You know you are pretty sick when...

you take a trip to Florida and the place most frequented the first week is the neighborhood pharmacy. This week has been rough. I have been pretty sick. I caught what Jack had (the cold/cough stuff) but because I am me...I got it worse than anyone else. Sunday night I ended up at the instacare with a really bad ear ache. After waiting a while and seen by a doctor I was sent my way with the diagnosis of a bad ear infection and scripts for antibiotics. Five days later all the medicine is gone and my right ear is still clogged. My family has been a great help taking care of Jack for me and making sure they talk into my "good" ear. I am hoping that this clears up soon because I have work to do, to find us a place to live. I have been however lucky enough to go sit out in the sun and enjoy the warmth.

(soaking in some healing rays)

I don't mean to complain but wanted to apologize to all of my family members who we got sick. I am sorry and just to let you all know I am going back to being strict again about where we go and who we are around. I don't want to inflict anything on anyone if we can help it. Being sick is the pits and I for one cannot handle more sickness...my body cannot take it and I cannot take a sick toddler. So we are sorry and wish you all a happy recovery. I really am so very very sorry.

On a positive note Jack is feeling better and has been outside every chance he can get. Dad stayed home from work two days this week because he was not feeling well and Jack enjoyed having his "Pepi" around. They fed the birds and Jack has been the biggest chatterbox all week. We are loving the January weather here and are getting used to the feeling of the sun again and the CLEAN air we are breathing into our lungs. It is so very nice to get away from the winter for a little while.

Out and About

Jack and I made it to Florida. We got here Wednesday afternoon. We both have been battling the cold/cough thing so the last couple of days we have been just laying low. Today however the weather was nice so we went with mom,dad and Kate to a parade. It was a children's parade all about pirates for a holiday here in Tampa. Jack loved it mostly because they threw beads and he loved that we all collected them for him. He clapped and danced and ate all the funnel cake his little tummy could handle. It was great to be outside and in the fresh air. It did both our bodies good. Jack didn't cough once and we walked a lot and I didn't ache or hurt at all it was great. It was a good day we just miss our daddy a lot but we can look forward to going to this event next year with him.

oh and have I mentioned that Jack is totally in love with his Aunt Kate? I have never seen my child be so cuddly and clingy to someone. When Kate walks into the room the rest of us just have to accept that she will get all of his attention.

Need a fix it man?

Jack is totally on it. He is good with a drill and is safety first so he is always wearing his hard hat. He is not available between 2-4 his napping schedule cannot be interrupted. He is great for those hard to reach/under the sink jobs and would be happy to be paid in candy.

I looked out the window and what I did not see...

were leaves on the tress but frost...and behind the frost a gloomy fog settling in. Oh how January gives me the blues. I long for green and warmth. My skin is itchy from all the dry, all i want to eat is vegetables because they are green and remind me of spring and summer. So yes it is one of THOSE January days where my husband will remind me several times today that I am leaving for the warmth very soon but I need to not dwell on the cold because it does no good. So today I am sending out my warmest wishes to all of you who are stuck alongside me in this January gloom. Warm, Warm, Warm wishes amongst the frost and fog today to you all.

one more anniversary to celebrate

Today I celebrate yet another anniversary. It may sound like a little redundant to celebrate and talk about all these anniversaries but to me it is important to remember what a difference a year can make. Today a year ago was the blessed day that I finally got out of the hospital after my second transplant. I made it a year without a hospital stay!!! It is a great day of reflection and I feel such joy today my life is not what it was a year ago and what a blessing that truly is. Instead of recounting again what I felt I am just re-posting what I wrote on that day.
The little things!
I write to you today from the comforts of Cami's house. I have to say it has been a joy to be out of the hospital. I was released yesterday around eleven. Cami and Grace came to pick me up, it was so cute they let Gracie sit on my lap on my wheelchair ride out. It was the cutest picture (we tried to take one by of course the batteries were dead in the camera) It was good to be out of there but I had mixed emotions. The whole experience of being pushed out of the hospital with all the nurses saying good bye was too familiar. It was just like last time and I swear one of the nurses was standing in the same place last time. Those memories set me off thinking about this last year and I got overwhelmed because I thought oh no I cannot do that year again. However I know this time is different. I have faith that this time it will be different and I am excited to get on with my life.
I didn't do that year again, it has been a year of great healing, continued patience and a whole lot of faith in my Savior to get me through. It is as President Hinckley once stated "The valley's of discouragement make more beautiful the peaks of achievement." What a beautiful year it has been. Today is a very humbling day and I am thankful for days like this...they really do put things into perspective.

Jason's Son...

Jason is teaching Jack early the importance of a good bike. Jack is learning the different kinds of bikes and has caught on quickly the name of Jason's dream bike...the Cannondale Super Six. Jack loves to bring Jason's bicycling magazine to him, hop up on his lap and repeat the names of the bikes as he and Jason flip through the pages. His little bike is propped up next to Jason's in the office and is a constant reminder to me of what I think Jack is going to become. A spandex wearing, gu drinking, crazy sock wearing bicycling fool just like his dad. I have to say I don't feel all that bad about it...I just hope that Jason gets me a nice road bike as well so I can join in on the fun. I love my boys and their bikes!

It is looking quite fine for 2009!

Happy New Year! It has already been a happy one and things are looking up for the coming months as well. 2008 ended with a bang. I had a couple of tests New Years Eve at the hospital. It was the last of my one year work up and the day was ended with my 5th bone marrow biopsy. I had someone who was training start to do it...and I say start because she did it four times before with nothing until the PA took over and finished the job. Needless to say I was very sore but it was a symbolic end to the year. Hopefully it will be my last one ever! We spent New Years and the rest of the week and the Archers.We had fun playing the wii...it was fun watching Cami and TJ doing dance dance revoulution. We watched and went to movies and made a ton of treats and ate our hearts out. Today I had my conference with my doctor of all the results of my tests taken for my one year mark. It was all good news. Nothing new and all clean scans and x-rays. I have a follow up scan at the end of Feb but don't have a doctors appointment until March! Jack and I have tickets to Florida and we are headed out on the 21st not to return for a month. The future looks bright, sunny and healthy and I am looking forward to the rest of 2009.

Christmas was spent at home and was wonderful. It was like I was a little kid again. I woke up several times early Christmas morning not wanting to miss anything and wanting to get my pecan rolls in the oven so they were all ready for the boys when they got up. Jack got some great toys and boy was it a gift of Jason and I. He has so many things to play with he keeps himself entertained for quite a while and he does not plead to go bye bye as often. We had great food and fun with family it was everything I had been missing and wished for.

Jack had a blast at Grandma and Papa's on Christmas afternoon. Most of the the time was spent watching the train go round and round the Christmas tree.