No Mo Chemo

Life is still crazy in the Jeffrey-Jackson household. Michael is working 7 days a week for Pilot Catastrophe, if I have mentioned that yet. As you know the housing market has slowed down (not too much for Michael though.) He had a friend approach him about working for Pilot for a few months. We prayed about it and realized that God's timing could not be more perfect. I knew that is was going to be hard, but I feel like I am back in the days of "Single Mom" again. Don't get me wrong, there are no complaints from me. It is hard when you don't get a family day together. Well, to the point of this blog entry. It was my nephew's NO MO CHEMO party yesterday at Camp Grace. This place is heaven on earth that is tucked away off of Eliza Jordan Road. It is a beautiful property with a huge lake and rolling green hills. After three years of chemo treatment, Ethan is FINISHED!!! YEAH FOR ETHAN! We as a family are so excited and so excited for my sister that maybe life will slow down for her. Ethan's cancer treatments have been a long and devastating process for our family. Ethan was a happy almost 2 year when he was diagnosed. Then started all the treatments. As if that wasn't enough, when he was three, he went into cardiac arrest due to a respiratory failure. Ethan is now wheelchair bound. He can not walk, talk, or not eat through his mouth. Don't get me wrong, Ethan is a bright and happy child. He understands everything going on around, loves to be a part things, and is learning to communicate through sign language. The hardest part of this whole thing is Ethan beat cancer! We are suppose to move on and Ethan is suppose to begin his life again as a normal 5 year old little boy. I guess God had a different plan. Ethan is moving on in his life, just a little different than we thought. I pray for my sister the most. She has just been making it through life one day at a time. The chemo, doctor visits, and therapy visits have kept her so busy that she really has had time process Ethan's long term care. She is just living day to day. I really think that is all starting to hit her and she is mourning the loss of the Ethan we knew before the "incident" (we call it.) For those of you that do read this, please pray for her that she stays focused on the future and not re-lives the "what could have beens." As for the day, we had a great time with food, fun, and the water activities you could imagine. Ethan was so excited and a GREAT day!

Back to work I go...

It is has been my official first week back to work. I am working for CPSI in Mobile. I will be a clinical support rep. CPSI provides electronic medical documentation for hospitals. (And there are many parts.) My job includes completing hospital installs for hospitals all over the country and supporting them when they get up and going. I will train the nurses on how to use the system. Travel will be involved but there are perks to the job. I do get to keep the sky miles and hotel points for our personal use. We are very excited. Baylee has reminded me of all the places she wants to go! They would include Hawaii, New York, and maybe California. For now, I am going through intense training until December. For me, it is like learning Chinese. It is something totally different and a new challenge. Michael is a very important part of the puzzle. When I am on the road, Michael will be the new "Mr. Mom." Baylee will learn to adjust, but it will be good for both of them. They will learn to depend on each other. They get along great, I have faith they will do fine. Say a prayer though, just in case! I do have to dress everyday, meaning no more scrubs and crocs. My morning includes, ironing, actually fixing my hair, and heels everyday. Boy, I sure miss my scrubs and crocs! Please keep us in your prayers for a smooth transition for my changing career. I am excited for the new challenges ahead!

Volleyball Memories...

I am officially old...seriously. For those that know me I have had a really hard time with Baylee going into seventh grade. Michael reminded me today that Baylee will have her learner's permit in 2 1/2 years. OMG!! I can't believe that I am old enough to have a child that age. I really loved the years that I spent in middle school and majority of memories from high school. Truthfully, it doesn't seem like it was that long ago. Well Saturday, Baylee had a volleyball tournament at Gulf Shores Middle/High School. It was like a time warp! I could not believe that I was sitting there with Amy V. and we are watching MY child play volleyball. I took a little stroll up the hall and showed Baylee my old classrooms (Mr. Valine...remember Heather in the Ding Dong Mobile.) I loved middle school. It was so innocent...we had so much fun and I loved all my friends. Amy and I figured up that it was almost 20 years ago...20 YEARS AGO!!! At 12 years old, 20 years from now is when you go into the nursing home. Well, get ready Amy, we are headed to the nursing home. Don't worry, Amy and I will rock that nursing home!! Hahaha....here are a few pics from the tournament.

