DNA Sunday

So we thought it would be fun to start up the DNA Sundays again and highlight Robert and Ashley's nieces and nephews. We realize that this excludes the Ashworth side of the family, but Linda is an honorary Grandma to the Gratteau children at church, we love Ashworth-Squires get together's to celebrate birthdays and Robdob's triumphs, and his siblings are like Aunts and Uncles to all our children as well. So, we don't think they'll mind!

Derek is Ashley and Robert's oldest nephew. He is 10 1/2 now and was 7 1/2 when they got married. Derek is the first child of Ashley's oldest sister, Kristin. He has 1 sister, 1 brother, and another brother who will be born any day now.

Derek and Uncle Robert have one big thing in common--a love for baseball. Derek's love for baseball began young--around age 2. This picture is from Derek's first T-ball season in May 2004 when he was 5 1/2:

Derek aspires to be a star pitcher like RobDob was. He's on his way to doing so:

Derek Pitching--May 2009

He was excited to see Uncle Robert after his treatments were completed last summer. We went to the Grand Canyon for a family reunion and spent a few nights in Vegas playing Rock Band and being together.

Here's a little more info about Derek:
What is your favorite color? Blue.
Favorite food? Hamburgers.
Favorite dessert? Oreo Ice Cream Cake.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A professional baseball player.
What is your favorite memory or thing about Uncle Robert? The funny thing he put on his nose when he came to Houston for my baptism. (How convenient--we have a picture of that!)

What is your favorite joke? There's a guy walking through a forest. He is warned by an old gnome that if he steps on any purple mushrooms, he'll have to marry the ugliest lady in the world. As he walks through the forest, avoiding stepping on the purple mushrooms, a very beautiful lady appears. She says, "I have to marry you." He asks, "Why?" She says, "I stepped on one of those pesky, purple mushrooms." Derek catches on to jokes quickly, and laughed quite hard when he realized the guy walking through the forest is the ugliest man in the world.
What is your favorite book? The Alex Rider series. (Derek LOVES to read).
What is your favorite thing to learn about? Math.

*Robert is doing better little by little. They changed his pain medication to dilaudid and his hallucinations have gotten better. For the most part he knows where he is, but he is still easily confused. His numbers were .2 yesterday and they are .4 today! Best news we have heard all week!!! 

He is developing a rash on his chest, neck and legs. We are hoping this is a graph vs. host rash. Apparently they will know it is a G vs. H rash if it spreads to his palms and the soles of his feet.

His mouth is still sad. He gets hungry and wants to eat, but then gets frustrated when it hurts him so much! The faster his numbers come up the faster it will heal!

Hugs & Kisses