Barry for a Break...

Me and Tammie attended the Barry Manilow show last night at the Sprint Center. It was good. We had awesome tickets and an awesome night. Barry put on a good show and he incorporated video clips from the past into the performance. It was all good.

The true enjoyment was watching Tammie enjoy her night. She apparently loves Barry and that is fine. It was worth the price of the ticket to look at Tammie's smile. She was so excited when he came out and called her best friends from childhood each time a certain song would start playing. I love seeing people escape for the night, or the day.

Everyone should have a Barry. Although my release might not include Barry, he worked for Tammie last night. It was so good to watch someone you care about enjoy themselves and forgot their problems for a few hours. Sometimes it's good to raise your arms and your voice - if it's done for the right reason!

Cheers...

On June 6th & 7th there will be an event that I invite everyone to attend. It is Alex's Lemonade Stand which will be at all Hy-Vee stores in Kansas City. The money raised will help with cancer research and will help fund a cure. The organization is led in Kansas City by Mark and Cheryl Mozier. Their son was diagnosed with a tumor years ago and has since recovered. The time and effort they have spent putting Alex's stands in KC has been great. They are the sort of people I strive to be like. They make a difference in life and I think there is a part of all of us who want to do the same. They are doctors and professionals but make time to give back in a huge way.

My hat is off to the Moziers and I raise a glass to their hard work. I encourage everyone to do the same. Please stop by one of the stands and make a donation to a great cause. The funds raised will help find a cure to a disease that can hit families of any race, religion, or social status. Lets help put an end to this suffering, and help the Moziers with their fight against cancer! Cheers.

A great day and a better tomorrow!

Kaylee is doing great. She looks wonderful and feels fantastic. I am loving life! My weekend was the best. We did nothing but it was relaxing. Those cold depressing days were tough this winter. There's something about the sun and spring. I love it.

Our child looks awesome. She has been going to the gym with me to build her strength up. She has been my work out partner. I look at her while we are doing the bike or tread mill and thank God. 2007 was trying and tough but we are going to emerge with newfound knowledge and compassion.

Garth has a hurt leg. I was playing ball with him this weekend and he fell down chasing the ball. Sunday it got worse, and this morning it was swollen big time. I took him to the Vet and they said they believe it is just sprained but they put a cast and splint on him due to his enormous weight. Like I said this winter has been tough on everyone. Me and Garth both gained a few extra pounds due to the cabin fever! We are certain that his recovery will speedy.

If I get one kid up and going then I have the dog go down. It almost seems that Garth keeps trying to out do my child. Kay gets cancer and Garth gets cancer. Kay feels better then Garth breaks his leg to divert attention once again. What are the odds? Have a great day and a better tomorrow!

Leaves and Laps

Last night Tammie and my sister had a birthday dinner for me. There was about 20 people that showed up. It was mainly all my family but a few others stopped by. I was surprised when they told me that 15-20 people would be coming. I was surprised but startled. Startled that I would end up cooking for so many people. My yard has not been taken care of and my grill was not utilized this winter. The last minute booking frightened me.

All that stuff I wasted my time worrying about was insignificant. We had a great time. It wasn't stressful and we all had good food and a great time. I must say that I had one of the best birthdays yesterday. I had so many phone calls, text messages, and emails. I was surprised so many people came to my little dinner and so many people remembered my big day. It was nice.

My yard looks horrible compared to the neighbors. I let the yard work go last year. The summer was chaotic due to Kay's illness. I must confess that I have never been good at yard work. But last summer and fall was terrible. I didn't care about the yard or anything else for that matter. It was all about Kaylee.

Kaylee is doing great. We had an appointment this morning at CMH. Her counts are looking good and Kaylee looks wonderful. We are going to start swimming together. I need to lose weight and Kay needs to gain strength. I'll keep you posted. Have a great day and a wonderful week!

The Moans...

