Aug 2011
We had a wonderful week in San Clemente! We feel so filled up from all the fun, laughter, and beach time we had with our friends Brett, Ronda, and Jonas this week. The weather was amazing too! We’re going through quite the withdrawal now, especially in the morning. After a week of waking up and enjoying a cup of coffee with friends in the cool, fresh, ocean breeze, the heat here is even more depressing. We were so thankful for some very generous friends allowing us to stay in their absolutely beautiful beach home again! I seriously could live in San Clemente.
We had a great day together at the happiest place! It was super busy the day we went though, I guess CA schools weren’t in session yet. We had our medical pass and were able to bypass most of the lines, but did end up waiting a bit for some rides because there were so many people. It wasn’t terrible, and it’s pretty hard to complain when we get to skip most all of the lines, but I may google the CA school schedule the next time we go. We were able to do Asher’s treatment at the first aid office again. Those people are so wonderful to give us a room and help us with whatever we need to take care of Asher. I love Disneyland. Asher was way into his light saber (glow stick) battles with Jonas, that as you can tell, taking the time for a family pic was definitely not a part of his schedule, ha!
I love how you can barely see the top of Asher’s head, ha! His favorite ride this time around was Splash Mountain (probably because Matterhorn was closed down – he loves the scarey monster), and his least favorite was Space Mountain – he didn’t like how dark it was.
Jonas got selected to be a part of the Jedi Training, and that was a total highlight!
We visited a new beach this time, and we will forever laugh when we think about this beach. It literally beat us up! It was probably the most intense beach experience we’ve ever had, ha! Just check out this little video…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQcZe29hOpw[/youtube]
The beach and scenery was so beautiful, but the ocean was relentless and quite vicious! We were laughing at the end of the day that we didn’t throw the towel in earlier, we just kept taking the beating, ha! We had to move our whole beach camp twice because the tide came up and flooded us out. Jeremy’s sandals were whisked away by the waves and we were in full on search mode because we had a huge hike out of there with all our stuff (thankfully we found them about 1/4 of a mile down the beach). Brett got slammed against a rock that nearly took his whole leg out. And the straw that broke the camel’s back was that Brett’s wedding ring was eaten by the ocean. Despite all this, we still had an amazing time, it’s just hilarious that we had the fortitude and forgiveness to stick with it, ha!
We didn’t get home until almost midnight the day we were leaving because we just couldn’t drag ourselves out of San Clemente. Cheers to a wonderful week!!!
Jul 2011
Well, we knew it was bound to happen. It was only a matter of time. Asher has been pushing his limits with safety since he started walking at 10 months. All speed. Not a lot of judgment. GO! GO! GO!
So we’ve officially entered the broken bone club. No cool story to go along with it, he just fell while he was running down our hallway. Asher fell on a Friday, so it was Asher/Daddy Day (thank you, Asher :)). Jeremy said he had never heard that cry come out of him before. It really, really hurt him. But, as usual, he quickly recovered and moved on. The next couple of days we noticed his finger was black and blue and swollen. We just thought he had jammed it because he wasn’t complaining, until Sunday when I put sanitizer on his hands, and he lost his mind. Needless to say, we brought him in and found out he broke his pinkie finger, and the break goes into his growth plate. We went in to see an Orthopedic Surgeon, and kind of figured from what we’d heard that we would be leaving with a cast. But, the Doctor took more x-rays and said that the break is minor and that it really cracked at the perfect spot in the growth plate. No cast. No more follow-ups. Just tape his fingers for 2 weeks and it should completely heal. Seriously?! What a blessing!!!!
The so what? Asher is such a tank. Who can go days with a broken finger without any Tylenol or complaining?! The other so what? Always take Asher in to make sure he hasn’t broken a bone even if he’s not complaining…and give him Tylenol, ha!
I just have to write down some of our favorite things Asher is doing now so we don’t forget. He’s flew through so many phases lately that it makes me sad. I miss his tic tac toe phase. We used to play that game about 48 times a day. I miss him wanting to play hide-n-seek every second of the day. I miss him counting to one hundred. I miss him wanting to play the flag game every time we get in the car…
But, now the new phases are just as fun. This is a very common conversation, “Mommy/Daddy, I love you like five thousand, sixty-three, forty-three hundred, six thousand, thirty three, eleven thousand twenty one. How much do you love me?” The amount you say doesn’t matter to him, but the more numbers you say, the more love he feels. One trillion is way LESS than 9,517 in his book :).
