Strongest Dad in the World

[Read First then watch the video at the end of the story]

I have come across this story a few times and every time it comes back to me and I read it again I am truly inspired and in awe of how amazing the human spirit is. I must warn you that it makes me tear up Every Time!

[Source: Sports illustrated]

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."

 

 

Love is the most beautiful gift we can give

ღ Namaste!

 

Introducing Mia

The Bobbsey Twins -Baby (left) & Mia (Right)


For thanksgiving this year I got a new dog which I have named Mia. She a Bichon-Poo (my dream dog) and the sweetest ball of fur I have ever met.

My family decided that it was time for Baby our other dog ( 4 yr old, jack-a-poo) to have a playmate and sister if you will. Baby is one of those dogs that is more of a house dog and she was starting to believe that she was human. She needed another dog in her life to make her social with other dogs and to remind her that she IS also a dog.

The first week was rough on baby, she couldnt even be in the same room as Mia... Since I was the one who went to pick up Mia from the breeder she quickly adopted me as her mom. Baby ofcourse noticed and resented me for at least 2weeks because Mia required more of my attention. However, Baby has since warmed up to Mia, about the 3rd week in she was coming around a bit more... I think she finally realized that this new pup in town was here for good !

Now after 6 weeks they play, eat, walk and do everything together (like the bobbsey twins) its really cute to see them sharing treats, toys and doggie beds. They care and give each other eskimo kisses... I decided to enroll Mia into puppy school and when she comes home I like to practice her homework with her, Baby like to join in too.

Mia has really helped bring Baby back to behaving like a real dog... She is a blessing to our lives and shes My little girl.



Welcome Home Mia !

Happy New Year!!! 2010

I rang in the New Year with my parents, brother and my boyfriend at home. It was quiet and relaxed; we had dinner and ate paella, chipotle shrimp, two kinds of salad and wine. We talked a lot over dinner, rang in the New Year and ended the night with a board game. Today I had lunch with some of my gf we were going to go to the movies but it was such lazy day and I still had tons of food at my house so I had them come over for lunch. We talked lots about babies in our families, maternal clocks, weddings and working out, vitamins, cooking and many other things.

2009 was a great year; I am pleased with everything that happened… I learned so much in school this past year and had so many experiences working at the hospital. I traveled with my bf to new places and saw many, many, many awesome concerts. Met new people, found a job, joined a gym and the absolute best thing that happened is that I fell in love with an amazing guy. I am really lucky to have great friends and this summer was the first time that all the girls were together again. I’m really excited and looking forward to see what the New Year will bring for me… and I’m anticipating graduation day.

This Years Hopes- 2010 I hope to...
1. Be able to go visit my family in the motherland
2. Keep my part time job (School will be a lot more demanding this last semester)

2009 Last Year
Best Things that Happened:
1. Falling in love with B
2 . Going to Cuba and Montreal
3. Entering my final year of nursing and completing semester 3 with sweet marks

Worst thing that Happened in 2009:
1. Getting a neurotoxic infection in my leg from a coral reef while snorkeling

My 10 List for 2010...
1. Finish my last semester of Nursing, Graduation!!! (I’m ¾ done)
2. Pay off Visa
3. Pay off my student loan
4. Get back into shape
5. Get a new puppy
6. Get my license
7. Find a job in my profession
8. Start saving money for a down payment
9. Go to Mexico
10. Get a tattoo

Alexia turns 2!! ...Wow

Looking for a gift for a two year old proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated. I thought that getting a toy would be easy but the reality is that I didn’t know what she would like or what was suitable for a smart kid. B and I finally ended up getting her some books for reading and some for coloring and it was “a great success”. She loved them and I read them to her several times over. Although not all the family was there (my cousin missed out due to the flu) Alexia is very lucky to have family with her lots of great pressies and yummy home made cake. Happy Birthday Cutie!

 

Barcelona ...Icecream!

