Christmas 09

this year Christmas lasted a long time for our family and don't worry I am not complaining. We started out on December 20th celebrating with Adrian's family, however we were all pretty sick. I was still throwing up because of the inside me, Adrian had the flu and I knew I had to get Jackson out of the house. So I trucked acrossed the county to Gloria and Mikes and left Jackson there for the night. Adrian was feeling better the next day so we got some extra sleep and then headed over for lunch. Between my head cold and the baby pukes it was a long day. But great times seeing family. We then came home and all went to bed early. Jackson kept Grandma and his aunt and uncle up all night so he was tired too. We worked really hard to get healthy, before we headed to MN on Tuesday.

Tuesday is itself an adventure. We got in the car at about 2:30 pm two hours earlier than we planned on leaving. It all started with flurries, an ipass that didn't work right and all of this made for a very unhappy driver. To top it off it didn't make it easier that Jackson and I were not feeling well and we all knew we had some tough weather ahead of us. But we knew we wanted to surprise My mom on Christmas by showing up early, so we were off. We got into Chicago and hit aweful weather. We were driving 8 mph and it took nearly and hour and a half to drive 17 miles. At times I could have walked faster than we were moving. Once we got out of the Chicago area and past Joliet we upped our speed to around 50 but drove like this to the Iowa border. After consulting with my dad in secret...we decided at 12:30 pm to get a room in Des Moines IA for some well needed rest and we would start out tomorrow morning. It took another two hours from there to get to my parents...this is normally a 8 and a half hour trip...that took us twelve. WOW...never in my six years have I encountered such a trip....but I guess I am blessed with the winter conditions...that I have made it with only one bad trip in 6 years.

My mom was elated and sooo excited to see all of us. of course she began thinking about all the things she didn't have done yet and the extra food she needed until I informed her there would only be one extra mouth to feed and he wasn't that picky. It was a great idea to have a few days before the rest of the gang arrived. It was good for Jackson to have more time with Papa and Nana and to not be overwhelmed with all the energy from my nieces.

We had our family Christmas on Saturday which went great. lots of gifts and family fun. then on Sunday we had the Christensen family Christmas at my mom and Dad's and we surprised my mom with a 60th bday party too...but I will let everyone know she is not 60 until January 18th. So give her another month before the harassment starts.

Then monday we had a very uneventful trip home. Jackson traveled like a champ again. I can only hope that our future children are the same. I gotta say if it was eventful I missed it. I slept a great majority of the trip. Adrian was the trooper driving us the entire way. I have pictures but off course blogger is not cooperating with me tonight...so we will try in the morning.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. I can't wait to see what is in store for us in 2009. 2008 has been great and I will do a year in review sometime soon.

a new addition to the family.....

We found out on the 5th of November that we are expecting our second child in July. Sorry Dad this is why I forgot to call you on your birthday. I was a bit overwhelmed as you can all imagine. we were not planning to try for another baby for at least another 6 months. We really wanted to get through Jackson's second birthday before we added another. I am such a planner and with this pregnancy I feel as though nothing can be planned. I am not God, so I know nothing about how Jackson's health is going to go and I also have no idea how this pregnancy is going to go either.

To top it off I have been incredibly sick with this one. I haven't been able to eat normally or drink enough. I have been puking since Thanksgiving weekend. I don't know if this is God telling me I did everything right with the first one, or what? But I have got the point already. I promise... Most people are telling me it means I am having a girl. Good thing I don't believe in the wives tales. That way I won't get my hopes up.

on November 23rd we had an ultrasound to find out the babies exact due date. when you are not trying you don't keep track of the things you are suppose too at all. It was simply amazing to see the 2 cm big baby with a profile, little arm buds and a beating heart. She told us it had a healthy heart beat too at 183 bpm.

We have talked to the doctor and she is on board to help me have as normal as a pregnancy as possible. She said she doesn't want to have me in every week unless she has too. So we are doing things like normal unless they turn otherwise. So far so good. She will do a couple more ultrasounds than normal...but hey, who am I to complain about seeing my baby more than once in 9 months. We have other decisions to make about testing and delivery, but we will wait until then to decide these things.

I am sure you are all wondering....we have no more chance than the average person to have Jackson's issues repeat. we have a 3% chance. everyone says that I should be happy I am sick...it means hormone levels are high and baby development in healthy too. I am happy about that, but by no means does it make me happy about being sick.

So we have alot to be grateful for this holiday season and we are excited to finally share it with all of our dedicated readers.

Some things just take us a bit longer...but we get there.

Jackson started clapping last night and we got it on video for all of you this morning. We have been working on this skill for months and then all of a sudden we just have to play the ABC song or ask him to clap and he does. Crazy how excited these small things get you. We might not get it right away but we do get it in OUR TIME. Enjoy the video. I tried to get a picture of him clapping to the ABC song...but all he let me get was a picture of him playing with the toy that sings it. oh well maybe later.

Miss you Daddy....