He is way into Star Wars now, because he plays Lego Star Wars on Xbox for his treatments. More specifically Darth Maul. His head literally exploded when Jeremy put Episode 1 on for him and he saw a real life Darth Maul, ha! He’ll grab anything that resembles a light saber and immediately start fighting with Darth Maul and Darth Vader.
He’s constantly saying, “Check this out!” Large emphasis on the “ch”. It’s adorable.
His imagination is exploding. He loves to tell stories (all somehow involving superheros and/or Star Wars guys). Common phrases while he’s telling the story, “once upon a time”, “all of a sudden”, “they lived happily ever after”.
He’s such a big boy around the house doing chores, getting dressed by himself, being a great helper for Mommy and Daddy!
The so what? Never trust a naked pilot.
Our friends, Trav and Jess, were visiting from Scotland, and we got to have a fun night with them and Tyler and Hayley. We have lots of boys together, so that naturally means lots of baseball :). It was such a fun time, and we don’t want to be too pushy in suggesting anything (ha!), but get your butts back HERE, Trav and Jess!!!!
The so what? Friends make life fun.
Also, I don’t think I’ve mentioned yet that we have 2 negative cultures for Pseudomonas under our belts!!! This is so huge. One more and we can take a break from the dreaded Tobi! Jeremy and I are really attributing this to Asher’s doctor adding Azithromycin to his weekly pill taking schedule. Pills are no biggie for Asher, he rocks them. Pills = No Pseudomonas, ummm OK!!!
The so what? Azithromycin rocks major booty!!!
Jul 2011
I bought the Groupon for one cooking class at Young Chef’s Academy. It’s a totally adorable place! I had to take a picture of their color coordinated cabinets and stools because they made you happy just to look at them! I guess it’s a drop your kid off for an hour and come back type of thing. You can guess by the pictures what I did with that suggestion, ha!
Make your own pizza party with Chase and Carter! Love how Asher is pretty much a big blur :).
So this past week we got a nice letter from the Foundation thanking us for the fundraising we did this year and letting us know that they use Asher’s videos at all of their meetings and events. It’s so wonderful to hear this. I hate that we have to fundraise and make videos, but it’s nice to feel like we’re helping in a small way.
They also emailed us today to let us know that this mortgage company is partnering with them and providing the CFF with a donation every time they close a loan. She sent me a link to the article, which directs people to the first video that Jeremy made for our auction (at the bottom). It’s labeled “Click here to see an amazing video on Cystic Fibrosis” and that made me smile :).
Auntie Dana came to visit this past week. Asher loooooooooves his Auntie Dana. “Auntie Dana, Auntie Dana, Auntie Dana!!!” That’s all we here, all the time. He’s concerned about when she’s waking up, where’s she’s at, and what she’s doing constantly. They have a sweet connection. So sweet that Jeremy and I decided to leave for a night, ha! Thank you SO much Dana, for taking on all of Asher’s needs so we could get away to a resort for one night!!!
We took a trip to Phoenix Children’s Museum! Asher loves this place! Even more specifically, he loves the grocery shopping and kitchens! It’s so cute watching him bust a groove around that place. I think he could play cashier all. day. long.
And, I just had to put this video up so we always have it. It’s not great quality, but hang with it because the hip moves and pushups make it all worthwhile, ha!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCLiZJNWt_U[/youtube]
Jul 2011
Summer Bible Camp. Asher and I both got to be a part of Summer Bible Camp this year. Asher L-O-V-E-D the week! And, I wouldn’t have these pictures of Asher if not for the wonderful, Summer! Thank you!
I was really nervous about how things would go with Asher’s health, and whether or not we would be able to be there on time each morning, but it all worked out, and the memories continue on in our home. Asher is still talking about skits Daddy played a part in on stage, and the CD of music is a constant request in our car. I served with the 3rd graders, and thankfully we were sitting just a few rows in front of Asher’s class in the Chapel, so I got to peep in on him without him knowing. It was so sweet to see him peeled to what was happening on stage, and to watch him singing along to the songs and doing the hand motions. All of the effort and need to be organized and timely was worth it!
