30 in 30

Okay, so in 30 days I will turn the BIG 3-0. WHOA! (For those counting it is really in 29 days but I meant for this blog to happen yesterday then I remembered that I don't have a life on Thursday's and the blog didn't happen.)

I've been thinking a lot about this ever since I turned 29 last year. Not only have I been thinking about it but I've been dreading it somewhat (not dreading it enough to cancel my month-long celebration, however). I don't want to be 30... I don't feel like I'm 30... I want to stay in my 20s. I've been thinking about my LONG list of to-do's that haven't been done and the accomplishments I've always dreamed of but haven't achieved yet.

Then, this past week I had somewhat of an epiphany (strange, I know). There have been several years during my 20s that have been hard... really hard. There have been times when life has downright stunk! Just to name a few: divorce, single parenthood, moving (like 5 or 6 times... blech), two job changes, death, death, death (Enough. I lost my sister, my grandpa, my other grandpa, my grandma, a few great uncles and my cousin. Seriously-- enough). While these challenges have helped me grow and learn- I wouldn't want to live any of them over again. I am SO over being a 20-something.

So, I blog today with a FRESH new outlook on turning 30.

I am excited. I am full of energy (at least sometimes). I am in better shape than I've been in a long time (and I actually enjoy running and exercise). I am genuinely happy. I'm more mature than I was a few years ago (at least I'm pretty sure I am). I love every minute with my kids, my husband, and, of course, my dog! I have awesome family, awesome friends, an awesome job with awesome bosses and co-workers, and I live in an awesome place. That aforementioned LONG list of to-do's... there's still plenty of time. This is just the beginning!

So... what's the first thing I did to celebrate my upcoming 30th birthday? I registered for a HALF MARATHON. **13.1 miles** (Note: The distance from my house to my work is exactly 13.3 miles and I don't even like driving that commute so I am a wee-bit nervous.) The money $$ is in... there is NO backing out. I'm going to do it! Even better is that two of my good friends are doing it with me.

I usually start my month-long birthday celebration on April 1st but I guess I'm starting a few days early this year! Pardon me for feeling like my birthday deserves a spot on the National Holiday list. But it does. Really.

Plus, I'm taking Aspen to the David Archuleta concert tonight. That's cool and hip. And I'll probably buy her a shirt to wear to school on Monday! (I'm actually just glad she still wants to go with me and not her friends and that's she's not embarrassed by me... YET.)

Phone Call From School

Ring, Ring

Me:  Hello

Aspen:  Hi Mom

Me:  Hi Sweetie what's up?

Aspen:  Mom can you bring me some chapstick?

Me (laughing hysterically on the inside):  Do you have any in your backpack?

Aspen:  No I already checked.  And my lips hurt really bad.

Me (laughing even more hysterically on the inside):  Does Jackson have any in his backpack?

Aspen:  I am NOT using his chapstick.  GROSS.

Me:  I can't leave work right now to bring you some chapstick.  Just see if Jackson has some.  

Aspen:  Ewwww.

Me:  Maybe I can at lunchtime, okay?

Aspen (in a pouting tone):  Fine. 

   

Ouch!

With a little father/son bonding time gone awry, Jackson ended up with this massive shiner! Jared took Jackson with him to practice softball with the "big boys" and Jacks was doing great, loving every minute... until he got nailed right in the face. OUCH!

It happened at a park close to my aunt Lynnie's house so Jared and my cousin Andy immediately took Jackson to her house to get an ice pack. She was so sweet and gave Jackson a bag of treats with a couple dollars- at that point I think he forgot about the pain for a minute. Jared was trying to get a hold of me but I was visiting teaching at the time and not answering my phone. Jared finally got a hold of me on my cell phone and I drove as fast as I could to meet them. Jackson was being SO brave... after the initial WHACK he didn't even cry the rest of the day.

We went to the Instacare first but they sent us right to the ER. My sweet dad met us at the Instacare and Jackson was so glad to see him. He followed us to the ER and stayed with Aspen while Jackson was being taken care of. Aspen was glad her grandpa was there... especially when she wanted a snack from the vending machine!

We spent several hours in the emergency room and after multiple x-rays and tests on his eye (one test involved the doctor's finger in his eye- double ouch!!!) we were sent home with an ice pack and some childrens Tylenol. FORTUNATELY, there were no fractures, no damage to the eye and no concussion-- just a BIG black eye and a major headache. These pictures are from today... yesterday the eye wasn't as purple but it was twice as swollen- he could hardly even open his eye.

While we were waiting in the ER I got a text message from a sweet neighbor friend asking if she could bring us dinner. She had no idea we weren't home and what we'd been through. I explained to her what was going on and she was so sweet to bring us a hot, delicious dinner when we got home.

When we left the ER and walked out to the car there was a little package sitting on top of the car. My cousin Andy (who Jackson absolutely looks up to) had left a package of cool die cast cars for Jackson as a get well prize. That put the smile right back on his face!

Jackson was true to his little self and kept a sense of humor through most of it. The nurse came in the ER room and asked Jackson what happened and he told him he got hit with a softball. He told the nurse, "But it wasn't a soft ball at all. It was a really big, hard ball!"

Then, the doctor had just finished poking and prodding all over Jackson's eye and asked Jackson how the pain in his eye was. Jackson replied, "It doesn't hurt as much when it's being left alone." It was so sweet and even the doctor got a kick out of it!

Tonight Jackson told me that he hates what happened but he does like all the attention he's been getting. He's had multiple phone calls ALL DAY from concerned people (and Grandma Shauna promises she'll bring him a prize from her trip-- it's eating her up that she's not home to help take care of him)... the cute neighbor girls brought him get well cards, Grandpa Gary brought him lots of treats, soda (A&W root beer- his favorite) and some cool Power Ranger toys, AND he got to pick where we ate dinner tonight (McDonalds...). I also stayed home from work to take care of him and we played lots of video games, watched movies, and lounged around in our pj's.

While, I'm sad this happened and I feel really bad for Jackson (not nearly as bad as Jared feels- that's a whole different story)... a couple of good things have come out of this. The main thing is that I realized exactly how grateful I am that Jackson has a dad who loves him and wants to play ball with him and be involved. I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world...

IN OTHER NEWS:

Sadly, we found Jared's first gray hair yesterday. I think it might be stress-related from trying to be an Air Traffic Controller. We promptly yanked it out and he is, once again, gray free.