The J's: 2018 Catch Up

We have been busy as usual and I have been slacking at this blogging thing. Let’s catch up...

We rang in the New Year in our bedroom with the boys because Jaylee had her Bday party celebration with 20 girls. They seemed to have a lot of fun. She’s easily social, but prefers to just hang out with her BFF Liv.

Jack had a fun first season playing B-ball at the Rec. Jason and I coached his team. He’s just so dang athletic, and he takes his sports very serious.

Jack’s first competitive wrestling season was fantastic... I did not know how fun it was to watch. His first two matches were just him using his crazy core strength to over power his components, then he really wanted to learn moves so Jason coached him here at the house. And, he became a real wrestler. His first loss was absolutely heartbreaking... for all of us. He ended up taking 3rd place in the Championship Tournament. There’s only one kid who he wrestled that dominated him, and he wrestles year round. Luckily, they won’t be in the same wt class for long! Here’s a few of my favorite pix, Jason also made him an awesome video. Jack frequently says (straight faced) “Don’t mess with me, I’m a wrestler!”

Jason took the girls to the annual Daddy Daughter Dance with the Manheim Twp Rec. They’ve done this for appx 8 years. Jenni looked so grown up! She’s very into makeup and doing her hair, these days. She surprised us with her heels. Jason took Jenni to Johnny’s Steakhouse for filet, before the dance (Jaylee had lax practice).

Jaylee’s friends talked her into playing lacrosse because the JV team did not have a goalie. She started over Christmas on the indoor team. She certainly is not afraid, when she in the goal. Training with Rugby and Lax caused her bad shin pain. It’s very rare to see Jaylee cry, so when it happened twice in a week, we headed to Dr, which was her request. Eventually we ended up with an Ortho Dr because everyone thinks she has Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome. She’s been very mature about the fact that for 4 weeks she hasn’t been allowed to play Rugby b/c she’s not allowed to run. She can still stand in the lax goal. She’s done a lot of PT and is allowed to try running at 50% again. If the pain returns, she’s looking at A) givebup sports B) Deal with the pain C) surgery. She truly misses rugby and she had done so good at the Frost Bite Tounrmant in Feb.

Jennibelle did indoor soccer with her travel team again. She even got to play Goalie 3 or 4 times. She did not love it, LOL. She’s decided to stop doing travel soccer, she may try rugby in the fall.

Jimmy still deals with his Cyclic Vomitting, but it’s only 1x a month now. We haven’t been able to get him to the ER yet when it’s happening to have the special blood work done... bad Mommy... He’s so used to it and is so good about hitting the bucket and taking his meds.

He’s also had a lot of fun with his school...

A field trip to Tiny Town, Daddy was a Mystery Reader in his class, a sleepover with Homer the Bear, a school roller skating party and then his first solo play date ever, with Brenton.

He’s even signed up for his first soccer team, with Daddy coaching him. He, literally, works on his “soccer skills” almost every day.

The boys entered the church’s Pinewood Derby Car race again this year. They each completed their car, with Jason, in 1 day. Jimmy was so into it!!! His car was Bumblebee. He painted it himself and won 1st place for the paint job!

Jackson made Optimus Prime, he had to be encouraged at first, but then enjoyed working on it. He won 3rd place for pain job.

They each raced the car 3x’s down the hill, each taking first place 1 time.

The girls did not partake this year but were there to cheer them on.

For Christmas, Jaylee bought me a yoga class at Float Yoga... SO FUN!!!

Jackson turned SEVEN. I, literally, can not believe it. All of those weeks that were spent bedside in the Lancaster County hospitals seem like a lifetime ago, praise God!! He had a football bday party with tacos and ice cream cake.

His pediatrician and nephrologist are both retiring this year. His urologist is happy that a 1/2 pill each morning keeps his undies dry at school... it has been an answer to prayers. Kids would soon start noticing. His creatinine and HUN are stable for now!!!

His 1st grade teacher has been out for a few months and it’s really killed his “like” of school. We had tears many mornings. Now she’s back and he’s starting to enjoy it more.

His eyes are green now, no longer blue, no longer gray.

Jackson is super sensitive.

His feelings get hurt so easily.

This is Jayden, his on again, off again BFF.

His reading has really come along...

I love when he gets overly dramatic when reading...

Jack got the BEST bday gift from Nan and Poppop...

SKYZONE

ALL 4 kids LOVED it.

Even with the cold rainy windy weather we had, the kids play so well together in the house. (Even though the boys would love to play video games all day long.)

I think they’d learn more st home on their snow days, then they would at school...