KID VACAY

About a week after Nathan's radiation was complete, my parents came through Tennessee on their way to my dad's senior softball tournament in Dalton, Georgia. Our house was slightly out of the way from Texas but, they decided they wanted to swing by and take the kids with them.

Whaaaaaa???? Take my kids? Out of town? Many hours away from me? Ohhhhh...I don't know. I had to seriously think long and hard about that. I finally told myself that we had to do it because most likely we're going to end up living much farther away from family with the next job transfer. And if the kids are old enough, we may want to send them to stay with their grandparents for a week or something. Well, maybe.

I was slightly freaked out but Cole and Brooke were stoked about their own little vacation. They went to Ruby Falls in Georgia right off the bat. It has stalagmites and scientific stuff like that. Sorry, Mom, I forgot the specifics of it but, it's a super cool cave, y'all.Hotel pool fun...Isn't that one of the best parts about going on vacation when you're a kid?They did have to spend some time up at the ball fields where they have a fabulous playground and other things to occupy the kids.Brooke has no fear when it comes to dogs...She wants to pet them all.Grandpa was so sweet and let Cole be the bat boy for a while. I know Cole thought he was hot stuff doing that.Teams came in from all over and his got second place. National Finalists, baby! Yep, his team is big time and they travel all over...Even to Las Vegas for the world championships...Which they've won before and got a fat ring to show off.
They stopped in downtown Nashville to grab a bite to eat and check out a little bit of the scenery.
Oh my...who's kids are those sopping wet in their clothes AND in a public place??? Surely they're not mine! Cole actually told his Grandma, "My mom would never let us do this." Nope, your daddy either boy. Swimsuits that were actually in the car would have been nice but, that's okay because they didn't carry all that water into my car. I will say that they looked like they had a grand 'ole time with something so simple...and outdoors...and free.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for all of the great pictures...But more importantly, thank you for offering to take the kids, for showing them such a great time, and for making some wonderful memories with them. It was obvious that they had a blast with all the jibber jabber they rattled off to us the minute they got home...And that in itself was awesome!

HORNETS TOURNAMENT

Cole was asked to play in a travel ball tournament for a different team during the summer. Travel ball is the same as select ball in Texas...you know...you have to try out and it costs a whole lotta dough for all the fancy schmancy gear. We got lucky that they just needed a player to fill in for their last tournament so, they let us borrow the whole uniform. And it was local...Thank goodness. This was a great opportunity for Cole but it was also at the exact same time Nathan was undergoing radiation.

Nathan talked to the coach on the phone for a while and agreed to let Cole play. Towards the end of their conversation the coach told him that their goal would be to make it to Sunday because Nathan would be done with radiation and could come see them play. That was so nice of him to say...Especially since we'd never met him before.

After taking Cole to a scrimmage that Thursday and a quick practice on Friday, this team's chances of winning enough games to make it Sunday play were looking pretty slim.

Saturday started off with an early morning game. Yep, we were all tired.
I don't know what happened but, it seemed like a totally different bunch of kids showed up to play. Cole didn't hit all that well but, the rest of the team did great. I was shocked and, they won their first two games...Sweet!

We broke for lunch and headed back for more baseball. Cole suddenly came alive and got several hits in the third game to help the team win. He struggled early on with the different weight of the travel ball big barrel bats and the speed of the pitcher but, then something just clicked. Must have been the Taco Bell.After they won the third game the head coach starting saying "Cole?! Where's Cole?" He grabbed Cole in excitement and said, "Guess what?! Now your daddy gets to come watch you play tomorrow!" The coach was just as happy about it as we were. That was so awesome! Oh my lanta...Talk about holding back the tears.

