Start each DAY with a smile....

As my life returns back to NORMAL...

I'm learning that my

day begins with a SIMPLE expression...

A SMILE!

I'm smiling because things that I used to do...

like taking a bath,

walking down stairs,

going pee pee (without pain),

and of course...

spending time with my family...

doing all the FUN things we used to do...

are FINALLY happening again!

And I love to hear people saying,

"We've got Jana back!"

So when Ron and Cameron had last Friday off of work...

I couldn't wait to JUMP back on the boat!

They got to FISH...

I got to READ !

(Okay I didn't read...we were having so much fun talking!) 

Ron was having fun FISHING...

 

Cameron is always just FUN!

 

I sure LOVE these two boys!

 

I love the way they LOVE each other and 

LOVE being around each other! 

I find myself now thinking of FIRSTS!

(meaning... my firsts since my medical crap began)

This was my FIRST time to be back on the boat!

This was my FIRST time to wear my cute NEW (not so new now!) boating hat!

This was my FIRST time to get back into my swimsuit!

This was my FIRST time to see my weight loss in a picture!

This was my FIRST time to see a SMILE back on my face!

And it was the FIRST time that I began to FEEL

alive again!

I will always look at my life differently now..

and treasure each day,

by starting each day with a SMILE knowing that

I'm alive!

Travel Log - Day ONE

In the midst of my

CRAZY,

BUSY,

OVER-MEDICAL

summer...I can't believe I haven't BLOGGED any of it!

While I have to admit,

this summer didn't go as planned...

we still had some FUN times.

So this week...

I'm dedicating my BLOG

as a travel LOG...

(I'm rhyming again!)

to our FIRST trip of the summer...

UKRAINE!

Day 1-3:

Travel, Travel and MORE Travel.

Can I say...EXHAUSTION!

So we left for the airport at 10:30 P.M....

having both worked a FULL day so let's just say we've

already been up since 7 a.m..

We catch the plane at 12:40 a.m....

again...still haven't slept!

We land in Minneapolis, Minnesota...

which by the way isn't even on my itinerary...

where we spend 2 hours before loading a plane to

Detroit, Michigan.

We land again for another 1.5 hours before

getting on a plane to New York, NY. at noon the next day!

Other than a brief...a very brief snooze on the plane...

we still have not slept.

We did have a 4 hour lay over before we left for Kiev, Ukraine.

We tried to sleep...but not well.

After a 10 hour flight we land in Kiev.

 

Cameron asked me what my 3 smells of Ukraine are...

and I can honestly say I smelled 2 of them as soon as we landed!

1.  Smoke and lots of it! Almost 85% of Ukrainian's smoke!

2.  Body odor! Most Ukrainian's don't bathe daily or wear deodorant!

Unfortunately we had another 6 hour lay over in Kiev before boarding a very small Ukrainian airline to Dnepropetrovsk...

our final destination. 

At this point...I can't decide if I'm MORE hungry,

or more tired!  

So we luckily had a little pizza place directly across the street from our hotel...we ate quickly...

and went to bed at 7:30 p.m. Ukraine time!

Exactly 50 hours since our LAST bedtime!

No wonder I was able to sleep for 12 hours straight!

 

Postscript: I must mention that in the final pictures you will see Ron drinking the most AMAZING juice on the planet.  Cameron used to talk about it in his mission letters all the time.  We couldn't wait to try it...and we were NOT disappointed.  We just wish we could have brought some of this juice home!

A Different type of DAY...

was the kids' FIRST day of school.

Luckily for me...

my wonderful husband

did his best to do all the NORMAL beginning of the year activities.

He took the kids to 

MEET the TEACHER night,

(I was still in the hospital)

signed agendas, made lunches, made breakfast,

MADE ME 

breakfast in bed for many days,

did morning prayers

and still took time...for my sake

to take the DREADED first day of school pictures!

What a GUY!

Meanwhile, the kids were GREAT.

They didn't complain.

They asked me daily "how are you feeling?"

They found shoes, homework, food to eat and didn't have to

call me one TIME the first whole month of school.

NOW that is a MIRACLE!

 Christopher - 8th GRADE

Rachel - 6th GRADE

(with her Best Friends - Izzy and Summer)

Katie - 4th GRADE

Jacob - 1st GRADE

Postscript: It was REALLY hard for me to miss these moments with my kids.  The thing I realized and that is the blessing is that my kids' lives kept going on.  They still played with friends, went to activities and everything else kids do at their ages...

and while I know they were concerned about me,

they were able to KEEP moving forward!

One more BLESSING I'm able to find in all of this!

Good luck this year kiddos...I know you will do GREAT! 

