head back to Alabama to spend some time with Nana, Father Dear, Rebecca and David.

I really want to thank all of you for your prayers and well wishes, they mean so much to me.

Time for a nap or Dada is gonna start fussing

Yucky, Yucky, Yucky, I just feel yucky.

I guess that makes a strong statement. I am "past" my "Yucky" days, but don't tell my stomach, because I think it is confused, it, being my stomach, has decided I have more dues to pay. If I could just puke, I might feel better. Grady Joe is a complete mess and I feel as if I have no control over him... I actually had to call Todd Sr on speaker phone tonight to "lay down the law!" He, Grady Joe, kept kicking me in my port tonight, and if you have never had that happen, be very, very thankful, it hurts, it sucks and I was oh so graciously informed on Monday that I will have to keep it for two, yes two YEARS.... just in case... how reassuring is that. Grant is a mess... trying to walk and talk all at the same time. I feel though that I am so wrapped up in how bad I feel that I am really missing out. I am trying so hard. But I am so tired. I am also missing the Big Todds so much that to think about it only makes me want to cry. Maybe it would help if I could cry... I really don't feel sorry for myself... I really feel bad for everyone around me... I should be able to take care of myself and my family... but I hurt... I physically hurt. Can I really make it to April. Please God, If You can Hear Me, Help Me. On a funny note, tomorrow we are taking Grady Joe to the new Wiregrass Town Center just a couple of miles from here.... they are having the Ellen DeGeneres Dance Cam there tomorrow... let's just hope the little man puts on his usual show and makes it to LA to see Ellen... we were kidding with him about it tonight and said that Grammie and Dada would have to take him... he said "no, Mommy go!" I love you too Grady!

Maybe tonight I can ask for just a small personal/selfish prayer please give my little boys peace, my husband the knowledge that I love him so very much and for just a little relief from the pain, I am sorry to be so needy but thank you to you all... All my love, The Nat

Happy Thanksgiving... a little late!

Happy Thanksgiving... a few days late... hope everyone had a great Turkey Day.

So, here is the photo everyone has been waiting for... me, bald. Don't I look like Foe Foe!

I have been here in PC for the week, which has been wonderful... I have missed my Todds so much. Grant seems to be on the verge of walking... we think it is entirely possible before Christmas. Also, Todd Jr lost a tooth while we were here, but that darn Tooth Fairy... she missed her delivery the first night... maybe chemo kills her brain cells too... she made it up the next night and Todd promptly spent his "bucks" on the bungee jump in the mall!

Though I miss Grammie and Dada, I wish I were headed back to Tampa tomorrow for a nice visit instead of my chemo. The actual infusion was pretty bad last time, I got really sick while I was there. This is definitely one of those things where your pride is out the door and you lose all dignity. It really isn't pretty. To make things worse on top of the vomiting and nausea, there is this shot to help with your immune system... it makes your bones ache and your head HURT!!!! OK, enough complaining. Wish me luck this coming week and enjoy the photo! The Nat

Just a few photos

Me with the boys right before chopping off all my hair.

The big cut... sorry, I still need a good bald photo...

We went to Chuck E Cheese with Mason, Madison, and Aunt Grace...

There was a Fall Festival at Grammie and Dada's Club House today... Grady and Mason went in the bounce houses, rode ponies and Grady got a snake painted on his face.

Here is another Birthday photo... oh... he FINALLY got another tooth... you cannot see it in the photo... but he now officially has a top tooth... lets hope more are soon to follow...

Happy 1st Birthday Grant!!!!

So, technically yesterday was Grant's First Birthday, but we decided to wait until Saturday to celebrate. You can see in the photo that his "smash cake" looked really cute... at least in the beginning...

We were calling him "Blue Beard the Pirate..." He loves having "Happy Birthday" sung to him, so we may have to keep it up for a few more days..

I even caught a photo of him lunging for it... I really thought he was gonna take a bite...

It goes without saying that a bath was in order after this experience... also can we say 5, count them 5, dirty diapers over the next 3 hours... yikes... Happy Birthday to our sweet baby boy!