It absolutely killed Nathan not being able to be there. Cole really could have used his daddy but, I did the best I could and all the coaches rallied around him. It was good for me and the kids because it kept us out of the house a lot but, Brooke was beyond disgusted at all the baseball games and having to sit in sheer boredom in the blazing sun for hours on end.So, by winning all of their games on Saturday Nathan was able to watch the Sunday games. He was just as pumped about it as Cole was. What was even better was that Cole did awesome in front of his daddy. He got lots of hits and did great on fielding...Even caught his first pop fly ever! All of the coaches went nuts when he caught it. He almost caught two but he didn't squeeze his glove hard enough on the first one. That's why I think everyone was so shocked when he caught the second one. We were soooo proud!

Of course, I missed videoing that one along with when the ball took a bad hop and hit him right under the eye. Talk about scary...He instantly fell to the ground and just laid there. I was so nervous but, it made me feel so good that all four coaches sprinted to the outfield to check on him. I made Nathan run out there, too. It took a few minutes but, he finally jumped up and refused to come out of the game.

The Hornets somehow made it to the championship game. They were playing at a super nice complex that actually had a grounds crew come out and drag the field before the game started. That was really cool to see...For the parents and the kids. That definitely made the kids feel like big leaguers.
The championship game was against a team that we beat the day before. Apparently that team had three players (or their parents I should say) quit the night before so, they brought in three ringers for this game. It really wasn't fair at all but, lots of politics are involved in the travel ball scene so, it is what it is.

The kids all played hard but ended up coming in second place. Cole still thought it was pretty cool for his very first tournament and with a completely different team where he didn't know anyone. Nathan and I thought it was pretty cool, too...Good job, son!

I thought the whole tournament experience was pretty fun and exciting...Minus the killer sunburn and the little diva with an attitude. Needless to say, Brooke was ecstatic that it was finally all over. At least she was happy in the final game because someone gave her a blue slushee thingy. Whatever works, right?

RADIATION

About a week before we left for Texas, this was my Facebook post...

Nikki Crittenden McCallum- Just when Nathan is starting to feel better, he gets the news that his case is very "interesting". Test results showed he actually had cancer on both sides of his thyroid but, they were strangely two different types of cancer. Radiation is now a must and will begin in early July. Poor guy just can't catch a break with this crap!

Leslie Crittenden- He likes to do it up BIG TIME apparently. Tell him that isn't always the best way! LOVE TO Y'ALL!

Brian Wilson- Tell that guy I'm going to call him soon.

Shelly Andrews Moore- Poor Nate we will be praying for y'all

Kimberly Johnson Strumila- I am so sorry to hear that. I hope everything works out for you guys. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers.

Gena Crittenden- I tried calling, but I did not reach you. So sorry you guys are having to go through this. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We love you guys!

Noel Lucky Brucker- It's rarely a great thing to get the honor of being the "interesting" case - So many prayers for a speedy and complication-free recovery

Nikki Crittenden McCallum- Thanks everybody! Y'all are so sweet.

Nathan had a tougher time recovering from the second surgery and also had to start adjusting to his lifelong medication. Radiation was the next step...As if going through two major surgeries in 3 weeks wasn't enough. He actually ended up having to stop taking his meds for nearly 3 weeks so that when radiation started it would go directly to his neck and be able to work more effectively.

So, just a few days after the Fourth of July, Nathan started his radiation treatment. He was absolutely not looking forward to it at all. Yes, it was going to help his body to kill off any remaining cancer cells floating around his neck but, just the fact that his body was going to be radioactive slightly freaked him out.

Needless to say, he got a little emotional before he left as the kids gave him hugs and told him they loved him.

My Facebook post on the morning of...

Nikki Crittenden McCallum- No relaxing weekend ahead for us. Nathan starts radiation today. Soon he'll be home from taking the pill and will be stuck in our bedroom by himself for 3 days. This will not be fun for any of us but, hopefully, this is the last step in clearing the cancer from his body.

Meghan 'Pettit' Crouch- Hope all goes well. Our prayers are with Nathan and you!

Mike Hutto- Let me know how it goes...has he been taking an oral pill??

