Lauren Gets Her Tubes

Lauren finally got her tubes! Hopefully, no more ear infections! We got up early and headed to the hospital. Poor baby couldn't eat from 12:00 on. She did really, really well. You could tell that she was hungry before she went into surgery though. Not long before they took her back, she fell asleep. That made it super easy for the nurses and doctors. They took her back, and Thomas and I ran to the cafeteria with a pager in hand to eat breakfast (we didn't want to eat in front of Lauren). We knew we had to hurry, but we were only half way through scarfing down breakfast when the pager went off. We hurriedly threw away our half eaten breakfast and rushed to see our baby. She was still asleep when they took us back to her. The doctor said she had a lot of build up in her ears and assured us that she should be able to hear better now. Finally, Lauren started stirring. She came out of the anesthesia so nicely. I quickly gave her a bottle (which she scarfed down), and they sent us home.


Mommy and Lauren waiting in the waiting room to be called back.


Lauren in her hospital gown. She HATED the bands on her ankles and kept trying to get them off.

Here We Go Again. . .

It's 2 AM, and I'm up. Lauren is getting tubes put in here ears in 4 hours. In one way, I am extremely relieved. Poor baby has had so many ear infections in a row, I have lost count. I can't remember which one was a new one and which time we visit the doctor, the ear infection hadn't gone away. She has been on three antibiotics since Christmas, and that is not fun. So, tubes here we come.

It is a minor surgery. Jackson had them. What is funny, is how I am reacting. I'm not as anxious because I feel like I know what to expect when we get to the hospital. I know that she will be confused when she comes out of anesthesia and will struggle with that feeling. I know that we will have the hurry up to the hospital thing going on, and then end up at the hospital waiting. I know that she will feel better, and our visits to the doctor will drop dramatically. There's just something about putting your baby in a hospital gown and sending them off down the hall somewhere.

Wish us luck in a few hours and say a little prayer for Lauren.

Jackson's Fourth Birthday Party

My baby boy is FOUR! I don't know how that happened, but it did. We had his birthday party today. He had a pirate birthday party --- Arrrr, Matey! It was so much fun!

I wanted to go ahead and post pictures of Jackson's partly even though I am behind in my posts because Papa J is in Ethiopia. We missed him, and I know he is eager to see pictures from the party.

Mama J came up for the birthday party (thank goodness) and helped us get ready for the event. For two nights in a row, I was up until 2:00 AM baking cakes, cleaning the house, and getting ready for the party. Mama J stayed up with me Friday night after I got home around 9:00 PM from work. We continue to be blessed to have such wonderful supportive families.

Jackson was so excited about his party. He woke up this morning, flung himself out of bed, and shouted that today was his birthday party! Next thing that I knew, he had his birthday outfit on (a pirate costume)! All day long, he just followed us around the house as we got ready for the party. The party was to start at 11:00, and around 10:30, Jackson said, "Mommy, when is the party starting?" I told him, "very soon". He said, "You have been saying that all day." He was so good all morning though and very patient waiting for his party!!

The house was decked out in pirate decorations.


The kitchen table.


I had pirate costumes for each child.

Avery and Jackson in thier pirate attire. Mama J and Papa J gave Jackson his pirate costume.

Uncle Jonathan and Kaci came ready for the party as well. They had on pirate hats!

Jackson had our neighbor friends and some friends from school at his party.

Everyone loved the pizza!

The cake. I continued the tradition of making the cake. The bottom layer did a little shifting . . . we teased that it was a tsuname!

We went on a treasure hunt and found the treasure chest!

Everyone rushed for the treasure!

Matt and Luke enjoyed getting all of the treats!

Then it was time for cake. Jackson just glowed when we sang "Happy Birthday". It was really cute!

Blowing out the candles.

Jackson got the first piece.

Everyone ate cake.

Then it was time for presents.

Aunt Shirley got him a fishing pole and rubber boots! They were a HIT!

Mama J and Papa J gave Jackson items to go on an adventure. He loved his safari hat, bug barn, and binoculars.

What a great birthday!! After the party, a lot of the guests stayed and played outside. Jackson had a wonderful time.

A Visit with Santa

For the past two years, Jackson has cried when we visited Santa. We did everything to prep him the past two years, we talked about Santa, we went to the mall to look at Santa, read books about Santa -- EVERYTHING. It didn't matter. He cried both years. I mean CRIED -- just like the pictures that everyone laughs at. Yes, we have two out of three years of pictures of Jackson sitting in Santa's lap screaming bloody murder. I have them in frames and pull them out for display during Christmas.

So, this year, we started talking about Santa again. We went to the mall to look at Santa. We read books about Santa. We talked about how Jackson was a big boy, and he had to show Lauren how to sit on Santa's lap and not cry. Jackson assured us that this year would be different.

We planned to go see Santa with our neighbors on a weekday night (we have stood in line to see Santa for 1-2 hours the past three years and decided to try a weeknight). We got there, and so far so good. Finally, it was our turn. Avery and Luke went first, only Luke was not going to sit on Santa's lap. That was alright though. Then it was our turn. Jackson popped right up in Santa's lap!! He was smiling! Then it was time to put Lauren in Santa's lap. She looked at him. Looked at Jackson.

And started screaming!

Well, one out of two isn't too bad?

I was called over to look at the official pictures (these were dark because Thomas was a little too far away), and missed Jackson talking to Santa. Evidently, they had a wonderful conversation.

We did get a picture of Lauren with Santa since this is her first Christmas. I think she didn't want Jackson to feel left out and made sure she was screaming for her first picture with Santa! Oh well, in the frame they go to be pulled out each Christmas.

Jackson's School Christmas Party

One of the benefits of Jackson going to daycare at my school is that I can attend his class parties. It was fun going out to see him enjoy his party with his friends at school.

The class participated in a coloring book exchange. Here is Jackson with some of his friends.


The teachers had station set up for crafts. Jackson wasn't too interested in making the ornaments.

He did love the chicken nuggets, fruit and chips though!