Hank's Pitching Debut and an Important Announcement

The Cardinals played in the State Tournament earlier this month and gave it their all.  They won their first game in dramatic style.  After being behind the entire game, the come back kids rallied and Hank found himself up to bat at a critical moment.  The tying run was on third and Hank's hit got him home!  It was so exciting I could hardly wait for the next game.  

Unfortunately the team they played had a bit more luck with the bat than we did.  It wasn't a must win game and we needed to save our pitchers for the next day so they called Hank in to pitch!

He looked so little up there.  I watched in amazement as he walked up to the mound, full of confidence.  He struck the first two batters out!  I'm so glad my dad was there to see it.

It was extremely emotional for me to watch.  About halfway through the inning he was holding his side in pain.  I asked him what was wrong and he told me his pump site was digging into him.  Randy called timeout and ran onto the field, pulled out his site, and he continued pitching.  That is the worst part of being a Type 1 diabetic.  Diabetes is always present, always a factor, always trying to mess up my darling little Hank's life and I hate it! Bless his little heart, he finished the inning.  I really couldn't have been more proud in that moment. They ended up taking 5th overall in the tournament and Hank played the best he's played all season. 

While I'm on the topic of how amazing Hank is and how awful diabetes is, it's time for our Team Hank fundraiser for JDRF.  I've really involved myself this year and I'm inspired by the incredible people I've met.  The Juvenille Diabetes Research Fund is doing more to find a cure for this terrible disease than any other organization.  The following is the letter I e-mailed to friends and family and put on facebook.  Here is the link to our Team Hank page http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/teamhank

Family and Friends-

I must begin this letter by expressing my profound gratitude and love to everyone who supported Hank and our little family last year in the American Diabetes Association's walk.  Team Hank raised 2.875.00, surpassing our goal of 2,000.00!  This year, our fundraising efforts are being directed to the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. Since Hank has Type 1 or juvenile diabetes, that is where I want our money to go.  Type 1 diabetes is a life-threatening autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin - a hormone essential to the ability to get energy from food. It strikes both children and adults suddenly and changes life as they know it forever. It cannot be prevented and there is no cure.

JDRF is the largest nongovernmental funder of T1D research and the only global organization with a strategic research plan to fight T1D. This science is complex and costly, and every dollar JDRF is able to direct toward research comes from donors like you.  

Hank was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on March 28. 2011.  Our life as we new it changed drastically in that very instant.  Randy and I decided early on that we would do whatever it took to make sure this disease didn't stop Hank from doing everything he wanted to do.  I'm happy to say we've been able to make good on that promise.  However, there is an insane amount of planning, sleepless nights, and hard work going on behind the scenes to make that happen.  I also rely on Hank to be more responsible and brave than any 8 year should ever have to be.  He is poking his finger at least 10 times a day, enduring countless shots and site changes, and counting every carb that passes his lips.  Unfortunately he's had to grow up a little faster than most kids his age and realize just how fragile his health can be.  There isn't a moment in the day when I'm not thinking or worried about Hank's diabetes.  I worry for my other children all the time, as their risk of developing this disease is also high.  

I wish so badly I could take this burden from Hank.  Raising money for JDRF makes me feel like I'm doing something to find a cure for this awful disease.  Randy and I are committed to keeping Hank healthy and free from all the possible side effects that come with diabetes until that cure becomes a reality. 

Please donate as generously as you can.  I've increased our team goal to 3,500.00 this year and I just know with all your help we can meet that goal and do our part.  The walk this year is going to be in Provo at the Riverwoods and it will be a lot of fun for the whole family.  Please join Team Hank as we Walk to a Cure!

We couldn't do all we do without all your love and support.  We are surrounded by so many incredible people.

Thank you and much love!

Randy and Annie Griffin

Zion's

The annual Tucker/Eliason reunion in Zions is one of my favorite summer vacations.  After our fun filled 4th of July we followed my mom and dad to Springdale.  Sam is obsessed with two things at the moment, "bampa" (grandma and grandpa), and "gycles" (motorcycles).  He had 5 hours in the car to watch his two favorite things.  I think he said "bampa" "gycle" about 500 times.  Too bad he couldn't ride with grandpa, it would have been much quieter in our car!  We headed to the pool the second we arrived at the Desert Pearl and Sam was stoked.

He is the comic relief in our family for sure.  He fell asleep for about 30 minutes and as he woke up, he resumed his fist pumping dance, eyes closed and all.  Sam will do anything for a laugh.  Such a little ham.

Randy, Hank and Max joined Robyn and Andy and their kids on a hike and I stayed back with Sam.  The brief rainstorm brought out this little toad.  

Sam was intrigued and immediately poked him in the eye.  Poor little toad.  Riley and Sam took the toad back to the river before any more damage was done.

Once Randy and the kids got back, it was a chaotic mess of ball and Frisbee throwing.  It's amazing no one was hit in the face!  After some catching up with the family we headed to bed because we had an early hike up the Narrows the next morning.  My mom and dad volunteered to stay back with Max and Sam. 

We were equipped with the proper shoes and walking sticks and excited for the upcoming adventure.

Hank, Phil and Tom at the trail head.

I've been to Zion's multiple times but never hiked the Narrows.  I've always wanted to.  I mean a hike that's 90% in the water is my kind of hike.  The crowds were minimal and we had some great cloud cover.  The water was also pretty low which was nice.

Since the conditions were so optimal, we hiked pretty far up the river.  Hank was such a trooper.  He never complained and carried on even after he tripped and fell in the water a few times.

Good thing he had his buddy Riley to hike with.  He became Riley's shadow for most of the day. 

