My apologies to the few of you who actually read this blog for not updating in over 6 months! Needless to say, a lot has happened since my last post.A few days after returning from Jackson's first birthday trip to Lubbock, I had my bilateral mastectomy, which went well. I am so fortunate to have such a supportive family. My mother and mother-in-law were both here to help. My mother was able to stay for a whole month to help with Jackson. My grandmother was able to come for the next month to finish my recovery time. It was nice to spend a lot of time with them and I think they enjoyed getting to spend time with Jackson. I just don't what what we would have done without them! 
For the next several months I was undergoing the tissue expansion process and had to 'take it easy'. Yeah right! With a toddler??? I did my best, though. It was nice to get back into a routine and not need so much help. Finally, I felt like a normal mommy again, taking care of my own baby! Things were getting back to normal- well, a new 'normal', I guess.
Shortly after Gran left, we celebrated Jackson's second Easter. After church, we had a picnic in the park, just the three of us. The Easter Bunny brought him lots of goodies and mommy made him a yummy Easter cupcake.
Mother's Day was such a special day this year. Pittsburgh's Komen Race for the Cure is held annually on Mother's Day. This was my first Race for the Cure to attend and it was quite an emotional day, having just completed treatment. I am SO SO SO thankful to be a survivor and a mommy. While I could not have stayed strong without the love and support of my family, friends, and God, Jackson was my driving force. I'm not sure he will ever truly know how much I needed him, and how much he helped me survive! It was humbling to be in the presence of so many other survivors and families of those less fortunate. I stood in line next to a man and his young son, both wearing 'in memory of my wife/mom". I was overwhelmed with emotion as I thought about how that could have been Nolan and Jackson, and how sweet it was that they were there in her memory. It was a harsh reality to see so many "in memory of...", and memorials for those who did not survive, as it is horrific to be diagnosed with something that takes the lives of so many. I am TRULY blessed and SO thankful to be alive and healthy and pray to stay that way for a long time! What an amazing Mother's Day!
June 11th was my reconstructive surgery (finally!). Once again, my mother flew out to help with Jackson. One morning we were having our coffee in the living room when Jackson stood up with an excited look on his face. I looked at him, then looked at mom and said "he's about to walk" and just after I said that, he walked across the floor! I was so happy my mom could be there for his first steps! I am so happy he didn't walk until AFTER I was done with surgery! The timing was perfect!
Summer was finally here and the weather was heating up, so G bought Jackson his own water park! He LOVES the water (and going diaper-less)!
My mom left early on Father's Day and Suzy (mother in law) was coming in later that day, so we spend most of the day just the three of us. I took some pictures of Jackson and framed them along with his hand print with a little poem and gave it as a gift to Nolan. Jackson was proud of his artwork and his Daddy!
Jackson also hit the links with his Daddy on Father's Day- the first of many, I'm sure!
Thank God for Suzy! She was able to come, once again, to help me out. She stayed for a week and a half, helped me get packed for our month in Texas, and flew home with me- doing most of the work since I couldn't lift anything heavier than 5lbs. Packing for/traveling with a toddler is a tremendous amount of work, especially when leaving for an entire month. He did okay on the flights...but just okay. Thank God for layovers and airport playgrounds! We survived the trip...barely...and began our month visit with friends and family in Texas!
It was so good to be home, though it was hard to leave Nolan alone in Pittsburgh. We had a busy month, full of plans! I am glad we got to spend a good amount of time with our families. We spent the first part of the trip staying with my family. Jackson had fun spending time with everyone, especially cousins Brittany and Luke. Tyler also came to visit for a fun weekend. While he had fun with his little friends, he had learn some hard lessons about sharing, taking turns, and not eating other people's food. He's my little chicken nugget bandit!
I'm so glad Jackson and Luke were able to spend so much time together! I think they had a good time, at least when Jackson wasn't taking toys away from Luke and Sarah Ellen wasn't holding/carrying/paying attention to Jackson (Luke got a little jealous when his mommy was helping me with Jackson). Oh, what an age! They are sweet boys, and so cute together! Luke was so sweet to share his toys.
While Jackson spent lots of time in lots of different places, his favorite place was definitely Granna and Grandad's pool! He is a true water baby- fearless!
We were SO happy when Daddy joined us for the last week of our vacation!
The Griggs boys!
Jackson also loved playing the piano with Granna!
Our trip to Texas was so much fun! I am so glad Jackson got to spend time with his family that he doesn't get to see very often. Even after a whole month, it STILL didn't seem like enough time! Jackson is so loved by all his grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Thank you to those who made the trip to Lubbock to see us! I cannot thank everyone enough for a wonderful month! Words can't describe how much I needed that time with family and friends!
