SURGERY DATE

The "cardiothorasic surgery department" called and Surgery will be scheduled for June 30. Jack's surgeons will review the results of the cath and proceed with surgery on the 30th. That is two weeks after the cath. They tell us that Jack should refrain from being around large groups and other children for 4 weeks after surgery, and then refrain from "exerted physical activity" for another 4 weeks after that. So basically, we need to tie him down somewhere for two months.
Just kidding.
The main concern is keeping is sternum from shifting and protecting his chest wound until the Doctors say he's all healed.
We will go to Primary's on sunday the 29th for pre-op, where they will do lab work, and try unsuccessfully to draw his blood until the IV Team is called...which is usually the case with Jack. He is a difficult stick.
To keep you all update on the next few months there is a link on the right of this page at the top. I'll update it as often as there is news, and we will have internet access during surgery- while we wait...and wait. So there will be frequent updates.
Thank you to all for your love and prayers and support- here's to the next two weeks of freedom!

Jack's Cath

In the case that I forgot to insert any of your email addresses, I wanted to keep everyone up to date. Jack's cath has been scheduled for June 3rd. We need to get him all healthy and strong. After the cath, we'll will schedule surgery.

Four down, a million to go...

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Lisa,

and a boy named Josh.

They met because of a friend named Monti.

In 2001, Lisa and Josh met at dinner with friends. Josh seemed abrasive and not that fond of being charming and endearing. Lisa was being sarcastic and prideful. Somehow, all of these negative feelings were insignificant compared to their attraction to eachother. However, Josh was "taken" and didn't act like he was about to change it.
But, 2002 rolled around. We were all a little relieved to have the Olympic's over and were all a bit less stressed out. Now that we could leave our houses again, we found eachother at the mall. With an immense sense of confidence Lisa gave Josh her number after asking his friend if Josh still had a girlfriend.
His friend had said "Yes."
So Josh called. And Called. And called. Each time Lisa was busy, either hiking or working. But finally, he called when she was out to dinner with five girlfriends and she said "YES, I CAN HANG OUT."
Josh and these six ladies headed to play some pool. Regardless of all of Lisa's super hot friends, Josh paid close attention to her and wouldn't let his sights off her. That night, he said he hoped to see her again.
Two years later, they were married in the backyard of another good friend, Deborah,

who ACTUALLY, was how Lisa met Monti.

Josh and Lisa married on May 19th, 2004.


They have had many a fun times, and many a hard times, but nothing that could ever break them.









I love Josh more than anything and I'm glad we both took the time to decide that we were making the right choice to be with eachother. Really, all it came down to is we couldn't imagine our lives without one another.

Happy Anniversary, Lub.

Photo assignment

I know many of you have better things to do, children to attend to and give birth to, husbands to cook for, cool careers to work on and spare time you'd rather have to yourselves...but this is really more for my enjoyment and hopefully something fun for both of us.
I don't care whether you use a digital, an SLR, a holga or your cell phone- but I have decided to make a list of Things to Take Pictures Of. I am going to start it out as a monthly effort and if people actually participate I'll keep going.
The list will be simple, and you can be as creative as you want. For example, if one of the items on the list is "red" you can take a picture of anything red, or the word red, or whatever you can come up with. Or "water", can be any type of water. Bottled, frozen, sea of, etc.
I would ask everyone to email me their pictures, however many off the list they choose to take, and I will post them up on my Photography page.
The list of the month will constantly be posted on the right side of the photography site, and on the 10th of the month I will post up everyone's pictures.

FUN yes! I think it is. So yay for me. Good luck to all of you, and I'm excited to see some cool pictures.

THE LIST:
Shoe
Soda Can
Sink
Umbrella
Water

Please email your pictures to Starlalmd@hotmail.com

Speaking of Birds...

Look at the sweetness that is taking place just outside our house. In our little brook is this adorable mommy and her teensy, weensy duckings. She was nice eough to let me get pretty close, but was keeping a tight eye on me. As well as twelve other male ducks surrounding me that were probably all the fathers.

It's hard to tell when they are all jumbled together but she has 5 little babies that follow her EVERYWHERE she goes, and all five are strong enough to swin against the strong current in our stream. They are out there every day, and Jack is constantly asking to go outside to see the "duckings".

Ah, spring time.

Coo-Coo-Ca Choo

For the beautiful afternoon we were blessed with yesterday, we took a trip to the Tracy Aviary. Jack mostly enjoyed being able to lead the way and walk around by
himself, but the birds were pretty cool too.

I think our favorite of all was the owl. He was so dang cool, and somewhat resembled Dominic. He hooted many times for us, and Jack, who already spoke owl- has a striking ability to impersonate the owl. (Hoo Hoooooo!)



These guys were deathly afraid of the geese:



The Tracy Aviary also has many beauties other than the fowl:



I pledge allegiance to the Eagle..



These guys were all over the place showing off:



More Foilage:



This one had a body guard that was chasing everything that came near her:



Go hawks:



Ah, the birds of Miami:



Walking the jack-walk:



Pretty trees:



More purdy fleurs:



I didn't drink the water:



This is another fave, called the "Ruddy Duck":



I got a little fed up taking pictures of birds through cages..



These flowers grew on trees:


And like I said, showing off:




So anyone who is looking for a leisurely activity, I highly recommend the Aviary. Sure sometimes it smells bad, and you are often stepping on things you shouldn't, but it was quite pleasant. I would do it again.

Ans seriously- if Dominic were a bird....am I right? (a bird with a dislocated toe..)

Sum-Sum-Summertime

So I'm getting quite excited for the warm weather I know is coming. And when it does, we have lots of plans. There are alot of things to do close by and by that I mean in town, and a few hours away.



One, is to go south and do some hiking and climbing. I know some of you want to come with- (Katie, Kevin.) ...and others I don't mention. St. G is a great, quick getaway and we are so excited to get Jack out in the wilderness, and into a TENT.
THAT'S RIGHT! I wanna go camping with my two-year old. Anyone who has experience or advice on that, please speak up.

Back in the day, when it wasn't "Me and my husband and child" it was me and my peeps. On a spur of the moment escape, Lyndsey (Blodgett, at the time) and I drove to St. G with no agenda. Just the two of us. We made dinner, took a few laps in the pool, and did some super-cool free climbing. It was so much fun- I can't even express.




Deborah and I did the same thing another year, where we were in Sandy, talking at one moment, and then in our car on our way to the Shakespearean Festival a few hours later. We caught a play, enjoyed the warm weather, and discovered that my car can reach 420 miles to the tank.

Summer '02, Stef and I drove to San Diego. Best trip ever. We did so much stuff I can't even list. But Disneyland was one of them. And watching happy sealions was another.



On more than one occasion, I would cruise up the cabin with my friends. Natalie is a huge fan of the Midway Mansion we hold so dear. Although I think most of you have been there at least once. The cabin is great for the "no phone and no cable" type of vacation. It is was we now call- "roughing it".

This is really a pointless post, more of a time of reflection and gratitude for beautiful places and good company.

Thanks friends, for all the good times.