My medical NIGHTMARE...

Eight weeks ago today...

my life changed FOREVER!

I am finally ready to tell my story of my

MEDICAL NIGHTMARE.

During a routine surgery where I was having a hysterectomy to

rid myself of the constant pain of endometrosis,

my gynecologist cut my ureter.

This is the tube between your kidney and bladder. 

(A tube I didn't REALLY know about until now!)

Somehow, I knew something was wrong...

right from the start.

Turns out GAS isn't my poison,

nor were my tests normal!

They just weren't looking in the right place!

The amazing part is that for FIVE days,

the only FIVE days

I had my children before SCHOOL was to start...

God blessed me with the ability to "change the course"

my body was heading to...

but only for FIVE days.

Those FIVE days were the best I've had in EIGHT weeks!

We managed to do everything we needed to do...

to have them ready for the FIRST day of school.

Then we dropped them off...

exactly two weeks after my first surgery,

to spend FIVE days with their dad.

And we headed to the cooler country of Arizona to spend the

weekend with NANA!

Only one hour after dropping the children off...

my PAIN began.

We managed to enjoy the cooler weather of Arizona for two days,

but I still knew SOMETHING was wrong.

Upon our return home,

thinking I must have the most horrible bladder infection...

I had Ron and Cameron take me to the hospital so I could

start on medication right away!

During that visit to the hospital....

after being hooked up to an IV,

I began screaming and crying in PAIN!

AGAIN...

I was told my TESTS were normal.

Except this time they found that my RIGHT kidney seemed to be

ENLARGED.

But they sent me home...

telling me to call the doctor in the morning.

I didn't sleep one wink...the pain was TOO much.

Ron reluctantly went to work,

I got a hold of my doctor who was heading into surgery...

told me to come in later,

but LATER couldn't wait.

I called my bestest friend LISA who was at my door in 15 minutes.

During that time, I received a text from Ron.

"Are you okay?"

My reply,

"NO".

He quickly called and I told him I was heading to the Emergency 

Room...again!

He met me there!

From this point on...the experience of the next FIVE days...

are too horrible for me to talk about yet!

I can only say,

that GOD gave me the amazing capacity to endure...

and to FORGET!

During that week, I experienced three failed surgical attempts at 

FIXING

the torn ureter.

The only relief I found was in a small box that produced the 

strongest PAIN medicine on the market...

and even then...

when I pushed the button,

it didn't always produce the meds my body was looking for...

and the LOVING grace of GOD

who never left my side...

and that made me feel that GOING to the other side...

might BE the better option!

One more surgery the next week...

FAILED again to fix the ureter.

We changed doctors and found the most amazing

UROLOGIST in Arizona!

Thirteen days later...he CUT me open,

CUT my bladder open,

CUT off the torn part of my ureter and sewed it all BACK

together!

WHEW....this surgery was intense...

and much more painful than the previous FIVE surgeries!

But I was FIXED...

and that gave me the HOPE I've needed to ENDURE!

I'm still trying to COPE with the idea,

that one small mistake...

created such a MAJOR ordeal,

and caused me the MOST pain I've ever endured in my LIFE!

But all I can do is FORGIVE...

and in doing so I will be WHOLE again...

in more ways than ONE!

Postscript: During this time, I did not take ONE single picture! I just couldn't stand to see the LOOK that might just be in my eyes if I did! So you will see no pictures of my LOVELY neuphrostomy bag that was attached to my kidney for two weeks or my Foley bag that I carried urine in for two weeks, or the weight loss of 10 lbs. produced from the weight loss diet from HELL!

Must share a STORY...

Our wedding photo - April 21, 2007

During one of my "dark" days recovering from surgery,

I was feeling AWFUL

and Ron had gone back to work.

Upon waking up and him not "being there"...

I quickly panicked and picked up the phone to call him at work.

I burst into tears at the mere sound of his voice,

and told him "I was not doing well."

He rushed home from work to be by my side...

which gave me much comfort.

However, I still felt AWFUL and could not pick my head up

off the pillow.

Upon arrival at the hospital...

they took me back just to begin prepping me for IV's, catheters, drugs, etc.

Making me feel even more AWFUL.

When the doctors came back and said all tests were

NORMAL...

I just lost it...I didn't feel normal.

In fact, I felt AWFUL and knew something wasn't right.

At that moment...Ron lost it with me!

He knew!

He knew exactly how I felt!

Why?

Because of his amazing ability to LOVE.

This is what made me FALL so madly in love with this man.

His ability to show and give LOVE.

It makes me complete...

and it makes me feel special...

and most important it makes me feel

LOVED!

5th GRADE is her year.....