It was though, a major reality check for me, and the challenges Asher (and us) are going to face with school. We honestly haven’t decided what we’re going to do about school with Asher. School kind of scares me…especially during the winter months. We really don’t know what to do. We have a little boy who LOVES to be around people, and thrives in a social setting…and, we have a mom who is no where near the “educating the future minds of America” status, ha! If Jeremy could figure out a way to both work and home school Asher we would be set :).
ANYWAYS, the week was amazing and amazingly exhausting all at the same time. Asher was also on his rotation of Tobi during this week, so that tacks on about 20 extra minutes (less though with our new fancy compressor, thanks, Ronnie!) . It was a reality check for us because besides the few times in his life that we’ve had to wake him up early to do his treatment for dr’s appointments, this was the first solid week of waking him early just so he could do his treatment and eat. Not only does Asher have to do his treatment in the morning, but he also has to have a high fat/calorie diet. So, there’s never really the option (or on very rare occasion) that we can just pop a granola bar in his mouth and leave the house. His breakfast always involves some sort of concoction with eggs, lots of butter and cheese and salt, and a bowl of cereal with whole milk. So, we were incredibly thankful for the week, but a bit frayed by the end of it…and it was just one week. Real school scares me.
Shout out to the BEST third graders around!!! These kids have each touched my life in different ways. I’m sure in a few years they won’t remember our class, but I seriously will never forget them. I got to spend the week with some kids I dearly love, one including Miss Maddie, who Asher just recently made a little video for :). And, can you tell our team color was Orange!
I could go on and on explaining Jeremy’s character, and how it was just a snip-it of the whole time, but that would really ruin the image for people, especially those who weren’t there, ha! Let’s just say, Jeremy was awesome in all the roles he played during SBC week…and, yes, he did actually change into appropriate clothes…but I’m telling you, the underwear over his pants left a WAY lasting impression on the kids, ha!
And, with Summer in full swing, the indoor activities have ramped up here! Who doesn’t like a little dress-up :).
Jul 2011
So much happened while Paxon was with us that we find ourselves still processing everything. One of my most favorite memories that I wanted to be sure to record was being introduced to Whippy Cake. My incredible friend, Emily, wrote such a nice letter and nominated me for Whippy Cake’s “Glam for a Day” Makeover. I felt completely unworthy of all the love and gifts the Whippy Cake family showered me with that day, but it was such a blessing. It was so wonderful to feel pretty for a day, to forever have family photos with Paxon in them, and to have met new friends. Becki, Wendy, and Kathy, I will never forget how you wrapped me with love that day. Thank you so much for the memories.
On days like today when I’m missing my boy, it’s so wonderful to be able to look back at these pictures and see him safe and snuggled. Love you, Paxon Ray.
Jul 2011
Whenever there’s a silent moment, Asher wants to count to one hundred. It’s definitely his new favorite thing to do, and he’s pretty great at it :).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDsvJ8RVHTI[/youtube]
Jun 2011
Jeremy and I gave Asher an old pocket camera that he carries around his neck a lot around the house, and when we leave on adventures. I had to upload all of the pictures because his card was full, and had some fun looking through all of his memories. All of his shots were of our home, his toys, himself (I swear if I come across a duck face photo, I’m taking it away, ha!), our camping trip, and one Sunday night he was Daddy’s Big Boy Helper at church and took about a hundred pictures – of mostly people we don’t know, ha! I had to put up some of his pictures though, he’s so cute with his camera…
Jun 2011
Total for teamASHER 2011!!! The director at our chapter emailed me and labeled it as, “a wildly successful figure!” I like that, so I’m stealing it. We’re humbled by this amount. So many generous people gave and supported our fight for a cure. There are a lot of different Foundations and causes to support, and the fact that so many chose ours brings tears to my eyes. We are so grateful. When that day comes, when the cure is announced, you can say you were a part of it! Thank you!!!
We had a small, but fierce team this year at the walk. We’re really hoping the walk won’t be at the end of May next year, so we can avoid melting :). Thank you to everyone who joined us this year, you guys are real troopers for coming out on a Sunday and braving the heat for our family! We love you!
S.C.H.O.O.L!!!
