Anniversaries & Updates

• It was 20 years ago today I graduated high school.


• It was 4 years ago this weekend I got my patio furniture.


• It was 1 year ago today we celebrated Jax "Potty Party."


• It was 1 hour ago today that Jackson pottied standing up, did not at all make a mess, and EVEN put the seat down.


• Tomorrow is Jackson's last day of Pre-School 3s. What a fast year it has been!

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I had my specialist appointments at Rush last week, and all in all, things went well. I am actually quite pleased with the team of specialists, and feel like although there are still questions, I have more information. They thoroughly explained their theories and provided logical explanations for what they want to do moving forward in terms of tests, treatments, etc. and preparing to build a longer term game plan.

For now they don’t believe that there is any urinary tract involvement as my OB/GYN had theorized. I will start a new hormone treatment regiment in a couple of weeks, have some more scans scheduled for this Wednesday that can be done at the hospital here, and will be seeing a “women’s health specialty” physical therapist in Peoria starting Wednesday afternoon as well. Apparently we don’t have any here in Springfield . AND the Program Chair who is a PT and an MD stressed my need to greatly rebuild my core strength and get back in the gym.

Jackson and I purchased 2lb. weights and an "exercise ball" for him (an oversized rubber play ground ball) because he is ALL ABOUT exercise, and I figure he can be my workout partner.

I have my first follow up trip to Chicago for the OB/GYN on Tuesday, June 16 with the OB/GYN to review the tests he ran and the scans here as well as to assess the new hormones. I am supposed to go back to the program chair after 4 PT visits, which will either be weekly or every other week, depending on how she wants to schedule them and my schedule allows.

Scott and I have pretty much now figured our way around the Rush campus, by trial and error, but I think I can handle future trips on my own. It was also very very good to stay with my best friend Jenny's dad, "Grandpa Dave" and wife Kate at their lovely home within 1 mile of Rush. At times of stress, it is always good to be able to rest in a familiar place with those who care about you!

So special thanks to Scott for traveling with me, keeping me from losing my mind, my keys and my way over the two days, and for Dave and Kate who welcomed us into their home and treated us like family as always.

Is he going on 4 or 14

This week we did the preschool field trip to our small local zoo to celebrate the end of the year and the summer birthdays. I can't believe his first school year is wrapping up, even if it is his Preschool 3's year.

Tonight we went searching for new tennis shoes (again). His shoes that were new in February are suffering from "scooter toe" - the toe that he uses to slow down and stop is about through.

We went to several stores. He wanted GREEN shoes!!!
Fortunately we did find two pair of Nike shoes with green. And the one they had in his size were on sale - $19. Pretty good for Jackson shoes (sadly).

He also is very much the little gentleman these days, loving to open and hold doors open for anyone and every one. He just needs to get a bit stronger.


Here are some fun pics from the past few days..


Jackson and his fiance' Hannah along with classmate Natalie. Hannah's mom believes that they should marry because they would have beautiful children. She is right.

Jackson getting his next new belt.

Blessed Sacrament preschoolers who are on the "Soccer Stars" team along with teachers Mrs. Kienzler and Mrs. White who attended.

Monkey boys - the four boys found such great fun running back and forth chasing the monkey up above.

Ladies' Night Out

I pulled up to preschool today to Lennon's and Hannah's dads (brothers in law) talking outside of school. Upon seeing me, one of them hollers, "You still need a babysitter for tonight?"

Um, yes.

Well, we think we have it worked out. Theresa is inside and she has the details. It is my/our nephew.

Okay. Well, how did John and Andy know I needed a baby sitter when the only ones I had told were Grannine (host of the party) and Lori (Jackson's buddy's mom), neither of whom are married to John or Andy, and neither of whose children are in Jackson's class.

BUT, they all live in my "bubble" - the 6 block radius that is our house, school, babysitter, Reimer's (Lori), Theresa & Andy, Grannine & Mark, John & Tara, and daddy's neighborhood. Three of those families also have children on Jackson's soccer team. They are my present and my future.