28 years ago...

I finished my BEST year of school.

5th GRADE...with Mr. Andrus!

I will never forget it...it was a DREAM year.

Rachel had that same DREAM year,

in all things

the 5th GRADE!

With a FUN-LOVING teacher who knew

how to bring the BEST out of each child...

there were no more "mean girls" or

"bully boys"...

but kids who REALLY liked being together!

Gone were the days of Rachel coming home in TEARS...

but days of excitement,

maturity and lots and lots of 

LEARNING!

Towards the end of the year...her friends did a fun dance performance to several songs through the ages!

Some of Rachel's BFF'S!

 

Rachel and Summer doing the SWING dance.

Must do a dance to Miley Cyrus song,

"Butterfly Fly Away".

Mrs. Waddell asked me to be the mom in charge of the

Jog-a-thon

in February.  

ohhh...I had so much fun with this CLASS!

Always having FUN and being SILLY!

All the FUN girls in Rachel's class!

Rachel had to BRING her camera on the last day of school.

This almost broke her heart to leave this year behind...

One last group shot!

My Dear Rachie,

Your mommy is so proud of you.

You accomplished so much this year and I love your NEW found strength.
I also LOVE that you can talk to me about anything...please don't ever stop wanting to talk to me because I love you so much and want your happiness.
That has been my greatest blessing for you this year...
you truly were able to find happiness in who you are without compromising your standards.
You are a special little girl who is growing up to be a
STRONG and BEAUTIFUL
young woman.
I love you dearly,
MOM

Gas is my POISON....

Update on surgery recovery:

1.  Turns out GAS is my bodies (and everyone elses...it seems) POISON.

2.  Vomiting and nausea...a constant!

3.  Bloating, hiccups, constipation...miserable.

4.  Could someone buy me a MOO-MOO?  I could use one because absolutely NOTHING feels good on right now!

5.  No refreshing walks to take...its a 115 degrees outside!

6.  Wouldn't want to walk if I wanted too!

7.  Turns out having surgery in the summer means no FUN regularly season shows on...so I stare at a blank screen.

8.  Pain...and medicine to mask it...

which leads back to number 2.

The only CONSTANT and wonderful thing is my

ADORING, 

SWEET, 

LOVING, 

PATIENT,

UNDERSTANDING,

HUSBAND....RON. 

Off to laa..laa..land!!!

Wish that meant I was heading to do this!

But unfortunately...

I'm heading off to the hospital for surgery!

My goal of posting 3 a week...has been put on the back burner,

as my week has been filled with WORK,

WORK...and did I mention WORK!

Trying to figure out how to balance it all...

I'm hoping that when I come back free and clear of 

PAIN...

I'll be as good as new!

Until then...I'll be in lala land dreaming of more FUN

days on the LAKE! 

No more KINDERGARTEN....

Even to say those words...
NO MORE KINDERGARTEN...
makes me sad.

I can't believe my BABY...is out of kindergarten and that I have no more "kindergarten days" to look forward to!
The BEST year a child has in school is kindergarten!
And despite this year...
being a HUGE adjustment for my Jakie...
I am proud of him and all his accomplishments!

*It was an accomplishment to keep him SAFE within the kindergarten walls...and to not RUN away from the school.
*It was an accomplishment that his teacher could see past some of his "quirks" and see a beautiful, smart and funny child.
*It was an accomplishment that mom didn't NEED to go visit him everyday...just to make sure her baby was okay!
*It was an accomplishment that he learned to use his WORDS to express his sadness and to know that he DID want to be heard by all who were willing to listen.

So if you need a really good smile today...watch this video...it may even make you laugh!

a REUNION like none other....

(First moment in Mission Home!)

Ron cried for 6 months straight when

CAMERON

left on his mission 2 years ago.

Seriously, no one could bring up Cameron's name without

 tears welling up!

Then for the next year...he managed to maintain control.

But the last 6 months,
the months' before

Cameron's arrival home...
Ron's tears were turned back on!

So I can not perfectly describe,

what a reunion is like

between a FATHER and a SON

like the reunion these two had.

However, if you have read the Book of Mormon...

the reunion between Alma and his beloved brethren

the sons of Mosiah...

is the closest thing I can use to describe this 

AMAZING reunion.

I'm just grateful that I got to witness it...

because it strengthened my relationship with God...
and made me thankful these 2

amazing men our in my life!

(Picking up our luggage in front of our hotel...first day!)

 

Around the world...

and ACROSS the country in 30 days!

(View outside the airplane...looking at New York!)
whew...

No wonder I'm totally WORN out...
and completely behind on my BLOG!