So it's my birthday today. I went for a walk with Garth this morning. It was my reflection time this morning and I enjoyed it. I must say that I have had a great life. Some things I would change but over all it has been a good life. There has been lessons to be learned, there has been joy, and there has been heartbreak. What have I learned?

Today I respect life and I don't take it for granted. I feel strong. I feel like there is purpose for me and purpose for all that has taken place. Everything has had a way of working out for me. I'm not completely out of the woods but I have my sights set on the target. We are going to get healthy and we are going to succeed at what ever we do!

I think about the moans. The pain and the sound of pain has been traumatic. Last night I found out just how much. We had a baseball game and our batter was up to bat and the fastball hit him directly in the face. I did not see the pitch or the painful hit but I saw this child on the floor moaning after the fact. I thought it was Christian. My gut dropped. It wasn't Bubba but this little 12-yr. old was moaning from the pain. He was so hurt. I started crying. I can't tell you how I must of became immune to the sound of pain for survival in my baby girl. Last night it wasn't my child but it spilled out of me because of the fact it wasn't my kid. I have been so geared to deal with whatever to survive. I have tucked the pain away and last night seeing a child on the ground moaning has my heart hurting today. Our batter, Connor, is fine and there was no serious damage but I pray for a speedy recovery and I pray that no kid should ever have to feel pain ever again.

We played baseball

Chapter 4: Involved

Quote of the Day....

I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.
- Rita Mae Brown

An Eye On the Prize...

Kaylee made it through her appointment today and we are officially in the maintenance phase of our cancer treatments! This is such a huge thing for our family but we had no celebration planned. We weren't sure if she was strong enough for the green light of the maintenance phase so we didn't plan anything. Our last two trips to CMH had us leaving without the official wording from the doctors. Today we received those words we've been waiting for.

I called the bakery and had them make a chocolate cake with the words "Kaylee's kicking some cancer butt!" We are having dinner at Kaylee's favorite restaurant in Lee's Summit. Beauchamp's on the Rail. It is a BBQ and steak house. We secretly delivered the cake so we can surprise Kaylee tonight after dinner. We are blessed today. If you had a bad day today- let it go and celebrate with us. We are one step closer to getting our little girl's health back. :)

Mary Carey...

This is a true story. When I was 22 years-old and Tammie was expecting Kaylee we did not have a car. I would have never told this story a year ago because it was embarrassing to me. We were having a child and lived below hand to mouth. I'm sure everyone was jaw dropped thinking how are they going to do it with no car. We lived with 5 roommates in Waldo and had no place to live. Waldo, no car, and a kid coming.

By the grace of God we found a woman who had a duplex that would rent to us. Tammie worked at Marco Polo's in Waldo and I at Dos Hombres in Brookside. The location of the house was perfect. I walked to work and Tammie had girlfriends that worked with her so they let her carpool. We did this for awhile before I got a call from a woman.

The woman on the phone was Mary Carey. She was the mother of Craig Estopare, a friend I had known since I was 8 years-old. She invited me over to her house because she said she had a present for me. I had not seen Mary in years and she had a present for me? Weird. But I was there when she told me to come. I needed any presents at that time because I was in a cycle of confusion and scare. I was having a kid and I was not ready.

I arrived at Mary's house and we talked. She had heard through one of her boys that I was walking to work and an expecting father. Yes I was. She tossed me some keys. My confusion cycle was hit again. I asked her "what are these?" She said it is the keys to the Ford Tempo sitting outside. She gave me a car. The heat worked, the a/c worked and it had 4 wheels! I might have cried, I don't remember. She looked at me and told me she needed help at one time and this was her way of paying it back.

It's funny how things can work out or not. I believe that sometimes you strap in the seat and let life take you on a ride. Things always seem to work out. Our brown Ford Tempo was the vehicle that we drove Kaylee home from the hospital in. We needed that car and it arrived from an angel named Mary Carey. So investigate the situation sometimes. I know several people that wouldn't give you a dime if you where thirsty because they have a certain mentality that you should do it alone. I have a different mind set. I believe that everyone needs a drink every now and again regardless of where it comes from. Drink up!

