Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

It's A Girl

It's A Girl!

Thank you all so much for your kind words and prayers.  We have felt so surrounded by love and faith.

We had some early DNA testing done on our little peanut last week.  They are not able to detect Fraser Syndrome {it's too rare} but are able to look for several known birth defects {including Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18}.  We are so thankful that our results came back normal.  Because the testing looks at chromosomes, we were able to learn the sex of our little peanut. 

Noah is quite thrilled to have a little sister.  Early on, he declared that he wanted a brother and that the brother's name would be Noah2.  A week or so later, however, he changed his mind and decided that he needed a sister and refused to believe it was anything different.  Too funny!

Noah's got some BIG news

Noah's got some exciting news...

Yep...that's right...we're expecting Baby #3 in May!

We couldn't be more excited...or scared!

Dear Ryan,

Dear Ryan,

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy!  Although you would be six years old today, you will always be my baby boy...my little one...my first born.

As the years pass since loosing you, I must admit that the pain I feel, while still real and raw, is no longer constant, but rather an ebb and flow throughout the days.  Reminders of you are all around us, whether in actual items, friends going through similar losses, or Noah innocently talking about his "big brother Ryan".  I think and wonder about what you would be like.  How our life would have been different with you in it. 

I long to hold you in my arms, feel the weight of you on my body, and smell your sweet aroma.  I love you, baby boy.  Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mama

It's Noah's {Last} First Day of Preschool 2013

Noah is so excited to go back to school.  This is his last year in preschool...next year he transitions into kindergarten.  Bubs is feeling so confident about heading back into his old classroom. 

I can't wait to see what this year brings!!!

Summer Library Time

This summer, Noah and I had the privileged of going to the library and joining in their summer reading program.  Each week, we went to the preschool reading time as well as a fun literacy program {magic show, musical singing group, reptile show, etc.}.  Bubs learned to LOVE the library as well as any book written by Mo Willems.

This is us at the magic show...I think it was a bit lost on Mr. Man.  Too bad, because I enjoyed it.

Here we are at the Oklin Bloodworth musical show.  Mr. Man enjoyed it quite a bit!

Preschool Story Time...do you see a theme with the photos?!?

Every time Noah and I read a book, we would record it on a Summer Reading Log.  After reading ten books, he earned a prize from the library.  Noah LOVED his new glasses...as well as the Mo Willems books he checked out.

This was our very last Story Time of the summer.

I am so blessed to have summers off in order to rest, relax, and rejuvenate with my Little Man!

Hello...anyone there?

Hello...anyone there? 

I bet so many of you who check this blog daily or weekly are wondering that very same thing.  Are the Jacksons still there?  Are they doing anything?  Are they having fun?  How is Noah?  What's going on? 

I know...I know...I know.  It's been almost three months since my last blog post.  I am sorry for the absence.  I love this blog so very much, it is after all Noah's "baby book", and I appreciate all of your visits and comments.  

This past May was a very challenging month for me, both physically, emotionally, and professionally.  I must admit that I went into a bit of a funk and needed a bit of time and space to "hibernate".  I feel very passionately about living your life "in a fish bowl".  I believe God does amazing things in our lives as well as the lives of others when we are visible, transparent, and open.  I continue to be blessed by the friendships I have made with other families living with trachs, g-tubes, and Fraser Syndrome.  I would not have known them had I not put myself {and my son} out there for the world to see.  I decided, however, that because of my emotional state, I needed a bit of alone time and, thus, gave myself permission to take the summer off from blogging.

It has been a wonderful summer filled with amazing memories of family and fun.  I have a running list of blog topics that I need to get to on my refrigerator.  I thank you so much for sticking around during our absence and I promise to start those blogs coming.     

Drawing

If you know Noah, you know that he struggles with both fine and gross motor skills.  Because he only has one eye, Mr. Man has no depth perception which can make simple tasks a bit more of a challenge.  My Little Man is not a fan of writing or drawing.  In fact, I can safely say that he pretty much detests most forms of art.  He struggles to hold a pencil correctly and make it draw the things he wants.  Noah prefers to use a marker because he doesn't have to press down on the paper as hard as when he uses a pencil or crayon.

This summer, we have been working at writing and drawing.  Bubs has been practicing drawing people and {surprise, surprise} Angry Birds and Star Wars characters.  Noah gets frustrated when his drawings don't look the way he wants and usually asks for help with "complicated" pictures.

The other day, Noah was drawing a picture of himself {much to his chagrin} and he told me that he needed Squirt in the picture because "he is my best friend".  Let me tell you that just melted my heart and I gladly agreed to draw Squirt once he finished his self-portrait.  I was pretty impressed with Noah's drawing {as well as my own}.

On a side note, I found it interesting that Noah insisted on drawing two eyes.  He knows that he only has one but I suppose that he always sees pictures and drawings of people with two eyes so he felt he needed to draw two.  Interesting...

Eating New Foods

Noah has been experimenting with eating new foods this summer.  He continues to love anything that is creamy and completely devoid of texture {yes to yogurt, no to applesauce} as well as anything that easily crumbles in his mouth {graham crackers, fish crackers, animal crackers}.