So I'm recommitting myself

(since this is my version of Family History)

to getting on the up and up...

and to start posting 3 times a week

ALL the amazing adventures of our last 2 months.

I have MANY, MANY stories to tell...

including kindergarten "promotion",

end of the year activities,

our once in a lifetime trip to Ukraine,

our reunion with our amazing son,

a wonderful summer that I've enjoyed with my kids,

and our trip to Missouri to see so many cousins and family.

So with that being said...

Bring on the BLOG!

It's been a LONG and wonderful road...

but it's time for our DEAR 

CAMERON

to come home!

I'm trying to get the word out...

and in case you didn't get an EVITE...

don't let that stop you from stopping by.

Here are the details of our celebration:

June 20th, 2010

Cameron speaks in our ward...Cortina 3rd ward.

Sossamon Building at NOON.

(On Sossamon just south of Germann)

 Open House at the Flewellen's...

anytime between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

We know it is FATHER'S day but we couldn't think of a better

celebration for a FATHER

than for Cameron to speak on this special day.

We will be HEADING out to get him....SOON!

Bring on the Ukraine! 

THEY do exist....

FISH

do exist in ARIZONA!!

Yippee....for Ron...he caught a couple!

These one's were duzies!!

I haven't heard these TWO words in a while...

"FISH ON!"

So imagine my surprise when Ron said it not ONCE...

But TWICE!

2 BIG catfishes weighing in at 2 lbs. 7 oz. and 5 lbs. 10 oz...

and boy were they YUMMY for dinner!

Memories of MOTHER'S day...

I have to admit...

usually my MOTHER'S days are just like any other Sunday.

But not this year...

my kids and sweet hubby made it special.

Rachel set her ALARM and woke up at 6:15 a.m. to make me breakfast in BED.

Wow...what 11 year old girl sacrifices a morning to sleep in...
to make her mommy breakfast in BED?

Well, my sweet Rachie does!

Each KID also made me homemade Mother's day cards which I found so sweet and special.

I especially liked the one on Katie's that gave me a coupon for:

"Not fighting with her siblings...but Chris only!"

That gave me a good laugh...
the kind of laugh that makes your belly hurt!

Christopher even surprised me with a card....

Ron brought me flowers and helped make dinner with all the kids participating.

Rachel finished up by making the most delicious CUPCAKES which we all devoured in a few minutes!

Thanks to my SWEET children and hubby who made me feel so loved and special...

how GREAT a combo is that?!?

BACK on track...

I think!

I got slightly (okay maybe a lot) off track decorating the GIRLS' room.

It went from Young and Sophisticated to a 

hodge podge of 

Young, Sophisticated and CRAZY shabby sheek!

But I'm back on track...

sticking to our original plan...and hoping I get no MORE of those,

"Are you crazy" kind of looks from those who are to polite to say,

"I HATE it!"

(Which we all did!)

So here is the NEW look and the LOOK to stay!

BOYS are the BEST

I'm LOVING my life filled with so many

FUN boys'.

Leo is a ROCK star with his good looks and CHARM.

I think we are finally starting to GROW on him.

When MOMMY wasn't around he actually came over to GIVE me a hug.

I didn't BREATHE....I didn't want him to stop.

Jacob is JOLLY fun...until you get to know him!

Seriously...this little BOY gets to know everyone.

When I'm at the bike rack at school with him or riding our bikes...everyone in the neighborhood knows JACOB!

Friendship knows no boundaries...not with JACOB.

And that's why I love HIM!

Christopher is CLEVERLY cute.

Hey says he NEVER ends up in pictures...but somehow he never seems to be around.

So I made sure we could get a glimpse of just how CUTE he is....

When I TOOK these Baywatch style shots of him running down the BEACH.

Ron is my KNIGHT in shining ARMOR.

~He came to RESCUE me~

Letters from Mugu

Dear Point MUGU,

Thanks for letting us ENJOY the wonders you had to OFFER us.

We could not have ASKED for a better day to bask in ALL your goodness.

It allowed me to sit back...

with my camera in TOW and just snap...and I think the pictures speak for themselves.

So until next time MUGU...

we will ENJOY these memories you gave us.

Sincerely,

J

Beautiful BRITNI

Leo the LION!

 
 Hilarious Hailee

They BOYS warmin' up after getting into this:

You would NEVER know they weren't REALLY family....

Maybe because we ARE...
because a FAMILY is what you make of it!

And these GUYS make it GOOD...

...THE best....
because they DON'T know it shouldn't be...

We can learn A LOT from them...
those that are innocent.

because despite it being COLD...they still dive in!

because it's TOO fun not too!

ARE you getting the picture?

Life is GOOD...if you let it!