The Back Story

In honor of Frozen Release Day (Seriously, it's a day marked on our calendar - my kids knew I had pre-ordered the DVD to be delivered today and they sat watching out the front door until the mailman delivered it), I'll share a little bit about our trip to Disney World.  You may have seen some of the pictures on Facebook, but I have a few exclusives for you blog-readers.  Cause your special. 

For starters, here's a picture of the beaut we drove with 8 passengers from Greenville, NC down to Orlando:

 

 

Just kidding.  But how awesome is Adam's pose?  In the first picture he's raising hell because he wanted a picture by himself.  Then, we got the second gem.  Here's what we really took on the 11-hour trek:

 

 

Speaking of 11-hour treks - have you ever gone on an 11-hour road trip overnight?  We had done it once before with the kids when the twins were about 9 months old.  I never wanted to do it again and I really didn't want to do it this time.  It's just so much work to drive when you have kids still in car seats.  But I was out-voted.  It wouldn't have been as much of a problem if we would have been able to adequately prepare for it.  Take a nap during the day.  But nope.  See, we had to first drive the 5 hours down to Greenville, then there was no napping with four crazy-happy cousins running around.  So by the time we left, I was already tired and we hadn't even left the neighborhood.  Anyway, it started out fine, until we had to stop for gas.  Believe me, you do not want to stop for gas anywhere off I-95 in South Carolina or Georgia in the middle of the night.  You just don't know what you'll see, and you definitely don't want your children seeing it, and sometimes you aren't even sure you'll get out of there alive.  Seriously.  We saw boobs.  I was miserable the entire time and by the time we made it to just outside of Orlando and decided to stop for breakfast, I was so tired I was nauseous.  Thankfully, we had the foresight not to plan to go to a park that day (it was also Daytona 500 day, so that was a convenient reason to hang out at the hotel and watch the race).   Too bad the race was rain-delayed for like 6 hours and by the time it restarted we had passed out from exhaustion and Alan missed Dale Jr winning.  I almost felt sorry for him, but then I remembered that I said I didn't want to drive and he didn't listen.  So we woke up the next morning to lots of celebratory texts.

 

Here are some highlights from the trip.  Here is Anaya riding Thunder Mountain with Robert, Catherine and Pierce.  Brave girl.  Alan had already taken Audie to do something else because, bless his heart, he wasn't quite 40" tall (this really did break my heart the entire week - that his twin sister got to ride Soarin', but he didn't - and yes, we tried boosting his feet).  So the rest of us hopped in line, but at the last minute, Adam chickened out and I had to stay behind with him.  Not Anaya, though, she went!  'Atta girl! 

 

Here is Anaya telling Snow White that Rapunzel is her favorite princess, which Snow White took in stride, telling her that she liked Rapunzel too and that sometimes she helps her brush her hair and it takes three hours.

 

 

 

This was hilarious.  It's kind of long, but there are so many awesome moments I couldn't clip it.  It's the Incredibles Dance Party.  Alan and I took all the kids while Catherine and Robert rode Space Mountain.  Then they took the kids to the Space Ranger ride while Alan and I rode.  Here are the kids busting some moves:

 

Another awesome moment:  Here is Audie touching the Green Army Man to prove to the others that he's not real, he's plastic...

 

 

Here, Adam is pushing Buzz's red button:

 

 

What I didn't get a picture of was what happened next.  Buzz acted as though Adam had just turned him off.  He slumped over and dropped everything he was holding and just froze until Adam figured out what he had done and pushed the button to turn him back on.  It was fantastic.  Kuddos to that Buzz for being creative and for taking his role seriously!

 

 One day we went to Universal Studios Orlando and Alan and Catherine got excited about meeting Doc from Back to the Future:

 

While at Universal, we saw the character that we unanimously agreed we would want to be:

 

Awesome. 

 One day, while we were at Hollywood Studios, a pilot was doing a little sky-writing:

 

While at Epcot, I decided to take a selfie with my glass of wine:

 

But Robert thought I was holding my phone out taking a picture of him, so he was doing this while I was taking my selfie:

 

Meanwhile, Anaya had wandered off to talk to this nice man. 

 

She was telling him that her Daddy's name was "Alan!  Alan!  Alan!"  If you haven't seen this video, do it now or you won't get why this was hilarious.  She was in a mood.  Here, I have no idea what she was telling Princess Aurora, but it must have been good.

