Fall Fun

I've been slacking on posting lately so here's a little picture update:

Jackson's first field trip with his 4k class to the apple orchard.






Field trip to the Pumpkin Farm, it was a COOOLD day for pumpkin picking!

Halloween!

As you can see he's doing well. He loves school and thinks it's too cool that his class is all boys. He did have a brief overnight in the hospital just before Halloween for another seizure. He is now on anti-seizure meds so hopefully we won't have to go thru that again anytime soon. It didn't take him long to recover this time, before we left the hospital he was trying to be Mr. Independent and didn't want us to help him with anything. And two days later on Halloween he was raring to go. I wish I had the strength and spirit that he does. He is such an amazing little boy. And we are SO blessed to have him!

Halloween Fun!

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Dozer Days

Dozer Days happens every other year in a quarry down in Sussex and is a little boys dream! Construction trucks everywhere! You have the chance to climb on, operate and ride on all sorts of construction equipment. From dump trucks to front end loaders to excavators and bulldozers. They even had a helicopter, a firetruck and bus that traveled thru a tunnel to the rock crusher. We didn't get to do that this year, the line was way too long but next time for sure! This year we went with our great friends the Tollstams and had such a great time! The weather couldn't have been more perfect.

The boys (Geyer, Liam & Jackson)
Checking out a bulldozer Sitting in a scoop w/Crystal Standing by a tire of the largest front end loader I've ever seen. A giant dump truck

Watching the excavators Our ride in a giant dump truck Having fun! What Goofs!

Soccer

This fall Jackson is playing soccer for the first time. His first game was too cute! He had a HUGE smile on his face and ran like he was running in place. They don't keep score but if they had their team would have won and Jackson even had an assist. It may have been one of the only times he touched the ball but he loved it. I can't wait for the next game!

Jackson & his best friend Matt

His tongue is out = he's concentrating
Running for the ball Jackson & Coach Lisa
Thumbs up to soccer!

The Pups

Labor Day Trip

For our last trip of the summer we went back home to MI. It was probably our last trip there til Christmas. On each trip back when we first get into Michigan, the very first exit, there are signs for a toy train store. We've talked several times about stopping, but never quite had the time. This time we made the stop in New Buffalo and Jackson was in heaven!

The toy train store

Look at all the Thomas!

Watching a train display at the New Buffalo train museum

Daddy & Jackson waiting at the old train stop.

Normally our trips back are CRAZY. We are driving here and there trying to make all the rounds and see everyone we can then it's back in the car to come home. Many times we don't get to do or see things we want to do and it seems like we need a vacation from our vacation. We've had enough of those trips and decided that this time it was going to be different and it was. Brandon spent a day golfing and Jackson & I spent an entire day in Grand Haven with my sister, his cousins and my mom. It was SOO nice!! We played at the Imagination Station, walked the boardwalk and the pier, played on the beach, jumped the rocks and of course got ice cream. Then it was back to Nana & Papa Driesenga's for Fricano's....YUM!!!

Jackson (w/a cheesy smile), Cameron & Austin

Jackson @ Imagination Station

Playing on the rocks

Grand Haven Pier

One of the reason's we planned this trip was because Heather & Matt were going to be coming home at the same time. We haven't seen them since their wedding back in Feb and were VERY excited to be able to spend some time w/them. Auntie Heather took Jackson back to Build-a-Bear and he made Turtle-ee a friend, Monkey-ee.

Giving Auntie Heather a thank you kiss
Hanging out w/Auntie Heather

Uncle Matt, Turtle-E & Monkey-E

Hanging at the Beach w/uncle Matt

Playing w/the kittens (Tuckers brothers & sisters) :)

It was a great trip and we are looking for many more "relaxed" ones like it!

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.