Bye, Bye Bear?

As some of you may know, Todd Jr has been suffering for MONTHS now with a perpetual snotty nose.

And I don't mean just a little runny...

It has been horrible.

The Doctor has tried Nasonex and Singulair... neither of which put the slightest dent in the sinus flow.

So, yesterday after Grady, Grant and I picked up Todd Jr from school, we headed to see the allergist.

They had informed me that it could take up to two hours for the testing.

Luckily, Todd remembered to bring in his homework...

and the little boys found things to entertain themselves...

Like playing with the blinds...

And checking out the toys in the room.

Finally, the nurse came in to do the allergy test.

It is really interesting.

They load this little contraption with several different allergens.

Next they grind the little teeth on the contraption into the skin on your back.

The you wait 20 minutes to see what happens.

Sounds like a recipe to me.

This is right after they put all the stuff on his back.

He was so patient and good.

This is about 10 minutes in.

Looks like something is happening.

A closeup of the action!

After 20 minutes and quick clean up of his back an answer awaited us.

Wait for it.

DUST MITES!!!!!!!

Dust mites are everywhere!

On you.

In your House.

On your Furniture.

They love Carpet.

Your Mattress.

Your Dog.

Your Pillow.

Your Brothers.

Your Bear.

Say WHAT?

 I have to be honest, I actually cried.

Todd Jr has had this bear since before birth.

What to do, What to do.

Bear has been greatly loved.

And as Dat Dat pointed out last night, Bear was actually a little spot of laughter during a very dark time.

Oddly enough this was exactly what had popped into my head when the tears started coming.

When I was in the hospital, just after Esme was born, MeMe and Foe Foe brought Todd Jr., with Bear in tow, up to the hospital to see us.

Well, at one point, everyone had  gone down to the NICU to see Esme, and Foe Foe, Todd Jr and myself were in the room waiting for them to come back and Foe Foe noticed that there was a string coming from the end of Bear's nose.

I know it is hard to make out, but there is still a bit of it there.

Well, Foe Foe pulled out some nail clippers, I think, and took the string off.

Ummmm, Bad Move Foe Foe!!!!

Todd Jr., who was 2 1/2 at the time FREAKED OUT!

Honestly, he believed Bear had been mortally wounded.

I gotta admit, it was HYSTERICAL.

So, what will happen to Bear now?

Ultimately, I don't know.

First though, he will get a bath.

My football playing, "Demon Cougar" tough 9 year old brought me his Bear this morning and said, "Here Mom, he needs a bath."

Next, the Dr. recommended the freezer.

Yes, the freezer.. that is if he makes it out of the washing machine and dryer.

As for everything else.

There are prescriptions.

His pillows, mattress and box spring have to be completely encased in a hypoallergenic cover.

No books.

Everything in his closet that is not being used has to be out.

And of course, we will have to dust... very, very often.

By the way, that reminds me, I have to go clean his baseboards.

Anyone want to help?

Didn't think so.

Oops... How could I forget!

Yes, I just realized I forgot (not sure how that happened) to share our trip to the Magic Kingdom!

For completing the Walt Disney World Marathon Todd and I were able to participate in Marathon Monday.

We were given tickets to one park of our choice and since we were sure we could not get away with only the two of us going, we succumbed to the pressure and got tickets for the boys too...

Kids...

Our morning not only began with the alarm and excited children...

but screams of agony as our asphalt battered feet hit the ground.

To say we walked around the Magic Kingdom for 11 hours would be stretching it...

More like limping in an ibuprofen induced haze would be more like it!

After bidding Grammie and Dada Good bye...

Oh, by the way, we owe Grammie and Dada BIG TIME!!!!!!!!

They were so awesome to go with us and take care of the Triple Trouble!

It truly would not have been possible without them!

They ROCK!!!!!!!!

Finally, this wacky band of characters was on their way to the Magic Kingdom!

(Note the pedestal the boys are standing on... Todd and I should have been sitting on it!)

Our first stop was Adventureland...

Actually, that is a lie... our first stop was the Bakery on Main Street...

And 2 ENORMOUS Cinnamon Rolls...

Moving on....

The boys were super excited and ready to get the ball rolling.... get it...

They were ready to have a "BLAST"... I crack myself up!

First Attraction... Aladdin's Magic Carpet... 

Dat Dat sat this one out... 

Next was the world famous Jungle Cruise....

