Back to School

What a busy week! Jackson had his first dentist appt on Monday. With all the other dr.s he's had to see we wanted this to be a good experience and he did great! At one point he said "Isn't this great mom". Something you usually don't hear at the dentist. After that we went and played at a new park.

On Tues he had his 5 yr well check. He is 33.4 lbs and 43" tall, 4th % in weight, we know he's probably always going to be small and he in the 50th % in height. Yay! He did however have to have two shots which he wasn't exactly thrilled about, but who is. He was very brave while getting them so we went to Target for a little present to make his arm feel better. We ended our last day of summer vacation with a picnic at a park and then fed the ducks. Tues night was also his first soccer practice. He was very excited about it, I think mostly because he was able to see his good friend Matt. They are on the same team, the Pups. I missed his practice because I had to work but I'll be sure to get lots of pics at his first game on the 10th. Yesterday was his first day of 4K and he was SOOO excited!! He walked right in and was ready for me to leave. And unlike last year I was ready to go too. It's amazing what a year can do. This year his class is all boys, poor Mrs. Raasch. Here's to a good year!

Jackson Dean is 5!!!

Where have the past 5 years gone? I really can't believe that my little boy, my sweet tiny little boy is 5! For his birthday this year we had a construction birthday party in the backyard complete with a bouncy house. We invited a few of his friends and their families and also had my aunt & uncle & cousins (who graciously filled the water balloons) and Nana & Papa Luban come for the party. Since his birthday was actually on Monday we had the party on Sat and we went to Family Funland with our best friends Crystal, Geyer & Liam to celebrate on Mon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON DEAN!!!!

Matt & Jackson

Birthday Boy Jackson Having fun in the bouncy house
Playing in the sandbox w/Tyler & Jackson S.
Monkey's on the swings.

The kids tossing water balloons.Birthday Boy's turnConstruction Cake Yummy!!
Happy 5th Birthday Jackson!!!
Playing w/his cake instead of eating it. Family FunlandBlue Moon ice cream...YAY!!! He's 5!

Traverse City

Here are some pics from our trip to Traverse City. We had a fantastic time and can't wait to go back again next year!

Brandon, Jackson & Lucy

Jackson collecting rocks.Brandon & I on the ferris wheel ( & Jackson's forehead).
Having fun w/Lucy.
Hole in one!! On his first try!
Fire chief B.
Grand Traverse Light house

Jackson & Papa at the lighthouse
A couple of monkeys sitting in a tree.

All set to fish. Watching daddy & papa fish.
Historic Fishtown
In front of Sleeping Bear dunes.
Jackson playing w/Lucy...again.
Collecting firewood.
Brandon playing w/marshmallows & sparklers.

As you can tell we kept busy and had lots of fun. We went to a pig roast, a festival, fishing, had a picnic, spent a day at the beach, and much more. It was such a wonderful visit. We miss you already Nana, Papa, & Lucy!!

Milwaukee Children's Hospital

This blog started as a way to keep friends and family up to date as we were in the hospital and sort of as a log of Jackson's surgeries (from 2007 and on).

Well we had our first visit to Milwaukee's Children's Hospital this week. Tues morning Jackson woke up early (earlier than usual) and went to the potty and was ready to play. I told him that it was a little too early to play and that he needed to go back to bed. So he did and I laid on his floor until he fell back asleep then went back to my room. Brandon got ready for work and before leaving he peeked in on him, as he normally does and when I left our room I also peeked in. Jackson was sleeping and everything seemed normal. About 7:30 I saw Bubba walk by and shortly after that I heard some noises coming from Jackson's room. I thought he was talking to Bubba or his animals and let it be. After about 5 mins I still heard the noises and went in to say Good Morning. When I walked in noticed he wasn't talking like I had thought but he was convulsing and foaming at the mouth. He was having a seizure.

I quickly picked him up and ran down the hall in search of the phone. I called 911 and explained the situation. When they hung up I called Brandon and talked to him until the police and ambulance arrived. Jackson was still having a seizure at this point. The ambulance made a quick stop (less than 5mins) to wait for the West Bend paramedics who had Adavant (a medication to stop seizures). Jackson had been seizing for about 20 mins at this time. While waiting for the WB paramedics the Jackson ones were able to put in an IV so as soon as the WB crew got there they were able to administer the meds. Once the meds were in him he stopped seizing and was pretty much out of it.

When we arrived at Children's they did the necessary vitals and info exchange and within 20 mins after arriving they took us back to xray and CT. They compared the CT results w/the ones we had on disk from Greenville (back in '07) and noticed that one of the ventricles was slightly enlarged. Brandon arrived shortly after that and we were told he'd be taken into surgery around 1pm. We were given a room and our great friend Crystal came up to be with us and make a few runs for us so that we didn't have to leave the hospital. Around 1pm they took us down to pre-op, where we met with the anesthesiologists and said our "see-ya-laters". Jackson was still pretty out of it which made it easier. Surgery took a little over an hour and then the neurosurgeons came up and said they had found a blockage in the catheter that goes into the ventricle. They replaced that and then checked the rest of the shunt to make sure that was working alright before closing him up.

In the past, when waking up in recovery Jackson had always been really ill (upset, screaming, crying, etc.). This time he didn't do any of that. He was very sleepy and didn't want to wake up but when he finally did he said "Do you know what? James was covered in coal and had to get a washdown". I just laughed. Who else would be talking about trains but Jackson. I knew right then that he was feeling much better.

