who says you can't have fun at a hospital.

my baby in the hospital on August 13th after g-tube surgery. Everything went quite well. I will be very happy when we can get the button g-tube put in in three months. dealing with a tube hanging off him again is not what we call fun. I constantly have to thing before I pick him up and we really can't leave him anywhere that someone isn't trained to put it in. Unless we are with in 5minutes away and can get there quick to put it in ourselves...I guess for a few months we will not be going on any dates. Oh well.

WE definitely had a harder time entertaining a mobile child this time around....but dad did a great job. It was harder to have two children too...quite the different experience. I had numerous volunteers ask if I wanted them to take the baby for a break. Ok...people the toddler is the one in the hospital. Not the baby. Ok I admit..this was the second day. but come on look what fun we are having. He was having a blast trying to escape out the door. It was great to work on walking but trying for dad trying to contain him and keep him entertained.
we gave up on trying to keep him off the floor...it was just too hard. We are adjusting and Jackson is not quite as swollen today so we slept better. (it always helps when his sister sleeps too.) Thank you all for your prayers for surgery...we always feel better knowing God is protecting him while he is under the care of another surgeon.

I got ahold of the kidney coordinator finally today. Jackson is scheduled for the rest of his tests on the 9th of September. yipppeee!!! he will be done and ready after those. Adrian was working on scheduling his things today as well. So our hope is to have all completed by the 9th and be able to schedule surgery at that time. Please say prayers that this works out. WE would really like to have a plan and a date to start preparing. Especially for Adrian and work stuff.

that is all we have for now...

my kids have been captured

Darcy did a beautiful job photographing my kids last week. You would never believe that Avenlea wasn't cooperating. They turned out gorgeous.
Jackson's personality was captured to a tee. He was a ham as usual. We did purdue pics and white sox pics for daddy. and then we got created. Due to the little man not having a neck we had to go with t-shirts. but who says you can't have a tie with a tshirt.
Can't wait to get our family pics done too. She does an amazing job. if you want to check them out...got to darcy holsopple photography

LOOK WHO'S TWO

Happy Birthday Jackson!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe that two years have passed since the day you were born. With all the trials you have had I am so proud of what you have accomplished by two. Here is a list of the accomplishments you have made.

you have at least a 25 word vocabulary,
you say please for the things you want (actually it is more like peeezzzz),
you have taken your first steps
you have 11 teeth in your mouth
you say cheeeeese every time there is a camera or a cell phone around
you have learned peoples names
you know how to color match with some toys
you know animal sounds and some body parts
you love to push buttons, including mommy's
you have quite the attitude at two
you throw fits when you don't get your way
you have a mind of your own and you are not afraid to use it
you are still not a big fan of eating solid foods, but you have been willing to try some,
you have reached 24 lbs, which was the goal weight for your transplant
we found out that your daddy is a match and can give you his kidney
you have been a trooper through two hip surgeries this year and 14 weeks in a full body cast
you have learned to play the drums
you love to dance to the music while mommy watches: so you think you can dance
you say eey like a pirate for yes
but the answer to every question we ask you is usually no
you like to watch sport center with daddy and love the baseball highlight
you love to help your daddy when he has his tools out
you like to tell us that elmo is on your diaper
you say "uh oh" when you drop something
you love to cuddle with mommy and read books
you are a great big brother and love to find Avenlea's paci whenever she is upset
you give her kisses and tell her you love her too.

I am sure there are many more things you do....but these are the highlights that stick out in my head today. You are a courageous, loving and fantastic two year old! I can't wait to see what you accomplish in the next year. I am so blessed that God entrusted me to be your mom.

Happy Birthday Baby boy!!

Four years

We sat pondering how crazy it is to us in the car today that we have been married only four years and have two beautiful kids. When it feels like it has only been a short time.

it has been four great years and even though there have been trials and many ups and downs. it has only made us closer to each other and our creator. I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.

Jackson had his appointment today with Dr Billmire, and we are on our way forward with the first step towards transplant. His G-tube is scheduled to be placed next thursday. We were all kind of shell shocked when they said they could do it that soon. It will be great. it gives him plenty of time to heal before we are ready for the actual transplant.

ladies and gentlemen....I am pleased to announce.

we have a walker on our hands. God has an incredible way of turning a really bad day into a fantastic one. Last wednesday afternoon we got news that Adrian's grandfather had passed. He had been struggling with health for quite a while. So as we were packing and getting things ready to take off on our first long trip with two kiddos, Adrian happened to let go of Jackson's hand while he was standing expecting him to just stand there and he instead decided to take a step forward. I can't tell you the joy that was exclaimed in our house that first time. I know the volume was definitely maxed out. We were really loud. Jackson continued to get more confident each time he made another attempt. The only problem we are having is he still falls over like a tree backwards when he is done trying. we have hit our head many times even with daddy trying his best to catch him before he hits the floor.

Still no news on the transplant front. I have attempted to call today, to see if anyone has the results of the tissue matching. We know it is done, because we got the bill in the mail for it. 7300 dollars just to put two peoples blood together in a test tube and see what it does. Crazy I tell you. crazy.

We are resting and recouping for just a couple days and then we are back to doctors visits...we see the developmental pediatrician on wednesday. then we are headed to Riley on thursday to meet with jackson's surgeon and discuss G-tube surgery. then we will see his urologist and have the regular gamet of testing done on friday as well.

that is our update for now. hope you enjoy the video as much as we did. I never would have guessed the little man would be accomplishing such a milestone before his second birthday. Way to Go Jackson!!!