HOW COOL IS IT THAT WORD GOT OUT I WAS GOING TO MISS THE BIG EVENT AND THEY FOUND A BABYSITTER FOR ME????

Granted, he is a freshman, cannot drive, and had open gym for b-ball at 7:30...but never really mind that. I got to enjoy pre-party and the first hour of Ladies' Night Out at school. I got to bond with another wife (Jackson's soccer coach's wife) of an Air Guard employee who gleefully announced that maybe now she would have another officer's significant other to go to the military balls with!! I now have the name and number of a freshman boy babysitter (whose mom is one of 8 kids so he is used to keeping at least 3 at a time, so guess who he will choose when faced with multiple offers?), who Jackson said he wished could live with us forever.

AND sad though true, it was more fun hanging out with my happy boy after a couple of glasses of wine!!!!

Thanks, soccer/preschool moms & dads!!! I love my bubble, not matter how much Scott teases me about it!

The "Crazy" List

At times in my life I have had a touch of anxiety. It runs in the family.

With the endo and the hormones, the docs opted to give me a couple of drugs to stablize me as they play with the hormones. Well, my new specialists in Chicago want me off the hormones to see what and where the pain actually is. Fun, but okay!

Thus the rollercoaster takes off again.

I have been having vivid nightmares that border on reality, waking up and have flashbacks not always knowing what actually took place in real life or I just dreamt it. Add to all of that our collective illnesses, lots of travels, drama with my mother (not really worth posting about), etc. and, well, I am driving myself crazy.

Scott picked up on it Monday at lunch, and by Tuesday morning, I was at my witts end.

Okay. Get a grip.

So I made a list of all of the things that have been eating at me. Scott and I have been referring to it as my Crazy List - the list of things that are making me crazy.

There are things like the load of laundry that has been washed 4 times because I just could not seem to make it into the dryer; treat bags for the "summer birthdays" celebration at preschool Tuesday; Mother's Day cards; calling a clients investment broker cuz they are having cash flow issues; deciding on an outfit for a wedding that is not until the 22nd....you know, nothing that is on fire, but there were 25 things that ended up on the list.

Just writing them all down did help instead of overwhelm. As time and energy have allowed, I have been methodically checking them off. I have gotten through 15 of them (including getting a cute new top to go with a new skirt I got when my sister was in town to wear to the wedding...now I just need a sitter...).

I have always been a list person, but not this obscure. However, I am feeling better.

p.s. The lawn mower is broken again. It is item #11.

A Perfect Day

Jackson's fever broke at some point over the night. He woke up perky as can be. We finished up the painting of our neighbor's garage and our arbor. He sat and we talked for awhile, then he picked up a brush and helped out. Once finished, we shot hoops until it was time to clean up.

Then we attended our neighbor and good friend's First Communion, followed up a ballet of "Little Red Riding Hood" with Jackson's best buddy and his father. We came home and caught the tale end of the party across the street. While the house is still trashed, the laundry not quite complete, we had the time to get a bit healthier, and more importantly, some serious quality time the two of us.

Jackson is at that age he is serious but funny, clever and full of whit. He can sit and talk about his favorite things about school, the play, day care, etc. and told me I looked pretty when I was dressed for church. He announced that he would have been the handsomest if he had worn his tie, and gasped that Tahara looked like a beautiful princess in her dress. His little face lit up and changed with emotion as the scenes changed at the ballet.

And just when I thought he could not amaze me any more, tonight he said he was going to his "Happy Place." It was all I could do to contain myself!

You are my Happy Place, little man. I love you little painter boy!

Saturday!

Its Saturday. The sun is shining. The grass needs cut. The weeds need attacked again.
My high school friends are getting together outside of Chicago today/tonight.
Scott's neighborhood is having a massive garage sale.

It is noon. We are both in bed. We have both been sick for a week. UGH.

The phone is off. The lights are off. The washer IS running.

Goodnight!