SIX Years

Is it weird that I still want to spend every minute with him?

365 days later...

I knew that this time last year was a really hard time for our family, but as it all blended together to one horrible, nightmarish summer- I wanted to see exactly what was going on this time last year. When I read it (here), I remembered the feelings of helplessness I had, the absolute unknown of when Jack would be himself again, the extreme concern of his dangerous weight loss, the long nights of staring at his silhouette in his hospital bed backlit by monitors and vital signs I'd wake up to check every 10 minutes.

It is incredible what human beings can through, physically and emotionally.

I look at my four and a half year old boy, who has conquered all of the "percentages" we were faced with with each open heart surgery- and then two more surgeries, and I feel more blessed and lucky to have him than ever.

I am so proud of you Jack. I would do it all over again.

Small Goal, Big Accomplishment.

Saturday morning I ran the 5k Race for the Cure. Though 3.1 miles isn't nearly a certifiable type of "marathon", I feel great having finished it in 30 minutes being that I HATE running, and always cheated on my Presidential Fitness Test 1 mile run, and I'm almost 30 years old.

My friend Natalie was with me, her aunt is a breast cancer survivor, so we ran in honor of her. It was a great day, I felt wonderful running across the finish line, and was very pleased to see my husband and son waiting for me.

On to the next: 5k Midnight Marathon in St. George, May 28th.

The Amazing Storyteller

Sometimes....Jack gets in these weird moments of story telling. I'm not even sure how they begin, but once this one started I knew I should record it for posterity.

My favorite parts:

"I got hurt before.."

"Oh, Jack is ruined!"

"Then one day, I went to... a sheriff...."

"Then my tummy grubbled.."

"And there was no chairs and no tables.."

A Star Was Raised

Last night we got to gather friends and family at the Wishing Place, where Jack got to raise his star into the Make A Wish galaxy, where it will stay forever. Thank you to all those who came, it was so fun to share this with all of you. Jack was so excited to tell his story and show pictures to everyone there.

All of his cousins and friends were very excited about the cake..

They gave us a glass star that Jack was to raise, and we each got to write something on the star. So Jack singed his name, I wrote something, Josh too, and then Grandpa.

The wonderful MAW volunteers helped keep the kids happy by giving them masks to color.

Then they took us on a tour of the Wishing Place, first stop was the "galaxy."

Then up to where the wish tower was. Jack luckily brought his key to the tower- so he let everyone in.

He explained to everyone how he made his wish, and the magical process of doing so.

Then we all ate cake and ice cream, everyone enjoyed it.

Then it was time to raise Jack's star. So we watched as he pulled it all the way to the top.

Then Jack went outside to the wishing well, and made a wish. "I wish that I can stay home!"

Granted.

These are his wish granters, Sarah and Stuart. They have been a part of this wish each step through. Thank you to them, and to Make A Wish.

I believe this brings a close to this huge chapter of Jack's life, the chapter of ups and downs, hospital visits, surgeries, unexpected changes, hard obstacles and the unknown. However, a lot of that sounds like what is ahead of us as well- but we are thrilled to have completed his surgeries with such success, and happy that he got to celebrate by making a wonderful wish, with unforgettable memories.