Rollercoaster

This is been an incredible two days.  We are absolutely exhausted and welcomed our afternoon off.  We started our day yesterday with the 5K run/walk.  It started at the Capitol square and we finished at the Veterans Coliseum.  At about 11 am, Rece lined up for his 1K run.  We've been practicing this so he knew just how long it would be.  What we didn't prepare him for was that he would be running with other kids ages 6-14.  And if you know Rece, he is a creature of habit, and does not welcome change.  He is also not a fan of the unexpected so we always try to prepare him for everything we can.  Apparently, we did not do such a good job with the race preparation.  Rece started the race well (maybe his pace was a little faster than normal but thats to be expected when your use to training solo).  He was in 5th place and at least 4 of the boys ahead of him were in the older age group.  He got about 1/3 of the way and he had a panic attack, sat down on the curb crying.  When Tony got to him, he was in tears because he was "losing" and his "ankle hurt".  Tony told him he was not losing, that the boys in front of him were older than him and got him up and running again.  He finished the race with the help of our cheering family and friends (Porters, Blust, Sweeres, Nolans, Jones, Stumos, Breckheimers, Kuhns).  He ended up 5th in his age group but I have never been more proud of him for just getting up and finishing the race as strong as he did!  He did get a little medical attention from the doctors in the medical tent at the end.  He was complaining that he was having trouble breathing and his legs and arms felt "weird".  It was determined that he had started hyperventilating after getting himself worked up.

Tony dropped me off at the Nat so I could attend a brief volleyball practice while the rest of the family went out to eat.  They picked me back up and we headed over to "Aunt Kissy's" house to rest for the afternoon.  At 3:30 it was time to head back to the Alliant Energy Center for the Team Tailgate.  Team Hawaii was handing out fresh leis and orchids to be put in your hair.  I found the DiSanto family from NJ (Team Liberty) and I traded them a cheesehead for a Statue of Liberty foam hat.  Patti and I have been a part of the same 2 online support groups for pediatric heart transplant families and children with cardiomyopathy (http://www.tchin.org/ and http://www.childrenscardiomyopathy.org/) for several years now.  We met briefly in Pittsburgh at the Games in 2008 and I promised her a few months ago that I would get her a cheese head.  Her son Joey seemed excited to take the foam cheese to camp on Thursday to show everyone.  The exhibition hall was set up to seat and feed over 5000 people.  The traditional Wisconsin fare was served.  Burgers, brats, hot dogs, chicken breasts, veggie burgers (not really typical WI food), coleslaw, potato salad, kraut, cheese and cookies.

Since Wisconsin was the host team, we were the last to line up for the Opening Ceremony.  Thankfully, Kim Mueller (NKF of WI) brought games, books, and puzzles to entertain the 10+ kids we had waiting for over and hour.  I have no idea how many athletes Team WI has this year but I do know that including athletes, living donors, donor families and supporters we were over 700!  I can't tell you how very happy Tony and I were to have another Hilbert family join us at the ceremony this year.  Brian and Laurie Mathes are a wonderful couple that lost their teenage daughter in a tragic car accident several years ago.  They had the opportunity to donate Michelle's organs and save the lives of several people.  Again, we were surrounded by family and friends supporting us as we marched into the Coliseum.  I can't even explain how emotional this ceremony is.  It truly is a moving experience that everyone should participate in.  As I told my Aunt Suzi, it really puts everything into perspective (even if for only a little while because my kids will snap me back to reality quickly) about how very fortunate we are and how important it is to live life one day at a time and not sweat the "little things".  So many stories are shared of love, loss and life.  We were so happy that we had family and friends there to share that experience with us!

Our night concluded with a drive back to Spring Green and unloading the van and repacking for the next day.  I wanted to send out a special thanks to Dan for the wonderful pics he sent me last night while I was sleeping.  They brought a smile to my face at midnight and I was still laughing about them this morning!

I'm exhausted so I will be heading to bed but I will update soon with todays (Sunday) events.  If you don't know already we had a very exciting day today!

Love to all,
Ant, Hill and the gang