Hello

Sorry, I still cannot download our Halloween Photos... hopefully soon... however, I did find a few on Grammie and Dada's computer that I had not seen before and I decided to share them with you... These are actually from earlier this year when we had to take Grant to Shands to get "his head checked..." Of course, all is well with him, he is actually asleep right now... Todd Sr and Todd Jr are probably watching the Gators at home in Panama City.... I really do miss them... every minute... OH, but guess what... Todd Jr was Student of the Month... I am so proud of him... also, according to the last update, the Lynn Haven Raiders have an undefeated season... Go Raiders!!!!!

Grady has been "kidnapped" by his Aunt Grace and Uncle Cory... they went to Busch Gardens today and last we heard they were headed for Pizza and a sleep over with his cousin Mason... we may never get him back... Dada was pretty upset about it and is plotting a "playing favorites revenge on Grace and Cory:)"

Here is a photo of me again with the straight hair... oh well, I will have to get Dada to take a photo of what I look like now... let's just say I look even more like Foe Foe than I ever have... (he has been bald for many, many years) Yep, I decided to take control and before I lost my hair, I cut it all off and donated it to locks of love. The stubble is still there, so I have not officially lost my hair yet, but I do keep getting "those" looks... As my last post said, CHEMO SUCKS... 1 down 11 more to go... YUCK! Yes, I puked, it hurts, THIS SUCKS!!!! Okay, no more complaining... I am keeping my eye on the prize... being Cancer FREE!!!!! Wish me luck!!!

Two Words!

Chemo SUCKS!!!!!!!

Poison Control!!! (aka Chemotherapy)

Hello All,

Last night was fun... a whole family of pirates... I will post photos soon... I just need to locate the camera... Grady was especially funny... he finally really got into the Trick or Treating and even got a huge "booty" when he did the Gator Chomp for some other Florida Fans!

Today we are going bowling with Grammie, Dada and some friends to continue the week long celebration of Todd Jr's 7th Birthday!

Tomorrow (Sunday) Todd Sr and I will be heading to Tampa... My first Chemo treatment is Monday at 2:00... they said the infusion takes approximately 4 hrs... and I will have it every two weeks for the next 6 months. I had my port placed last week... it is still bothering me... maybe because there is a foreign object under the skin of my chest that they want to stick a needle into and pump poison through my veins... CRAZINESS!!! Todd said he is going to get me a T-shirt that says "Just Don't Touch My Port!" Apparently this has become a favorite phrase of mine. There was good news when we saw the doctor... my bone marrow is fine!!!!! So it is definitely Hodgkin's Lymphoma Stage 2.

Anyway, wish us all luck... Grammie and Dada will have the kids... hopefully they will be as good for them as they were for MeMe.

More Later
Nat

Happy 7th Birthday Todd Jr!!!!!

Finally, the big 7 has arrived... Todd Jr was so EXCITED this morning... I just hope the cake experience won't be as messy as the first one.....

The Update

I am really tired... still recovering from the long drive... a special thank you to Dat Dat and Foe Foe for keeping me entertained and especially to Aunt Grace, Mason and Madison who put up with the Gant Gant.

So far this is what we know... I will go back to Tampa next Thursday for a MUGA Scan (to make sure my heart is healthy), a bone marrow biopsy and a port placement (luckily I get to be asleep for these two things)... on Friday I have a PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) and a PET Scan for staging the Hodgkins. Dr. Bruno indicated that I should start chemo the first week of November and I will have it every other week for at least four months.

I will have my next appointment with Dr. Bruno on Oct 29... and everything will be finalized at that time as well.

My hair is pretty long now and I want to donate as much as I can to Locks of Love, so I will probably shave it before my first round of chemo.

Time to get Todd Jr ready for football practice...
Natalia

October 15, 2008

Hello All,

I just wanted to give a little update...

Dat Dat, Foe Foe, Grant, and I arrived in Tampa last night after a mostly uneventful trip... Grant did not appreciate that I was sitting next to him and not holding him... he let us know his displeasure... with eardrum piercing clarity!!!

I believe we all slept well and are anxious to make our way to Moffiitt Cancer Center... I have to be there at 11:30 EST to have blood work and then we have an appointment at 12:30 EST to see the Doctor. I suppose you could say that I am a little nervous, but really I think I am more anxious to get the process started!!!

