Family Pics 2009

Julia Pics

http://www.cylc.org/educ_video/flash_slideshows/1096/JNL1096_S20_DCHIL/slideshow.asp

I am having troubles with getting Julia's photos she took uploaded as I had to scan them in and they are not co-operating with me. Please try to use this link to view the daily slide shows that were sent to me while she was there!! I will keep working on her photos...Sorry!!

Pics of kids!

Update

As most of you know I have found Facebook to be quite addicting and a great way to keep in touch with everyone. I have not visited our blog for a few months as a result.
For those of you who still read this or think to check it and don't use FB here is what's been going on:

Julia: Julia had quite the eventful summer starting with her trip to Washington DC for the JrNYLC conference. She flew out on July 26th and returned on July 31st. It was a long week for MOM that's for sure...haha! She learned much about our government, history and what it takes to be a strong leader. She took some great pics and even got to see the white house!! She has now started Middle school and its still sur-real to me. She is liking it just fine and only complains of the building being cold...hehe!

Jordon: Jordon also has had quite the summer. He has had numerous doctor visits that have gone well. He is having some behavior issues that we are working on. On August 13th he was hit by a pick-up in the HS parking lot. He got his 1st Ambulance and Helicopter ride which he took with his Papa! He ended up with a skull fracture and spent a few days at the castle (Sanford Children's Hospital). He will be required to wear a helmet during activity for the next two months. At this time he is healing well and the only side affect we are noticing is his speech being off and increased stuttering. Thank you for all the well wishes from family and friends!! He started the 4th grade and is so far enjoying it.

Jackson: Jackson started the 2nd grade and loves it. He is growing up fast and loving sports!! His faves are Football & Basketball! He is my social butterfly as he always seems to know kids everywhere we go.

Janaya: Oh my baby how fast she is growing. She started Kindergarten this year and loves it. It was very hard for mom!! She is my wild child with all her ideas and independence each day brings a new finding.

I am finding ways to fill my empty days without children. I enjoyed a garden for the first time and had a great turnout! I learned how to make home made pickles and such as well. I am looking into returning to work as that was my plan for when Janaya went to school. I am applying at a daycare in Sioux falls. Why there??? We are looking into or should I say planning a move there. We are in the process of putting the trailer up for sale now. There is much more opportunity for us there, little work here and with Jordon's doctors there and all our shopping done there it just makes sense. We have also figured out it will save us money so another GOD reason! School is going well I have finished 3 classes now with a current GPA of 3.5; something I have NEVER done, so I have to say I am pretty PROUD of myself. I am currently working on my Associates in Medical Billing & Coding, which I will follow with my Bachelor in Health care Management.

Brit is working full time at T&R Electric yet, he is also doing school online full time when he's not at work. It's been a stress and great experience for us both. We continue to support and aide one another on this journey that will hopefully enrich our future. He is studying Computer Science with emphasis in Software Design. He was able to transfer some of his previous credits and has a good start.

I will post some pictures I have taken and some of Julia's as well.

Pics of Kids 2...

Pics of Kids...

Left ya hanging...

I see my last post was right before I left for Reno...and that's the last you heard. Obviously I made it home and was glad to be back. I had a great time and loved flying...who would have ever guessed. I had fun bowling but didn't do real well as with most of the people I saw and bowled with. But all the fun and sights to see more than made up for that. We stayed at the Silver Legacy and it is beautiful!! It is a sister Hotel to Eldorado and Circus Circus. I walked all over and every time I saw something different. I will be going back only this time I'd like to go with Brit and it really is not as expensive as I had thought it would be. I didn't strike it rich but broke even in the end so that is alright by me!!
The ladies I went with are awesome and a ton of fun! They are all quite a bit older than me but we are so much alike it never once mattered! Thanks ladies for a GREAT time!
I found hats and shirts for the kids, I am planning on getting pictures of them in all there stuff so will have to wait on those. I got a shirt and a cute nightshirt that is so me!! I also was able to find Brit a nice shirt and hat!