So my bother remembers that he has an asignment due for class the next day, Assignment: Go to a restaurant that serves fine dinning but one thats not an established buisness chain and order 3 course meal (appetizer, main course, dessert) and a beverage, then make a review of the restaurant and food. Nice assignment eh? Well he asked me to come along with him because he would be embarassed to take pictures of the food because that "is a thing that girls do". Anyways I accepted and off we went. So our destination was the Royal york/Kingsway neighbourhood and off we went in search of a restaurant that fit the criteria. We found "Barcelona" a spanish tapas restaurant and went in to try out some tapas.
So heres MY review on it:
Restaurant - intimate setting, dimmly lit with lots of Spanish related articles such as framed bullfighting posters, a giant bulls head coming out of the wall and flamenco dancer doll at the bar. Good service and very clean!

Price-Not a expensive and deffinately not cheap place to go eat its moderately priced. The tapas are $10 and under, the main course $15 and upward, and as for desserts anywhere from $4- $10.

Food- It was delicious ! my brother ordered a Spicy traditional paella (main course) and I ordered a bunch of tapas (appetizers) such as Caramelized Onions with Goat cheese, spanish style Calimari, Warm salad which included potatoes bell peppers tomatoes and leafy greens, and a mini chicken paella. The mini paella was adorable in size but so delicious! Finally we orderd for dessert a banana churro and I had a bit of it and it was delish!....
Final verdit: I reccomend it for a special occasion type dinner and Yes I would go again.

After dinner I had a coffee date later on with my girls and it was soo good to see them ALL! As usual we had lots to talk about and catch up on but all the while enjoying each others company:)
I think it was the perfect ending to a crazy week !

The girls +boy :)

Michelles Sexy Strawberry Cheese Cake !

Jen & Yvette both got some yummy Peanut butter dessert!

Joey & I had a scoop of ice cream with a HUGE waffle and it was Yummy!

NO time !!!

I have been missing in action for over the past month. I'm still ALIVE ... School has taken over my life these past few weeks and even tho I've had a bit of a social life, I've been finding it hard to keep up with everything on my plate. School, dance, Boyfriend, Friends, Family, Working out and looking for a job. I cant seem to juggle all these things anymore and im dropping the ball. I wish I knew how to manage everything all at once but seems that you have to be wonder woman to know how. Maybe even she wouldn't be able to do so with the ease and agility I dream of one day mastering. I'm feeling so stressed and the root of my stress is called School. I stress because I wanna do good in all my classes and at the current time my marks arnt reflecting that wish. I stress because I need to pay my bills and Im broke 'cept I have a secret stash of cash that Im saving for a vacation and I could use that money for bill but I NEEEEED a vacation. I stress because I need a job to get the money for my bills and i have to time to work but I feel since my grade are shitty I should just focus on that and put the job search on hiatus till after finals. I stress because I feel like a leach or some sort of parasite because my folks help me out with my bills. I hate how when I was in highschool or even first time in college I use to have a crazy work load for school and still managed to work 15-20hrs a week but now that my load is less Im having such a hard time keeping up. I fear that Old age is tapping me on the shoulder, they say as we get older we absorb less... I fear this might be true. I hate how I dont feel like a good gf b/c of the things mentioned above I cant treat my bf they way I would like to or give him more of my time... my time for him feels so limited I wish I could give him more. I wanna have more time for my girlfriends too I swear I feel like its been months that ive been so out of touch with them and its only really been a month since Ive last seen them.

I just want to end my semester and have a somewhat normal life AGAIN!

ps- I may be missing till mid -end April, school has taken time away from my life.

Crazy Ex-girlfriend

Why is that some women just can't accept it when a guy ends a relationship with her? I've recently experienced the Crazy ex girlfriend, which in this case happens to be my brothers ex's.

Ex girl friend #1
Came to my house to fight with my brother b/c she couldnt accept that he was dating someone new. Basically if she cant have him then no one can have him. She almost broke the window. Stole a zip up jacket that was given to him by the new gf and threw it in the mud. Calls the new gf claiming that she is pregnate and claiming that she is having sex with him ( which are lies made up just to get a reaction). Shows up to the new gf's house with her friends to show her all the msgs my brother wrote her when they were together ( dont know what that proves). Says shes gonna get married b/c he said that he wants to be with her and raise thier baby together. Honestly shes a stupid little girl, who is delusional because he wants nothing to do with her, not only that shes not even pregnate STOP pretending!!! GROW UP!!!

