Just like Jade

The other morning Jade came home from work at Costco and put her hat and hairnet on the kitchen table. She works in the Deli and is required to wear the hairnet, which doesn't make for a very good hair day.

Along came Madeline. She picked up the hat and hairnet, put it on and exclaimed "look, I'm just like Jadie!" Hey mama, I'm Jadie now!"

I guess it just goes to show you never know who is watching you. . . .

SuRGerY = MoTHeR of the YeAR!!

Before you start this post, I want you to rest assured that I have already been nominated for "Mother of the Year" for this incident that you are about to read, so you don't need to go to the trouble. . . .

Jade was a cheerleader for 4 years (grades 9-12). During this time she worked on and perfected her tumbling. She was fun to watch and when her squad performed for competitions, Jade was one of the ones who tumbled throughout the routine.

About mid-way though her Senior year in High School she started complaining about her foot and toes hurting. I brushed her off - telling her to take it easy and "stop wearing flip flops all the time - you probably just stubbed it!"

Well, she kept complaining and nagging me to take her to the doctor. I finally relented (after about 9 months) figuring that this was not something that was just going to go away. I mean she was walking only on the outside of her foot when I finally made the appointment.

We went to a podiatrist and he thought that she may have a neuroma - something that usually occurs on older people with diabetes. Jade didn't really fit that profile, but it can occur in younger people who have had a traumatic injury. Jade didn't really remember any one event of falling, stubbing her toe, etc. (there have been many - she was blessed with my grace. . . .) So the first thing the doctor tried was giving her a steroid shot in her foot (on the top, between the 2nd and 3rd toes - OUCH!) to try to break up the neuroma.

This didn't work and so after another 2 months we decided that she REALLY did need surgery.

We had to be at the hospital at 5:45 am - a number on the clock that I am not crazy to see and Jade is even LESS crazy about. We tried to have her surgery scheduled at Timp Hospital since that is where my sister Norma is an O.R. nurse, but our insurance said we had to go to Utah Valley. (X$%#&&!! insurance) It would have been so much more fun to make it a family event!

When she got all ready and we were waiting for her to go back to surgery (it's always hurry up and wait), I realized that I had my camera in my purse and brought it out. Jade wasn't very happy with me when I told her that this momentous occasion was blogworthy. She made the snide remark about how I should wait until my Mother of the Year award came and THEN post it since I took almost a year for her to get her foot fixed and according to her "if I can't physically SEE the problem - it obviously doesn't exist!"

I told her it was a character building experience.

Here are the pictures I'll be showing during my acceptance speech:

Here is Jade BEFORE they gave her feel good drugs - she's not too happy and doesn't want her picture taken. I can't imagine why - I mean I think that the hairnet is just "bringin' SeXY back!!"

Before they operate, they have you draw on the body part that is being operated on and initial it. Just to make sure they get the right one. Here is Jade's foot with her autograph and Dr. G's.

There she goes - being wheeled into surgery. Too bad it's not MY sister wheeling her back. . .

Here's Jade and Dr. G. - AFTER the surgery - notice how she is all smiles - yeah love those mind altering drugs! We love Dr. G - he has been great throughout this whole thing. (And it couldn't hurt that he thought I was Jade's big sister the first time we met!)

Here is her foot, all yellow from the beta dine (sp). The surgery went really well and Dr. G said that there was definitely a neuroma in there. He is sure that it came from a previous injury. I think tumbling was the culprit, but who knows?!!? Notice the SNaPPy shoe - she gets to wear this cute thing for 2 weeks. Yep, definitely bringin' Sexy Back with this baby! She would like to "Bedazzle" it - so if anyone out there is willing to share their bedazzler, let me know.

Here's Jade shortly after the surgery giving me "two thumbs up". Definitely still on heavy drugs.

This is a picture of Jade as we were getting ready to go home - they now give you these disposable shorts to wear under your gown so you are not flashing everyone when you get up to use the ladies room! What a great idea!!


Jade has spent the past few days at home either on the couch or in her bed and Jack has appointed himself as her personal nurse. Two days ago when she came upstairs in the morning, Jack got out the down blanket (he calls it "Puffy") and arranged some pillows on the couch so she could put her foot up. Then he was very solicitous about getting her water, making sure the TV was on the right channel etc. He is such a sweet boy - she couldn't ask for a better nursemaid!

First Day of School

Last week was the start of the school year at our house.

Jade started college at Utah Valley University.

Jack started his second year of pre-school.

Since Jade and I are "sharing" a car - this means that I usually have the car and drive her around - which, secretly, I love. I picked her up from her job at Costco and took her to school. Her BF Willy has a car and they have almost all the same classes so he can give her a ride home and pick her up from work on most days.

On this particular day she asked me to drop her off at Willy's car so she could meet him. Since it was her first day of school and she claimed she was in too much of a hurry to take a picture while we were at home, I brought out the camera and took one while she was waiting for Willy. She was HORRIFIED!!

Oh, I know she looks happy enough in this picture, but let me tell you she was not a happy camper. As she later told me I completely embarassed her. First, it is bad enough that your MOM has to take you to school, but then she is taking pictures of you on top of it?!?! OHHH the Indignity of it all!!! So here you go Jade - I love you and I'm just proud that you are going to college!

A few days later Jack started Pre-School at Miss Hollie's Happy Hive Preschool. He goes 3 days a week and LOVES it so far.

On the morning that he was to start school he woke up and wanted to wear some of his new school clothes. I explained that his school clothes would be a little hot for that day, but he insisted.