Who knew my child was going to love to slam doors. I think he gets that from his dad... just a video for Dad while he is in florida for the week. and a few picture

Isn't he funny...He is so very funny.

don't worry dad your paper is not going to waste while you are gone. I have it covered...I am reading it every morning.

we thought we would show you my new positions. I am going to have big strong arms when you get home. from all the push ups I have been doing.

We are so excited to inform you............

Jackson

went

to

the

doctor


yesterday

and



he


now


weighs

in

at

16 pounds.

and

measures

27 inches tall.

WE are so excited and pumped that we are gaining weight and growing again.

We arrived at Riley around 8 am and Jackson was in prime form. He was smiling and talking to everyone around him. Not unusual for our little social butterfly. They had us wait and then sent us for an xray of his hip. Then we came back and met with Dr Lubicky. To our surprise we found out Jackson has four screws in his leg with a plate. I guess this is what they used to hold his leg together where they broke it. Adrian and I discussed on the way home, how we wish that Dr Lubicky gave just a bit more information to us than he does. Sometimes you feel like you are pulling teeth to get an answer. Usually it is not a straight one that you get.

I am sorry to say but I have no pictures of the actual cast remover....sorry I am an aweful photojournalist. I know. But I was so distracted by how amazing he was doing and all the informaiton we were getting that I didn't pull out the camera again. Then when they actually removed it and he had the pain from the lack of pressure and stiffness I was definitely more interested in comforting my child than I was taking a picture. Anyhoo...he was a trooper on the way home and slept most of the way and when he wasn't sleeping he was playing with the old, yet new to him toy bar on his carseat. it was wonderful. Then when we got home we filled up the tub and got out the heater.....to give him a bath. He loved it. He even moved his legs some in the water. In the picture below....you can see

ok really the picture below this....you can see the markings on his legs from surgery and you can sort of see the scar on his right leg that goes from his little love handle all the way down to an inch above his knee. It is crazy big.

He enjoyed his bath thoroughly... and we look forward to giving him many more in our new tub....that has been set in our upstairs bathroom. The process is moving forward and we are so excited. For now we are just relieving him with Tylenol and he has not disappointed us with his efforts. I left him on this green blanket to make supper last night and when I came back to check on him he was under the endtable pulling out magazines. He quickly started moving around last night, still army crawling and occassionally he would get his knees under him...then moments later scream in pain. So it is still a process but he is trying. The docs say we will have a few days of tylenol and pain before we are trying to move everything again. I am happy to say that he slept a little better last night. Only waking up twice instead of every two and half hours. We will see what the next few days bring.

Jackson on the MOVE!!

many of you have been asking how Jackson gets around and I finally got him excited about something where he wasn't distracted by the camera. hope you enjoy his moves. He is going to be so excited come friday. Tomorrow we will leave so 47 hours until the cast is off.

The countdown has begun......

We are entering our last week of this cast.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!!
I just don't think Jackson completely understands how exciting this Friday is going to be for him.

We have had a very busy end of November. A wedding for my friend Carrie....
she was gorgeous.and of course we had to get a pic of Adrian and I before Jackson got there from Grandma's. with some highly entertaining moments with Jackson. His charm has not left him in this cast. He still has everything it takes. plus look at the tricks we won't be able to do anymore: his balancing act (he had to show off his moves for the crowd. his daily push ups while watching cartoons during mommy's breakfast. Catching up with friends was great and we did a little dancing too...Jackson and I did.

family THanksgiving was very low key. We had a few illnesses over the holidays. that always puts a damper on the occasion. then you add in our normal therapy appointments three days a week and we are very busy. There is our update for the last two very busy weeks of NOvember. I can't believe it is December already. Where does the time go?

Even more to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving!!! If we didn't have enough already

I have been waiting a long time to share this news and it has finally come to the time when I can share. Ever since we arrived home from the NICU last September, I have been fighting to get assistance for Jackson from our wonderful government. I applied for special health care and was denied. I applied for Social Security for Jackson and got laughed at. I applied for Medicaid and was denied, with out them telling me there was more to there system that I could apply for due to Jackson's medical conditions. So last January we got ourselves a social worker that knew the system and could let us know which areas to try and which services to stay away from. She has been wonderful. I can't imagine what we would have done without her. Needless to say this has almost been a 15 month process of one denial after another. God knew what he was doing when he gave me this to deal with. He knew I had tough skin and a determination beyond words, both which have been very useful. I have to say there have been may moments of frustration where I have truely wanted to give up, and someone has stepped in to encourage me right at the exact moment it was needed. God promises that he will help you in times of need right?

We to make a long story short. we were ACCEPTED TODAY. for a medicaid waiver program that will give us regular medicaid that will pay for all of Jackson's medical bills and copays for all appointments and medications. It also pays for me to have a nurse watch him for 60 hours a month and if we would need it they would pay for private daycare for me to go back to work and know that Jackson is in great and trained care in his own home. There is more...I just don't know all the details.