Grady was checking out the Gorillas..

Those Todd's and their handsome grins!

Next Stop.... The Tiki Room...

Because you can sit for a few minutes...

And if you are lucky enough to have no one sitting next to you, you can prop up your pain riddled feet. 

Then onto our MUST SEE every time... more than once...

Pirates of the Caribbean... and look who was there....

A bunch of Goofballs!!!!! 

Next, a photo just after leaving the Country Bears... again... an opportunity to sit...

And look who was on our path as we headed to Liberty Square....

Finally, it was time to visit the Hall of Presidents.

Grady kept asking me...

"Mommy, where is Barakan Obaman?"

After this, we went on to visit the 999 Happy Haunts that reside in the Haunted Mansion...

Remember, there is always room for one more....

I did a count.

We all made it out.

After this, it was time for lunch and that was good, cuz a storm was a coming!

So we sat at Cosmic Rays and waited for the sun to shine again.

Then, after spending some time in Tomorrowland, Dat Dat and Todd went on Space Mountain and the little boys and I rode the People Mover til we spotted this guy..

We all love Buzz!!!!

Even through the pain, the day seemed to race by.

We all had an amazing time and enjoyed every moment.

We did see the parade, rode Pirates again just before the fireworks and Todd and Todd even made it on Big Thunder twice.

So much fun.

It can really wear you out.

Thanks Walt... again, you made our day.



Hot Coffee!!!!

Hello Monday!

Hope everyone is enjoying their day off, spending it with family and maybe working a little toward realizing your own dreams on this day we recognize a man with a very big one.

Also, as it is a rainy, cold day here in Panama City, it can give you a little too much time on your hands to ponder those senseless aspects of life that go on around you.

Like, coffee...

Now we all know that this company...

Will soon be taking over the world... and now while I do like their Caramel Apple Spice...

Coffee, it just "ain't" my thing...

Me, I am more of a fizzy kinda girl.... 

Isn't it beautiful?

My other favorite drink, courtesy of Dat Dat and raging headache caused by a little red headed boy that will remain nameless....

Grady...

Sorry... 

IT GIVES YOU WINGS!!!!!!

Okay, back to the coffee... so while driving around town, I have noticed these decals on car windows.

I know I am no rocket scientist, but I consider myself slightly intelligent.

I have a four year degree.

It took me 5 plus years to get.

From a University in Alabama.

Never mind.

So, anyway, this decal... I know people love coffee and I guess they like it really, really hot because they keep driving around with a decal of a guy holding a coffee cup in his hand, with his head tilted to the side with flames coming out of his head.

See below... Todd is demonstrating... sans the flames... use your imagination.

Can't you see it too?

I told this to my loving husband a few weeks ago and it has been a great source of entertainment for him.

Because, as he brought to my attention, these people aren't driving around hunting this... 

They are hunting this... 

Oh the despair...

Yep, completely embarrassed.

(Especially since I grew up in South Alabama!)

Come on now... someone back me up on this!

I gotta go hunt down a Red Bull!!!!

Think I can find a decal for that?

Have a great day y'all!



Happy New Year! Marathon Madness... Part 3!

First, I will start by answering the BIG question!

Did you finish?

Yes, we both did... without CPR or a call to 911!

AND IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!

On Saturday morning we left Tampa and headed to Lakeland to spend a little time with Great Grandad and Gigi and, yes, I was a little preoccupied and forgot to take any photos!

After a nice visit, and a stop at Applebee's... which has a great new BBQ sandwich by the way, we were on our way to DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!

I gotta be honest... at this point my excitement/tension/stress level was off the charts... Dat Dat even threatened to make me walk if I did not calm down... he said it was even starting to get to him...

I wanted to cry, scream, laugh, jump for joy... we had trained so hard and for so many months... we had been through more than you can imagine and here it was 26.2 miles laid in front of us just hours away.

Finally, we had arrived a the place ... where dreams really do come true!

And from the back seat you could hear Grant take in two huge excited breaths and yell....

"Good Job Daddy!!!"

Our first destination was the ESPN Wide World of Sports.

Here we had to pick up our race packets and get our start times.

There were lots of people and vendors and the excitement was everywhere!

Our next destination was our resort...

After checking in... we checked out our rooms.

Cute, cute boys!

Luckily we were able to get adjoining rooms... it helped with the sleeping arrangements!

