Strongest Dad

You have to read this story and watch teh video at: www.youtube.com Team Hoyt Read this story and check out the video! Unbelievable.
From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]
I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay For their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.

But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.

Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike. Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?

And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.

"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him And his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an Institution.''

But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes Followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was Anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told. ``There's nothing going on in his brain.''

"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a Lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed Him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want To do that.''

Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran More than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he Tried. ``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore For two weeks.''

That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, It felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''

And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.

``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a Single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few Years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then They found a way to get into the race Officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year.

Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''

How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he Was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried.

Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud Getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you Think?

Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with A cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.

This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best Time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world Record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to Be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the Time.

``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''

And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a Mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' One doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.

Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass. , always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.

That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.

``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.''

And the video is below....
a Love the story! Check it out Check out the video at : www.youtube.com and search under TEam Hoyt

Proud Momma!

That's my boy in the red jersey! They played hard but tonight wasn't the night! The boys learned REALLY quick about listening to the coach (ME) when she says get a drink! 80 degrees After all they are only 8! I still love em! Oh and what a photographer(my daughter) gotta love these kids!!!!
Shellee

help for kids

disaster that happened in Russia when reactor # 4 Read up on this site see how many kids and families are still being affected by the nuclearblew up sending tons of radi active material into the atmosphere. Every summer Global family alliance
www.globalfamilyalliance.cobrings kids who have medical needs as a direct result of the nuclear reactor accident. I have personally been involved in loving one such child . 3 years ago my brother and his family had a girl from Belarus in there home for 5 weeks what a great summer. Watching her get medical care,dental care things she had never had. We taught her to swim!!! 12 years old and she had never swam in a pool!!! what a thrill it was. Sharing Gods love with these kids is truly heart warming. Check out the site if you get a chance!

Read between the Lines

Often times I find myself up late at night,cant sleep so I usually turn on the tv but after reading Vicky M. Blog about journaling I thought it was a great way to jot down what I was thinking and feeling enabling me to go back at a later time and re read what I wrote. Sorta reading between the lines of what I wrote.I can better understand and work through whatever was bothering me and causing me to not sleep. Journaling is a great way to get frustration,anger and conflict out and allows me to be completely honest with no one else needing to read it just a way of letting go.
So off to journal!!!!!
momma Shellee

Little girl all growen up

Ashley I really enjoy reading your blog especially the "Ladies of Virtue and Excellence"
God is so awesome he blesses us so many times a day we really are not worthy of his price He paid. I like your perceptive and what you took away from the funeral you attended. Death i so sad,however when you can see through the pain and sadness usually there is a message in all of this. I enjoy getting to know you and think you are a great kid! Keep your head always looking up!
Shellee

CHICKEN FOR DINNER!!!!!!!!

Kraft foods has a great magazine that comes out monthly . Its got wonderful FAST meal ideas that are delicious! My kids even love them. This month hey have tons of great dessert ideas for mothers day!!!!! Try going to the Kraft link when you get there look up stuffed chicken check out the Chicken Bruschetta n cheese!!!!
It is fabulous! Happy cooking!!!!!!!!!
ONE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFO: THE SITE ALSO PROVIDES YOU WITH NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO EACH RECIPE THEY PROVIDE.

Life after 40

More.... A magazine designed with the 40 year old + women in mind. Not only can you find great age related articles it gives great advice and insight in a variety of areas; dating, menopause, child raising , vacations , cooking. This month they have included a lot of articles on swimwear and different styles/looks that are attractive and not old fashion. A great article on vacations with "Spa's " as the main concept!!! Ahh to go on vacation! Anyway I really enjoy reading this magazine it has a well rounded mix of women's articles but still has fun information like other magazines like people , Vanity fair etc.

Help My Kids Driving....

http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/health_safety/teen_driving.shtml

15 drivers ed and driving. Oh my I was not ready for this. I would think having 15 years to prepare would give me ample time. NOT!!! She is enrolled in a drivers course so she got her permit early. Oh the excitement(for her) Down to the DMV for her 1st lesson in standing in line! Ha Ha I tell her as we spend our Saturday morning at the licensing center. She was so bummed only a paper copy of the permit. And what a teenage girl, her biggest fear... "My eyes are squinted, can they take my picture again?" Welcome to the real world sweetheart! Now YOU can have a permit I can laugh at. (Since she has laughed at mine every year since she became a teenager!).
Anyhow the daily questions of "Can I drive?" I am sure will continue until she actually gets her license and then I will be asking her " Why don't you let mom drive you?" I found this website and really liked the information given about teenage driving. On the site they had the topics clearly marked and you can easily access anything about teenagers and driving. What I liked most was the Parent/Child Promise, its a contract for us to fill out and both teenager and Parent have a "Promise" that is made and signed. Although we could do this verbally it seems like it will be more effective and binding having it in writing. I am sure that I will be frequenting this site over the next few years as she learns to drive and eventually goes out on her first "Alone" drive.... Lots of prayers for her and all teens.
Shellee