I can't tell you what a relief this is with things in the future still looming over our head. I pray daily that the worst will still not happen. However now if it does we are covered finacially and won't have that additional stress during times when we will need to be worrying about other things. God is good. He has never stopped protecting us and providing for us. Isn't great that we have a Father that is so Faithful.

You can really get down about the little things like your child not sleeping through the night, not eating as much as they need to, not progressing the way they should and it is Truely a Happy moment when this news is brought to you in the midst of all of that. God knows when we need a little pick me up and I got mine today.

thanks for all the prayers during this process and all the support that you all have sent. We can know make that last a long time paying for trips to Indy. God has done wonderful things with Gas prices too...I can take my trip next week to indy for less than a hundred dollars...I can't wait. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and remember that their are always little things to be thankful for...and every now and again we get to Rejoice in the BIG ONES TOO.

fun with friends...

We have been working all week on trying to find ways that Jackson can play by himself. It has been funny and fun trying to see what he likes. We even tried to tie pipecleaners to his cast and have him him hit them. Too bad he isn't six months old anymore that might have worked back then. But now he just destroyed them and then we had exposed metal. We came up with the basket above and laying on his stomach on a pillow. He prefers the above. He also spend lots of time reading books to himself in his beanbag chair.

Yesterday we had a great visit with Delaney and Kara. Got some pictures...gotta say it gets harder and harder to pose them for pictures the older they get.

Happy 15 Month Birthday to my Baby Boy

I am sure someday I will stop counting by months, but come on it is way to much fun!!

Jackson is:- A Ham as you can see in the picture above.
-15 lbs 9 ounces and 25 inches long (at least he was at the end of last month before surgery)
-stuck, let me say that again, STUCK in a cast, but dealing well with the physical limitations.
-loves any toy that is cause and effect with music or balls involved
- he is starting to explore REAL FOOD...he sucks on puff cheetos, oreos, dumb dumb suckers and french fries. I never thought I would let my child eat this stuff for dinner
- loves destruction, You build it he destroys.
- still loves to have his picture taken
- LOVES BOOKS! talks to them even.- empties everything from the toy basket to my purse. We have always encouraged him to play by himself and right now in the cast it is really hard to find ways for him to do this. But it works to prop him up on the couch and let him empty a basket full of toys. He will play and unload it for hours. Thanks Grandma for the idea.
- Loves to watch his little friends run around. soon he will be running with them.

tagged....

A. Attached or single? Definitely attached!
B. Best friend? I have a few girls I trust a great deal.
C. Cake or pie? Cheese cake...come on..who doesn't like it
D. Day of choice? Thursday
E. Essential item? My faith
F. Favorite color? Green
G. Gummy bears or worms? I am not a big sugar candy fan...so neither
H. Home town? Lake Wilson, MN
I. Favorite indulgence? Scrapbooking
J. January or July? January it is way to hot in July. plus it is just beautiful when it snows and you get trapped and half to play games with your family.
K. Kids? A 15 month old - Jackson
L. Life isn’t complete without? God and my family
M. Marriage date? August 6th, 2005..
N. Number of brothers and sisters? 2 brothers
O. Oranges or Apples? Oranges
P. Phobias? Heights
Q. Quotes?
R. Reasons to smile? Great times with Friends..and anything that Jackson does
S. Season of choice? Fall
T. Tag 5 people: Nichole D, Natalie, Kara, Ashley & Shelly
U. Unknown fact about me? I've never been down hill skiing!
V. Vegetable? veggies...are great...my fav would have to be broccoli
W. Worst Habit? biting finger nails
X. Xray or ultrasound? Neither unless absolutely necessary both are amazing inventions
Y. Your favorite food? Chimmies
Z. Zodiac sign? Aquarius...although depending on where you are reading I could be a Capricorn

troubling week....

on the bad side it is 6 in the morning and I can't sleep after getting up with Jackson. I am thinking I have to have him up and fed by 7:30 anyway so why not spend a little time myself. I have spent some time lately with God. I have been pondering a lot of things and have been feeling so overwhelmed. Therapy with Jackson is now up to 4 times a week. it was a little overwhelming but now that he is in the cast it is nice to have four different people come entertain him for an hour. Gloria, my mother in law has given me some needed time away the past couple of Thursdays and I have had wonderful friends come and hang out as well. As great as all this has been I still find myself in a rutt. I start counting the minutes once 4 o'clock rolls around until Adrian will be home from work and I just wish I could cuddle with my baby again when he is upset. we do our best it just isn't the same. Yesterday we reached two weeks down and only four more to go. We schduled the day so we have a date to look forward to. Friday the 5th at 8 am.

I gotta tell you I can't wait for this day. To have my happy baby back. Don't get me wrong he has been doing amazingly well in the cast. But to have this kid back....


the one that smiled and played peak a boo at the end of the couch ten times a day. the one that was constantly getting in to Macy's food and water, started to stand by himself and babbling out the window at random passerby's. It saddens me to think that all winter we will be cooped up inside trying not to get a cast wet and not seeing this little boy for a while. He smiled and played peekaboo on my shoulder last night and it brought such a huge smile to my face. It was a brief moment of happiness in our very sad day yesterday. I am not sure what is wrong but we are not happy, not sleeping and incredibly uncomfortble. All things that I am sure are normal....I just have to figure out how to console him and make him as comfortable as possible.

