Jesse's AHA moment...

Jesse has always been a fan of the "girls"... I think because of his medical problems he's been less active and rough than boys his age, and girls are a bit more tame... so he's always gravitated towards hanging out with the gals in his world..

He has 3 best girls at school.. Zoey, who he loves and she loves him back, as a matter of fact, don't tell him I told you but he has been caught several times kissing Zoey on the school bus... Then there is Emily W., (or E.W as we like to call her, there is currently only one Emily in his class, but we still call her Emily W. for some reason???)... she loves Jesse and frequently sends home love notes and small trinkets to prove it.. but Jesse only loves that she loves him... he does not want to kiss her on the school bus or anywhere else.. (thank goodness). Then there is Payton, she just likes him and he likes her back... no love, no kissing... sort of like Vada and Thomas J...

Yesterday Jesse came home and said that he had a terrible day.. I asked him why and this is what he said:

"Emily W. doesn't love me anymore and she only wants to play with Payton... so I asked if I could play too and they said yes... so I played with them..."

Here comes the aha moment....

"but mom, girls are so boring when you play with them, nobody is ever the bad guy and they don't want to run around and scream for their lives.... I just want to play boys from now on...."

Hopefully this means the school bus too!!

Hit the "pause" button PLEASE!!!

I'm fairly convinced that not many people read this blog... so I think it will be okay if I whine a little, just this once...

Some friends of mine moved out of Salt Lake several years back, they liked the new place well enough but constantly missed the family and friends they left behind. This feeling was shared with us before we made the big move to Oregon but we were so "on board" I think we though that would never be us..... And it's not really.. I LOVE it here.. I love every little thing about Oregon, especially Newberg where we live. It's beautiful here even in the dead of winter, the sky is always clean and smelling of outdoorsy smells (even skunk frequently, which I'm not so fond of).. I love driving into Portland and seeing the amazing view of Mt. Hood and the river, and I've become so attached to the Fremont Bridge I can't imagine not using it. The bridge takes us right to the doorstep of the hospital where I am constantly reminded of the things I am thankful for. It sort of serves as my personal reality check station... where I'm forced to think about all things good and bad.. and realize my appreciation for both.


But lately, since December I think, I have been longing for a previous time... My older kids are busy, and I love that about them, they are ambitious and motivated and living full lives like all adult kids should be. I'm proud of them and only want for them the best of what they want for themselves. I totally support them and their decisions because they are smart, good kids and have plans any parent would admire. So, even if I were in Salt Lake, they would still be moving on and I know this.. But it's even Jesse too...

This morning he gave me a full report on the life and times of Helen Keller... and filled me in on all the ways she was an amazing woman and told me the book they read in school was "pretty awesome"... Seems like just yesterday we were reading the Yummy Yucky book.. Then, just before school I made him pull up his shirt so that I could rub some lotion on his dry itchy chest and back and he said to me... "Mom, do you have to embarrass me with that lotion?" WHAT? He has never cared about stuff like that... Then he proceeded to tell me that a girl can't ask a boy to be girlfriend/boyfriend... it's the boy's decision... AHHHH SLOW DOWN!!! I am so totally overloaded with my children's apparent overnight maturing I simply can't take it anymore.. Someone please hit the pause button before I have a total meltdown..

I miss baby Jesse, tween Jamie and little boy Aaron.. I never got enough time with any of them.. It feels like I just met them and now they are all grown up.. and I love the people they are today for sure.. They are all great friends and wonderful children still... so I rejoice in my new people, but seem to be mourning the ones that are gone..

So it's not the move that's got me feeling sort of blah... although what I would give to have my family back in the same city... (I just want it to be THIS city..) it's just the natural progression of time that I seem to be angry at..

I'm sure I'm not the only parent to suffer this same of out of control fast forward feeling.. As a matter of fact, I know my own parents have felt this way too.. I suppose it's just my turn.. But it's not fun and I just don't like it...

To make things worse, I'm going back to work full time which will take even more time away from my little man who seems to speeding to adulthood.. I remember the days of being a working mom... As soon as the morning alarm goes off, it's a race against the clock to get to bed... but on the other hand, I suppose it will be good to get my mind busy so that I don't focus on such things...