 

 

Later, we caught her dancing:  

Finally, this is a great one of all the kids, but Audie in particular.  I don't think he knows what Stitch is and whether or not he bites.

 

 

Of course, we have the standard Disney and Universal shots, too, but where's the fun in that?  I like a photo with a back story.  Here are some good ones, though:

 

Then, we loaded up in the white stallion and headed home.  Anaya puked on the way home, which was awesome.  Did I mention how I didn't want to drive?  Then, she did it again the next day, as we drove back to DC from NC.  If you read my previous post, then you know what happens next...

 

All in all, I think we can chalk one up in the "W" column.  The kids had an awesome time hanging out with their cousin at Disney World and we made lots of memories.  Isn't that what it's all about?

 

God bless y'all!

 

I Need a Sign

Look at this picture:

 

It's nice, right?  Looks like it was probably a great day, right?  I have a major cold, but was trying to ignore it so I could get things done today.  But, to be honest, I felt like complete crap.  Despite feeling like crap, the day did start out great...but this is my life, after all, so it obviously couldn't stay that way.  At least it makes for a great blog.  Here's how it went:

 

I woke up early so that I could actually shower and get ready before taking the twins to preschool (I usually just throw my hair in a ponytail and put on clothes that just barely aren't pajamas) since I wanted to run to the grocery store first thing after dropping them off.  Then, I knew Adam and I would come home, knock out his schoolwork, pick the twins up an hour early from school and head to the doctor's office, where they were all three getting school physicals.  I had scheduled their appointments as closely together as I could: Anaya at 1:00, Audie at 1:20, and Adam at 3:20.  So I showered, got ready, got the kids up and made breakfast and packed lunches.  They ate, dressed, brushed teeth, and we were out the door almost on-time.  Standard.  So far, the day was going as planned.  Their preschool is literally 2 minutes from the house - I dropped them off and then Adam and I headed to Panera Bread for a little coffee/OJ date.  After that, we walked a couple doors down to Pier 1, then on to Trader Joe's.  We breezed through there and loaded groceries in the car and headed home.  At home, I unloaded the groceries, found an empty bagel bag Adam had left in the car, grabbed it to throw away, thought it might come in handy and stuffed it in my car console, instead.  We put away groceries, knocked out schoolwork, made Adam lunch to take, then headed to pick up the twins...almost on time.  As I strap them in, I hand them their sandwiches to eat on the way to the doctor.  Audie doesn't want his, but opts for his raspberries instead.  At about 12:30, we pass through the gate at Bolling AFB, and Audie says his tummy hurts.  I ask if it feels like he has to poop or throw up and he says poop. 

Side note:  Anaya had thrown up twice in the car on the drive home from Disney World on Saturday/Sunday, I got the bug Sunday/Monday, then Adam on Thursday/Friday and Alan on Friday/Saturday.  While at DW, Audie had several "issues" that I now deduced to be "the bug" so I counted him as hit and figured Alan was the last...