Some on reminded me the other day of the bible verse 1 peter 1:6-7.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

God is good, he is in control and it always helps when we have good friends that remind us frequently that we are not in this alone. We will be ok. it has just been a hard week. And we have to share with you the good and the bad right. Please pray, Jackson started digging at his right ear last night even though he is already on antibiotics for his left ear.

4:30 am blow out and Voting at the Retirement Home

So this morning...I woke up stunned at 4:30 that I hadn't heard my child all night long. (it had been a long time since I fell asleep right after him at 8:30). I frantically grabbed Adrian's arm and began shaking....while forcefully saying have you gotten up with Jackson. See usually even if he is the one to get up....i am still awake and know what he has done. He very calmly said....no.

I got up not knowing what I was going to find. We are suppose to change Jackson's diaper every four hours to avoid messes. I had visions of oozzzing poop and a wet bed and a huge cast mess that I was going to have to smell for the next 4 and 1/2 weeks. As I got out of bed I heard him start to fuss. When I got to his crib I slowly pulled back the covers and found:

NOTHING!!! Yipppeee!!! I was so excited. But then As I thought about it. I was a little worried. After 8 1/2 hours of sleeping I should have had a very full diaper. At least very wet. I picked him up and we changed the diaper and got him some food. About 2 minutes after the food the rumbling began. I sat and laughed and played with him for about 30 minutes...decided to change the diaper again and then the rumbling began again. This time for about 15 minutes...it was too funny. In the process we filled 2 diapers, very wet diapers I might add, in an hour. So I wasn't worried anymore.

We went back to sleep around 6:00am and slept til daddy got up around 7:30 we got ready and headed out to VOTE!! We vote right down the street at a retirement facility. Daddy and I decided to take turns and in the meantime Jackson entertained the locals. The old ladies were in love with him.

I gotta tell you about this funny old lady that sat right down next to me to play with Jackson. She touched Jackson's legs and was like wow those are hard...do you make him where those pants everyday. I just wanted to bust out laughing, but instead decided to change the subject. I asked her what her plans were today and she said in an exasperated voice, "nothing, we never do anything". I said that board over there says there are card and a spa day. That sounds like Heaven to me. Manicures and pedicures. She glanced down at her nails and said I don't think I need one....do you? She proceeded to inform me about the local retirement gossip and then started to play with Jackson again. By this time Adrian was finally done voting and we were off to begin our fun day at HOME... Hope your voting experiences are as exciting as ours and that you all understand that I don't purposely make him where the Hard pants everyday. LOL...

Ball Attack

I have to apologize. I totally forgot that by doing an up and down shot that I wouldn't be able to flip it when it got here.. I am trying something to see if it works. this was totally funny...this is the third or fourth time we did it. of course i was not ready the first time. Never am. Hope you enjoy the video and Thanks Grandma Corrine for the new toy. it brings much joy....at least humor to mom and dad. Despite the ball attacks I think Jackson likes it too.

Happy Halloween from our Courageous LION

So I gotta say the best place ever to find your halloween costume is at the Wakarusa Resale...I think I paid 5 dollars for this Lion costume and how cute is he. Isn't he the most adorable Lion you have ever met and the most Courageous too. I gotta say it was very nice to have the costume fit so well over the cast. He will probably be able to wear this next year too. We won't but it was that big. It was fun to dress him up...but not so fun taking him in and out of the car seat. It would have been bad enough with out the cast but with it, it was very frustrating. We only went to see three people and then stopped at Jim and Libby's. This is a tradition that we have upheld since before Adrain and I started Dating. I have always helped them pass out candy. Next year maybe I will make it on time. I was two hours late this year. By that time around 7 they had handed out candy to 432 trick or treaters and there were many more that came while we were there. By the time we left around 8 pm Jackson was very tired and ready to come home. He fell asleep on the way home and is still sleeping peacefully. After our big day today I am sure he will sleep well tonight.

Adjusting to the life of IMMOBILITY

ok so we ALL are adjusting to a life of immobility. Macy, jackson and I have been trying a little of everything. He loves to play catch in the bean bag, until mom's aim gets bad and his defenseless little self gets hit in the face. He can sit in the bean bag on the floor or in his wagon and he loves to move. But you have to be there when the toys fall off the bean bag. So no more playing independantly and he HATEs it. we had a blast today and we actually got a smirk while playing with toys. We have watched some tv and we are still working on getting back on schedule. it will interesting to see what the therapist have in store for us...and what ideas they have to make our lives easier. Jackson actually took a two hour nap today and so I have finished laundry and updated this so we will see how the rest of the day goes today. A big THank you to all of you who have offered help. I think we may use it farther down the road. It is hard to believe in two more days we are down to 5 weeks. Time flys when you are having fun, right? Have a great week.