We made a few pit stops, checked blood sugar, and grabbed and snack and a drink.

The best part of the day was catching up with my family I don't see very often.  I had some great conversations with almost everyone.

I've never been in a more spectacular setting.  The beauty of the rocks and the water took my breath away.  You quickly realize why it's so dangerous to hike the narrows when there is potential for a flash flood.

We capped off the end of the hike with a good ol' fashioned cliff jump.

I had to do it twice to convince Hank it wasn't scary.  He was a little hesitant but agreed to do it when Riley volunteered to jump with him.

The water was freezing!

It took Hank a good 30 minutes of hiking back down the river to stop shivering.  Randy sat the rock jumping out since he injured his foot the previous day doing a cannon ball into the pool.  

It started getting hot on our way down and Hank had low blood sugar so Randy and I took turns carrying him the last mile.  We were spent when we got back but it was so worth it.  I would do that hike again in a heart beat.

Joyce took all of the group out to eat later that night at The Spotted Dog.  The kids always make dinner at a restaurant exciting.  Sam hit his head on the fireplace and screamed loud enough to stop all the diners from enjoying their meal.  My mom and I took turns with him outside.  After that, I was ready to let the kids run wild back at the hotel.  My mom managed to snap this cute picture of our family.

Sam was mesmerized by Keith's musical ability.  He just stood there and stared at him in awe.

We decided to take it easy the next morning.  I got up a little earlier than the kids and went for a beautiful run.  Then we headed to Oscars for breakfast.

The kids were quiet for approximately 5 minutes.  I'm really surprised we didn't get kicked out.

I left the rest of the afternoon up to the kids.  They wanted to swim so that's what we did.

Sam and Monet made a connection on this trip.  He calls her '"Maaney".  He is smitten by her adorableness and so am I.  They played so cute together.

After the kids were sufficiently thrown all over the pool, my dad took them to Despicable Me 2 in Hurricane.  They needed a break from the sun and had a great time.  I stayed back with Sam while he took a nap.  It was a quiet, relaxing afternoon for me.  When everyone got back, we had a little social hour at our room.  

Sam snagged some of Monet's chocolate covered raisins.

And a cuddle with "bampa".

Hank played catch with Grandpa,

and Phil.

Then, Randy picked Joyce's brain for a few hours.  It started with a few questions about her life and ended up being an entertaining tell all Q & A.  I learned so much about her I never knew.  She has lived an amazing life and loved that Randy cared enough to find out about it.  Honestly, the best part of this reunion is the amazing conversations we have.  I just love my family.  They are simply the best.

My sweet mom and dad captured Sam's heart on this trip. He got panicked when he couldn't find them.  He is so affectionate with both of them.  They were so much help to me since Sam is a handful these days.

You can only imagine how mad he was when he realized they were leaving on the "gycle" without him.  He sat on the back seat in protest.

Grandma said her good-byes but Sam couldn't accept it.

I had to pry him out of her arms.

I guess I couldn't very well let him ride all the way back like that. He couldn't understand why.  We stayed  for the rest of the morning and let the kids play in the pool a little while longer.  I wasn't in any hurry to come home and resume regular life.  We've had a busy, fun couple of weeks.  I didn't want it to end.  I wish my sisters and their families could have made the trip.  Maybe next year!

Independence Day

I officially came out of retirement from racing on the Fourth of July.  I hesitantly registered for the Freedom Festival 10K a few weeks ago, not really sure if I wanted the stress of a race on my plate.  It's really hard for me to enter a race situation and not get overly worried about it.  I wish I could just treat it like any other training run but I can't.  I've been running for over a year and I'm feeling like I'm in pretty good shape so I decided to go for it.  The race started at 7:00 a.m. so Randy stayed home with our sleeping kids.  Hank really wanted to come and cheer me on, so he woke up around 5:45 and went with Natalie, Isaac, and me.  What a little stud.  It really meant a lot to have him there.

I started out a bit fast and finished a bit slow but ended up finishing in 48 minutes, a 7:45 per mile average.  It was a challenging course, starting and finishing up hill so I really had to give it my all.  I was happy to learn I finished 8th out of 100 women in my age division.  It felt pretty good to be in the racing scene again.

There isn't a better way to recuperate after a hard race than some quality pool time.  

(Some of these pictures were taken a few days before the 4th.)

Precious brother moment.

Tucker, Lucy, and Hank

Sam loves Izzy!

Pool squats, a must for Sammy-boy!

I can't get over how unafraid Max is in the water this year.  I really think goggles have made all the difference. He is such a good little swimmer.

The boys played golf with my dad and then joined us at the pool later for a BBQ and lots of swimming.

Sam spent some quality time with Grandma.

They have the cutest little relationship.  He is definitely my biggest grandma/grandpa lover.

Later that day, Jeri and Scott invited us over for a BBQ and fireworks.

Lennon and Sam shared a plate.

Scott wowed us with his deliciously patriotic cake.

It couldn't get dark fast enough for the kids.  They couldn't wait for the fireworks show to begin.

Max is my little pyro.

He couldn't get enough.

Crazy cousins! 

Sam hated the fireworks last year and this year he refused to even look at them.  In his defense, it sounded like Jeri's house was under attack.  I've never seen so many fireworks in one neighborhood.

He kept pointing to the car saying "done".  

The fireworks were pretty impressive.  Who needs stadium of fire?

It was such a fantastic holiday.  We managed to squeeze in a race, 18 holes of golf, swimming, a BBQ, and fireworks.  The best part was spending the day with my favorite people.  We had little time to rest because we were off to Zion's the next day!