So I continue driving, looking for the standard signs on every base directing you to important places like the BX, Commissary, Post Office, Clinic, etc.  Well, it turns out that I am on the dumbest base ever and there are no signs.  So I drive to where I see a bunch of buildings.  Nothing.  So I turn around.  Audie complains again.  I dig out that bagel bag and hand it to him.  12:45.  Finally!  I see a sign directing me to "Bolling Clinic" with an arrow pointing straight ahead.  About a mile later, another sign pointing straight.  Great!  Right direction!  I keep heading straight...but there are no more signs and suddenly I'm in the housing area.  12:50.  A sign would be nice, God.  I pull over, pull up the base website on my phone, plug the address for the clinic into my GPS and start driving, not able to believe how close the clinic was to the gate I first came through and figuring I must have missed the sign to turn while putting away my ID.  When my GPS announced I had arrived at my destination, I looked around and saw only an unmarked building with a gated parking lot (not it) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (not it).  Thanks, GPS.  12:56.  Officially going to be late.  I yell, "This is unbelievable!  We're never coming back here!"  I try to call Alan to tell him to immediately go to the Tricare office and change us to Ft. Meyer.  I turn around, head back to where I happened to see the Post Office and Gym as we were driving to the wrong place, thinking it might be there.  I hear puking from the back.  Audie.  Really, God?  Now?  But he mostly hit the bag.  Thank God Adam left his trash lying there.   I tell him we're almost there and I'll clean him up.  He continues to puke.  My search in the new area turns up with nothing, so I pull over in a parking lot to clean up the mess.  We're already late, so what the hell.  I feel like crap and I want to cry.  At least I had the change of clothes in his preschool backpack.  As I'm cleaning things up, I look around and notice there are a lot of police cars.  I must be in front of SF.  OK, God, I'll take it.  Two cops come out, and I ask them for directions to the clinic.  It turns out I am headed in the right direction and the clinic is only about two blocks away...except there is a road closure between here and there, so I have to go out to the main road and around the block.  So I do that (it's about two miles and it is actually back on the road I was on with the signs pointing straight ahead), and make it a point to look for signs directing me where to turn.  THERE ARE NONE!!!  This is the most frustrating base I've ever been on!   The cop told me to turn right after the church.  There was no church, but I just turned where it looked like it would be a could of blocks down from where I had been talking to the cop.  Miraculously, I am on the right street and the clinic is directly in front of me.  I park, hurry inside and check in.  1:20.  The desk guy informs me we missed Anaya's appointment (gave me the days/times to reschedule), but they'll see Audie.  I'm immediately pissed because obviously these people should know what I've just been through and that I already feel like crap and they should just accommodate me!  Squeeze Anaya in with Audie!  How hard could it be - they're twins!  But, I remain as calm and nice as I can be (I did mention the lack of signage on the base) and we follow the nurse back to take Audie's vitals.  Then the doctor comes in and damn if she isn't SUPER NICE.  This is a problem because I had already decided that we were switching clinics.  She examines Audie, takes her time with us, asking questions and listening, not rushing and determines he's way too small for his age, so she wants to run some tests and I'll have to collect a poop sample.  Super.  Can't wait to do that.  Seriously, God?  I apologize for not making the first appointment and tell her a little of the story.  She corroborates the sign issue - said she couldn't find the clinic the first time and she works here (!).  Adam told her I said we were never coming back.  I confirmed that I did say that, but that it was in a moment of intense frustration.  She sent us out, telling me where a playground was nearby to pass the time until Adam's appointment.  We head to the playground and the kids have a blast (even Audie) until it starts to rain.  So we go sit in the car and have a snack for the remaining 20 minutes until Adam's appointment (I didn't want to sit in the clinic since Audie was sick).  We check in again, follow the nurse back to take Adam's vitals - except he takes them for Anaya, as well.  I ask why and he says the doctor is going to do both appointments together.  God.  Bless.  Her.  She knew I had had all I could handle and she saved me.  I don't know if I can leave her now.  I still have to make another trip to that clinic for Audie's lab work and both kids' shots, but at least I know where the darn clinic is now.  Thank you, God.

That, my friends, is a typical "Dayton day-to-day."  Ain't life grand?  But, seriously, thank God for that doctor's kindness.  She helped make a really crappy afternoon a little bit better and even in my moment of un-gratitude, I can recognize that. 

Don't forget to donate to my Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!

God bless!

Walking for a Cause!

image source

Well, by now you had to know it was coming!  It's the time of year for me to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness!  On March 20, 2014, I will celebrate being cancer-free for SEVEN years!  Woo-hoo!  But, let me share this with you: At my final appointment with my oncologist, as we were moving from Colorado Springs to Okinawa, she told me this: "Your type of cancer most often reappears around seven years."  So, while I definitely have reason to celebrate, I also definitely have reason to remain cautious.  As cancer survivors, we are never really "in the clear."  We are always cautious.  Wondering.  Learning.  And for me, ACTING.  As a survivor, I feel it's my responsibility to help raise awareness, educate others and help further treatment efforts.

In the past, I have participated in and raised funds for Susan G. Komen for a Cure because that organization had a direct impact on my own treatment.  This year, I'm mixing it up a bit!  A dear friend invited me to participate with her in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston this May.  Why NOT walk 40 miles in support of a cause dear to my heart?!  Even better, I get to do it with a friend.  I'll walk in honor of the way too many people in my life who have fought this disease and either won or lost.  I'll walk in hope of a future where my own daughter never has to be concerned with fighting this disease.  I'll walk surrounded by people who hold this cause as near to their hearts as I do. 

I have a goal to raise $1800 for this race and I would very much appreciate any donation you can give.  For more information on the Avon Foundation and to make a donation, please visit my website:
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/Boston?px=7522891&pg=personal&fr_id=2362

Thanks, in advance, and God bless you all!