WE ARE HOME!!!

We are HOME!!!

we are home and adjusting quickly. I was amazed last night that Jackson did as well as he did. We woke up every four hours for Tylenol and then went right back to sleep. Exactly like clockwork. I have to say the highlight to my day yesterday was when Adrian had Jackson looking out the window and he grabbed the curtain and started playing peek a boo. It brought a smile right to my face. He still knows how to light up a room. He is still mighty uncomfortable, but we are adjusting and his gas has started to come out with poop...so I think we are on the up swing. We will see, time will tell.

Our friends have been great. Already calling and setting up there slot to come and visit. Remember guys this is a 6 week ordeal So we can spread it out some. Thank you all for your offers of help and keeping your phone lines open if I need you. It gives me great relief to know people are out there for me if times get rough. We also think that Adrian will be in town the entire 6 weeks which is awesome and somewhat of a miracle this time of year.

This is just a quick note...as we have lots of moving of furniture to do today and putting toys away and getting new ones out that are more suitable. Tomorrow I will post some pictures today we are just adjusting.

thanks for the continued prayers of healing.

Update 2 We have been discharged

we met with the Doctor from Ortho and then we saw Dr Billmire too. Dr B was concerned with his vomiting and lack of eating due to the concern of dehydration if he was not on an IV, but she was ok with it if we stayed in town. That way we could take him to the Riley ER if he was dehydrated and they wouldn't be scared by what he looks like in this cast. I will post more pictures of his finished cast when we get home. I just feel bad taking his picture now. he flinches at the flash and then is in some pain. So we will wait.

he is sleeping peacefully right now on the floor propped with pillow for comfort. it is actually quite comfy looking. he started to talk a little tonight once we got to Conrad and Jenna's too. I think he just likes his aunt and uncle and something looked familiar.

We will stay here until he is holding down food consistently and we are still waiting for a big blow out. Til then pray for these things. We could use God's help with all of this. Especially keeping the cast clean during this puking and pooping blow out/diarrhea stuff.

Thank you all for the encouragement and prayers. We appreciate them all.

Update:

I bring you this news somewhat disappointed. Surgery went well, but they only were able to relocate one. Dr Lubicky said that this is actually better. He explained that it is actually really hard to keep both in place during casting and that doing one at a time, although hard on the MOM...is easier for the kid and more successful.

He claims we are going to be discharged sometime tomorrow. :) I am happy to not be here but wow...24 hours and then were out..seems kinda fast. But for those of you that have met Dr Lubicky you know that he is pretty flip. SO getting straight answers is difficult. He gave little indication to when the next one would be other than saying that we would rehab this leg a while before being in another cast for 6 weeks.

This cast is fiberglass and sticks straight out...so it will be difficult to maneuver but a heck of alot lighter to carry than plaster. I guess by the end of this 6 weeks we will pros for the second 6 weeks of the cast. The doc egged me on by saying there was a prize for the cleanest cast. We will try cuz the smell with my heightened senses, will be replusive if I don't keep it clean. I will need God's help with all of this that is for sure. For those of you who think I am a patient person (ashley)...this will be the true test.

Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. We appreciate it all.

A long day at day Surgery:

Jackson started his day at 5 am. we got to the hospital around 6 am checked in and he went in to the OR around 7:30 am. We have had things put into perspective. In our little area in the waiting room we have one family waiting on a 14 hour brain surgery and a couple who's 11 month old has already had 11 surgeries. We are blessed that Jackson's is short and he has only had a few.I will continue to update through out today. We will leave you with Jackson's last walking picture for the next couple of months. He was not happy until the nurse took him...and of course our social baby loved someone new. They had problems with the IV, so they are putting a central line in instead of an arterial line. This will make life easier after words too. That is the update...no surgery started yet..

Business as usual in the home of Jackson

it is funny how life is..........
and it is so sweet to watch you child live life oblivious to what life has handed him. Jackson and I have spent the day doing laundry, packing, cleaning and running last minute errands...and he thinks it is a normal day. He has no idea what is in store for him. We sat down and tried to have a talk about it, but he wanted nothing to do with what I had to say. either he knows it is going to be just fine, or he doesn't have a clue what I am saying to him.

this past weekend we got sometime to hang out with friends, take pictures, watch some football and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. it started Thursday when I found out they had lost our outfits I had ordered for our pictures. I flipped...I had this planned for two weeks...allowing plenty of time for JCPenny to get the clothes to us. I called Adrian in tears sobbing, our pictures aren't going to turn out, we aren't going to match, my vision is not going to happen, it is going to STINK!!! however for a girl who usually can't find anything to wear in a normal store I sure did well...I found two options and took them home. However I settled for a sweater I found buried in my closet from before Jackson was born, that surprisingly fit. Yea!! for no money spending. I also found Adrian and outfit in his closet....God is good...he really wanted us to have the picture we wanted without spending a dime. love it when that happens...well we did buy Jackson a new sweater. Seriously though, when you don't grow you rarely get new clothes...so it was fun to shop for him. I have to say I saw alot of cute stuff for fall and I was tempted but I didn't...yippppeeee for self control. Our pictures turned out fabulous you can see them at
c-onephoto.com if you look under client you will find our photo shoot. Lee did a great job and we have wonderful choices to choose from. Thanks again Lee for the gift.

back to Friday, friday we took a meal to the Replogle's and then went shopping with Diane to find a couple of choices..also finished up some errands that we needed done before we left..

then we came home and went to our friends Jay and Katy's for a pumpkin carving party.

