OUR TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH & THE NASCAR SPEED PARK

We were all looking forward to going to the Nascar Speed Park but unfortunately our excitement was quickly replaced by disappointment.
After paying for a day of what we thought would be great fun we realize that there are only two tracks that the little guys can ride on, one by themselves and one with us. There was only one big track that had cars that rode doubles. Then to top it off there were kids that thought it was fun to ram other riders and instead of making them leave the park they would stop the race and force everyone to leave and get back in line even though it was the same kids causing the problems! Very frustrating after spending up to 45 minutes in line on a very hot day. Let's not forget that these kids were trying to hurt others on the track some that were pretty young drivers. I can not believe that Nascar has put their name on such a horrible park that clearly is not meant for families at all!

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!
Mommy and Caleb
Daddy and Gabe
Gabe ready to drive
Caleb wearing his race face
And they're off!

Right away Gabe decides to take a short cut!

I think Caleb is a little miffed by this obvious attempt to cheat!

Then our little guy decides to go the opposite way! He is the white car heading towards the others! Very funny!
He was completely oblivious to our screams!

Then he decides to turn the race into demolition derby. It was all very amusing to everyone watching!

They did have fun though and it was very cute to see them drive!

Daddy and Gabe on bumper boats with Mommy and Caleb chasing them.
One of the few rides for the little guys. Thank goodness they are easily amused by things that just go around.

Gabe and Caleb on one of the few rides the Nascar Speed Park had for kids under 48 inches.
Is it just me or does Gabe have Caleb doing all of the work!

Daddy and his little beans.

Does anyone know who these handsome guys are?

Love the glasses Zach!
Mike and Julie. Very cute couple!

Taylar and Paige

Kim being a goof!

Go Tay!

Gage was a such a good baby all day!
He just sat and watched all the action!

Taylar giving the climbing wall a try.
Mike trying the hard side while Elijah gives Tay a boost.

Mike gave up on the hard side and is giving the easy side a try and poor Tay lost her grip.
GOOD JOB MIKE! You are now equal to a 12 year old girl!

Elijah preparing to conquer the hard side after talking trash as usual!

Taylar giving the easy side a try.

Nick giving the wall a try.

OOPS! What happened Nick?

Uh-oh Mike time to pay up!

The conquering hero! Naturally, Elijah has to gloat!

Marty giving it a try.

Mart didn't get too far maybe Zach will have some luck! Okay I missed Zach because the little guys were about to bounce!

Our little peanut.

Gabriel was quite apprehensive about going too high.

Of course Caleb is our little dare devil and loves getting big air!

With a little help from the guy supervising the bouncers Gabe got a little air. He was not very happy at first but he did very well.

Wow! Go Caleb!

Gabe golfing. Now one of the many dissapointments at this park was their golf course! It had ripped up greens covered with debris and clearly had not been maintained in quite some time! Please don't waste your time and money on this park!
Caleb golfing

Taylar

Gage and Paige

I'm not sure what Elijah is doing.

Kim, Caleb, Gabe and Paige.
Gabe and Caleb just loved their Uncle Paige. I am sure that most do not understand how huge it is when Gabe connects with someone but I am pretty sure Uncle Paige knows how special Gabe's bond with him is.
After such a busy day it was great to get to our 3 bedroom 2 bath suite on the ocean and crash!
It was hard to get started the next morning but we had another busy day ahead!
Gage and Paige working on getting up.

Zach, Elijah, Nick and Mikey.
The view from one of the three balconies.
The gang ready for some breakfast. Hey kim,who's your friend?
Our gang plus Taylar peeking out on the end. I have been trying to teach Elijah to not pick his nose during pictures. I hope they bring our food soon he must be very hungry!
Daddy and his guys.

Gabe and Daddy doing Gabes "best smile". Daddy's little look alike!
Kim, Paige, Julie, Mike and Gage.
Daddy and Caleb sharing some food and conversation. TOO SWEET!

Unforunately this was just before Gabe lost his entire breakfast but like the hero he is Daddy swooped in to make it better and we got him cleaned up. One of the biggest obstacles we have with Gabe's Autism is how little he eats and how often he gets sick. Now it has gotten much better over the years because it used to be at every meal when he was age 1 to 51/2. He has gotten much better at handling the whole thing but it is still upsetting to see him go through it though!

Now off to the pool!

We were planning to go to Myrtle Waves water park but since our hotel had 14 pools we decided to just hang out and swim. This was one of the kiddie pools.

Uncle Paige, Caleb, Gabe, Jim and Gage.


Daddy and his little Bare.
Caleb and Uncle Paige hangin out in the hot tub. Uncle Paige was so good with the little ones it made us so happy to have him part of our family!

