Dubuque

Last time I posted, I alluded to a new journey that we were embarking. After a crazy summer getting here and getting adjusted, we are now settled in Dubuque. Overall I think that the change has been good. The pace of life here is different. Things roll a little slower, and we spend much more time as a family. The kids have made lots of friends in the neighborhood, and love having the freedom to take off on their scooters. We are still in the process of getting the house furnished, and the kids rooms set up. Of course, I want to make so many changes, but Im using restraint and piecing things together. The view off the back of the home is the incredible and we have all enjoyed watching the golfers. Joe seems to enjoy the practice here as well. Its been pretty easy for him and I know he is seeking out more of a challenge.

Big Changes

Who could possibly believe that their have been such big changes over the past 2 years? Life has kept us all happy and healthy and for that we are extremely grateful. We have limitless possibilities that lay ahead, and like always are trying to enjoy the journey as we go through our day to day activities. Joe and I made the decision to move to Dubuque this summer. We will wait until the kids are out of school and pack up and head east. It is with mixed emotions that I go, but giving the kids the life that we so desire for them was paramount in our decision. So off we go.....a new home, new friends, new dance and sports teams, but same family support and love. I keep telling myself that it is only three hours away, but both Joe and I are acutely aware that life will be forever changed. I have enjoyed every minute living so close to our family but anyone who knows me well, realizes that I am always up for an adventure. I dont know if Dubuque will be forever and ever amen, or just a pit stop on our way to a new reality, but I do know that we will make the best of it! We found a home that will work, big enough for us, but not overwhelming. The neighborhood seemed nice, and kid friendly. I will share pictures as I gather them. This blog will now live to see another day, and chronicle our journey east!

life, in pictures

My handsome boy at Mall of America

Fun in the pool!

This is what I come home to at night! Love it!

Jenica ready to cheer on Brad & the Barnstormers!!

ready to go!

Me!

Fun times in the bathtub.

Getting back to it

I realize that keeping an online journal is only going to work if I actually add to it! Oh well, live goes on, kids grow and I stay more than busy as always. Things are good, school is winding down, projects are finishing up, vacations are in the works. I cant ask for much more, and thats a pretty good place to be.

TN Bound!

By this time tomorrow we will be on the road for MEMPHIS! I am excited and feel pretty organized and ready to take off. The one road bump is just that we have to take the dogs to be boarded first thing in the AM which prevents me from packing the back of the Infiniti. I have gotten the front all set & ready. I'm just about to start making some cookies for the road. Who doesn't want a little taste of home in a forign place?

While cleaning out my things the other day I found an old MP3 player I had when Jet was a baby. My girls and I had all the same songs programed on ours (I think we even had matching MP3s but I cant be certain). Anyway, isn't it so amazing how a song can trigger a memory? I was listening to a lot of the R & B that was on it and I was almost transported back into another time in my life. I remembered things I never have and laughed about things I hadn't though of in ages. I am still listening to it today....

Well I better head into the kitchen! Cookies to make!

Still here

So, it appears that I have taken a little break from blogging. But I am back. With Jack about to begin preschool I am going to have more time to document life. I made a decision that I will live life instead of taking time away from living to prepare for or document life. But in all honesty this is my journal, and I would like to have it to look back on as the kiddos grow and change.

Last night was the start of High School football here in Central Iowa. We headed out to watch the Waukee Warriors play Ankeny. Even though Waukee lost we all had a good time and I can tell that Jet is absorbing every little bit of information he can. He loves football.

Other than that we have been busy packing and getting ready for a road trip! A little overwhelming to me to think of traveling 10 hours with the kiddos, but hopefully everything will go smoothly.

I spend a decent amount of time in Memphis because I dated a boy who lived there doing an intership. We will see how much I really remember. My fondest memry was that he worked in a fabulous shoe store at night and would send my several pairs a week.....what a great guy! Anyway, I doubt much show shopping will be happening but we will be heading to the zoo, childrens museum and other fun activities while Joey sits in class learning how to save lives more quickly and efficently.

I will post with recent pics and stories from the road!

Jenica

We have had an eventful 24 hours here in Urbandale. As you know, Jenica has been sick on and off for the past month (all of our kids have been). I took her to her pediatrician yesterday to bascially just reassure me that she was fine. She has no fever, cough, runny nose or anything. She has been waking up in the middle of the night and vomiting, and as a total over-reacter that I am, I took her to get checked out.

Long story short- there is a possibility that Jenica has a brain tumor that is causing pressure in her brain and causing her to vomit- only at night.

I cant even begin to tell you how I am feeling- because I honestly dont know. I feel on one hand like they are just over-reacting. Medicine is so complex....how can they just examine her quickly and say something like that?

On the other hand, I am devestated. I dont think their is a worse more out of control feeling than to have a sick child. I go back and forth in between believeing that everything is fine, and this is all a fluke, and having a mini panic attack at the thought of her being sick.

As a mother, I know that this has forever changed me. I am different. Even if all is well, and we live to have 3 healthy, amazing, grown children I will never forget this feeling. I understand a tiny sliver of what it would be to have a sick child, and will make a commitment to myself to help families that are affected by illness of a child more. There are plenty of organizations that head up efforts, and i will help whenever i am able.

We have a MRI scheduled on Monday the 27th- Joey and I have been calling multiple hospitals to have this date moved up. It looks as if we will head to the University of Iowa Hospital to have the MRI done. They are some of the leaders in the country with neurological diagnosis and treatment. They have also gone way out of their way to accomidate Jenica, and do as much leg work as possible to have her seen ASAP and get us answers to our questions. I will post more as soon as I know more. Right now we are just focusing on a healthy Jenica, with no more troubling episodes.