Also, today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day... though we don't need a specific day to be reminded... Esme is with us always...

I will try to update later if I get an opportunity before we leave Tampa... if not... then tomorrow.

Natalia

Not Really What I Wanted for My 36th Birthday...

Can you believe it, 36... yes Foe Foe, you are old enough to have a 36 year old daughter. While my actual birthday was nice, spent going to the zoo and having lunch with my boys, it was the "gift" I received the following day that I could have gone a lifetime with out.
Some of you may already know what I am talking about, but for those of you who do not, I will make a long story short. It involved a phone call from my doctor and the word LYMPHOMA. Yes, I have cancer... there it is in black and white...(or is green... I cannot remember what color my font is right now)... it is Hodgkin's Lymphoma to be more precise.
Todd, Foe Foe and I will be traveling to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa next Wednesday to meet with Dr. Salvador Bruno regarding my treatment. Me Me will come to stay with Todd and Grady Joe... Little Gant Gant will travel with us and hang out with super cool Aunt Grace and his cute cousins Mason and Madison. We don't know all the specifics yet, but it looks like I will be spending some extended time in Tampa for my treatment and Grammie and Dada have lovingly offered their home there for our stay... Dada, I know one of the reasons for retirement was to spend more time with your grandchildren, but you may be getting more than you bargained for... at least for a little while.
I can't really say I have asked myself "why?" Todd and I know first hand that is a question that is never answered.
So, a big fat thank you to all our family for the love and support and if you feel so inclined to pass a few prayers our way, we would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks... Natalia

Our Weekend!

On Saturday we had soccer and football... of course... The Fireballs won 3-2. It was also Homecoming for the Lynn Haven Raiders and luckily Todd actually got to see some real playing time, as you can see here in this action shot courtesy of Dat Dat...
Later Saturday evening, we went with some friends to Octoberfest in Downtown Panama City....

We had a good time walking and seeing all the vendors... the boys had an especially good time getting their faces painted... Grady was so patient. This is a photo of our two biggest trouble makers and their friend Sean!

Some Pictures, A Reminder, and Maybe Something You Didn't Know!

First, some pictures... as usual, there was soccer and football this weekend. Soccer went really well and Todd Jr had a fantastic assist. We were also very excited to have Grammie and Dada with us again this weekend. The Lynn Haven Raiders played and won again this weekend, but you don't really want to get me started... let's put it this way, Grammie and Dada still haven't seen Todd Jr play!!!! Maybe this Saturday... we will see...
On Sunday, we went to the Zoobilee... the local Zoo open its doors and charges only $1 per person... so, we decided to check it out... certainly no Animal Kingdom, but what is??? Todd and Grady had a great time riding the ponies.
Check out Todd Jr.... a natural... reminding Mommy of when she was little... (Dear MeMe and Foe Foe... I still want a horse for Christmas!)
I know it is a little difficult to see, but there is a HUGE female lion in the background... Grady was so excited... "Lion King!"... Todd and I even decided that after all our time at Disney's Animal Kingdom, we had never been that close to a Lion. All in all, it was a nice weekend!

So, next, I want to give everyone a reminder... it is now October and it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So many of us know people impacted by this form of cancer. It is devastating to so many people, but fortunately there are more and more survivors, like our Me Me... she is an almost 6 year survivor and we are so thankful for each clean bill of health! So, get your mammograms of you need one!!!!

Finally, maybe something you did not know about the month of October... it is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. I believe that most of you who read our blog know the story of our beautiful Esme. To be honest, there was much I wanted to say about this, but words have failed me... Just know that watching our daughter fight so hard and then slip away so silently will be with us for ever and that there are more people than you know who have faced this pain and live their new "normal" with it everyday.

Football and NO CAMERA!!!

Todd Jr had his second football game this weekend. Dat Dat and I were very pleased to see Todd Jr get in for several plays. Unfortunately, we forgot the camera:( It was a good game... a complete blowout... the Lynn Haven Raiders won 41-0. Grady and Grant were very good and seemed to enjoy the beautiful, cooler weather we have been having... Come on in Fall... the door is open and you are WELCOME!!!!