As he was getting dressed Madeline came in and demanded to know where HER school clothes were. I had a feeling that this would happen since she has been talking non-stop about when SHE is going to go to school with Jack and when SHE starts school, etc. So I had bought her a new little outfit as a little bit of "screaming, meltdown, fit insurance". We got everyone dressed and avoided any major mishaps that morning.

Jack was only too happy to have his picture taken and didn't even seem to mind that Madeline insisted on being in every single picture since she thought that she would be going to school too.

When we pulled up to let Jack out, Madeline started saying "let me out, I'm going to school too!" "Unbuckle me!" She was very angry that I would not let her go with Jack. She thinks that she is his equal.

When Jack got out of the car I asked him if he wanted me to walk him up to the door and he said "Nah, I can do it." He then started to run across the lawn and then it was like he suddenly remembered that he needed to be cool and started to walk again. It was cute.

All that morning as we were running errands she kept saying "let's go find Jack". She really missed him, only if it was for 2 1/2 hours.

And then it hit me that before I know it, I will be sending Jack off to college. Who knows, maybe I'll drive him to school on HIS first day of college and take his picture.

Jade's Graduation

I can't believe that my little girl has graduated! This is so bittersweet for me. I am so proud of her and the young woman that she has become this far in her life and can't wait to see what the future will hold for her. I know that she will accomplish great things!

Here is our clan along with my Mom.

Jade's Dad and Grandma Chris from Arizona came for her graduation. She doesn't get to see them very much and I was happy that they were able to come for her.

Here's Jade showing her "real" side!

Jade, Jordan and their Dad Eric.

Jade and Willy

Jade and her friend Bree

Jade and her friend Kaeli (do you think they look alike?) They have been mistaken for twins on more than one occasion which is ironic because Kaeli is a triplet!

Jack & Madeline, having had enough of the picture taking are plotting their escape . . . . Unfortunately Mark and Matt are wise to their plans - - curses foiled again!!

Senior Prom

A few weeks ago both Jade and Matt went to their Senior Prom. Here are a few pictures:

Here's Matt and his date. Mark wondered about the cane and asked him if he was hurt and had trouble walking! Jade assured us that canes and hats were "cool".

This is Matt's group - it was a big one. They had their prom at the Hale Center Theater in West Valley. They had a great time!

(Matt is on the far left side, back row).

Here are some pictures of Jade and her date, Willy. I have more pics of Jade because she is used to me tagging along to EVERYTHING.

Here's Willy picking her up at the house.

Then they went to the high school to meet up with their group and have their pictures taken. This is where they also met the limo. We waited in the parking lot for them to come out for a while (OK , really about 5 minutes) and then I decided that we could wait inside and see them get their pictures taken just as easily as we could wait in the parking lot.

So, we went inside and people watched while we waited. This is a "taget rich environment" if you're into people watching!

When they lined up to get their group picture taken I quickly took some pictures of my own. I had to be sneaky since I didn't think the REAL photo people would appreciate me in their territory!

Here they are in front of the the limo.

They went to dinner in SLC and their prom was at the Gateway. I introduced myself to the limo driver and he assured me that he would take good care of them. I was glad that they weren't driving themselves since there was a Jazz playoff game, a Led Zeplin concert and three other proms in downtown that night!

Here are Jade & Willy getting into the limo - I'm not sure if Jade is more excited to get into the limo or to finally be rid of me!!

Kidnaped!

This past week there was a mass kidnaping in our town! There were a total of 27 girls taken from their beds in the wee hours of the morning.


However, it’s not quite what you might think.

Since Jade is a Senior, she and the other senior girls are responsible for the initiation of the new cheerleaders. (Nothing mean, just something fun, so they can all meet each other)


Each senior was responsible for picking up 3-4 other girls. They called the girl's parents beforehand so that there would be no nasty surprises when the they showed up at 5:15 in the morning to get them out of bed.

All went as planned and they arrived at my house at 6:15 am for breakfast.





When Jade first asked if they could have breakfast at our house, I said "Sure."

Now, maybe you are thinking that I should have been thinking ahead and asked a few more questions when she first brought it up - - I was sure kicking myself for not asking!
Here is how our conversation went:

Jade: "Mom, remember when you said I could have the cheer initiation breakfast at our house?"

Me: "ummm hmmm" Did I mention that it is 9:45 pm and I am lying in bed almost asleep?!?

Jade: "Well how about Thursday, as in this Thursday?"

Me: (a little more awake now) "Uhh, sure. What time do you think you will be here?"


Jade: "Well, no later than 6:15, cause we have to get them to school after that and make sure they can’t go home and fix their hair, etc."







Me: "6:15 in the MORNING?! OK. How many people are we talking about here?"


Jade: "Well, with all of the new girls and the outgoing seniors there will be 33 people."
Me: (thinking to myself. . . What the FIRE! You should ask MORE questions EARLIER!) Now out loud to Jade: "OK, I think I can do that."

After all that, it actually went pretty good. I made four breakfast casseroles and bought lots of juice and milk. I got up at 4:30 that morning to start baking and it was ready to go when they arrived - nothing short of a small miracle!
Now, if you have ever been to my house you know that I don’t really have space to seat 33 people, so the consequence was that we had girls, girls everywhere!
Despite the lack of space and the early hour, they all had a good time and ate almost every morsel I put out for them.

At 7:10 am the all got into their cars and went to school. Here's what was left.