Thanks Stephen

Jessi's brother has been a huge help over the past two weeks cleaning, cooking, and serving as our personal sherpa. He left for a few days while my brother and his family are visiting from Seattle, but Uncle Stevie may be back for more adventures next week. Life has been crazy enough with him at the house; I can't imagine what the past two weeks would have been like without him there.

See below for a picture of Stephen pushing both kids in a stroller at the mall.

Jackie Update

I often think of things to write in the blog while I am swimming very early in the morning.  The pool where I swim is surrounded by tall redwood trees that are so majestic.  I almost feel like I am at a National Park campground when I swim. Now that I have digressed a little....

While I swim I think of writing blog entries with titles like "What's wrong with this picture," and telling a funny story of how Jon and I were laying on the couch at 5:30 am while Jonah and Jackie were sound asleep in our bed. I also thought that I could write a list of all the things that happen before 9 am in our house.  We all seem to wake up early, except Jon, who has had to become someone who wakes up early.     

Maybe I will get back to some of those funny stories at some point. But this morning I am going to give a Jackie update.  Our sweet Jackie seems back to her energetic, happy self again.  About 1 week after the accident, she started trying to bend her left leg in the harness.  She is so smiley and it is almost impossible to keep her still.  The doctor said to let her do whatever she can do as long as she is wearing the orthosis (As an Orthotist, I have to call the brace an orthosis).  She seems to be able to move pretty well in the orthosis and doesn't seem to be in pain anymore when her leg is moved.  Someone at Jonah's pre-school suggested feeding her kale to help with bone growth.  Jackie loves Kale!  Her temperament has always been to be a mama's girl, but she has been exceptionally attached since her accident.  As her mother it has been difficult for me to work through the accident, but I feel so much better now that she is feeling better.   My brother has been staying with us for the past two weeks to help out.  Most afternoons, we take Jonah and Jackie outside for some fresh air.  Jackie sits in the stroller while we are getting a square plot in the backyard ready to garden.  This has become such a special project that was started after Jackie's accident.  She seems to like to sit still in the fresh air.  

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support.  She will get another x-ray in 4 weeks, so we will be sure to update everyone.  

Baby Jackie's Bad Break

As some of you have already heard, on Saturday evening as Jessi was putting Jackie in the baby carrier Jackie arched her back and started to slip out of the carrier.  Jessi reached around and grabbed Jackie to stop her from falling to the ground, and then heard a pop.  Jackie was whimpering and did not want to crawl or move, so Jessi brought her to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation immediately.  They took some x-rays and determined that Jackie's left femur was broken.  It broke all of the way through at about a 45 degree angle mid-thigh, but it was not displaced.  They put her in a splint on Saturday.

It is tough because she doesn't understand what is going on, but at the same time she is smart and doesn't try to use her left leg.   She hasn't slept well since the accident and kind-of whimpers on and off during the night, but she is really tough and hasn't cried much at all.  She is such a sweet little girl.

We saw a pediatric orthopedic doctor at PAMF today.  The doctor was so great with the kids and was very reassuring.  Because the break was relatively high on the leg, Jackie's leg was not cast; instead she was placed in a brace that attaches across her chest and to each leg to keep her legs at approximately ninety degree angles.  Jessi actually wore the same type of brace for a year when she was a baby to treat her hip dysplasia.  If all goes well, then Jackie will be in hers for six weeks.

Thanks for all of the well wishes.  Jessi's brother is going to stay with us for a few days and help out, and Jonathan is avoiding work for at least a few days.

See below for some pics of our little princess.

Jackie with the brace (and her favorite baby doll).

Jackie with a splint (the day after the break).

Baby Brendan McFarland

The McFarlands gathered in Seattle to meet Ben and Laurie's new baby.  What a cute little boy.  Jonah had such a great time playing with his cousins.  Aidan (the other redhead) and Jonah have many similar interests and play well together.  Sam was really good with Jonah as well.  Ben had a big weekend too, as SPU gave him tenure while we were there.  Nana and grandpa came in from Florida and spoiled all of the grandkids.  Jason and Marnie (Jonathan's cousins) came up from Portland with their kids, who are four months older than Jonah and Jackie respectively.  We had a full house and a lot of fun.

 

Oakland Zoo

Jonah playing in Daddy's toy barrel

Jackie 6 1/2 months

Bedtime!

Jonah's train (one of his many wonderful creations - see how far it stretches)

Just one of those days.....

Today I had just one of those days where nothing seems to go completely right and you just have to keep smiling.  Jonah's third birthday is coming and I have a very large to do list with not enough time to do it all.  This morning I made a grocery list while Jonah made a train with every laundry basket, toy basket, and Tupperware bin he could find and Jackie was taking her morning nap.  It's 10:15 and I'm headed out the door to run three errands:  the post office, the children's library, and the grocery store.  I knew I was a little ambitious to try to get all of this done and get home in time to feed the kiddos lunch and get them down for a nap by 1.  The post office trip was successful, we got our package mailed and saw two cal trains to top off the experience, and got several very cute looks and awe's as Jonah pushed Jackie in the umbrella stroller.  We head to the library, get everyone out of the car, walk up to the door and realize that the library is closed until 12 on Thursdays.  Bummer because now I will have to come back because we have several books on hold that will expire very soon!  We go ahead and put our books in the book drop and head back to the car.  At this point I realize that Jackie has a dirty diaper.  I didn't have any diapers in the diaper bag.  Double bummer, but that is fine because I will just buy some at the grocery store (even though they are more expensive there, it's an emergency).  On the way to Piazza's I decide to stop by another library to pick up some books on hold there (now why I have books on hold at two different libraries is another story).  This library is closed until noon too.  I guess I should have assumed, but I didn't, and now Jonah has to go pee pee.  I do what any mother that doesn't want wet pants does and let him pee on a tree.  Now we are at the grocery store and I am thinking do I have everything?  Nope, I accidentally put my grocery list in the book drop at the library.  Luckily I had a pretty good mental note of what I needed but didn't remember eggs until after I had checked out.  On a positive note, I did remember to bring our reusable bags into the store from the trunk of our car (I think this is the first time since we moved to CA that I remembered).  It was 12:15 when we  checked out, Jackie was crying and grabbing my face because she was hungry and Jonah was begging me to open the smoothie I bought for him.  Everyone was fed and sleeping by 1:45.  Not too bad.  Maybe when Jon comes home I will leave Jackie with him and Jonah and I can bike to the library.   When I told my mom this story she said I should write it down so that I remember it.  What better place to write it down than on our blog.  Now to make mini carrot cupcakes for Jonah's birthday celebration at preschool tomorrow.  He is so excited to wear the crown.