After getting unpacked, it was time the head to dinner...

And when you are about to run a marathon, you need to "carb up!"

And what better place than....

And it was yummy, as usual...

Then, heavily laden with pasta, it was time to get some shut eye!

Morning would come all too early.

Yes, y'all.... that is AM.

And in Eastern time zone.

We live in Central.

Do the math.

Todd and I had set everything out the night before and we were quickly ready to go.

We chose not to carry the camera with us since it was our first race and um... I didn't have anywhere to put it.

We arrived at the staging area around 3:45am, God Bless Disney Transportation, checked our bags and made our way.... like cattle, to our corral... yep, cattle.

It was interesting to see all the 17,000 people moving toward a same goal.

People of every size, shape, fitness level, age, nationality... all there to put one foot in front of the other for 26.2 miles.

It was chilly and Todd and I were ready to get started.

The Professional Runners began at 5:35am and the rest of us began in waves. 

We crossed the start line, cloaked in darkness, right around 6:00am.

There were fireworks, Disney Characters, music... it was amazing... I was giddy.

My sweet, sweet husband stayed with me for about the first 3 miles until we got separated at a bathroom break inside Epcot.

Never seen so many men and even some women peeing in unison on the side of the road!

Yeah, I wouldn't be drinking from any water ways around the Walt Disney World Resort any time soon... or ever!

Our journey took us through Epcot first...

Then down the road a ways to the Magic Kingdom...

A part of journey that included what Todd and I now call Hell Hill.... that "dip" in the road near the Contemporary for our Disney Family!

Past the Grand Floridian and down a back road to "Home Sweet Home," Disney's Animal Kingdom.

After exiting DAK we headed up some hills, down some hills and waaaaay down the Osceola Parkway to The Hollywood Studios... still so hard not to call it the Disney/MGM Studios...

Our path then took us back into Epcot and just out side the front gates to end our 26.2 miles.

Straight into the arms of my loving husband!

He had finished in 5 hrs 18 minutes.

I made it in 6 hrs 4 minutes.

We had both hoped to do better, but this was our first marathon and truly, finishing within the allotted amount of time was the real goal.

Check out the BLING baby!!!!!!

I think my Mom said it best... I am so fortunate to have had such a wonderful experience and yet again, Disney played a huge role.

Also, I want you to know that I gained so much more than bragging rights while winding my way on foot through the Walt Disney World Resort.

For each runner, I believe it was more than just running 26.2 miles...

There were reasons why...

Like Bonnie, who I met while running toward the Magic Kingdom... she had run all 18 WDW Marathons and loved meeting new people along the way... I think she was a bigger chatter than I am... is that possible???  But her enthusiasm was infectious.

Like the man who was running in memory of his daughter, Ellie, who had passed just before her 4th birthday, we never spoke but I understood, I know.

And the young woman from Kansas... who, in late October, finished her last round of Chemo for Hodgkin's Lymphoma (yep... same one)... still sporting peach fuzz was running the marathon because she had already overcome a much larger hurdle.  I was glad to share a Survivor's High Five with her!!!

Why did we run?

I think the reasons are too numerous.

We want to be healthy.

Smaller Jeans (BTW I am in single digits!)

To set a good example for our children.

Better late than never.

Because, even if you won't admit it, everyone of you were skeptical.

We never thought we could.

For Todd Jr... who has started running also.

For Grady Joe... who loves his Mommy and Daddy so much.

For Grant... because he is a rascal.

and...

For Esme... because she got her wings before her feet could ever touch the ground.

There were many moments during the race that I became very emotional...

Reminiscing of a past life, a Disney life:)...

Appreciation for our special family...

Sadness for all our losses...

Excitement for all that our future holds... Triathlon, anyone?

Oh yeah, and the fatigue might have had a little something to do with it.

What, you may ask, did we do to fill the rest of our day?

After getting cleaned up...we went to lunch and one of my very favorites!!!!

My tired, sweet, handsome husband!

Yes, I finisher my 1905 Salad... and both glasses of Sangria... yes, I know, I know.. but it was soooo good!

And then I think we slept the rest of the day!

Thank you to all of you for your love and support during all this... get ready though, there is another big year of training ahead of us...

Not only are we running the 2012 WDW Marathon...

We are doing the Goofy Challenge.

The Half Marathon on Saturday.

The Full Marathon on Sunday.

Goofy, huh?