Every time I say “Asher is going to school,” or “Asher is at school,” Jeremy quickly reminds me that it’s NOT school. Asher has been going twice a week. From 9-12p. For 3 weeks…I guess Jeremy has a point, ha! But it’s still a big deal :). Of course he needed to have a first day of school outfit and photo shoot. Asher totally loved going to school, and completely loved his teacher, Mrs. Richardson. Mrs. Richardson…wow, it was such a blessing that Asher got to have her as his teacher for all three weeks. She’s amazing. She has a never-ending amount of patience and energy…all things a person needs to keep up with our little man. We’re going to miss seeing you every week, Mrs. Richardson! Thanks for loving our boy!
Put your back into it!!!! 🙂
The video game time around this house is pretty extensive with all the treatments we have going on. But, I love that Asher loves to play games with his Daddy, and I’m pretty sure Jeremy isn’t complaining, ha! Asher seriously is a whiz at the games. Here are the boys, hanging out, beeshing bad guys :).
Jun 2011
We’ve had a pretty awful week over here. I just don’t even feel like I can move on with the blog before mentioning sweet baby Cooper. We got a devastating call this week that our friends unexpectedly lost their 6 month old son, Cooper. Our hearts are breaking again for our friends as they grieve the loss of their beautiful boy. We hate that they are going through this, and we hate that we know all too well the emotions they are going through, and the forever heartache they will feel over their empty arms.
Our friends had mentioned to us before the funeral that they had chosen the same cemetery where Paxon is buried, and that they picked a spot for Cooper to lie next to Paxon. We didn’t realize until the burial yesterday that Cooper and Paxon are literally right next to each other…so sweet, and so awful all at the same time. Please pray for our friends. We’re so thankful we’re friends and that we can all comfort one another, but I wish it wasn’t so. We’ll never forget you, sweet chubby-cheeked, Cooper.
~.~
We had our first family camping trip this last weekend, and had so much fun together. It was beautiful. We adventured, fished, ate too much food, and just hung out together. The only thing I would change for next time is to NOT sleep next to Asher. We all slept on a queen size mattress with one big blanket. Never. Again. He’s a constant kicker. The child needs the confinement of a sleeping bag, ha!
When we first got there Asher kept saying, “Look at all these coconuts!”
Any campsite that has bathrooms and showers and playgrounds is my kind of campsite.
Jeremy caught the only fish, and unfortunately it was a catfish, so that nasty thing went right back into the lake.
We were able to do Asher’s treatments in the car with no problem, and even had a stove top to boil his nebs. It was so nice to know we can make camping work with our car.
Jun 2011
Just a few things we’ve been having fun doing…
There is a lot of “camping” talk and “backpacking” talk going around this house, because it’s something Jeremy loves to do. I guess it’s only natural that Asher would set the stage for us and invite me to go “pretend camping” with him. It was complete with sanitizer, games, and popcorn.
Asher and Daddy spent the night sleeping in hammocks a few weeks ago in our backyard. Asher gets so excited to have these kinds of times alone with just his Daddy. Jeremy said he did great that night. He said that Asher woke up briefly really early in the morning because some bird was going ballistic with the singing and Asher said, “Daddy, that bird is saying hi to me.”
Jeremy and I celebrated 11 years of marriage last month. So hard to believe it’s been that long. I’m incredibly thankful for our marriage, and that we get to share life together.
Ms. Destiny…ooooooohhhh, Asher LOVES Ms. Destiny. Destiny has been such a wonderfully, faithful babysitter for us since Asher was about 7 months old. He gets so excited when we tell him that Ms. Destiny is coming over to play. She’s not even in the door 30 seconds and he’s already barking orders at her – “try to get me, Ms. Destiny; let’s go play baseball; let me show you something!” All at rapid fire, and a very high volume. I knew their love ran deep the last time Ms. Destiny came over because she was sick the week before and as soon as she came in Asher was asking her if she was feeling better. It was sweet. They love each other, and Jeremy and I love dates :).
We had the best Memorial Day!! Thanks for inviting us to your kickin’ party, Osborne’s!! Oh, I had to have Jeremy take a pic of Asher and me after swimming because it’s just about the only time Asher lets me hold him anymore is right after he gets out of a pool. But, I’ll take it!
We found the CUTEST little market/picnic area/gelato spot! It’s super small, and you feel like you’re walking into someone’s house, but it’s just adorable. Asher and I went to have a little Subway picnic (Subway is his favorite!), shared some gelato, and he got to pet the bunny rabbit. Oh, and I told him his eyes were so beautiful and I asked if I could take a picture of them…hence the funny picture of his eye balls, ha! Not exactly what I was thinking!