Jenna's birthday party re-do

This weekend we did a birthday party re-do for Jenna since she had the stomach flu last weekend when her actual birthday and party was . I didn't feel like making a cake so I got this cute one from Walmart. We sang happy birthday, gave her the cake and she did not waste a minute digging in.

As you can see.. she did not hesitate. We let her go at it for a bit but decided we didn't want her to get sick since she is not used to this kind of stuff. First time really that she has had cake... little tastes of frosting here and there.. She LOVED IT as you can see from the smile on her face. Jackson even got to dig in and enjoy the cake as well. It was worth waiting one more week to see her do this!

Jenna has something new that she picked up on.. it is cute.. she was fixated on the nintendo wii on the tv... Now when we pray at night or at meal times.. she just folds her hands until we are done..

Nothing Much Going On.

Here is the annual picture of Barry and Jackson by our favorite tree!!! It is now... looking pretty sad. The color is less than vibrant... and the flowers are almost gone. Blink and you would miss this tree bloom!

Jackson, camping and the ocean... in North Dakota?

Jackson wanted to put his feet in the "ocean"...yah.. it really is the river. Actually.. it is cool because it is the only place in the world where three rivers meet.. It is very cool. You know what else we have that is unique to Wahpeton... The WHOPPER!! It is the largest catfish in the world.. Yep.. look it up.. seriously. We have people come from all over to see it. Jackson is under the fish.. but really hard to see him... gives you an idea of how big this fish is. After our BIG trip to the ocean.. giggle giggle... we went and collected flowers.. Yep.. I think Jackson needs to be paid for getting rid of weeds. He loves to pick them and yep.. I get lots of bouquets of flowers. Then it was time for our picnic... but there are no pictures because I was trying to hold down plates, kids and me... it was windy and I was totally frustrated since Jenna would not eat.. ok.. worried and frustrated. Anyway.. got through it and Jenna and I landed in the camper for the rest of the night. She just could not be out in that weather. We got to watch everyone else running around having fun and roasting marshmellows from inside the camper... could almost TASTE those marshmellows.... almost. Oh well.. just made our own campfire pit in our yard so hope to be able to participate in some campfires yet this year. Jackson had a blast!! He even got to sleep over in the camper.. yep, his first camping trip. He did wonderful according to grandma and bumpa. He told me all about it and he did have a blast... I see a camper in our future..well at least camping "grandma style". Thanks Grandma and Bumpa for the experience for Jackson... he had a blast!!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY JENNA

You mean it is OK for me to rip this paper??? Are you sure!! So.. I am NOT going to get in trouble.. Dad...is this a trick!! Jenna was soo nervous about opening the wrapping paper.. we are always trying to get her to stop ripping paper...
Tada... strawberry shortcake doll!!!! Yes.. the theme even went through to her gifts. She got a big strawberry shortcake doll.. she does smell sooo good. She also got a small barbie like doll that is one of Strawberry Shortcakes friends, a book about monkeys that comes with the dress up ears (see picture below) and some strawberry shortcake bubble bath. We do a BIG birthday party.. but just like any other "holiday" we don't focus on the presents... but more the reason for celebration!
BUT I DONT WANT TO WEAR THESE EARS... Hey.. don't you remember I was the one throwing up a few short hours ago.... fever.... cranky.. You STILL expect me to wear these dumb things!!
By Sunday night Jenna was smiling again.. not eating or drinking much but smiling.. that was a welcome change by Mom and Dad. Every year I take a picture of the kids by this tree in our front yard. Don't know what kind of tree it is.. but when it blooms it is BEAUTIFUL... for a bout a week... it is the shortest bloom on EARTH! I need to get a picture of Jackson today... it is our tradition. I love this tree!!! All in all Jenna's ACTUAL birthday was better. She is feeling better. We hung out for a while, went to visit grandma and bumpa at their RV... it is this BEAUTIFUL HUGE 5th wheel... (they parked one and a half miles from our home at the camp site. It was fun. We had a camp out in winds I am pretty sure are classified as tornato force winds.. went on a few hikes, put our feet in the ocean (that is what Jackson called it.. it is just a river) and Jackson even had a sleep over. I will post those pictures next. Happy first birthday Jenna... as I have tears in my eyes thinking of our decision to have another child... the moment that I sat on the deck praying that we could have another one and asking the Lord for a healthy girl... I know I know... you ask for healthy babies.. I DONT CARE what sex it is.. and I didn't, but I read a book that stated .... ask the Lord for the desires in your heart. I desired to have a girl. I asked for a beautiful baby girl, with curly red hair, blue eyes and an easy personallity (jackson doesn't have an "easy" personallity.. so I hoped to have a little easier going child this go round). So.. God DID hear me... the desires in my heart (except for the red hair and blue eyes... but those are just the small details :) He is a good Lord... I still don't feel deserving of all the blessings he has given us. We are blessed beyond belief!

