A First

Jared looking so handsome and ready for his first day of Primay! (He's saying "cheese")

Jared went to Primary (our church children's program) for the first time today! We have kept him home for the past four years to keep him healthy and away from germs, but now that he is older, it was time. Our Primary presidency has been fantastic to work with in preparing for Jared to attend. They have called a darling girl to be his aide. She will always be with him and will help him to slowly make the adjustment to being there. She will take him out when he is getting restless and play with him and help him with whatever he may need. We are also having a meeting with the parents of the other children in his class to help reiterate the importance of keeping their child home if they are at all sick. Everyone has been so kind and understanding of him and are just as excited to have him there as we are. He is ready and they are ready for him!





He looked so tiny sitting on his chair but he had a grin on his face that lit up the room. He was so excited to be with the other kids, and his aide said that he did really well. They took several walks and toy breaks but he made it though the two hours just fine. I can't believe that he is even old enough to be in primary. He skipped the nursery stage and he has missed almost all of the first year of primary and so it seems strange to have him there all of a sudden. But, that is the way it has been with Jared. It was the same way with pre-school. My baby is suddenly a big boy! I know that I have been spoiled because he has been my "baby" for longer than most, but it is still happening too fast! It is wonderful to see him participating in "normal" activities. There were times that I never thought that it would happen. What a blessing this little boy has been to us. I love him so much and I am so proud to be his mommy!

Quick Update

Those antibiotics did the trick. Jared is doing much better and will hopefully be heading back to pre-school on Tuesday. Thanks for all of the prayers!

HopeKids Wasatch Adventure!

Saturday was the first annual HopeKids Wasatch Adventure 5k walk & run. It was so much fun! I formed a team and then Tyler wanted to form his own team, so we had a great time. Each team of up to five people had to earn $100 dollars to enter. Tyler and his friends, Matt and Chelsie, and his cousin, Katie, were on his team. They had a car wash a few weeks ago and with the help of all of their families, we were able to wash enough cars for them to enter. Tyler's team was Kids for Hope and they were so enthusiastic and excited to participate. They did a wonderful job and I think that they learned a lot about setting a goal and working hard to achieve it.

Team Kids for Hope!

Chelsie, Tyler, Matt, and Katie


Thanks to our many wonderful family, friends and neighbors I was able to make my goal of fundraising $300 dollars! Yeah! It was great to be able to help support this wonderful organization who has done so much for our family, as well as for so many other families. They have truly been a blessing to us. It has been so nice to be able to be around people that really understand what having a sick is all about. Yesterday, we got on the little train ride with four other HopeKids and their families. Jared had his feeding pump on and it started beeping. Everyone on the train started looking around at their pumps making sure that it wasn't their child's pump that was beeping. Jared and all four of the other children on the train had the exact same feeding pump! We all looked at each other and started laughing because normally we get weird looks and stares in public, but instead we all assumed that it was ours beeping! It was one of those moments that help you realize that you really aren't alone. That has been one of the blessings of HopeKids. Everyone has a story and we are all connected in the fact that we all have HopeKids! It is amazing how cute each and every HopeKid is. They are such sweet, special, strong, amazing children! And their families are just as strong and amazing!

Jared saying "GO TEAM"

Some of my team, Jared's Angels.

Chelsie, Jared, and Chelsie's mom, Amy

Grandma, Aunt Rachel and baby Maia

Super Dad!

5 Days

Well, Jared made it to preschool five days before he got sick. Five days isn't bad. I would have been happy for more, but hey, we'll appreciate what we get. Yep, Jared is sick. I thought that he just had the same cold that Tyler and Alyssa have had, but this morning he started running a fever. Unfortunately with Jared's medical issues we can't just give him some tylenol and wait for him to get better. We always have to make sure it is not something more than a simple cold.

So, long story short, I took him to the pediatrician and after cathing him to get a urine sample, drawing lots of labs, and swabbing his nose, it looks like he could be brewing some kind of bacterial infection. So, in addition to all of the above he got two big shots of antibiotics in his little legs. He was not a happy camper. Hopefully this will nip what ever his body is fighting in the bud and he'll perk up soon. If his fever gets worse and he is acting sicker, than most likely we'll be back up at the hospital for some IV antibiotics.

One of the hardest things about having a child with serious medical issues is this. We can never just assume that he just has a cold. If he is running a fever we have to investigate. Unfortunately this entails unpleasant medical procedures. It is so hard to watch him have to go through even more unpleasant things when it could all just be a cold, but it could not just be a cold and he could end up really sick and hospitalized. It stinks. Jared is amazing. He is definitely tougher than I am. Hopefully he'll be feeling better in the morning.

Changes

My life is changing. I am alone in my house for the first time in 11 years. Jared started pre-school this week. The van picks him up at 8 AM and drops him off again at 2 PM. School is Tuesday through Friday. He will be gone for 24 hours a week! All three of my children are at school! I should be jumping for joy! I've been dreaming about this day for years! And yet, my heart is hurting. I am sad. It is too quiet and I'm not sure what I am supposed to do with myself. I have oodles of peaches that need to be canned, but I just can't seem to get motivated.


How have I become a mom that has all of her children at school all day? How has the time gone by so quickly and yet so slowly at the same time? What am I going to do without my little buddy Jared attached to my hip 24 hours a day?


I was never sad when Tyler and Alyssa started school. I was actually relieved to have them away for a few hours. But I am a mess with Jared starting. I'm sure that it has a lot to do with the fact that he is my baby. But the fact that he has had so many special needs that have required constant care by me his entire life is just adding to it. It is a leap of trust for me to hand him over for others to care for him. Wow. I just can't believe that I am here already.


I took Jared to school yesterday so that I could teach his teacher how to set up his feeding pump so things didn't feel too differently. He was sooooo excited to ride his bus (or van) to school today. He was giggling in delight as soon as we walked out the door. It will be a long day for him. I think that it will take us both a few days to adjust to our new schedule.


He is going to love school. The teachers and staff are wonderful and it was so great to walk into his class yesterday and see all of these darling kids with their hearing aids or implants on. He is definitely where he needs to be. I know that they will take good care of him.


I miss him already!!!! It just feels so strange to be all alone!

Jared in his school "van" ready for his hour long drive to school! He is the first one to be picked up.
Jared and Daddy. His teachers want them to have a regular size backpack. Jared's is as big as he is!