He was excited to see daddy when we got back to the room and a little sore. They gave him some morphine and then we rested for awhile. Brandon went back to the house that night to get some sleep, check on the house and the cats and to bring a few things back with him the next morning. Jackson slept on and off that night. We watched a lot of Thomas and Mighty Machines (actually the same movies over and over and over again) but whatever was going make him feel better I was up for. He did so well every time the nurses came in to do vitals. He'd show them which arm he wanted them to take his temp under and he'd hold out his leg for the blood pressure. This is something that he once would scream about every time they came in. It was such a relief. By the next morning he was ready to go home and kept asking when we could. Thankfully they had a playroom and that helped to pass the time while waiting for the ok to go. They wanted to be sure he was eating and drinking alright before releasing us and shortly after lunch we had the ok. We got home around 3pm on Wed. He was still really weak and wobbly that night but slept great!

Its been almost two years since the last time we were in the hospital maybe we can make it longer until the next time. At least we're praying that we do.

SC Trip

Last weekend I took my first trip back to SC since our move to Wisconsin. I was asked to be in a wedding in Columbia and went down a day early to spend a little time in the upstate. On my way into town I became a little chocked up. It was my first time back since that looong summer in the hospital and it hit me a bit. I first went to Boiling Springs and took a drive thru our old neighborhood. The house pretty much looked the same except for a few bushes and it looks like it could use a new roof. Brandon's fence was still up and it was fun to see some of the trees we planted and how big they have become. After that I went visit my girlfriend Machelle and check out her new salon, Kidz Kutz. Then it was on to Woodsberry. I got chocked up again driving into the neighborhood and when I got to Martin & Nancy's and seen Nancy I had a few tears. It was so nice to see them again and they were kind enough to let me stay the night with them. We went out for Mexican, something I had been craving since we moved. Wisconsin really doesn't have any good Mexican restaurants, at least I haven't found one yet. It was great catching up and seeing them all again.

Our first house in Boiling Springs, SC

Friday morning I was back on the road heading to Columbia for the bridal luncheon. When I pulled up to the restaurant I spotted Joni & Stacey went over to say hello and I lost it again. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed them until I saw them again. They have been in our lives thru so much and will always be Aunt Joni & Aunt Stacey to Jackson. I love them like my own family. Anyway, the luncheon was beautiful and it was good to see some of their friends and family that I had already known and to meet the rest of them and Paul's relatives.

Joni's beautiful centerpiece.

The table all set.

Stacey & Joni Stacey & I

Friday evening was the wedding rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. Both went well and of course a few more tears were shed. Especially at the dinner where I had to say a little something about the bride to be.

Jessica, me, Stacey, Michelle & Hillary at the rehearsal dinner.

Saturday was the big day and I was trying to sleep in a bit but of course wasn't able to. Oh well. I had a hair appt that morning and was going for a pedicure and while I waited for the mall to open I went to Toys'r'us to pick up a little something for Jackson. He was having a great time with his best buddy, Daddy. After hair & pedi it was on to the church to get ready for the wedding. The girls got ready first and then we helped Stacey. She was radiant and so calm. The church was beautiful and smelled like a florist. For those that don't know, Stacey is an orchestra teacher and she also plays the violin in the SC Philharmonic. She is an amazing musician. So for her wedding of course the music was absolutely breathtaking! It was a beautiful wedding and reception and just a wonderful weekend. I'm so glad I was able to make it for their special day. Congratulations once again Stacey & Paul!!

Getting her vail on.

All ready.
The Burnette's
Stacey & I
Harrison, Stacey & I Wesley & I
The Dobyn's. Sunrise on my way to Charlotte.

What a weekend! I can't wait to go back and to take my boys with me next time.

"Isn't this Great"

I think summer has finally arrived. YAY!! What a wonderful couple of weekends we've had! Not only did we have great weather we also had wonderful company. Last weekend Nana & Papa Barnett came for a visit. We all went fishing at a pond in Cedarburg on Friday, and on Sat we went to Breakfast on the farm and checked out the carnival at the Action in Jackson festival. We love having them over and are excited to see them again at the end of July when we'll take the S.S. Badger over to spend a long weekend with them. (38 more days).

Jackson fishing w/Papa.

Hayride to the farm.
Checking out the cows.

The petting farm

Trips not complete w/out a ride. :)

Brandon, Papa & Jackson at the carnival.
Tilt-a-whirl...almost tossed my cookies on this one!



For Father's day weekend, Jackson and I planned to surprise Brandon with a camp out in the backyard and a day of fishing. We were going to have the tent and everything set up on Friday and surprise him when he came home from work that day. Unfortunately the weather didn't like that idea, so we surprised him with the camping supplies stacked in the garage waiting for him to help us set up sometime on Sat. Brandon decided to go to the beach instead of fishing (he did pack his fishing supplies just in case) so we packed a lunch and the sand toys and went up to the Kettle Moraine State Forest for the day. The weather was great, the water wasn't too cold and we were able to spend some family time together and just relax. It was perfect! A few times while were up there Jackson said "Isn't this great mom. Just me and you and my dad". It really doesn't get any better then that! On the way home we stopped for ice cream and when we got home we all took a short nap and then set up our camp in the backyard. We made little pizza's over the fire (hobo pies) for dinner and then made smore's. It's just not camping unless you have smore's. :) We finally got Jackson in the tent around 10pm and after a few stories (about Thomas of course) we all fell asleep. He did really well until about 4am when he woke up and couldn't get back to sleep so we all went in the house to snuggle up in our beds. Jackson was up around 6am as usual but we let daddy sleep in and had Jackson's new favorite for breakfast...pancakes! YUM!

The backyard campsite

Roasting marshmallows.
Eating smores.

Eating marshmallows
Jackson & daddy in the tent.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!