Ex girlfriend#2
plays the same game as #1 claiming shes pregnate, refuses to go to the doctor to go do a test when my family offered to take her. However shes waving around a positive pee stick saying that my brother knocked her up. Comes to my house yelling that shes gonna kill him and shes gonna kill her baby too. She demands that he pays for her abortion, however AGAIN when told that my family is willing to take her to get it done because she wants it and we will pay for it she changes the topic to something else... an starts yelling things like hes a dog, Im gonna kill him, ... etc. She not only comes and insults my brother but my family and then she get physically agrressive and its not the first time that shes gotten violent with my brother. So today was the final straw I called the cops on her because I had enough of her making a sceen. She was gonna run when she saw the cops but they stopped her, talk to her, and off in the cruiser she left. For someone who is 28y/o she acts like shes 19y/o and is imature and I dont think she is pregnate and if she is well I doubt its my brothers b/c from what I know shes not anywhere near being a prude.

I honestly thought that "the crazy ex girlfriend" was a myth or an over exageration by men. I thought that these types of girls existed only in books, tv, or in movies. I never thought that I would ever see first hand the insane, immature, psychotic behaviour of 'the ex-gf '.

I really am glad that my girlfriends are smart well rounded women that would never lower themselves to that level. I know some pretty amazing ladies that I adore and Im glad I dont know or associate with people like those crazy chicks.

Alexia turns 1

:D So today the family got together for the 1st Birthday of my cousins daughter Alexia. It was a small family gathering and that was more than enough because she was a happy baby with her ballons and cake. We heard her birth story... mommy shared how she rememberd it 1 yr ago and daddy proudly showed everyone her birth video. The family Oooohed and Awwwwed while we watched how a cute little girl changed soo much in one year. It's amazing how one year ago she was this tiny little fragile baby and now shes a bright, smiley, strong, active little girl.

Alexia at birth... 1 day old

She opend her gifts, ate her cake and loved her ballons Happy Birthday Alexia... to many more wonderful birthdays.

My 3 Christmases

Christmas Eve- eve ( Dec 23)
So my Christmas started early this year and I got a few gifts before Christmas day from previous xmas parties... However I think the best present award has to go to "B" because he got me the best gifts and it was stuff that I wanted... lol minus the muff ( inside joke) but I love it anyways. So we went to Alice Fazooli's, we had the goat cheese and chicken pizza which I thought it was delish and the Butternut Ravioli which sounded better on paper than it did in the mouth ( really it didnt amaze me and it could have been so much better). So after that we just hung out and before it was time to go home we did a little gift exchanging. *Note* I was told by "B" in our last meeting that I was not to "buy" him a gift, so being the obdient girl I am, I made his gift instead... I baked him 2 types of cookies Sugar Cookies which I used holiday shapes, (Star, Tree and Lightbulbs), Icing and color sugar... and Soft molasses cookies which taste spicy cus of the ginger and cinnamon in it. Yummy! :P Mmmm ... So asides the fur boot covers that were made to resemble a muff, I also got Nightmare before Christmas Dvd (collectors edition) and Twlight (hardcover collectors edition, which I couldnt find anywhere.) Thanks B! I love my gifts!!!
Christmas Eve (Dec 24)
Christmas Eve was spent with my family and some Family friends... We went to thier place and of course did the Turkey and all its usual friends stuffing, mashed potatoes, salad ...etc. Lots of good wine, and delicious desserts topped of with some Baileys Yumm :P Which contributed to my participation in playing Rockband.... Some highlights of the night include meeting 6 wk old baby Miguel ( sooo adorable and strong too), small gifts (assorted teas from Second cup, lotion set, & Tim's gift card), Rocking out & being so drunk at dinner that my mouth felt numb as I was eating and yet I was able to compose myself and not attract attention to myself *pat myself on the back* :)

Christmas Day ( Dec 25)

So my family & I went to my aunts house for Christmas Dinner and boy did I ever stuff myself. After the first round I was feeling rather plump. I thought that if I pause on the eating and let my stomach relax that I could attempt a second round and was I ever wrong I went for round 2 and I struggled but Im glad I wore my "fatman pants" aka Yoga pants. The highlights included watching Alexia open her Christmas gifts ( my cousins daughter), the many toasts, and paparazzi picture time. What a beautiful Holiday for families and friends to get together.

My Christmas wish is for everyone to have a Merry Chrsitmas with all thier loved ones :)