Since we forgot the camera, I decided to include a few more photos from Grammie and Dada's visit!!

Happy 1st Birthday Madison!!!!

One year ago today!!!!

What a beautiful little lady!!! We hope you have a fantastic 1st Birthday!!! We love you very much!!!!
Love, Uncle Todd, Aunt Nat, Todd Jr, Grady Joe and "Gant-Gant"

Lots Going On...

We had a wonderful visit with Grammie and Dada!!!! Unfortunately they had to leave this morning, but we are looking forward to their return next Thursday on their way back to TX.
On Friday we decided to take a trip down to the St. Andrews State Park to check out the waves. In this photo with Grammie and Grant, you can see how windy it was... It is hard to believe that Hurricane Ike was attempting to make landfall almost 1,000 miles away. I don't think these photos do the intensity of the waves justice... though I have spent my entire life living near the beach, I had only ever seen this on TV... I guess I never took the opportunity to check out the swells for myself.
It goes without saying that there were double red flags flying on the beach... basically that means NO SWIMMING!!!! As you can see, some IDIOTS did not heed the warning... the guy on the surf kite can barely be seen... I have to admit it was pretty cool to see him jumping the waves and sailing through the air, but I felt like we were watching a disaster waiting to happen.
Saturday was Todd's first official football game... The Lynn Haven Raiders won 46 to 19. Mommy was not happy though... Todd Jr only got to play in the last 40 seconds of the game, in which the other team decided to take a knee and run the clock... I was PI$$#D! The coach apparently promised those boys who did not get to play would do so next week.... we will see...
We did have a good time watching the game, but I think it was just as hot as during the Jamboree... luckily we had a canopy this time...
After the game we decided to head a little closer to the beach and hit Hooters for dinner. Wings, beer and salty air... does it get any better... You can see in the background that the waves had definitely calmed... All our prayers do go out to all of those impacted by Ike in Texas and Louisiana...

Look Who Came to Visit!!!!

Yep, Grammie and Dada arrived yesterday, all the way from Dallas, TX... and just in time to make it to see Todd Jr's football practice. We are so glad to have them here... Grammie, Dada, Grady, Grant and I met Dat Dat down at the beach to enjoy a "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (can you guess where we went?

There were double red flags flying at the beach today and man were they right.. the surf was unbelievable.... I am not sure I have ever seen it that high other than on television... I was not gonna get any closer than across the street... however Dada and Grady were trying to find a way to go "fwimmin'" as Grady would say...
Here is another picture from practice... We have decided that Grant is a combination of his older brothers... cute, cute, cute....

Here is handsome Grady Joe stealing his Dada's seat... he wanted to play football last night... we almost got run over by a thundering herd of Tiny Mites...
We are really looking forward to enjoying the rest of our time with Grammie and Dada and we will be excited when they come back to spend some time with us on their way back to Texas...

Football Jamboree 2008 Bay County, FL

Is that Howie Long?????

First let me start by saying, today was a "hot one!"

Here is our little football player... you could tell he was excited this morning... he could not stop talking (creating even more heat on an unusually warm day)... I know, not unusual, but it was even more than you would expect...

Today was the Jamboree. Each team had to get out there it in the sweltering heat for 2 "games." Ten minutes on offense and ten minutes on defense. The Lynn Haven Raiders, dripping buckets of sweat from their tiny brows, solidly beat both teams.
Out star player, made an appearance in the second play of the second game... he took out the center of the Panama City Beach Barracudas and went after the ball. Unfortunately the other team, with their cleats melting as they ran to the end zone scored a TD on that play, but we were just so excited to see Todd "Marshmallow" Harris in the game.

Grant enjoyed himself... though it felt as if Dat Dat and I were doing battle with the star at the center of our solar system to keep him shaded. He refused to wear the hat we took for him, but luckily we were able to get some sun screen on him.
Check out all the boys in the stands... Yes, Todd Jr is even in the picture... check out the button on Todd's hat... Just to let you know how hot it was (in case you had not picked up on that already) Dat Dat mentioned that it smelled like his hat was melting... or at least what ever it is they spray/glue it with. Really, the little men were VERY good... the only frustrating thing was that Grady wanted to hang all over us... and we love him dearly but it was just TOO D#$N HOT!!!!!!


