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?

Happy New Year! Tampa... Part 2

On Tuesday, January 4, the Triple Trouble and I loaded up the minivan and headed to Tampa, to see Grammie and Dada.

The trip was not without its fair share of drama.... and puke!

Yes, Grady, after just having gotten onto I-10 began projective vomiting... you can always count on that boy to make a trip interesting... and gross!!!!

Thank goodness for the jumbo size packet of wipes I had... not fun and lots of stress!!!!

You can ask Todd, I was having a meltdown, was completely grossed out and was contemplating canceling my appointment at Moffitt and going home!!!!!

Anyway, after a good hour of wiping and a change of clothes for Grady Joe, who at this point was running around chasing his brothers all over the rest area, we were on our way and were so happy to get to Grammie and Dada's house!

In the following days, the boys had way more fun that any one person should.

They "hung" out with their cousins... this is Timmy.

They ran around like chickens with their heads cut off.

By the way, his shirt says "You can call me super serious big time trouble"... there has never been a more true statement!

Todd and Timmy doing their balancing act.

Grady loved the zip line as much as the big kids!

We even made it to Red Robin... yummmm!!!

Todd, Timmy and Grammie, waiting for their burgers!

This is our beautiful niece Kati!

Also, Tim Tebow, watch out!

This girl has a mean throwing arm... she and I played the two Todds in a game of football the next day... she had to play QB because she had a bum foot... but it was soooooo much fun!

Miss you Kati!!!!!!!!

Yes, I know it is good Dat Dat, but let's see it first!

Delicious!!!!

So, for the big news, I did go to the  Cancer Center and all my blood work was good.

I do have to go back in July for a PET Scan... don't like them, but no big deal.

Okay, the next blog is the one you have been waiting for.....



Happy New Year! Part 1

Happy New Year!!!!!

A few days late! Sorry.

Ours has already been very busy with both highs and lows.

We do hope that everyone of you had a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve!

I had to work that day, but we decided to do our "usual" for the evening!

After I got home, we got ready and headed across the bridge to the beach and went to TGI Fridays.

There were lots of smiles.

Lots of crazy eyes!

Too much lemonade and goofy photos!

See what I mean about the crazy eyes!

Todd says he looks like Steve Buscemi in Mr. Deeds.

See.

There were cuddles!

And lots more smiles!

And LOTS of Brownie Obsession!

After our chocolate overload, we headed to Pier Park.

We had planned to stay til midnight to watch the fire works but at 10:30pm, we were done!

So, we headed home with the promise of Yahtzee and the ability to stay up 'til the ball dropped!

As soon as we walked through the door, Grant was in tears and ready for bed, so off he went.

While the rest of us battled our eyelids to play Yahtzee Jr.

Grady was delirious... it was hysterical... his eyes are open in this photo, but I am pretty sure he is asleep.

Handsome Dat Dat!

Love you!

Saturday was work again and then Sunday was a round trip journey to Tuscaloosa, AL.

We were up very early and on our way.

Designated Driver.

Designated Sleeper.

This photo was taken just moments after we had driven into the Tuscaloosa City Limits.

He had been wide awake until then.

My Grandmother's Service was really beautiful.

I am so glad we were able to go.

Wish I had gotten a few more photos.

January 2, the day of the funeral, is also my Sister's Birthday and though it was a sad occasion, I am glad we were able to spend some time with her.

(On a funny note, it was her big 3-0... she kept saying it was the one year anniversary of her 29th Birthday... Good one Liz!)

So, here ends Part 1 of this New Year adventure... I cannot wait to share the rest with you... it has been a very exciting year so far.... more to come later...