The kids are doing well and anxiously waiting for summer to begin. They will be done with school on Thursday. Janaya is already done and is having a hard time understanding why she doesn't get to go to Kindergarten NOW!!?? Julia and Jackson got there new glasses in and look good. I am hoping this helps with Julia's more frequent headaches as well. Her eyes got a bit worse so she has a stronger prescription this time. Jacksons good eye got worse and his bad one got better...a toss up there!
Jordon is still struggling with some behaviors and aggression and that has brought on medication changes which always are hard to begin with. In some area's it helps and others it just gets worse. He has another appointment on the 22nd so we'll see what he decides to do. Dr. Ermer is his Psychiatric Ped from Sanford and has been so awesome. He really takes time and is thorough. I am praying for him to have a good Summer. He will be doing the extended school year as well so two days a week he will go to class for and hour just to keep from having too much regression.
I am working hard on Julia's fundraising, the deadline for payment is this week and I am feeling stressed out. I don't understand how something she earned and is so educational has to cost so much. She is so excited about going and learning everything the conference has to offer and about Washington! I would like to say Thank you to those who have been so generous and giving thus far!!!

This week looks to be busy being the last week and with all the field trips the kids have going on in school. Have a great week!

A Few Years In the Making....

Tomorrow is the BIG day...I have had this trip planned a few times...and now it's here...I'm going to .....

I am so overwhelmed by this trip. I am excited as ever...I am almost 30 and never done anything like this. I am hoping to have the time of my life. I am so worried about leaving my children and husband. My in-laws will be here sometime today for the rest of the week so Brit and the kids will be ok! I'm still ...ya know...

We will be bowling in the National Bowling Stadium...WOW!!

HI!!

Hi, its been a while...I'm taking a break right now so I thought I'd visit!! Things around here have been busy.
In March Brit hurt his back and had some time off work. He had a lumbar Epidural done which really helped alot. He also learned he has whats called Facet Tropism in his back. He is feeling much better. Work is still at 40 hours a week for him, he has been talking about joining me in going back to school so he is looking into that.
Speaking of me and school its going well, I have had three A's now and three B's which I am very proud of. It's been stress full trying to get into my studies while getting ready to go to Reno. Which by the way is NEXT week!!
Julia's JrNYLC trip is in progress. I posted her official acceptance letter. We have lots to get done before July. She and I are working hard at Fundraising and she has raised $1050 to date! She has a ways to go, so if anyone would like to help her out or wants to pass along the word she'd appreciate it. I turned in her Press Release the other day so watch the paper if you live around here!! I am so proud of her!! She has a few Pre-conference assignments to get done and we need to make travel plans soon. I am so nervous about putting her on a flight...still have to work on that one!
Oh and like I mentioned I go to Reno NEXT week and still have my own FEAR of getting on a plane. I am looking forward to such an awesome experience and the time off but I am starting to think about being away from Brit and the kids that long. I have only been away as long as a weekend and that is tough!! Once I'm back I can concentrate fully on Julia's trip...well and school...see I need a few more of me!!

Jackson is doing well, he has an eye exam Friday. I am hoping his eye's haven't gotten worse but sometimes it's just obvious they must have. Julia also has a repeat eye exam and has been complaining of headaches and trouble seeing with or without glasses. Janaya is doing great and took her Kindergarten tour yesterday. She is super excited about going to the BIG school with the BIG kids!! Jordon is doing OK, he is still having some behavior issues despite a medication change so looks like we'll have to head back to the doctor.
Not much else to report...if I forgot something...well it won't surprise me...Have a great day!

Happy Easter To Everyone!!

On Maunday Thursday Brit and I got to join our daughter Julia in her First Communion. This was a very special event for her and a very POWERFULL service. I feel blessed and am so happy for her to experience this sacred meal.

We spent our Easter here in Madison with my family. It was a great time. We all helped cook and after lunch we had an easter egg hunt for the kids!