Child in need

Carousel Child / Teen Bereavement Services provides in home support and group setting support for families experiencing any serious illness, trauma,or death. Providence Hospital of Snohomish County supports this group. Carousel offers group support with peers , family support, and individual support. Learning how to cope with feelings associated with grief, loss, sickness etc.
Candidates for support do not need to be a patient of Providence. Kids & Teens STANDING TOGETHER

I really liked the fact that Providence reaches out to the kids in this area. Learning how to deal with emotions that come with grief, loss and or trauma is huge. I am really thankful that I have this support. The recovery process can take a lifetime its nice to have the help. It's been very eye opening for me to talk with the Pediatric Bereavement Specialist. I have learned many new ways to help my children cope with their grief and trauma.
Shellee
Help your child with traumatic stress reduction today!

Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids

Am I fat? Not something I want my child to ask me when they are in 2Nd grade, however so many of our young kids boys and girls seemed obsessed with there body image. I found a great site you can check it out for yourself just click on my link media effects, girltalk.blogs.com.
Its got some great insight on young women's issues. On the first page the writers offer statistics about the media's effect on the body image in relation to our kids. All the sources of documentation are listed for us to look up, which is very helpful in making sure we are getting accurate information.

.This site offers a great Q& A on recently published books and also gives numerous links to web sites offering information on topics like , Mom and baby, Wives corner, Tragedy at Virgina Tech and the list goes on.
I enjoyed this site because I have kids and I really enjoy learning how other people are dealing with raising kids in today's crazy world. Its scary to send your kids to school today but sometimes it helps to be able to see that others are feeling what you are feeling and lifting there kids up in prayer. I saw a lot of different insight looking and reading through this site.
I enjoyed that I had facts and not just opinion. Girltalk.blogs also offers a funnies page with some humorous articles. It also has some really beautiful mom and baby pictures.

All of my links are all related somehow to my kids and something we have personally been through. I think that sharing with others is a way of working thru the problems that life throws at us.
I thought it was a really easy site to navigate.
So Until next time ....... I am off to take care of the little one who is having asthma problems today. Check out Children's hospital link!
We visit it often!
Happy Parenting
Shellee

Robbery of the young!

So How do you give your child back the innocence that someone has taken away? Not something I wanted to deal with or even something I thought I would ever have to deal with, however life threw the amazing curve ball AGAIN! We were so innocent just there to pick up a prescription, why would someone rob the pharmacy while we were there? Why did my innocent boy at such a young age of 7 have to endure the next 10 minutes of sheer terror that he felt? Well there must be a lesson some where in all this, I am not sure yet what it is I do know one thing : When faced with a life and death situation my instinct was to throw myself on top of my child and pray!
It will take years for him to process all he saw that day and it will take years for me to learn how to parent him through it. I know that I am not alone. The lord knows the plans he has for my child. I just pray every day that I would look to him for guidance through it all.

S

WHATEVER A MAN SOWS,
THAT HE WILL ALSO REAP.
GALATIANS 6 :7 niv

ttp://www.seattlechildrens.org/child_health_safety/classes_events/

Who's in charge?

So you wake up one day and realize, the kids that were once running down the stairs to cuddle with you first thing in the morning are now more interested in what friends house they can go to and what exciting thing we are doing because staying at home is so BORING!!! Video games are much better than Sesame street. And then of course at 14 they really do not want time with you they just want your money! Of course I remember when I wa 14 I knew everything! (Not).
At 71/2 my youngest thinks that the world revolves around him. Don't we all at times? They all think they are in charge, my job is to show them who is in charge. My job is just facilitating what God has already laid out for their lives. My obedience to God will directly reflect my parenting both kids.
I want to create a place for other moms to talk and research information. To help each other get through the day to day challenges of parenting.
Looking into topics like: Asthma and your child (links to medical Q&A),
Raising Godly children and the connection between the parents faith.
Grandparents involvement in raising our kids, (how much is too much, how much is too little)

Sports and kids how much is too much? Public education vs homeschooling (In relation to the state of our public school system.)
Blending families.
And finally, how to help your child deal with a death.
I look forward to chatting and making some new contacts, like other Christian parents as we try to raise healthy children with healthy morals and values that will help them as they grow up.

It has been said: It takes a village to raise a child!