;) love this picture of JW and Jackson...he looks like such a thug. it makes me laugh. and it is so unusual that he is not beeming with a smile it is nice to have captured his serious side. We enjoyed hot apple cider, a fire and the funnies of watching a bunch of people carve very intricate patterns into pumkins. fun times with friends overall.

then Saturday we had our pictures at one and then made homemade applesauce with Grandma Schrock. Fun to do something as a family. we don't get to do that very often and we had a blast. (Mom, doesn't this pic remind you of the one of Adrian and I with Syd...perfectly coordinated family photo...with someone elses kid. Granted syd looked more like she could be our kid.)

Next we ate homemade chicken noodle soup...great idea for a fall day. then headed over to Seth and Tabitha's for a game of poker and some more time with friends. gotta say I don't promote gambling...but my husband makes it more of a second Job. rarely does he come home without winning anything...but this time he brought home the pot. It was nice to have a little spending money. I should have taken a picture, but is better I guess to not have any evidence of this addiction..

Sunday we went to church, then chior practice and then we headed over to watch the second half of let me say: a brutal ending to the Vikings game. I gotta say both sides played pretty crappy. The Bears defense scored more than there offense. But Jackson enjoyed sitting with the boys and enjoying the day. I was happy to get home and relax. I was exhausted. We will update you on the busy end of our week tomorrow. Have a good one.

Hectec day full of colorful moments

Well I know that I updated yesterday, but today has been way to eventful not to share. The day began at 5:30 am. Jackson standing at his crib screaming... *I gotta say I never liked an alarm clock...but I would go back in a heart beat*

Then I was cleaning up because I have found a nursing student at Goshen college that has been coming to watch Jackson when I go to MOTTS on Thursday mornings. She is going to help some while he is in his cast too. it is nice to know that there is a person with emergency experience watching him and that She will be able to use the experience later as well. it got to be 8:30 when I needed to leave and no one was here...So I continued to look for my cell phone that was MIA and waited...when It hit 8 :45 I started to load Jackson's stuff in the car as well. There are certain things I am willing to blow off and miss but MOTTS has become something that I would move heaven and High water to make it too. that is a story I will save for another day. God really had a plan for my morning. Lindsey called and she had gotten lost and needed directions. She arrived about 9 which was when my group started, but oh well. then I left the house...got to 19 and then remembered that there was road construction, so I decided to try and go around. So I ended up lost on some back country road. Beautiful scenery! but remember I didn't have time for this. I found county road 3 and it sounded familiar to the road I jog over too, but i didn't know for sure...all of a sudden i just felt ok. i am going to be late, and look at what I am driving through. It is gorgeous fall colors and beautiful woods. I would have never seen this if I wouldn't have been late, had road construction to go around, and gotten lost. God is good. I ended up making it to MOTTS in around 20 minutes. which is like 10-15 minutes faster than the what it usually takes. How did that happen? There are alot more little things that happened, but all in all my day has turned around. Great trip to target...do you remember what trips to the store are like without a child...it was alot more peaceful not having a child stretching to the shelves and almost falling out of the cart. then I ran into our home nurse from when Jackson came home from the hospital and scheduled a time for her to come see him all big and grown up. then got home and had a happy baby. Something changed from 8:30 t0 noon, what I am not questioning. I had a first steps appointment and added Speech therapy and got rid of the PT that I wasn't completely happy with. All day in the good and the bad God has taught me to find the good in the situation and to enjoy the moments.
It is amazing right now the changing of colors. I think we need to let God change us too and get rid of the old leaves to make room for new ones. Imagine how beautiful that change would look if we give God the chance to change us. Just something I have been thinking about lately. Enjoy the moments of your week and the beautiful colors around you.

Fall Fun and the a Great Update.

This past weekend...we spent a little time outside. It was so much fun to play in the leaves in warm weather. No socks, no shoes, yet the beautiful colors of fall. I got some pictures that I just love. Not often that I find one of Jackson and I that I love, but this one has made the top 5. then we had Jackson playin in the leaves...Gotta say we can't wait til they dry out and we can go out since the leaves have fallen...the pictures will be so cool.

then this one makes me laugh. he got so excited he just started screaming...it was totally funny in person.
this face comes out a lot lately...total attitude at 14 months...what do I have to look forward to at 2 and 3...oh my. we will be sure to keep you updated.