Can you say crazy?

Can you say crazy? This week just about takes the cake as one of the busiest week in our house in a long time. Baylee had volleyball tryouts this week and was very excited. For those that know me, I love some volleyball. I was so proud to see my baby wanting to play. Needless to say, BAYLEE MADE THE TEAM!! Yippeee! We were so happy. In the midst of all that, my mother in law called to tell me that my father in law failed his cardiac stress test and was being admitted to Mobile Infirmary. The next few days were a whirlwind. A heart cath and emergency open heart surgery followed. The day that Bobby had his surgery, we got word that his brother had a routine heart cath (that we did know about) and he was scheduled for open heart surgery the next day at Providence. What?? We were all dumbfounded. The moral of that story is if you family members that need surgery at the same time...have them in the same hospital. Especially in this wonderful weather that we call Fay. My father in law has had a few set backs with his lungs. His brother is doing well. Baylee has her first volleyball tomorrow at Baker High School. This is my last full week home before I start work next Tuesday. I hope things slow down just a little...but I really don't think they will.

Thunder on The Gulf

We had a great this weekend at Thunder on The Gulf. We got the VIP passes and you would think Baylee was the president coming through. We let her take her friend Lauren and they had a blast. Michael and I were not cool enough to be seen with the girls. They told us we were THEIR entourage (and then Baylee asked what entourage was, HAHA!) We were at the Perdido Beach Resort and the weather was beautiful. The girls swam at the beach and then ran back to pool. After a little while, I went to check on them...they were in the ADULTS ONLY hot tub. (reminded me of the old days crashing a hot tub a time or two, but don't tell Baylee.) The boats were fun to watch as well as people that show up for that type of event...you have all kinds. After I got sunburned, it was time to go. We headed over to The Wharf and shopped for awhile. Last night was the Sugarland and Leanne Rimes concert. Apparently we didn't need tickets, you could sit on the bench and listen to them warm up...it was a nice end to a great day.

An official 7th grader

It was mass chaos in the middle school halls of Faith Academy. Baylee's excitement was in full gear. For those of you that know her, that means I had to pull her off the ceiling. Baylee has been so excited about going back to school. Well, I figured out why...BOYS! OMG, she talked about this boy had grown was "looking way cuter than last year." I informed her that we were there to learn and not to check out boys. (I sounded like my mother.) After on hour of hearing ALL the rules of Faith Academy, it was on to the locker scene. With all the girls squealing, I was so ready for a Xanax or Margarita. We got the locker decorated. The funniest thing happened. I was standing there helping Baylee and one of the teachers/coach walked up to me...I guess he thought I was a student. When I turned around, he was startled "oh your the Mom." I laughed and then he went into the famous old question..."So, how tall are you?" Well, it was a fun filled day. I dropped her off this morning and off she went...an official 7th grader.

No crayons needed for 7th grade

For years I have complained about Baylee's growing school supply list. You send your child to school with paper, pencils, and crayons. This day in time, you have to buy paper towels, ziploc bags, and one year... toilet paper (I swear.) The list goes on and on. The next thing you know you have well over $100 in just paper products. That does not include backpack and the "cool" lunchbox. Well, this year with great sadness, I did not buy one single pack of crayons or markers. I tried to buy them but Baylee refused. Please I begged her, just for old times sake. She reminded me that no crayons are needed for 7th grade. Please do not think that I got off any cheaper because this year we had to buy "locker supplies." That included color coordinating locker shelf, magnets, and post it notes. All she needs now for the locker is a set of curtains and a disco ball. Party in Baylee's locker! She gets it honestly for those of you that know me...Well, tomorrow is the first day of school. I was informed that we have to get there early to decorate her locker...not to do the important stuff like register for school, duh! For those of you reading this with small cute little kids, your day is coming...just wait!