Merry Christmas!

I don't think Jonah fully grasps Christmas yet because we weren't up at 5:00 am to open gifts.  He actually slept until 7 and so did Jackie. We had such a special day celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Having only been in California for three and a half weeks, life has been a little hectic.  It was nice to take a day to enjoy time as a family.  My Gram, Aunt Suzanne and her son Ethan (on my Dad's side) came to visit for the holiday.  After opening some presents at our "new" house, playing a little, making a few phone calls, and eating a breakfast of baked oatmeal, we went to GP's house to spend time with family, open a few more presents, eat Christmas dinner, and sing Christmas karaoke.  When we pulled into our driveway at 7:30 this evening, Jonah said "We are happy, because we are together."  That is the truth.  Here are a few pictures to commemorate this special day.  

Jonah is seeing his bike (with pedals) for the first time.  For the past month whenever anyone asks him what he wants for Christmas, he says a bike with pedals.  Since he is so skilled on his bike without pedals, he got a special orange Christmas present.

GP is very good at karaoke.

Yes, I look a lot like my Daddy!

This is Gram.  Jessi's Dad's mom.

Jackie might be ready for solid food as indicated by her eating some wrapping paper.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR NOT UPDATING THE BLOG MORE FREQUENTLY.  WE HAVE BEEN BUSY MOVING.  KEEP CHECKING FOR A DETAILED UPDATE TO COME SOON.  UNTIL THEN.....HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES FROM MY 30TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT PALO ALTO SOL (A MEXICAN RESTAURANT).  MY 30TH BIRTHDAY WAS SO SPECIAL WITH MANY WISHES FROM MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY.  I AM SO THANKFUL TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.  ALSO COMING SOON ARE MY 30 GOALS FOR MY 30TH YEAR!   I WILL HAVE TO POST THEM HERE FOR SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.







  

Happy Halloween!

Jonah was a pirate and Jacqueline was a pumpkin.  This was the first Halloween that Jonah really understood what was going on.  We trick-or-treated with a bunch of friends from the neighborhood, and there were tons of kids wandering around Foxhall Village having a great time.  Jonah inherited his mommy's sweet tooth, and was bouncing off the walls for a couple of days based on his loot.  Daddy has been doing his best to help Jonah get through the candy :)

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

Jonah insists that he is a "good pirate" not a "scary pirate"

Cutest pumpkin I've ever seen

Emre, Charlie, and Jonah trick or treating

Jonah, Emre, and Lea setting up spider webs outside

Marine Corps Marathon

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 26, 2008.  I am just getting around to posting about it now because this is the first time I could walk all of the way to the computer since the run.  Really, though, it was a great marathon.  At the start line, I was surrounded by marines, and they started singing some sort of marine song about going off to war.  Very motivating stuff as you're getting ready for your first marathon.  I met my goal of finishing in less than four hours, and was able to raise some money for an injured marine charity along the way.  While I didn't win the race, I certainly had the cutest support/cheering crew of the 30,000 runners by far.  Many of our friends from the neighborhood came out to cheer (and/or jeer) me along.

Finished!

Gram with Jacqueline after the race

Jonah and Jackie waiting for daddy

Snug as a bug in a rug

Buon Giorno, Principessa! (my favorite picture from the race)

Daddy giving some tips to a future 2:30 marathoner. . .

Grandpa and Nana visit DC

We had a great visit with Grandpa and Nana when they came to visit October 10-12.  Grandpa got to meet Jackie for the first time.  As always, the kiddos were spoiled and it was great to spend the weekend with the family.

Jonathan's Admission to the Federal Circuit Bar

I was admitted to the Federal Circuit Bar on October 7, 2008. Judge Prost said some really nice things from the bench, and made a point to mention Jessi, Jonah, and Jacqueline. I don't know how to express what an amazing year this has been without sounding like I'm kissing up, but I feel so blessed to work for such a wonderful judge and with so many talented clerks at the court. Now I understand why former clerks always tell me that this is the best job I will ever have. . .

Jonathan & Jacqueline

Judge Prost, Jacqueline, Jonathan, and Jessi

Baby Jacqueline's Dedication

Jacqueline was dedicated on Sunday, October 5, 2008, at DC Metro Church in Arlington, VA.  David and Taryn Stine's youngest son Josiah was also dedicated on the same day.  It was a very special day.  Jacqueline wore a beautiful pink dress from Nana, but we didn't get any close-up pictures :)  Ooops. . .

Family Pictures

We had these pictures taken a few months ago, but we just realized that none were posted on the blog.  These were taken at the Lincoln memorial, a few miles from our house, when Jackie was 13 days old.  Jonah lost his monkey when we were in Seattle a few weeks ago, but Nana came this weekend and saved the day, bringing him a new monkey :)