I also found out I will be an Auntie again....CONGRATS Kenny & Jill!!

Randoms...

I can't believe we are in April already...now if we could just get the Spring weather??! For the most part our house is feeling better, Janaya went to the doctor last week and got an antibiotic and is doing alot better. Brit is starting a head cold now. Brit also saw the back doctor again today and since things are going well and he is back to work fully we won't see him again unless he starts to feel pain again.

Julia is working hard on her fund raising for the JrNYLC, she has alot to do yet but has some good ideas. She is doing the Dakota STEP tests in school right now (National testing for grades 3-5). She also has her First Communion this week on Maunday Thursday.

Jordon is doing well in school, he also is doing the Dakota STEP tests. He is enjoying playing sports with boys at school and at home wants to as well. He is having some trouble with his behaviors with some self-injurious and destructive actions. I called the doctor today and we are going to see him on Thurs thanks to a cancellation.

Jackson is meeting new friends all the time and loves to PLAY...PLAY...PLAY!! He loves all sports and the Wii.

Janaya is going to be done with Pre-school in about a month! Her friend from last year and all of this year just moved away and she has been real upset about it. They were like 2 peas in a pod and she is lost with out her. It didn't help having Natylie move back to Sioux Falls either, hopefully she meets another "best" friend in Kindergarten. She has been gaining weight and has been having some high blood pressures that have been monitored and now sent to the doctor so we'll see what she has to say about that.

I am doing well I started classes on April 5th so I am officially a college student...YAY!!

"Bugs"

I think we somehow ran across some "sick bugs". It started with Brit who had a headache (like a Migraine) and extreme nausea! The next day it was my turn...and I did get a Migraine because of my history with them. Brit feels fine now and I feel much better just can't get rid of this dull head pain and my stomach is so "tight" feeling. Today Jackson stayed home with nausea and a headache as well. Janaya woke up yesterday with a bad tight, barking, deep cough. I gave her some Mucinex and let her go to school. When she came home she looked rough and had a temp of 102. She was layed out all night...was up (with Momma) half the night and all day today. I am fighting a fever that spikes every 4 hours!!! Her cough is horrible and now she complains of "aches"! Today was supposed to be her birthday party at Chuckie Cheese and so now she is heart broken as well. I'm praying she feels better soon!!!

This weekend Natylie and Braedyn will be here and we are helping Papa and Grandma with their rummage sale. They boys are off "helping" them set up now. I hope everyone has a Great weekend!

Happy Birthday...

My dear baby girl you turned 5 today! I keep wishing for time to slow down...I asked Daddy last night if he thought we would wake up today and it would be 5 years ago...I treasure each year. You are getting so big and will start Kindergarten in the fall and you are loving every minute of it. I am so proud to be your mommy and will always love you. Enjoy your special day Princess!!

AWESOME

Oh what a beautiful weekend!! So the title of the post ...ya I'm describing the Weather...AWESOME!! The kids enjoyed so much time outside this weekend. All their friends were out and it was fun! Today was debate able...snow pants or not?? Well there is mud...but you'll be too warm...what do ya do??

Update on Brit: There is NO fracture...YAY! He has a sever lower back Sprain/Strain and will be on "light" duty until further notice. It also has helped the doc diagnose an issue with how his lower vertebrae are lining up. He is not doing ANY lifting yet and is doing "paper work" for his boss and the Safety Director. He has an appointment Tuesday at Brookings Pain Management for some injections to help obviously with "pain"!

There is not much new with me. I think starting tomorrow or Wednesday I'm going to start watching Corbin so Jill can go back to work. I think I can handle just one cute little guy and since my schooling will be online I can still handle that. It will only be till she is ready to take him to daycare...or is able to find one...HA! It will be good for both of us!

Not much else going on...Happy Monday!