Natalie Mitchamore- Brett & I were talking & praying for you guys last night. I wish we were there!! Please call me if you need anything.. Or just want to talk. :-) love u guys!

Rachel Keymon Lifsey- Hey if you need the kids to stay the night again this weekend, its no problem, Friday night we are going out but we will be home Saturday if they wanted to come stay then!

Shelly Andrews Moore- Praying for you guys!

Nikki Crittenden McCallum- Thanks everybody...just one more hurdle to get over.

@ Michael, it was two oral pills that came in this huge metal container. I'll post a picture of it.

@ Rachel, call me about tonight's pick up plans that need to change a little...baseball.

Jenna Pecor- Whitehead I love you two...I know I am far away but let me know if I can do anything...

Mike Hutto- What are the pills? A form of radioactive iodine?

Nikki Crittenden McCallum- Yep the pills are radioactive iodine. They should kill any remaining cancer floating around in his neck.

Mike Hutto- May take some hair with it but hopefully not

DeJuana Crittenden- Has he had any nausea or side effects?

Nikki Crittenden McCallum- He feels sick to his stomach and his jaws and throat hurt. And he's really disappointed that he has to miss Cole's first tournament with a new baseball team.

Nikki Crittenden McCallum- Check out the contraption that two average sized radiation pills came in. That's not scary at all to think what's going in your body has to be on lock down inside of a heavy, lead, bulletproof looking thingy.Mike Hutto- Gotta protect the carrier...it is radioactive after all ;-)

Brian Wilson- does it glow?

Leslie Crittenden- ACK! Scareeeeee... How did it make him feel??

Julie Gilmore Harding- Yikes! Has he taken it yet?

Nikki Crittenden McCallum- He took it around 9am Thursday morning. Nothing glows yet, but that would be cool. He feels sick to his stomach and his jaws and throat hurt.

Shelly Andrews Moore- Poor Nate we are thinking about him.

Since Nathan had to be quarantined in our bedroom for 3 days, I slept in Cole's room...Lovely. Luckily, the kids had a sleepover the first night. Actually it was their first sleepover with friends and not family...Yikes! Of course they had a great time while I worried way more than I should have.

I was able to get my make up and clothes on in our bathroom but, I couldn't use the same shower or toilet as Nathan during treatment. He had to take 3-5 showers and day, sit down to pee, and flush the toilet 2-3 times every time he went to the restroom. As you can imagine, he was slightly annoyed with all that. Then add the fact that his jaws, throat, and stomach hurt more and more each day.

To me, he just sort of acted like he had a stomach bug but, I know he was trying hard to not let me know how he was really feeling. I felt awful for him but, I tried to put on a happy face. I didn't want the kids to realize how bad it really was for their daddy so, I tried to keep them busy and out of his hair as much as possible.

Nathan will be tested again in December and will have to do another round of radiation if needed. Hopefully, this was the one and ONLY time for him to go through this. He says it was far worse than recovering from the surgeries. He's so strong and, I'm so proud of him for enduring all of this with little complaints and somehow managing to make it all look easy. I love you, Nathan.

Look at how his incision has healed since the 2nd surgery...AMAZING!

FIREWORKS

Yep, it's nearly the end of September and this is a Fourth of July post. Ahhh well. We went to the neighboring itty bitty town of Medina to watch fireworks that were being set off at the middle school. Notice I didn't say A middle school, I said THE middle school. Just craziness when you grow up in a heavily populated area.
Brooke was saying, "Wowww" at some kids shooting off small fireworks across the street.Oh my gosh...After waiting close to 2 hours, the sky finally started lighting up with pretty colors. I just knew the show would be lame for this small area but, it actually turned out to be quite nice. Next time we'll know to go with friends and bring stuff to do to pass the time until the sun goes down.
When we got home, I just happen to notice the county line sign just yards away from our house. What?! That means we live just barely outside the county line and could have popped fireworks in our cul-de-sac. Darn it!!!!