Saturday, March 31, 2012
Countdown...
Well the countdown to my son's high school graduation has begun. It was bittersweet when my son turned 18 a few weeks back, but now I have to hold myself together for another 51 days till I see Jake walk across that stage and receive that diploma. That diploma signifies the next step in his life, the next season in mine. As parents we want to hold our children close to us, protect them, but on the flip side, we know it's only right to set them free to find themselves and hope that we've instilled the values to make them fine men and women. Unfortunately, there's no manual to help us get through these times, so this blog will be my journey through a bittersweet season of my life and maybe it can help others get through th empty nest years as well. You'll read about the tears, the fears, the joys and all the proud moments that are bestowed upon me as I attempt to maintain my sanity, my patience, all while watching my son turn into a young man!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
16 years of live, love and lots of laughter!
16 years ago today, my life started over. After a 4 mile walk, I finally went into labor...labor to have the most incredible little boy I've ever known! After a 26 hour labor, 2 broken ribs, God brought Jake into this world on March 10, 1994. I never knew I could love something so much. He looked so perfect!
16 years later - WOW! A double transplant, a couple of flatline worries, a mulititude of surgeries, a series of rejections and a shattered femur later and now my challenge is raising a teenager! I'm just blessed that God gave me the last 16 years. By no means were they easy years. Alot of growing up, alot of tears, alot of detouring off God's intended journey...but here I am. There's absolute truth to the saying that God does not give us more than we can handle. I'm living proof! As I look toward the next 16 years, I ask myself, "Did I instill the right morals and values; Did I love him enough? Does he forgive me for my mistakes?" Did I instill all the right things in him so he can survive in this huge, sometimes cruel world! I am here today to tell all those single moms out there there there's hope. I've been told that these teenagers will maeuver their way through this stage of their lives. Question is - can us, as parents, get through it unscathed? I'm willing to take that chance even if it means I cry when I have to make some hard decisions, or say goodbye when Jake heads off to college. I think back every day to how blessed I am to have had the last 16 years of Jake's life. He's an outstanding young man, who has developed strong survivor skills, along with a drive like I've never known, and a smile that would melt the Antarctic and a sense of humor that puts most comedians to shame. If you couldn't tell, I'm a proud momma. Even with the trials and tribulations over the last 16 years, I wouldn't trade a day of it. I love you, Jake!
16 years later - WOW! A double transplant, a couple of flatline worries, a mulititude of surgeries, a series of rejections and a shattered femur later and now my challenge is raising a teenager! I'm just blessed that God gave me the last 16 years. By no means were they easy years. Alot of growing up, alot of tears, alot of detouring off God's intended journey...but here I am. There's absolute truth to the saying that God does not give us more than we can handle. I'm living proof! As I look toward the next 16 years, I ask myself, "Did I instill the right morals and values; Did I love him enough? Does he forgive me for my mistakes?" Did I instill all the right things in him so he can survive in this huge, sometimes cruel world! I am here today to tell all those single moms out there there there's hope. I've been told that these teenagers will maeuver their way through this stage of their lives. Question is - can us, as parents, get through it unscathed? I'm willing to take that chance even if it means I cry when I have to make some hard decisions, or say goodbye when Jake heads off to college. I think back every day to how blessed I am to have had the last 16 years of Jake's life. He's an outstanding young man, who has developed strong survivor skills, along with a drive like I've never known, and a smile that would melt the Antarctic and a sense of humor that puts most comedians to shame. If you couldn't tell, I'm a proud momma. Even with the trials and tribulations over the last 16 years, I wouldn't trade a day of it. I love you, Jake!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
16 years!
Well, 16 years ago (March 10, 1994), I was anticipating the birth of my first born, and only child! The ride has been a bumpy one, but one that has made me stronger as a mother and as a Christian and I've learned what unconditional love it all about. In September, 1994, my 6 month old was diagnosed with Oxalosis, a disease that would would eventually kill him, if he didn't receive a kidney/liver transplant. He was placed on dialysis 22 hours/day. I knew at that point, his dedication and will to live was going to determine his overall success.
In June 1995, Jake and I moved to the San Francisco area to await transplant. The Lucille Packard Children's hospital was going to be our new 'home' for a while. Jake had some evaluation to be done before he'd be ready to be placed on the national transplant list (UNOS). After 21 failed attempts for transplant, on November 21, 1995, we get the call that the doctors found organs, in Arizona. Unfortunately, a 9 year old was involved in a drunk driving accident and Jake's life was in the hands of his parents to decide to donate the needed organs. After seeing a photo of Jake and hearing Jake's story from one of Jake's doctors, the parents decided to allow their son to be a donor! I struggled with the fact that a child would die so that mine would have a 2nd chance. The organs matched Jake's needs so the doctors brought them back to San Francisco for the transplant Fortunately, after an 18 hour surgery, Jake had a successful transplant!
To be continued...
In June 1995, Jake and I moved to the San Francisco area to await transplant. The Lucille Packard Children's hospital was going to be our new 'home' for a while. Jake had some evaluation to be done before he'd be ready to be placed on the national transplant list (UNOS). After 21 failed attempts for transplant, on November 21, 1995, we get the call that the doctors found organs, in Arizona. Unfortunately, a 9 year old was involved in a drunk driving accident and Jake's life was in the hands of his parents to decide to donate the needed organs. After seeing a photo of Jake and hearing Jake's story from one of Jake's doctors, the parents decided to allow their son to be a donor! I struggled with the fact that a child would die so that mine would have a 2nd chance. The organs matched Jake's needs so the doctors brought them back to San Francisco for the transplant Fortunately, after an 18 hour surgery, Jake had a successful transplant!
To be continued...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
formspring.me
What would be the best thing about being a vampire?
Eternity, possibly. Not into the whole skin color thing going on with them tho. I like the sun too much...I'd much rather be a werewolf!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Marshmallows & coke
ok...now tell me why I spend 100's of dollars on healthy, but good food, just to find out my son would rather eat marshmallows dipped in Coke! I'm getting a vivid picture here of how my son's eating habits will be in college! So I'm guessing instead of buying a meal ticket at the University of Texas, I should invest in marshmallows! Do they spoil? I know they get hard if left opened...great, now I'll have to buy Rubbermaid to store the marshmallows in! This gets better and better. The saga of a single mom surviving a teenager continues!
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