Five years! I can't believe it.

On the 6th of December I turned five!
It has been five years since Jake gave his wonderful healing cells to me.
Five years is a huge milestone after transplant. The likelihood of re occurrence is very low.
Since it was so huge we celebrated huge, with a week of partying.

My big day landed on a Thursday this year so the weekend before the boys and I went to Animal Kingdom. The weather was perfect and I was doing two of my most favorite things. Hanging out with my boys at Disney. I still get excited when we first walk into the park, no matter what park we are in. It is also so fun to share these wonderful things with Jack and to see him discover and enjoy the Disney magic.

Jason took two days off work to be with me!
Monday we dropped Jack of at school and headed up to the house for a walk through appointment before they put up the sheetrock. It was exciting I wish I would have gotten a picture of us in our hard hats.
After our appointment Jason and I headed to the Magic Kingdom alone! We have talked about being able to do this for a long time. It was wonderful and we were like the younger Whitney and Jason.

Not the best picture angle. Jason looks like he has a huge massive head!

Our trip however did remind us that our bodies are not like the young newly wed Jason and Whitney. We only spent three hours in the park. We went from Thunder Mountain to Splash Mountain, had a churro break, back to thunder mountain onto pirates, lunch and then got dole whips. We picked up Jack from school and had planned to go back with him but we were wiped. When we got home I crashed hard and felt a little sick and dizzy. It was also funny how fast we slipped back into parent mode. Gone are the days of endless partying!

Tuesday unfortunately I had a dentist appointment. I had so much anxiety over the dang dentist I had to have Jason come with me. It may sound kinda lame but it was a huge accomplishment that I went. I ended up having a tooth pulled that day but I got the laughing gas which seriously made it all worth it. It was just a gift to get that first initial appointment over with. I don't drive by the dentist office anymore and feel anxiety and dread, I have been carrying that around for a long time.

Wednesday my sweet Mama set up a surprise dinner at the Animal Kingdom lodge. Jason called me on his way home to deliver the news. He wanted to make sure I was up to going. When we walked in Mom, Dad, Jake and Meredith were waiting with a mickey birthday balloon. It was so wonderful to actually be able to be with and celebrate with Jake my donor! I wish we could have had all of those that took care of me at that table. I especially wish Cami and her family could have been there. I get emotional every time I think of the time spent in the Archer home. They let us live in their house both transplants. Cami was there taking care of me (along with two babies) day in and day out. Those were some of the darkest but happiest days. I mean we would never would have had that experience of living together and having our babies spend so much time together. Jack and Grace were like twins and will forever have a special bond.
It takes a lot of support and Jason and I are so lucky to have such wonderful families that helped us and continue to help us through the hard times. We are forever grateful.

Thursday night Jason walked in the door with his arms full of goodies. Pizza and bread from my favorite pizza place, donuts and two beautiful bouquets of flowers. Why I didn't take of picture of that sight is beyond me. We put a candle in my donut and I made my traditional wish. It is the same every year and every year my wish has come true.  This year was kind of a rough year with complications from a flare up of GVHD, going from two medications to twelve and  two hospital stays. It is not fun being sick all the time but whenever I get down it helps to remind myself of how lucky I am to be still be here.

I often ask Jason how he can do it working in the Bone Marrow Unit. He always says that it's hard but the days are made easier because he gets to come home to a success story.
We truly have seen miracles and we are beyond grateful for these last five years.

Terrific Kid

The Friday before Thanksgiving break Jack was honored at the Terrific Kids awards ceremony. The local Kiwanis club sponsors it each month. They award kids that have good behavior, academia and character. Uncle Jake joined me for the ceremony. When each of the kids names were called they walked up on stage and got their certificate and some other fun things such as a pencil, stickers and certificates for free food. All my pictures of Jack receiving his award were blurry sadly.

Afterwards we had cookies and juice. Jack was telling me all about his school and what he had already done that morning. I was one of those pull on your mama heartstrings moments. I couldn't believe how big he has gotten.