Can you help?...

If you read this and can help, please let me know. I want to give a small business immediate exposure in Kansas City's top Restaurants, Nightclubs, and Sports Bars in exchange for a reliable car that I will be donating to help a young man get to work so he can feed his family.

My offer is to put your commercial - that I will produce for free - in front of 250k people per/mo. Our commercials alone would be more than a reliable car, plus combine that with the service/exposure I am offering. We have new P & L District, Legends, Johnson County,and Lee's Summmit markets. I think you'll find that this good deed and city wide coverage will help you professionally and personally.So if you have an extra set of wheels just sitting there, I promise I can get you noticed in a captive way that turns heads!

I spent time with this young 25 year-old yesterday. We had lunch and talked about his dilema. He is from Southern Missouri, a bright young man, and a soon to be father. His car completely died several weeks ago making it impossible to get to work. Eventually he lost his descent paying job because he had no ride to work. The lack of credit and down payment has punched him in the eye. It reminds me when we had Kaylee and no car. I walked to work in Brookside. So I completely agree when people say that everyone will work past any situation that presents itself but this is a hard one. This man wants to work but there is no transit by the home. He wants to work and his track record proves it.

I've decided to help but I don't have an extra $1500 for a car. We have our own troubles here at Fort Quijas. But I am willing to give the only thing I have and that is prime advertising exposure in Kansas City. Please think about it. I know how it gets when life gets you down if certain basic needs aren't met. Having no family that can lend a hand is tough. Having to walk to a job that pays half of what you're used to because you've exhausted all rides to a jobsite that demands you be there at 6:30 am. Bringing less money in the door when your bills stay the same or increase is frustrating. I know. This young man told me he didn't want any hand out but felt he was falling into a cycle. I'm familiar with that cycle. You do the right thing every morning but one small glitch derails everything. Everyone needs some help every once in a while!

Chapter 3: Do You Get It?

I have started trying to write based on stuff other then Kay's health. I find it difficult to do because when I want to vent it usually is when things get to me. When I'm not bothered or down I go on with my day. I smile as always and find no need to release anything. Today I'm writing from the hip. It was easier when it dealt with nothing but Kaylee and obstacles.

I'm getting something from all of this. I've been humbled, I've been slowed, I've been educated. I have surrendered to the fact that no matter how great things go that it is the pain and suffering that has made me appreciate and has become my blessing at personal growth. I do not write to please other people or to broadcast for no purpose, which could be debated if you say why share your life. I do it because it is getting me through. I have been humbled to the core. It's like I see differently now.

So I ask you, "do you get it?" I'm a guy that may have been ready for confrontation months ago, but not today. I want to clean the slate and move forward with bad things in the rear view mirror. If I was selfish or one-sided months ago I apologize. I did not know what I know now. Everything is about family, friends, and the goodness that comes with being a contributor in the community. Your community might be that of just your family. It could be the Rotary Club, or the contribution or volunteer work you do at the church. Those I mentioned may not have any relevance to you. It might be your contribution or investment to attend everyone of your child's baseball practices or maybe you make it a point to wear your child's team sponsored t-shirt at every event he or she participates in. It doesn't matter, but to me it does matter that you have something to be part of.

I see so many people do just the minimal amount to get by. They get so consumed in business matters or their own personal habits and they find little time to step out of the comfort zone and see what else there is. I must tell you that having a little girl, I call my daughter, go through events that deal with issues way beyond her years has made me realize that certain comfort zones can be cracked or broken and you're left in confusion. Although I've had to work my way through it with no blueprint, I feel like I have grown tremendously from these trying days.

Please find your way if you have obstacles or hurdles in your life. Stretch before you run, and time your strides, because if you should ever get in a race that deals with health or life, it is most important that you pace yourself and complete the course you've been given!