35 Days.

35 days.  Harold, my father in law, has been undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer for 35 days and today is his last day!  He and Margie have been going back and forth to Stanford for 2 months.  They were graciously offered a friends home to stay in during the week located in the BEAUTIFUL Marina District in San Francisco.  

A few weeks back Cherie, Aubrey, Jed and I went to Stanford and San Francisco for the day.  It was quite a long day but a ton of fun!  

Oma drove with us there, so we met Harold after his treatment at Stanford Hospital.  

Jed had not slept since 6:30, so he was tired!

There is a beautiful fountain and Opa showed Jed the wawa... Jed was mesmerized! 

We then went to see the radiation therapy area. We were able to see where he goes every day, where he checks in, and where he waits for treatment.

Reception area

There are fish tanks everywhere! (the Fisher family donated a bunch of money...)

Opa's radiation doctor... I baked cookies to take along as a treat to all of the doctors and nurses... (I know how much I like cookies from patients!)

Jed, Oma and Aubrey were having a great time playing in the lobby!

Jed wanted to go in for treatment!

HP organized a special trip for Cherie and me to go back to his actual treatment room!  What a special treat!  His room is on the left.  He goes in for 15 minutes a day.

These are the ladies who work with him every day.  They position him and make sure that big machine behind him is working properly.  

The door into the room is thick... notice it on the left of HP.

After the tour we met Auntie TT in the city she works in (between Stanford and San Francisco) and went out for lunch.  It was so great to see her!  She even changed a flight to see us!

We headed back to the Marina District in San Francisco where we were able to see the beautiful house they are staying in.  Oma went on a walk with the kiddos.  We stayed back and rested for a bit.  

When Oma returned we walked to the park together, walked along the local main street and then down to the water.  

The park was so much fun!  Jed really loves the park!  He loved feeling the sand, spinning on the merry go round and walking everywhere!

It was getting cold as we walked down to the water so Jed was bundled up!

The homes were gorgeous!!!!  I love the colors and architectural interest!

It was a gorgeous night!

Oma and Opa, loving the view!

We are so proud of you Opa.  So proud of your faith, so proud of your faithfulness to God, for your perspective.  You are a one of a kind man, with a one of a kind wife.  We are so glad that your 35 days have come to an end!  We continue to pray for healing and know that God is so much bigger than anything here on Earth.  He is a capable healer.  

We love you!

Jed's 1st Birthday Party

This past Sunday, we had a little celebration for our big boy!  Here are a few pictures of the events!

 Grandma Hanson watching Jed play.

 Uncle Blake and Cousin Aubrey

 Auntie Cherie, CC and Austin

 Auntie Lolo and Jen Bell... My sister Lauren came to visit!  What a special treat!  

 Working in the kitchen...

 Oma holding the boys... notice Jed's big yawn and Austin's death grip on Jed's ear...

 I pulled out a few of Jed's favorite toys as decorations... it was so easy and such a fun way to remember his favorite things!

 Cake time!!! 

 Here is Oma's first birthday cake made by Oma.  What a special cake!

 Before the cake... we had one final clean face picture.

 Singing... we practiced blowing out a candle all week... but due to 50 people looking at him, he froze... so we helped him blow it out!  

 Hmmmmm... what's this?  (I have been really careful on anything sweet so, this was a major treat!)

 Now we start blowing...

 Then, we got really overwhelmed!  

 Grandpa Doo Doo bought some water!  So much better!

 Grandpa Doo Doo and Grandma D

 How old is Jed... 1!!!

 Opa and Oma

 Mommy getting ready to clean up a tired and messy boy!

 In leu of gifts, we decided to have people bring shoes to donate to the kids in Thailand.  Thailand has always had a big place in my heart because my dad's parents were medical missionaries there for 10 years and my dad grew up there.  So, when Jesse and I went, we noticed none of the kids in the village have shoes and a lot of them have diseases such as worms.  Shoes, we felt would help prevent certain diseases and hopefully improve their quality of life.  Some people couldn't help themselves... but we gathered a ton of shoes!