That night when dad got home he told him all about it.

We celebrated that night not only his accomplishments but the beginning of Jack's Thanksgiving break. We got a whole week off! We ate subs and watched star wars. Jack has been building a ton of star war stuff out of legos just from what he has seen in his catalog and so we decided to show him the movie.

Of course after the movie Jack whipped up a fighter and started flying it around with the screen in the background for effect.

Today our local newspaper arrived and Jack was in it! He got really excited when I told him he was in the newspaper and famous! He had no idea what famous meant but he was excited none the less to see his name and picture!

Jack at 6 has been fun. 

He can ride all the rides at Disney World and it has made Disney a whole different experience this year. Now the weather is cooler we are going almost every weekend for a couple of hours to get the most of our annual passes. He is the most fun to ride with on star tours, he really gets into it.

He is a lego building fool and comes up with some pretty awesome stuff. Right after school are his coveted building hours. It has been made very clear to me that I am to get all my errands and shopping done before I pick him up from school. He is one frustrated boy if we go to the store or something after because I am cutting into his lego time.

He is also the sweetest little boy.

He always hugs and kisses my hand if I am ever leaving the house. 

He prays for me to feel better every night and will snuggle with me when I am sick.

 The other morning we woke up with Jack in our bed. I vaguely remember him coming in around three and getting in. When Jason asked him why he was in our bed he said that he wanted to snuggle with mommy but then fell asleep! 

Jackson Cooper is a terrific kid and I am glad he is ours!

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we hosted Thanksgiving at our house.
Jason, Jake and Meredith all had to work so Mom and Dad came over to have our feast in the afternoon. Jason and Jake got off early enough to eat with us but we missed Meredith, she worked until late.
I got Grandma Judy's china last year for Christmas and we were finally able to use it. It was fun getting it out and setting the table with it and honoring Grandma.

While we were waiting for the rolls to rise and the turkey to cook we took mom and dad over to the house to show the progress. We have a roof and windows! Since no one was working on it we got to go inside. We all got giddy with excitement walking around the house and in and out of all the rooms.

 

It feels unreal that that is our house. I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day.

Even Sheldon joined us for Thanksgiving. He spent his time guarding the turkey. We had to keep stepping over him as mom and I worked in the kitchen. It is always fun to be in the kitchen with mom making tasty things for the family.

As we sat down and dad gave the prayer and mentioned all the good things that have happened to our families this year. A lot of big changes and excitement. It made me sad we were not with Cami and Kate and their families though, I missed you Cami, TJ, Grace, Cooper, Kate and Griffin!

 There was a lot of wonderful food and Jack made the comment that it wasn't just dinner it was a feast! After dinner we played a fun new game that Mom brought, snacked on pie and popcorn and watched a movie.

It was a wonderful day. The weather was so beautiful. While I was making my stuff in the morning I had the doors open I couldn't believe that it was Thanksgiving. I was thankful that I was able to be up and about and had the energy to cook. I did crash hard that night and was out of commission most of Friday but it was worth it.

Pneumonia.

Jack got sick after our little party weekend.
He missed a couple of days of school because of it.
He ended up having to go to the doctor to get medicine for an ear infection.

Well I was sick right along with him but then he got better fast and before I knew it he was back in school and back to his regular self. I however was not. In fact instead of getting better I started to get worse. I kept thinking I will get better but it never happened and Jason ended up taking me into the clinic with him where I was to get fluids. Well I got more than fluids I get admitted into the hospital.

It turns out I had pneumonia. I'm so awesome Jack's ear infection virus went straight to my chest and got caught in a weird place thanks to all my scar tissue from my radiation. For a while every time a nurse or Jason came into the room they had to gown up and wear masks until they got results back from my tests that I didn't have a nasty contagious virus. Luckily it only lasted a day and I was cleared and people could enter my room without the get ups.