I am constantly reminded by some very special angels that it could be much worse... I am glad my children are here... a phone call away, or parked in front of the TV. I can at any time call them up and scold them for growing up so fast.. not all parents are so lucky and I know this.. so today, I am going to call my big kids and hug my little ones, then I'm going to go park myself on the Freemont Bridge and try to get a better perspective on things...

Maybe this is the effect of a rainy Oregon winter... good thing spring is almost here~

Spread The Good News!!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Jesse had a PET Scan on January 29th to follow up on that pesky little spot in his belly that has given us so much stress and a general feeling of uneasiness for the last year... and the results are in....

"Whatever was going on in his belly seems to have resolved itself.." His scan is TOTALLY clear!! This means that Jesse is for sure, 100%, without a doubt, genuinely Cancer Free!!

Taking a full breath for the first time in a year and a half feels pretty dang good!! Thanks for all your support and prayers!! We truly love you ALL!!

Allie

Amazing Jamie!!

Meet my daughter, The Nurse!!

When I first met Jamie, she was.... let's see... 8 maybe 9? (I'm never good with that sort of thing.. I want to say 3rd grade).. She looked EXACTLY like her dad... But where he is calm, she was not... she bounced.. not like regular kids, she was up and down and back and forth and hopped from one leg to another, skipped everywhere she went and never, I mean NEVER held still... Do you remember that song by Van Halen, "Jamie's Crying"...? We used to change the part that says "Jamie's crying" to "Jamie's whining"... partly to tease, but also because, while she was not a brat, she had the most amazing way to get her dad to do whatever she wanted, which included a bit of a whine.. She and Aaron visited us on weekends, I couldn't wait for the kids to arrive so that I could listen to Jamie talk endlessly about was happening in school, with her friends, and with the smelly boys... She never held back and enjoyed filling us in on all her activities.. Back then she wanted to be a veterinarian and live in a Garfield shaped house and have about a million kitties..

Fast forward to high school... An amazing student, serious about school and making super grades.. When faced with a make you or break you situation, Jamie threw out the whining and took all that energy and turned it into ambition, drive, and a dedication rarely seen in kids today. I'm sure that was partly due to some pretty stellar parenting and support by Steve and Carole... (they are amazing parents). But really, it was mostly just her.... blowing us away with every decision she would make..

Before our precious Adrienne even arrived, Jamie had a plan, a good plan and she was well on her way to reaching her goals. She earned her CNA certificate, and got a job. She continued to do well in school. She took enough classes in high school to have a good head start in college. She took classes every semester getting herself ready to join a nursing program and become a Registered Nurse.

Oh sure, there were doting grandparents available to make her life easier, but Jamie was always determined to take as little as possible from us. She worked, went to school and somehow made sure Adrienne was fed, cleaned, loved, played with and ALWAYS a good 10 feet from the nearest germ. She never missed an opportunity to make a memory with her or make sure she had exactly what she needed. She got an apartment when she could, bought herself a car, paid for daycare, even began picking up her own tuition, and never whined for even an instant.

It's been a long six years of college for Jaime, with up's and down's and both good and hard times. Her life didn't always allow for full time everything, so some semesters she was only able to take a class or two, but she never gave up and finally, just last month, graduated from Davis Applied Technology College with a degree in nursing from Weber State. Carole, Steve and I simply couldn't be more proud of this gal and what she has accomplished. She never questioned her decisions and fought for what she believed was right for her and Adrienne. She is a wonderful student, daughter, mother, and I have no doubt she will be a fabulous nurse.














One last note.... She took her NCLEX exam last week and of course passed with flying colors... :-)

Congratulations Jamie on the most AMAZING job ever!!

And....

Congratulations PCMC for getting what I'm sure will be the most AMAZING nurse ever!!
(that's a mighty big statement... I know some awesome nurses at PCMC...)

J.... From your moms and your dad and your kid... You deserve everything you have worked so hard for. Thanks for being simply the best!! We love you so much!!

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY!!

Happy Gotcha Day to our sweet Jesse!!

It was 6 years ago today when Jess was just 2-1/2 years old, we took him in our arms and never had to let him go!!

We love you so much Jesse... Thanks for making our lives complete!!

Mom and Dad...