Good news at the doc...we have clear ears. whooohooo...we have a bit of a cough and a wicked case of thrush...so we are treating, but neither looks like a hold off for surgery...so we are on for next thursday October 23rd. Life has been so good lately. I just continue to pray that God will protect Jackson and his surgery will go well. I am also praying for strength and patience for Adrian and I too. THings are prepared and we have many ideas on how to modify things like swings and wagons and toys so Jackson can continue to enjoy while in his cast. I feel as ready as we can be and I know God will take care of the rest.

14 months...it gets crazier to me everytime.

at 14 months we are:

* a ham...we laugh and make faces...we can light up a room..

* a flirt...there is no girl that gets past us with out a smirk, he melts there hearts already. we are in BIG BIG TROUBLE.

* he is walking along and around furniture all the time and is even starting to let go...so we will be standing and then taking steps..oh my heavens who would ever believe it.. WOW!

* he loves books...right now he is laying on his back on the floor, holding the book over his head and talking to himself. if I do say so my self, he is reading at 14 months.

* he is walking around and along furniture all the time.

* loves peek a boo, and plays it anywhere, anytime, with anyone

* he is into unloading or taking things out. he unloads the freezer, the dishwasher, the toy basket, and the diaper bag...and grins as he is doing it.

* he is a smart little sucker...he knows what he is doing.

* he is a speedy crawler and has learned how to go from crawling to sitting and is transitioning much better.

* he has an attention span for tv that is .5 seconds long and I am ok with that.

* we have started chewing on graham crackers and we still like cheetos. still no more than tastes of any baby food or people food. it still makes him gag and he throws up.

* speaking of throwing up, we have had none for two hole months... other than the occassional choking incident. WHOOOHOOO!!!

* he loves playing and has started to play with others too. it is so cute although his idea of playing is to take the books from others...gotta work on this.

* loves to be outside and to do anything with his daddy.

* he has also accomplished crawling through, under nad over things.

* he is still inquisitive and studies everything

* and he is determined...if there is something he wants to do...he will get it done. such as:

* he is now into buttons...he is turing the tv on and off, recording things, and opening the DVD player. ( i know i remember saying oh Jackson doesn't do those things like I was sad about it, I take it back...I should have just enjoyed to delay)

* he is starting to climb up stairs too...but only when we offer him as incentive at the top. so it isn't scary yet. but he is so strong.

* he tries to crawl and walk through things too and gets so frustrated when it doesn't work or he gets stuck. oh well he will learn eventually. I think that is all for now.

Happy 14 months dude...you impress me more everyday...and I am enjoying every minute of it...

the day to day of the schrock home....

So we have been grocery shopping and Jackson likes to help. if you get him to close to the aisle, you better check the shopping cart...you might have some random box in your cart that you have never seen...see he likes to reach and grab, all while trying not to fall out of the cart. it is quite the sight. when we got home the fun didn't end. I set him down in the living room and by the time I had the groceries on the counter and began to unload them into the frig and freezer, Jackson had begun unloading the freezer. He is totally into helping...or should I say emptying. hehe....it is funny. Jackson's benefit was this weekend. And as I promised pictures. here are a few. there were so many people...not sure what pictures we got. This shows the outside...check out that line of people...oh my...it never stopped until they ran out...at least of coffee. It was nuts... then the inside. it was a steady flow through all the auction items. it takes a while to look at 74 items and decide what is more important for you to bid on. Then we also got to meet Jon. Jon lives in Michigan and is an 11 year old little boy that has the same genetic association that Jackson does. It was so encouraging to meet him and his mom. Plus we found out they only live like 10 minutes from our house. We definitely will be getting together soon. it is so fasinating to me to hear about Jon's story. It is also like hearing a slightly different version of our own story. Can you believe it all because of a newspaper article. it is so crazy. once we slept in a little and took naps on Saturday we decided to head to the pumpkin patch. it was so funny to watch how excited jackson got. and of course everything went to his mouth...it was pretty funny...can you see the pumpkin to the right of him in the picture without a stem. there were signs everywhere that said do not pick up by stem. the first thing Jackson did was grab the stem and it just fell off. oooopppppss.......he's cute so he got away with it, no problem.

we got some beautiful mums too..quite cheap i may add. it was fun my mom bought mums too..hopefully they made it back to mn. it was great having my parents here for the week and that they got to see Jackson in prime form, not in a hip cast.

We are now preparing for surgery in two weeks and getting ready for Daddy's busy season. he was gone this week for three days. can't wait to see him tonight. jackson has been pounding on the window saying daddy for the last couple of nights...he is going to be so excited to see him.

we had blood work yesterday that we are still waiting on results of. I am calling now to see what the results were. We are hoping that the antibiotics we have been on for the past three weeks have not done a doosie on our metabolic panel making his kidney work extra hard. of course I am on hold.

we are good to go...everything has remained stable...praise the lord. whoohoo..

hope you all are enjoying your day in on this beautiful fall day of chilly weather and rain. we are...hope the week brightens up a bit...man I love fall. Have a good one.