I was in the hospital for four days. I slept for most of it because I was so exhausted. On day four Mama came to the rescue and broke me out and took me home. It was the greatest feeling to crawl into my own bed after a hospital stay. It was also so great to be home around my family. Meredith, Jake, Jason and Mom really stepped up helping with Jack. Once again family comes and saves the day. I couldn't do it without any of them. It truly is a blessing to be by family.

That was almost a month ago and I am still recovering! It has been really slow. My energy levels are low already and throwing in penumonia well that has been frustrating. Some days are long and very frustrating. It's been quite the month.

Party week

Whew where did October go?
I have been pretty sick, (more on that later) but before all that happened we had visitors and the man of the house turned 30!
On the first week of October the long awaited visit of Corie, Nolan, Jonah and Everett occurred.  They told us a while back they were planning a trip and we had been talking about it and were so excited when the time was finally here.

It was just so fun to be together.
To see the boys in action and all three of them playing together.
I have to say most of the pictures Nolan and Corie took. I don't know where my head was I didn't take many pictures.  Thanks guys!

One day we met them at Sea World.

I loved those little hands! It was so good for my heart to be around these cute boys. What fun ages!

Then on Friday it was Jason's birthday!
I made a picture college to remind him that 30 is great and to visually see all he has gone through and accomplished! He is not one for birthdays that Jason.

At least he took the day off and so we could all head to the beach to celebrate.

 We had a picnic lunch and ice cream cupcakes before setting up camp on the beach.

We had a bit of trouble keeping those dang candles lit with all the ocean breeze! 

I think this was my most favorite memory from the whole trip. Just hanging out in the water. Watching the boys play and catching up with Corie. It was so nice.

These two are party animals, living up their vacation with root beer!

On the eve of Jason's birthday we had a little cake celebration just the two of us. It was so nice and quiet after a long but fun day. I sure love this man and am so proud of all he has accomplished in his 30 years on the earth. It was so wonderful to celebrate him, even if he doesn't like all the attention!

On Sunday morning before they left to go back to Utah we spent some time at the house with Nolan. Corie and the boys.  We got a kick out of watching the boys drive the dune buggy.

Especially Jonah!

Thanks again Nolan and Corie for the visit.
We had such a wonderful time with all of you and made some wonderful memories.

Jack is Six

On the 25th Jack turned six! 

For this birthday he requested a Avengers theme. 

Lucky enough Avengers came out on dvd on his big day.

The night before the table was set and birthday balloons placed around the house and in the birthday boy's room.

Jack took cupcakes to school for his class. It was an adorable sight watching Jack walk into school carefully carrying his bag of goodies.  

While he was at school I made his cake and surprised him when he got home.

Jack just wanted to go to Panera bread for his birthday dinner. He didn't want to waste time when he could be at home playing with his new toys. 

He got some awesome lego sets, an Iron man mask and hulk gloves.

We had to use the new costumes for our traditional cake picture.

We ate cake while we watched Avengers. Jack was in awe and it was so fun to watch his face. It was a fun filled day and as I was cleaning up before going to bed it was a fun sight to see the discarded toys throughout the house. Proof that a little six year old boy lives in the house. Gratitude and love tugged at my heart for that little boy. I can't imagine life without him.

Birthday Golf

Last weekend we had a combined birthday celebration for Dad and Jack. 

We met Mom and Dad and the new Florida residents, Jake and Meredith for dinner.

Jack chose Texas Roadhouse so he could sit on the saddle. He was so excited!

Dad and Jack opened presents. Jack got two awesome Lego sets he was super happy! 

We had planned to go miniature golfing after dinner for Jack and he was excited for it but after opening the Legos he just wanted to go home. We reminded him he could build anytime but how often do you go miniature golfing.

 

We hit Fantasia Gardens which is a Disney miniature golf course.

 I am and always have been a horrible golfer but I had the best time watching everybody. 

Jack was so good getting several holes in one. He came in second with Jake first place.

I had been at the beach all day with the youth so by the time we got in the car after hitting all 18 holes I was spent but so very happy. It was my kind of party and it was fun celebrating Jack!