Is there a way I can combine the blog and Face Book together??? I sure think it would be easier or just that I wouldn't forget so easy. For those of you that don't have FB you should...very fun!
Onto the kids...they are all doing really well. Julia and Jordon bowled in the Pepsi Tournament in Sioux Falls last weekend and my cousin Eric (Julia's godfather) was able to come watch and then we got to go have lunch with him and visit so that was VERY nice! The kids did good bowling. Jackson and Janaya stayed home with Grandma & Grandpa Hoeke and had a fun day there.
All the kids are doing well in school and are anxiously awaiting Spring!! There have been a few nice days where they have been able to go ride bike and play outside and they loved it!! On those days when everything gets warm we have what I call Lake Boedecker in the yard...you have to walk on crates to get out the yard! I am hoping that dries up REAL fast!
Julia and I have been working on some Fundraising letters and packets for her trip to Washington D.C.!! I heard last night that one of the groups has already met and she has her first donation!!!

Brit hurt his back at work last Thursday while lifting with another person. He came home that day saw a Chiropractor and then went for a half day on Friday, back to the same Chiropractor and then hurt all weekend. Monday he stayed home and back to Chiropractor. Tuesday he called back to Safety Director at work and they set up an appointment with another Chiropractor in town. He has been seeing him 2 times a day since Tuesday now and is still home!! At first he thought just a sprain or lower crack. He is awaiting a X-ray reading from Minneapolis as he is thinking there could be a small fracture!!?? Brit is on muscle relaxers now and just doing what he can to stay as comfortable as possible. He goes again to the doc this afternoon and are hoping the results are in!

I'm anxiously awaiting the start of classes in a few weeks I have everything done I needed to do and have orientation on the 26th of March!

I can't think of much else to report right now...but I most likely will after I hit publish..HA! I hope everyone else is well. Have a Great Day!!

Proud is an understatement!!!

I realize this letter may be hard to read, but if you can read it you will understand the title of my post! Julia has been nominated by her teacher to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC this Summer! There are alot of details to get worked out before the deadline one being FUNDING!! I am so proud of Julia!!

Kids Photos

This is a picture I took of Corbin last week!! He is so cute and is changing so much and so quickly right now!! He is pushing 8 pounds and is getting more alert and looks around and loves to look into your eyes! Today he smiled at me for the first time!!! I had seen him smile at Jill a few times and he loves to just stare at her and makes the cutest faces...truly precious!! Hard to believe he was only 4#12oz 6 weeks ago...and how much he has changed!!!

Jill asked if Brit and I would like to be god parents for Corbin and we gracious accepted and it means the world to me!! Jill is also the god mother to BOTH my girls and Lydia is like my own, so it just feels so awesome that we are all so connected!!!

Im Sorry...

So I must apologize for such a break between posts! Ever since I got Face book I have "forgotten" my blog.
Brit and I are both doing well, he is still at 40 hours a week and still not sure when the overtime will return, but we are thankful he has a job at all now a days! I have decided it is finally time to continue my education and since I'm not working we figured no time is better!! I recieved my acceptance letter to Colorado Technical University-Online today and will start classes in April!! I'm really excited and nervous but looking forward to bettering our lives. I will start with my Associates in Medical Billing & Coding and end with a Bachelor in Health care Management.

Julia is doing really well in school and is getting excited for Summer break and going to Middle School next year!! YIKES! She will be bowling in a Pepsi Tournament in the beginning of March with Jordon.
Jordon is doing good he has adjusted to his new meds quite well, a bit sleepy in the am but otherwise good. He had a musical this week about "patriotism" and did real well participating in singing!! He and Jackson got to to go Ice Fishing with Papa last weekend and loved it, they were gone from 6:15am till 5pm!!
Jackson is busy as usual and doing awesome in school! He went to school today with out his "walking boot" for the first time and is not having much pain so that is looking up!! At this point they say it is his Navicullar bone but it won't ossify till he's around 10 so we will have to keep an eye on it!
Janaya is going to be 5 next month and is all registered for Kindergarten. She is having a blast in her last year of pre-school as well. She is having abit of change in her friends, with Natilye moving to her dads and her best friend from school is moving to Sioux Falls Monday!

