It was 4 years ago today that we sat in a hospital waiting room. We were parents of a cancer patient. A 9 month old cancer patient. Jackson. I can remember it like it was just yesterday. We sat with our parents and my older brother Ryan. We waited for the nurse to come out and tell us about Jackson’s surgery and if they were able to remove the mass. As Seth and I laid in bed last week one evening we were remembering the day we were told that Jackson had cancer. As we talked I felt my chest tighten and a flood of emotions come back. The emotions are as real today as they were then.
Many of you know our story. How Jackson was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, by not one oncologist but many from the top hospitals in the US. We were told he wouldn’t likely make it through the year, would have radiation that would eliminate his ability to have children and that if he did survive he would possibly have his leg amputated or very limited use of the affected leg. We blogged on here begging the world to pray. And you did. Every corner of the globe was praying for Jackson by name. And God chose to answer your prayers. I say your prayers because I distinctly remember my inability to pray clear prayers during those days. We were experiencing such shock and had to just pull it together to get to doctors appointments and keep life normal for our baby. After a longer than expected surgery, the surgeon herself came out of the OR flabbergasted that there was no longer evidence of the mass. She opened his leg and found a mass of blood vessels remaining. His muscles were set to heal properly leaving no long term damage and he was set for recovery.
Today Jackson is an almost 5 year old ball of energy. He is smart as a whip and keeps us on our toes. He starts kindergarten in the Fall and loves life! At times his scar seems so much a part of him that I forget. And other days it catches my breath as I remember where we have been. Today we celebrate Jackson’s life. It isn’t his birthday but it’s a very special day when we look at his scar, stop and celebrate life! Tonight we will have his favorite meal, thai food! (although he tells me his Nama makes the best, mine will have to do tonight!)
Thank you for your prayers 4 years ago. Please let us know if there is ever a time when you need our support!
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Yesterday I hopped a train to Italy with some girl friends and my mother in law made it just in time to come along! We had heard about a fun market in a little town about an hour and 40 min train ride from Bern. We caught the 7:31 train, bright and early and arrived around 9:15. We browsed the market and found a restaurant for lunch and espresso. After lunch we finished up at the market and “happened upon” some gelato…that we may or may not have been hunting for!
scarves time! we each bought a couple of scarves…and lots of food to bring home.
but not these, I avoided these little guys!
I think we all went home with fresh pasta for dinner. It was super yummy!
dad, I tried to buy you a ginormous tin of olives but I couldn’t lift it!
thanks, ladies for a fun day! It was so refreshing to get away!
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For 6 months now Owen and I pack up on Wednesday morning and head to a mommy and me swim class with some friends. I wanted to do something with Owen on our morning together while Jackson was at school and I wanted it to be out of the house and away from my other distractions. I wanted him to feel like I was really focusing on him for a bit.
Our swim mornings started out with 2 little boys enjoying milk and bread together, along with their bedhead. While the mommies chat away.
We reluctantly broke up the fun 2nd breakfast time and headed out to Heimburg about 20 minutes from us. They have a nice indoor pool and a wonderful baby class. The teacher is so creative. Miss Lisa (pronounced more like Liesel from the Sound of Music only without the “l” at the end. follow me?) was super sweet and patient with the kids and tolerated lots of mom chatting. Owen’s favorite activity what when she would give each child a plastic watering pail and one child would hold a clear umbrella over their head while the others showered him. Each week she had something new to show them. I don’t know if Owen learned a bit but he sure had fun!
forgive the foggy lens…the pool was so warm my lens wouldn’t clear…some people add these special effects! these are our steamy shots in the pool!
after swim class the boys would hop in and out of the lockers while we gathered our things.
And we would round them up, walk coral them out to the car, and hope the whole way home that we could successfully keep them awake so that they wouldn’t spoil their naps. Owen was very successful in thwarting my no sleep plans. he typically crashed within minutes of his snack.
Now I realize this all sounds so fun and innocent, so what could be the drama around going to swim class….
this just about sums to up! Swim class in Switzerland has been quite the cultural experience with nudity. Luckily Owen and I have found a little dressing room so I can be confident about my lack of confidence. Sheesh. My friend Nina and I giggle our way through the locker room as people very slowly shower and dress and lather lotion and dry their hair without a teeny tiny glimmer of feeling immodest. Now I am not talking about the typical American locker room experience where you turn your back, change your clothes quickly but make every effort to almost stay clothes while you maneuver the switch. You know where everyone is completely aware of everyone changing but no one looking and chatting. I am talking about people chatting and talking and taking their time….no one’s back turned! I oscillate between feeling like it’s totally crazy and really kind of refreshing that people appear to have healthy self images and don’t feel like they have to be perfect to be seen. The refreshing part has yet to infuse confidence into me but I can see how it might be a good thing. for them! As I slipped my shoes off most weeks Owen stood wide eyed and mouth open as these women young and old got dressed. He had never seen such a sight. I decided that no matter how much Jackson would love a swim class as well it just was not worth it here. Not worth the risk of being sent out of Switzerland because my 4 year old could just not filter such an experience!!
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About a year ago we were at one of Jackson’s friends birthday parties and I met a new friend. We were leaving as she was arriving so we only said about 5 words to each other including our names. I knew right away that she would be a friend and I just wish I had met her when we had first arrived in Bern! Nina has been such a wonderful friend and shares in this life with 2 little boys too! It’s been fun though because although we have the boys in common our friendship is more for us! We have enjoyed crafting and chatting and brocante shopping, lots of fondue! and more chatting. She and her family are moving to Warsaw in a few weeks so we planned a little dinner party for her with our group of friends before she heads out. And before I get teary I will move on to the party 
It was such a nice evening. I picked a menu that was mostly do ahead so I could just enjoy the party myself once the guests arrived. We had an antipasto platter for a starter with prosecco and then for dinner we had lasagna and salad. My friend Letizia help to host and made homemade tiramisu for dessert! It was delicious! For the table I tried to decorate with a Bern theme. I had found some cheery Bern pictures at a brocante soon after we arrived in Bern. I used those as place mats and topped them with toblerone bars and for the guest of honor, a Bern bear chocolate bar. Nina has a gorgeous lemon tree so I thought the lemons and tulips were pretty and reminded me of Nina’s taste! For the appetizers I found some little Bern canton flag toothpicks.
I wasn’t great at getting pictures but here are a few. Some are a little blurry but still worth including I think!
You will be missed Nina! So thankful that we met and shared this year in Bern together! Looking forward to crossing paths many more times in the years to come!
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