Sweet little Gage enjoying the pool.
Daddy and Gabe doing Superman.
Kim and Gage
Just chillin

The gang chilin in the huge hot tub. Nick, Zach, Caleb, Me, Elijah, Gabe, Julie, Mike and Marty.
One of the lazy rivers.
Kim and Gage in the lazy river.

Mommy and Gabe

Nick and Marty with Julie and Mike under the fountain.

Paige, Gage and Kim

After a day of fun swimming we are all ready for dinner.

Poor Gage was so tired he fell asleep sitting up eating a cracker.

Too cute!
VERY SWEET!

There was only one thing that Mike really wanted to do at Myrtle Beach, go to Dick's Last Resort Restaurant. This is a fun place where the wait staff insult the customers.

They also make these hats with insulting phrases on them. Caleb's says "boobies make me smile".

Gabe's says "my boogers taste like chicken".

Zach
Nick
Mike's says "banned from petting zoos in seven states".

Elijah's says "When I'm alone in my room I practice all the songs and dances from High School Musical".

Marty's says "life partner".

Gage's says "breast feeding champ of 2008".

Taylar's says "future Hooters reject".

Mike, Julie and Taylar

Mike and Julies hats.

All of the kids. I think Zach may have missed some BBQ sauce!

On our way back home.

Elijah thinking he can take the Mustang.

Jim pulling his punk card.

Then Mike decided to give it a go, no joy!

It was an awesome visit and so great to reconnect with family. It was as if our families have seen each other every day these past years. Jim and I adore our niece and nephews and just loved watching them with their cousins. It was also great to finally get to know Paige. He is a great person and wonderful father and it felt as if we have known him for years. Hopefully this was the first of many visits to come!

We love all of you very much!

GABE'S LOST TEETH

Caleb knocked out the first tooth by accident on July 14th.

Then Daddy made him laugh the second one out.

He now has the sweetest little smile!

UPDATE ON MADDIE

We had an exciting week, heading up to see our new home in Quantico. After our clinic visit Monday to get chemo, we got straight on the highway. Five and a half hours later, we got to check out our new place. Brandon had been there since the previous Wednesday and he had the whole house pretty much unpacked and organized. Although the base housing is significantly smaller than our last house in Jacksonville, it was brand new and the floorplan is pretty neat. Most of our stuff fits in the house and what doesn't is currently in the garage.
Maddie seemed to love it, and was practically running all over the place. This house is only one level, so it seems much easier to child-proof. We really enjoyed our week there with Brandon; it went way too fast. It is amazing how going to a different place can make you feel so different. It was like a vacation from cancer, almost, thought there really is no such thing. It was very invigorating and reassuring to me to get to imagine what life will be like when we get to live together as a family. It made me want to fast-forward to October when we think we might start actually moving up there for real.
Of course, just moving doesn't change anything; we will have chemo once a week until October 30, 2009. But the change of scenery makes it easier to pretend that things are different. I think I resolved that pretending is okay. Miss Priss will have chemo for alot longer, and the risk of relapse doesn't go away for even longer than that. But the most important thing is that Maddie enjoys every moment, so the sooner we can start pretending cancer isn't a huge part of our lives, the better. I think the move will be good to help us put a little distance between us and the very recent memories of diagnosis and the initial haze of hospitalizations. We will be just as vigilant about germs and any signs of relapse or infection, but we will do it in a new atmosphere where it feels like we are at least trying to move past this.
We have been incredibly lucky to have the best helpers in the world, my mom Bea and my stepdad Lance. They have not only opened their home to us, but have fed us, cleaned up after us, done laundry, etc. They have completely re-arranged their lives to make room for the insanity that is a baby with cancer. Living with us when Maddie is on steroids is enough to make any normal person want to go running for the hills. We will never be able to repay them for all they have done for us during this time. It will be tough to learn to live just the three of us again, because Brandon will actually have to go to work everyday and I won't have two other adults around to help me with Maddie. I know it will take a little getting used to, but we were able to do it before all this, what now seems like a very long time ago.
So our visit with Daddy was great, and now we are back to our normal routine, and if everything continues as planned, Maddie will have a spinal tap (LP) to give chemo next Monday and she will start steroids again (Arrghhh!). Then we do more oral chemo most of the rest of this month. In September, we will be hospitalized twice for hard chemo and her counts will be dangerously low again for about 6-7 weeks. But when all that is done, we hope to move up to live with Brandon.
Please keep our amazing baby in your prayers, as well as all of the other children with cancer. I swear we hear about more and more every week. This is something no child should have to go through.
Take care, Liz, Brandon, and Maddie

GABE'S PICS


These are some pics that Gabe has taken with his camera. He is always very proud of his pictures so enjoy!