I feel like I am forgetting something and it will probably come to me when I publish the post..HA! I hope everyone is doing well...

As you can see Jackson is having a bit of trouble with his foot...and he is not happy to say the least. It all started last week when he "twisted" his foot in gym. All week he complained that it hurt and it progressed into constant but he was still active on it and I just thought he can't be hurt that bad and still be doing all this. WRONG MOM!! So I took him in Friday and after X-rays she found that either he had broken it before and now aggravated it or it's something called OS Navicualris. If he broke it before we never knew it and that I think is highly unlikely!! The report will be back on Wednesday and until then he is in a walking boot and after we get the definite on the diagnosis they will have a better idea on how long or if anything else is needed.

He has however had a few good moments...he beat this game last night!!!

It's been awhile..

I think I have gotten a bit lost in Facebook and forgotten about the blog...oops...Sorry!! Things here are always busy and never boring.
Lots of changes happening too: In no particular order over the last few weeks Britton's hours got cut at work to strictly 40 NO overtime. I am quickly approaching unemployment for many differ reasons I have no Daycare left in about 2 weeks. I have started looking and applying at differ places so we'll see how that goes.
The washer and dryer within a few days of each other gave out on me..YIKES! I do like 3 loads a day for REAL!! We have however come across a slightly used set of nice ones and what a relief.
We had conferences for the kids this week and they are all doing pretty good. Jackson has the occasional talking issue...well maybe all the time he is full of questions...kind of cute actually!!
I also had a conference for Janaya and got her registered for Kindergarten in the Fall...TALK ABOUT HARD!! My BABY going to Kindergarten...handle that later. She is doing great in Preschool and her teacher says she is defiantly ready to move on. Her best friend, like they are tight every day and play with anyone else, is moving away on March 1st! This is going to be sad and now Janaya would like to move....

So that's about it...Have a great day!

A Few Hair Pics

What a beautiful weekend...the Weather was AWESOME!! We kept busy all weekend starting with groceries on Friday and then a MAJOR house cleaning on Saturday and the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Now in between all that..HA!.. I got my hair cut and some highlights on Friday afternoon...looks great...feels GREAT!!
I was able to get a new Computer this weekend also!! I have been waiting for this for what seems like forever..but it is awesome...I knew my OLD computer was slower than slow but WOW was I in the dark. This is so fast and I am having a blast!!

Found out today that Jill's baby Corbin gets to come home on Wednesday!! YAY!!

I'm Gonna Ramble..

For starters now that I have made my "deposit" on my Reno trip I can talk about it!! YAY!! It is a few months away yet but in May a bunch of ladies and I are going to Reno to bowl in the Women's Nationals. Now for me this is just FUN...I am in no way any good, but I make up for that in Handicap...HA! We will be gone 4 DAYS and I will some how have to get on an airplane for the 1st time in my life!! I don't know about leaving the family but yet I am so excited to go.

Jordon had an appointment with Dr. Blake on Tuesday and he is very impressed with Jordon's growth and improvement!! We are going to leave his Vyvanse at the current dose and he is starting a little dose of DDAP to help stay "dry" every night. Jordon has been working very hard the last year and I am very proud of him!!

My mom ended up not having surgery!! She will have to go back a few times for X-ray's to make sure it starts to heal and stay in place, if not its inevitable she'll have surgery! Praying for a smooth healing process!!

I found Facebook not too long ago as some of you may have seen!! I really like it and found lots of people from school...old work...family...blogger...bowling...and LOTS more!! FUN STUFF!!

This and Thats...