In an attempt to expand his very small repertoire of food he chooses to eat, as well as introduce new flavors to his virgin taste buds, Bubs and I have been scouring the grocery store for things to eat.  Noah will typically choose a box based upon the cartoons on the front and then not like the contents inside {perhaps an introductory lesson on marketing will be in his future}.  We have discovered, however, a few new foods that he enjoys.

Behold, America's favorite cookie...the Oreo.  Bubs loves to twist the cookies apart and lick the creamy filling out.

And Bugles...America's stinkiest snack food.  Auntie Nessa taught him how to stick them on his fingers and pretend they are long nails.  Noah, however, pretends they are light sabers.

With every new food that Noah tries, I see a glimmer of hope, in the very, very distant future, that my Little Man might be one day be g-tube free.

Champion Swimmer



Noah finished his swimming lessons by the end of May and had an absolute BLAST!!!  He truly LOVED his teacher, Mr. Nick, and learned so much.  We have spent so many afternoons in Nana & Papa's pool and Mr. Man is a confident little fish.  He has no fear in the pool and swims all over it. 

During his last lesson, Mr. Nick had fun with Noah and they played with gigantic ducks.

My Little Fish!

It was hard to get a picture of Noah during his graduation ceremony...darn afternoon sun.  Here he is smiling for the camera.

He was so proud of his medal and ribbon.

My champion swimmer!!!

Preschool Program 2013

Once again, Noah's teachers outdid themselves for the end of the year program.  Both the Regular-Ed and Special-Ed classes worked together to create a memorable event for the parents and students.

Our interm-principal introduced the teachers and students who were ready to wow us by their singing, signing, and dancing.  Noah is right in the middle...front and center.

Noah's amazing teacher welcomed us all and thanked the parents for all of their support over the past year.

Seconds before the first song started, Noah turned around to see who was behind him.  I guess he just wanted to reassure the other students that they were going to do great.

He then gave the poor, unsuspecting girl beside him a "we can do this" hug.  She was less than thrilled by Noah's encouragement.

During most of the program, Bubs sang the songs but either played with his grass skirt or held his hand in front of his mouth.  Perhaps he was pretending it was a microphone?!?

Here he is doing a bit of dancing while holding his hand/microphone in front of his mouth. 

 

 On a rare occasion, he did decide to sign with the other kiddos.

They sang his favorite song, Slippery Fish, and he does finally get into it at the end of the song.

When Noah grows up, he wants to be a whale doctor.

I am so proud of my little preschooler!!!

Last Day of School 2013

I can't believe how fast...and at times slow...this year has gone by.  Bubs has grown so much and I am so proud of him and all his hard work this year.

What a difference a year makes!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

This past weekend,  we headed over to Noah's Happy Place.  We were blessed with beautiful weather, a fantastic place to stay, and some special family time.

We took all the photos on our phones because Kc left his camera at home and I had some fun playing with a new app.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium was hosting their annual event, Cooking for Solutions.  It was a fun, if not busy, event. 

Kc was taking close up pictures of jellyfish...I took the opportunity to take a picture of him.

Do you see the sea turtle at the top of this picture?  Noah just loved to watch him.

Kc took some pretty great pictures on his phone.

Here's my Little Pearl!

And, of course, our traditional picture in front of the tidal pool.

Gotta love the love.

We headed over to our favorite restaurant for lunch.  Isn't the view from The Fish Hopper simply amazing?!?

On Sunday afternoon, shortly before we climbed into the car and made the long drive home, we headed over the Dennis the Menace Park for a bit of fun.  It is an amazing park, right on the water, filled with so many things for a child to play on.  Noah had so much fun!

My Little Man, who is quite terrified of slides because they are "too fast", braved the rolling slide at the park.  Notice, however, that he has slowed himself down so much that the father behind him had to stop his son from running into Noah.

 So many fun places to climb and run and slide.

What a fantastic way to end a fantastic weekend!

Spring Pictures

This was Noah's first full year in preschool and he absolutely loved it!!!  He had amazing teachers, amazing friends {although some of them moved away}, and got to come to school with me in the morning.  

This is Noah's fall picture

and here is his spring picture. 

My Little Man continues to grow and change.  I can't wait to see what next year, his last year in preschool, brings.

Surfing, Diving, and Swimming

Noah's awesome swim teacher had Noah do some "Duck Surfing" during his last lesson.  Bubs had such a blast standing on the yellow duck and trying to keep his balance.  

My Little Man with balance and depth perception issues is seriously standing.

Mr. Nick created waves so Noah would have a true surfing experience.

I love the surfing arms...keeping balance.

Bubs is also learning to dive into the pool rather than jump.  His form needs a bit of work, but Daddy says he's got time before he joins the dive team in high school {following in his Daddy's footsteps}.

We are so thankful for a fun and creative teacher.  Noah just LOVES Mr. Nick!!! 

Happy Mother's Day

If you remember, last year, Kc and Noah secretly worked to create a fantastic Mother's Day present for me.  They had set the bar high for themselves and established a precedent that would be hard to follow.  

I think, however, that they succeeded.

Kc distressed a frame and wrapped the backing in burlap.  He then traced Noah's hand to create the "ILY" {I Love You}.  Because Noah's first language was ASL, this has so much significance. 

Noah then wrote "MAMA" on the individual squares.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love my two boys and how loved I feel in return.