Well, life has settled down a bit after being home for a week and a half. I am busy chasing Jackson around, constantly telling him "no no", trying to teach him right from wrong after a month of virtually no rules! I left Pittsburgh with a baby and returned with a full-blown toddler- a strong willed one at that! Lord help us! Nolan and I also just celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary! We are just enjoying life and excited about what is in store for our future!
For the next several months I was undergoing the tissue expansion process and had to 'take it easy'. Yeah right! With a toddler??? I did my best, though. It was nice to get back into a routine and not need so much help. Finally, I felt like a normal mommy again, taking care of my own baby! Things were getting back to normal- well, a new 'normal', I guess.Shortly after Gran left, we celebrated Jackson's second Easter. After church, we had a picnic in the park, just the three of us. The Easter Bunny brought him lots of goodies and mommy made him a yummy Easter cupcake.
Mother's Day was such a special day this year. Pittsburgh's Komen Race for the Cure is held annually on Mother's Day. This was my first Race for the Cure to attend and it was quite an emotional day, having just completed treatment. I am SO SO SO thankful to be a survivor and a mommy. While I could not have stayed strong without the love and support of my family, friends, and God, Jackson was my driving force. I'm not sure he will ever truly know how much I needed him, and how much he helped me survive! It was humbling to be in the presence of so many other survivors and families of those less fortunate. I stood in line next to a man and his young son, both wearing 'in memory of my wife/mom". I was overwhelmed with emotion as I thought about how that could have been Nolan and Jackson, and how sweet it was that they were there in her memory. It was a harsh reality to see so many "in memory of...", and memorials for those who did not survive, as it is horrific to be diagnosed with something that takes the lives of so many. I am TRULY blessed and SO thankful to be alive and healthy and pray to stay that way for a long time! What an amazing Mother's Day!
June 11th was my reconstructive surgery (finally!). Once again, my mother flew out to help with Jackson. One morning we were having our coffee in the living room when Jackson stood up with an excited look on his face. I looked at him, then looked at mom and said "he's about to walk" and just after I said that, he walked across the floor! I was so happy my mom could be there for his first steps! I am so happy he didn't walk until AFTER I was done with surgery! The timing was perfect!
Summer was finally here and the weather was heating up, so G bought Jackson his own water park! He LOVES the water (and going diaper-less)!
My mom left early on Father's Day and Suzy (mother in law) was coming in later that day, so we spend most of the day just the three of us. I took some pictures of Jackson and framed them along with his hand print with a little poem and gave it as a gift to Nolan. Jackson was proud of his artwork and his Daddy!
Jackson also hit the links with his Daddy on Father's Day- the first of many, I'm sure!
Thank God for Suzy! She was able to come, once again, to help me out. She stayed for a week and a half, helped me get packed for our month in Texas, and flew home with me- doing most of the work since I couldn't lift anything heavier than 5lbs. Packing for/traveling with a toddler is a tremendous amount of work, especially when leaving for an entire month. He did okay on the flights...but just okay. Thank God for layovers and airport playgrounds! We survived the trip...barely...and began our month visit with friends and family in Texas!
It was so good to be home, though it was hard to leave Nolan alone in Pittsburgh. We had a busy month, full of plans! I am glad we got to spend a good amount of time with our families. We spent the first part of the trip staying with my family. Jackson had fun spending time with everyone, especially cousins Brittany and Luke. Tyler also came to visit for a fun weekend. While he had fun with his little friends, he had learn some hard lessons about sharing, taking turns, and not eating other people's food. He's my little chicken nugget bandit!
I'm so glad Jackson and Luke were able to spend so much time together! I think they had a good time, at least when Jackson wasn't taking toys away from Luke and Sarah Ellen wasn't holding/carrying/paying attention to Jackson (Luke got a little jealous when his mommy was helping me with Jackson). Oh, what an age! They are sweet boys, and so cute together! Luke was so sweet to share his toys.
While Jackson spent lots of time in lots of different places, his favorite place was definitely Granna and Grandad's pool! He is a true water baby- fearless!
We were SO happy when Daddy joined us for the last week of our vacation!
The Griggs boys!
Jackson also loved playing the piano with Granna!
Our trip to Texas was so much fun! I am so glad Jackson got to spend time with his family that he doesn't get to see very often. Even after a whole month, it STILL didn't seem like enough time! Jackson is so loved by all his grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Thank you to those who made the trip to Lubbock to see us! I cannot thank everyone enough for a wonderful month! Words can't describe how much I needed that time with family and friends!
Well, life has settled down a bit after being home for a week and a half. I am busy chasing Jackson around, constantly telling him "no no", trying to teach him right from wrong after a month of virtually no rules! I left Pittsburgh with a baby and returned with a full-blown toddler- a strong willed one at that! Lord help us! Nolan and I also just celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary! We are just enjoying life and excited about what is in store for our future!