Monday the 19th Jordon had an appointment in SF with Dr. Ermer. It went pretty well he is taller and lost about 4 more pounds. He is having some trouble with OCD behaviors so he increases his Geodon another 20mg. We see Dr.Blake on Tuesday the 27th also!
Julia has been having alot of stomach pain so I took her to the doctor on Wednesday and found out she is VERY constipated!! She also had alto of air trapped in there so that would cause discomfort also. We are starting her on Miralax so hopefully it helps!
My Grandma had her Bowel Resection surgery on Thursday and came out OK. They said the Liver looked OK but have to wait for biopsy results from the Lymph nodes. We are praying for some good news and recovery for her!!
While my mom was there she slipped on ice and BROKE her ankle!! They got to Rapid City yesterday and she spent the night there in the hospital for pain management. She is supposed to travel home today and if she is comfortable enough wait to go to Ortho in SF tomorrow. They said it is broke in 3 places, so she will need surgery most likely. OUCH!!
Got to go see baby Corbin twice this week!! He is doing really well and is up to 4#15.5oz!! He is off oxygen and just wears monitors to keep track of everything. He is holding his own really well. He is still learning how to eat and breathe at the same time so he is still not quite ready to come home!!

Pulling For Strength...

This week has been one of EXTREME emotion !! If you know me well you know that if you are my friend there isn't much I won't do for you! I have often been told I do too much and am too trusting and giving, although I just feel it's who I am!!
Most of the time it just comes natural to help and give advise or just listen. I don't always have all the answers or all the money in the world to give but I give what I have!! Sometimes though I feel over whelmed at how to help people when "weeks" like this happen and have to pull strength from anywhere I can. I pray for myself and others daily as well.
I have a friend who's husband left her and is now bringing his affair public and has been giving her false hope, she is crushed, and she has 2 children to care for at the same time her life has been flipped upside down, I feel helpless that I can't take away her pain..
I have a friend who just had a baby and he is in the NICU and although his problems could be worse she is very much as any mother would stressed and worried. She also has a child at home who needs just as much love and care if not more, and she isn't able to go see her baby brother because of her age, only on a video screen. I am doing everything I can for them!
This morning I found out that my Grandma ( who was here in September) has been diagnosed with Colon Cancer!! They are going to do a bowel resection on Wednesday and hopefully it hasn't spread too far as she doesn't want to go through Chemo at her age. I have seen this far too many times when I worked at the hospital, I know the risks and odds. I don't even think I can say what is coming...
I am hoping and praying for each of my friends and finding the strength I need to keep strong for everyone....

Welcome...

Welcome to the world baby boy Corbin, he was born at 11:03 PM on January 13!! He is quite small weighing 4# 12 oz, and is 16 3/4 inches long! We have waited a long time for you baby and you are so loved!!
Mother is doing very well, just emotional and nervous. Baby is in the NICU as he needs some help breathing and with his size and all. They are saying it could be a month just depends on how he does. Please keep him in your prayers...

The Time Has Come....

I know I haven't talked much about this...not even sure I mentioned it!! My best friend Jill, is pregnant and is (was) do February 21st. Its been a long pregnancy as she has been dealing with Gallbladder pain the entire pregnancy. Well at 4am this morning she awoke to her water breaking!! She is 35 1/2 weeks along so they sent her to Sioux Falls. She is feeling nervous...and its been 8 years since she has had a baby!! I am praying for a smooth delivery and safe homecoming for them both!!!

Nicknames...

Do you have nicknames for your children? Or maybe yourselves, spouses or friends?? I was thinking the other day about all the nicknames I have for my children my nieces and nephews! I am going to share them with you...so here we go!!
Julia is Tudor
Jordon is Toko
Jackson is Nator ( jackinator)
Janaya is bots of ween ( LONG STORY)

Ely is Cheese
Natylie is Pita
Braedyn is B
Cooper is cooba
Zach is Buddy
Rowdy is Rowdy rowdster or ster for short

So now after reading all that I bet you are wondering "What in the world"???? If one really makes you wonder go ahead and ask!!

New...

Happy New Year to all!! I have been searching for days on the new look! I finally narrowed it down and now I'd like to invite you all to Live..Laugh...Love with our family in the new year 2009!!