A popper from great grandma  and grandpa Bieber.

 A bike from Grandma D and Grandpa Doo Doo...  Not pictured is a great truck from Oma and Opa... he LOVES it and promptly learned how to mount it!!!

 Here is only 1/2 of the shoes we gathered!  

If you would like to donate more shoes please contact me... it is a great way to bless others this year!

Happy 1st Birthday Jedidiah!

one year ago today.  the morning started with a visit from Dr. Helm (my perinatologyst).  36 weeks pregnant and 20 days into my hospital stay.  my wait was coming to a quick end.  with a dropping baby heart rate, i was induced at about 7:30 in the morning.  deep breath. finally.  i was so relieved. to know my wait was over. to know whether this baby was a boy or a girl.  to be home.  the rest of it was so quick, so smooth.  12:16pm, after 4 1/2 hours of labor, i had a baby.  a baby boy.  joy.  pure joy.

name.  name??... what to name this sweet boy.  by 12:40 we had chosen jedidiah.  BELOVED OF THE LORD.  through our process, we felt the presence of God.   this baby was sooo loved by the Lord.  jedidiah's path was chosen long before he was created.  oh, to be so in love.  i never understood this love until now.

to my dear jedidiah,

jed, you have filled me with so much joy and fulfillment as a person and mother.  from the day you were born, never once have i taken for granted the gift you are to jesse and me.  God entrusted us to with you, to nurture you, help you grown, and to help you develop as a person.  i pray that God grabs hold of your heart at an early age, that you see His glory and feel His presence.  know Him.  rest in Him.  trust in Him.  follow Him.  life won't always be easy.  we, as believers are promised trials.  my prayer is that you are able to grow in character and faith every step of the way.

i have loved watching.  studying you.  learning from you.  the way you analyze everything.  your curiosity about life.  how you like opening and closing.  you love water, dog bowl water, pool water, water from faucets, wawa from a sippie cup, water through a straw, in a water bottle, shower, bath, sink, water everywhere.  maybe it is baby einstein that caused your facination 'water water everywhere'...

"ooooh wats that", always pointing... when you wake up "ooooh wats that", when you cry, you pause "ooooh wats that"... always wondering.

 on, off, on, off... "ah, ah, ah, ah" pointing at the light switch.  so vocal.  you know what you want.  you turn the light on, then look, examine that the light did turn on and proceed to turn it off.  repeat.

bbbbbbbbbb... the sound of a car.  any time you see a car, push something that moves. bbbbbbbbbbbb...

you love pillow fights, when dad throws you onto the bed.  joy.  you are full of joy. from the day you were born, you have always wanted to be happy.  you try so hard, even when you are teething, when your tummy is upset, when you have a fever, you try to be happy.  a good nature is what i call it.

i love how you eat.  double fisting.  pick up food with one hand, shove it in with the other.  we called it the sweep technique.  peas make you gag.  you love applesauce and bread.  the messier, the better.  i look forward to the day when you eat me out of house and home.  it will come.

outside.  you love outside.  you cry when i let the dogs out and you can't go out.  its cold now, too cold to always play outside.  but you would be there, chattering and all.  picking up rocks, discovering new corners of the yard, "ooooh, wats that?", trying to eat bark.  thank God for the pool fence!  you love the pin wheels, love daddy's golf balls.  you love life.

speaking of golf balls, you have a putter, a very special putter that you carry around everywhere.  you love your golf club and your daddy and grandpa love that you love your golf club.

names i call you... sweetness... bubba... mr. jed... dude... buddy.

i love you so much.

i will always try my best to first serve God, then be a great wife, followed by a great mother.  i pray continually for wisdom and strength in those roles.  please have grace when i fall short.

i love you. nothing will ever change that.

mommy
11.17.11