Jenna's First Birthday Party

So... today was Jenna's Birthday party. Long story short.. she finally woke up at 2:45 right before her party (she had only been up for a total of an hour all day... we got her in her party clothes... and she was ok for 10 minutes or so..then she started to really fuss and just got lethargic... REALLY lethargic... laid in my arms and could not keep her eyes open. She had a fever and did not look good at all. I was getting really nervous since she had only had a few sips of juice all day and nothing else. REFUSED anything. So we called the ER for some advise. "Bring her in" is what they advised. So we rushed her out of her party and to the ER.... when wouldn't you know it... she perked up. I think the doctor thought we were all quack jobs.. he could tell she didn't look good, but why we brought her to the ER? Both my mom and I were like... ten minutes ago she wouldn't even lift her head... now she was playing peek a boo with grandpa. Well, the motrin had to have kicked in or something. So a $50 visit later... she was released with the orders to drink fluids.. THANKS! Anyway.. I felt better... so back to the party. She really didn't have much to do with opening her gifts... just not up to it. She got her cake.. but really took some help to get her to even try some. After that she laid down and slept again and Grandma and Grandpa J stayed with her while we got Barry to his surprise 30th birthday party. Fast forward 1 hour (Barry was very surprised and thanks to everyone who came) Jenna shows up with Grandma and Grandpa J.... I take her and am kinda keeping a distance from everyone since didn't want to spread what ever this was... well... she PUKES all down her and me. Barry grabs me some napkins and I take off with her home. (I think the cake did it to her). Got her home and in the bath tub... then cuddled and off to bed. Mom was then sure she was coming down with it... but realized that I had not had supper (did have some cake and ice cream but still... not the best choice) and me without food for long periods of time... NOT GOOD... So ate a little something, went to bed and today feeling good! Jenna woke up this morning crying again... not feeling good... but after a little bit after she woke up she was ok and even ate a little bit. She opened her gifts and is now taking a nap. Phew.. not the 1st birthday party you plan for... or you know that she wanted.. but what can you do. Poor baby... that is all I can say! Thanks to everyone who came by... we are soo blessed to have such great family and friends.


This is about the only smile we got all day.
I still think Jenna has the sadder face.
Bites of gluten free cake... she was less than thrilled to eat ANYTHING.
Ok... one more smile for mommy. She is sitting in her pretty pink princess chair from Papa and Nana.
The princess sleeps.

You won't BELIEVE.......

(The whole story is posted at the bottom.. I am too tired and lazy to get it switched with the pictures.. so go read the bottom first so you know what is going on)

Baby girl sleeping on the fold out couch downstairs so I could be by her and her her.

Her birthday cake.. Should have been two layers per layer.. oh well..
This was a picture of her from yesterday in her cute tank top.

I woke up this morning at 2am to the sound of my daughter puking. Poooooooor thing! I woke up Barry to help me while I cleaned up the mess and amazingly she was doing just fine. Got everything cleaned up and brought her downstairs. Now.. thinking at this point it may be the milk that I gave her for the first time... but it happened three more times since then. Not to mention she now has a 101.5 fever and is just sitting in my lap not doing anything. (VERY RARE) She kept some banana's, applesauce and pedialyte down thus far.. so heres to hoping we are done with the worst. Poor baby.. her BIG 1st birthday party is tomorrow and I don't think I will even let her eat her cake. Gluten free and all!!! (just hers, mine and Jackson.. every one else gets the real deal) So between taking care of her, sanitizing and playing with Jackson I managed to decorate two cakes. NOW.. I am usually a perfectionist and I am NOT happy with the way these cakes turned out.. AT ALL..but.. there are more important things to do... so they will have to do... NOT my best... or near my best work.... Not that she will even care. Blues clues cake still... well... takes the cake.

Jackson getting ready and Jenna walking.

Jackson is not a child that "gets ready". He is very low maintenance in that area. But for some reason this particular morning he HAD to get ready. He used one of my old makeup brushes, got it wet and was doing his hair. Now, I had to go and grab my camera because he was up there talking to himself and getting ready for 10 minutes already. I was trying to sneak up on him but if you know jackson you know he has the BEST sense of smell and sound so every time I tried to sneak up the stairs he heard me. He was soo cute.. It was his last day of school so he did go looking like a stud!

Here is a little video of Jenna walking with her tiger. She is getting really good at walking.. Just not ready to do it on her own yet.