I also wanted to include this shot... he is so cute... he said today that he might even want to play again next year... Great improvement from last week. So, it was a very successful day... but did I happen to mention how hot it was?

9 Month Stats

We just got back from the pediatrician and here are the stats on Grant... He is a "whopping" 16lbs 5oz... Funny, we did not even think he weighed that much. He is also 27 3/4 inches. So, for weight he is in the 3rd percentile (yes, I said 3rd) and for height he is in the 25th to 50th percentile. The doctor would really like him to gain some more weight, but developmentally he is right on target. She even said we can start working toward whole milk if we can master a sippy cup... needless to say, that will be our new mission!!! All in all a good report for our little "Gant-Gant" as Grady Joe calls him...

Happy Birthday Grammie!!!!

Happy Birthday Grammie!!!! (Pictured here iwht our two biggest boys... hard to believe Grady was ever that small!) We hope you have a great day! We love you very much and cannot wait to see you in 10 more days!!!

Love,

Todd, Nat, Todd Jr, Grady and Grant

Happy Belated Birthday Timmy!!!!

Dear Timmy,

Take a good look... you probably won't spend nearly as much time in a swim suit as in a parka where you are going... Anyway, we love you and miss you already... Happy Belated 7th Birthday.....

Love,

Uncle Todd, Aunt Nat, Todd, Grady and Grant

Hurricane Season Anyone?

Obviously it is upon us... Me Me and Foe Foe have evacuated from NOLA to Montgomery, AL... they did not even trust Gustav enough to come to see us in Panama City:) I just heard from a friend in coastal Mississippi and all is well there, they said they never even lost power. So, hopeful we will be that there won't be as much devastation as there was three years ago.

We are also hoping Uncle Tim, Aunt Susan, Kati, Timmy, Sara, Jessica, Cocoa Pup and all their belongings have made it safely to New York. We wish them only the best, but many of us in Florida sure will miss them!!!

Grant is now nine months, he goes to his check up on Wednesday, so I will update more then. However, he has the army crawl DOWN... he just needs to move from his elbows to his hands... he has also learned to go from laying on the ground to a sitting position!!! He mastered that this last Saturday!

Todd Jr is still working on Football and Soccer. Soccer is great and without drama. Football on the other hand... not so much. This last Monday, there was a major meltdown, however it ended with lots of fun and happiness all around and looking forward to the next day of practice. Their "preseason game" is this upcoming Saturday.... I am sure you will hear all the gory details...

As for Grady, well, let's just say, he is Grady... oh, so very cute... and Dat Dat's official button pusher...

The First Day of First Grade.... well sorta...

Yes, today was the first day of First Grade for Todd Jr. However, at about 11 am this morning, I got a call from the office.... Todd Jr had "a protein spill" (that's what we used to call it at Walt Disney World). So, after a short wait to see if he felt better, I was on my way to pick him up. Dat Dat and I really think his nerves got the better of him. Anyway, he is taking a nap right now!
Well, even though today was not very successful, we had a fun weekend. On Friday night, we went on the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise to celebrate Todd Jr's friend, Sean, birthday. Wow! It was so much fun, from the moment we were on deck, the kids were completely entertained... there was a water fight with another boat... Todd and his friend were COMPLETELY SOAKED... they had to mop the deck as you can see here...
There was face painting and even sword fighting! Grady does not look particularly pleased in this photo, but really he did have a great time and was disappointed when his moustache was gone the next day. However, he, Todd Jr and Dat Dat still have their pirate tattoos to show!
Grant even had a great time, he watched for dolphins and really loved watching all the other kids running around.

The cruise was at 5:30 so we even got to see the sunset and a full moon rising! After the cruise, we went out to dinner and all the kids were passed out by the time we got home... as many of you know, I am a huge stickler for a bath EVERY night. But, Grady was so out of it that I was afraid to set him in the tub, so he got a sponge bath and pjs and off to bed. Grant even slept until 8:30 the next morning! Fun was definitily had by all!!!!

PS... Happy Belated Birthday to Aunt Susan!!!!