Race For The Cure 2007

This year's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Toledo was an especially important and moving one for us. Last year we ran in support of Melinda's life and to celebrate her as a survivor. This year we mourned her passing and honored her memory. Becky's mom, Susan, came up from Texas to do the Race with us. Several people from my office staff came out to support us, as well as several of the families from the kids' school.
While Becky, the kids, and most of our supporters walked on the 1 mile Fun Walk, I ran the full 5K again this year. It started out cool but I was overdressed. I wore running shorts and sweatpants on bottom and a thin long-sleeved Susan G. Komen shirt, my Scott E. Vest Performance T-shirt (with a pocket for my iPod), and a team T-shirt that my staff had ironed Melinda's picture onto. The sun came out and warmed up the streets. I had the forethought to remove my sweats, but got too warm in the 3 shirt layer I had put together. The run itself was very uplifting - I think I expected it to be sad. I finished the race about 6 minutes faster than last year - in 40:34 officially. My office nurse, BJ, and my office manager, Judy, were at the finish line to get this picture and cheer me on. I was trying to wave at them but the lady near me in the picture thought I was trying to give her a high-five, so I obliged her. I placed 80th out of 82 timed runners in the 35-39 age group and 1,571st out of 1667 timed runners overall.
After the main Race, we made our way into Fifth Third Field stadium for the Survivor's ceremony and Kids Fun Run. The ceremony was tough on us. While it was great to see all of the survivors out there, it was awful knowing that Melinda should have been in that company. Alex ran around the entire perimeter of the field. A girl designed the Fun Run shirt this year. When we asked Alex how he felt about the butterfly pattern, he told us, "It's OK - I'm running for Aunt Melinda."
Becky made this pink ribbon from some, oddly enough, pink ribbon. She used bead letters to add the names of those of our family who have lost this battle - our sister-in-law, Melinda; my aunt, Carolyn; my grandmother, Reba; my great-grandmother Maude; and two of my great-aunts, Barbara and Wanda. We hope that they are the last of our family to be taken out by this disease. To that end, we raised over $1700 for breast cancer research and education through leading up to this day. Overall, over $135,000 was raised for the NW Ohio Race this year.

WTOL @ 11PM

I was surprised to see a WTOL 11 news crew outside my exam rooms when I was in the office this morning. They were going around town to find people who were dressed in pink for the Power of Pink day. My office manager had emailed them and told them about Melinda. They came and interviewed me about Melinda and the office participating in the Race for the Cure this Sunday. They only used a small portion of the interview but included a nice shot of the Melinda memory bands that Becky made and a picture of her that my staff put on the back of our team Race shirts. Click the play button below to see the clip.

Maroon 5 at the Palace

OK, this is Maroon 5 on Saturday Night Live last year, but tonight they played for us. And a few thousand other folks. With a great babysitter watching the kids (Becky's mom), we made our way up to the Palace at Auburn Hills where the Detroit Pistons play. We liked the pre-opening act show by Sara Bareilles, but we couldn't stand The Hives who were the official opening act. We spent their set hanging out on the concourse, scoping out souvenirs and eating what had to be week-old popcorn (or else it was very fresh popcorn-flavored gum). Then Adam Levine and the rest of the band came out and rocked the house. It was a great concert and we had a great time jamming to music we both enjoy. Their songs are like poetry in their lyrical forms and musically they make you dance. We had a great time. We'll be there the next time they're in town.

Apple Orchard Field Trip

Aaron's class got to go to MacQueen's Apple Orchard today for their first field trip. They had a tour of the orchard and processing facilities and a chance to pick their own apples.
Becky has volunteered to be the Grade Parent for Aaron's class which means that she helps organize volunteers for class events and parties and she kicked of the year by chaperoning this field trip. In a few weeks we'll all come back for the Annual Apple Butter Festival.

Melinda's Memory Bands

Becky found a website that would custom-make silicone memory bands. She first thought that making a few would be nice for the family but then realized that there would be a big demand, both here and in Oklahoma City. The slogan reminded her of conversations she had with Melinda during her treatment last year. She reminded Becky to LIVE life to the fullest, LOVE everyone you can, and don't forget to SMILE!
She is selling them for $3 as a fundraiser for Komen for the Cure. So far, sales here and in OKC are expected to be brisk.

Wacky Day 2007

Wacky Day at school for Alex. Need I say more?

Out Standing In Our Field

We spent the day a new park for us - Secor Metropark on the edge of town. Becky packed a picnic and sweatshirts for the cool late summer day. One of the park guests gave us a huge praying mantis on a stick, though this picture doesn't do it justice.
This park boasted an enormous field that we used for tag (look at that head start Aaron has on Becky) and practicing cartwheels.
Alex also used the field to practice bike riding. It was safer to fall in than pavement, but we couldn't get enough speed up to keep his balance. Aaron got some trike time on one of the park paths. The park also boasts a great nature photography center that we'll add to the Toledo tour for out of town guests.

Friday at the Zoo

I've decided to start working all day on Fridays (I was working every other for a 1/2 day), starting in 2 weeks. Since this was one of my last days off, and Aaron isn't in school on Fridays, we went to the zoo. One of our favorite things to do is to race carousel animals. Aaron's bottle-nosed dolphin edged out my stork-thing by a nose. I couldn't get my steed to stretch his neck toward the finish line or we would've won.
This lion was getting a little loud and bossy, so Aaron sat on his head. That seemed to shut him up.
Aaron wasn't so brave around the new butterfly house though. He's never been bit by one yet, but he gets that look in his eye when one flies near him. These were pretty tame thankfully.

Alex's Mario Kite

Alex made this kite in Art class. It is decorated with the images from the kids' favorite video game - Super Mario Sunshine.

Woodchucks at School

Becky was walking into school this morning and noticed that a couple of woodchucks have set up camp in a small patch of trees near the preschool playground. I assume they are accustomed to the noise.

Our New Fish

Aaron took group swimming lessons this summer, but had trouble taking turns and was a bit flustered by the group setting. In stead of repeating that this session, we decided to enroll him in private swimming lessons. He has really taken off. Today he swam underwater with his face fully in and kicking and using his"big ice cream scoop" hands and arms to swim 8 feet or so to the pool steps. He is very proud of himself. Alex is enrolled in group lessons again and is also doing well.

Blog Update - Catch Up on June 2007

June 2007 blog posts are up to date and completed. Check them out here. I must add that some of these blog posts include activities that we participated in with Melinda. I write them like they just happened earlier that day, though obviously they can be written months later. After all we've been through, it was very strange , yet comforting, to write about Melinda like I just saw her yesterday at the water park. Check them out here.

Fulton County Fair 2007

We made it back out the the Fulton County Fair again this year for Labor Day weekend. This car ride was a big hit again this year. I get the feeling that if they each had their own steering wheel, one would steer left and the other would steer right.

The big slide was a hoot! Alex was big enough to ride down by himself. Aaron and I rode doubles for double the fun.



Then the carousel drew us over. Alex rode bigger and scarier rides too, but these were harder to get pictures of. We had a great dinner with a dairy fresh milkshake for dessert. We usually try to see some animals, but this year was all about the rides - and a huge pumpkin bigger than Aaron.