God Showed up in a very very BIG way!!!

So as you can see to the left on my blog Jackson's benefit logo has changed. We had his benefit on Friday and talk about an amazing experience. God sure is on BIG and AMAZING God that can over come anything and everything. I know you are all wanting to know the total of what came in, but you gotta hold on I gotta tell you about the atmosphere that night.

it was so incredible to witness the ideas of 6 individuals come together in an event that reached so many. I would say at no single time were there less than 30 people at the event and that includes the beginning. See there were so many volunteers it was unreal and without them it never could have run as smoothly as it did. so to all of our friends new and old we THANK YOU from the bottom of our heart for baking, standing all night and shivering in the cold outside. You guys all ROCK.

For those of you that weren't there. The silent auction was amazing. I remembered a conversation that I had had with Alice the week before and she was excited that there had been 33 items donated to the auction. Which is an awesome amount. Well ladies and gentlemen when I arrived at the auction on Friday night I was informed that there were now 74 items that had been donated. People went out of there way to donate to this benefit, people we don't even know and for that we are beyond amazed and very grateful.


on that note: Thank you to our families and friends that put the time, effort and money into this. We have been humbled and blessed in many ways by this event and experience.

I want to take a minute to tell you about some special moments that happened through this event. There was a day a couple of months back that we got a knock on our door it was our neighbor girl telling us that we had a lady looking for our house. This little grey haired lady had a gift for us and expressed her concern as she had read Jackson's article in the paper. I said Thank You but chose not to open the card until I got in the house. It was a gas card for our trips to Indy. Can you believe it a random stranger. God can use everyone.

Then a couple weeks after the article ran I got an email from Alison and Mark from the Elkhart Truth. It was from a lady in Michigan who had read the article and wanted to encourage us. See her 11 year old son has the same genetic association as Jackson does and he is a thriving young boy. Talk about encouragement. That was the most amazing news a mom could here. A success story.

Now for what you have all been waiting for: the benefit raised over 10,000 dollars for our family. We can not Thank you all enough for the money, the prayers, the encouragment that you have all shared with us. So from the bottom of our humbled, grateful hearts we say THANK YOU!!

(have pictures but my computer will not upload them so we will post pictures next time. )

Fun at the GAME

we enjoyed tailgaiting, great food, drinks and fun with friends we havn't hung out with in ages. then we got to our seats to find out there were 6 ND fans sitting in our seats. well ours and the four next to ours. I am telling you these people cheat on and off the field. everyone in our section was sitting in the wrong seats. So we sat in some empty ones behind ours. However, you know that those people are going to arrive and then it will cause a scene. I was mad simply on principle...come on people follow the rules. Adrian of course kept telling me to shuesh...so I did. this was our view. I really don't think there is a bad place to sit in the stadium..we saw everything. however...you would think with the money that goes into that program that they could afford a jumbo tron. the replays happened like every other play, cuz Weis didn't think that purdue could do anything right. But we just had to sit there twiddling our thumbs because we could watch the replay.
tailgaiting. before the game with Jay and JWthe weekend went well we got home around 8 and of course the little one did not want to sleep at all, so mom was totally tired at church on Sunday. well yesterday we came to find out that although he was not running a fever on sunday, he definitely was yesterday. 101.3 degrees with a doosie of a left ear infection. So far all he has wanted to do is sleep and cuddle...I finally got him to go to sleep in his crib this morning instead of being held. We will see...we would like to be uncrabby today and the rest of the week. we will see.

then last night we found out our couch had broke, the leg was nearly completely off..so adrian started to fix it and all of a sudden the lights went out in the dining room, entry and the garage, but no ciruit blew. This is not good from what I have heard. so we are garage door less, dining room light less and no entry lights. So I guess we only take visitors in the day light hours. hopefully we figure it out and it is not a big problem, like a melted wire in our walls, ready to start a fire. We are praying that is not what it is.

well have a great week and we will see you all Friday at Jackson's benefit...with a healthy baby boy on hand to greet you all with a smile.

I am loosing my mind:

today I woke up and got ready then got Jackson up and ready and we headed off to the pediatrician. we arrived for our follow-up appointment and found out that we had no such thing. I have had it in my planner since last wednesday. any way we loaded the car back up and came back home. Good think our pediatrician is like 4 minutes away from our house.

then we had first steps therapy. we played in our swing downstairs and we did our regular play therapy in food and toys. then we tried a new task. Jackson needed a little help..come on it was his 4th time up the stairs.

I couldnt' believe my eyes he caught on to it so fast it was a little scary. (please disregard the dirty carpet we know we need new) We showed him how to shift his weight once and then after that he was like I got it. talk about a tire me out and make me sleepy activity. I like it for that...safety is another story. He has just taken off. I can't imagine what he would do if his little hips were in the sockets.

have a great weekend. We are having our first date day tomorrow since february. can't wait to watch those Boilers kick the irish men's butts. we will see...it is suppose to be a beautiful day to hang out outside. Can't wait.