The Joy and the Sorrow.....

 Earlier this week I posted about Drew's amazing win at the indoor meet a month a go and said how "Lord willing" we would be heading down to to Stanford on Friday to watch him race an outdoor 5000 M

 Yesterday, while shopping for treats to bring him when we saw him on Friday, we got the call.

So David sat in a comfortable chair at Costco and listened, encouraged and advised with our son facing a decision he did not want to make.

They were able to finish the conversation knowing that this was not their plan for the season, but God plans the steps of man.

So fast forward to the 10:30 call last night.  An orthopedic surgeon met with them at 9:30 pm to go over all the x-rays and MRI's taken yesterday.

His very firm advise---Get off your foot---NOW!

Drew's Navicular bone in his foot has what we are hoping is a stress reaction, and not a stress fracture.  The CAT scans today should be able to firm this up for him.

A stress reaction is the bone marrow very inflamed but not broken yet.

A fracture would require surgery and would be a career ending surgery for him..

The big problem being is that this bone in your foot is the top of the arch of bones, so it receives the abundance of pressure in the foot.  It is a key player in your foot.

Drew has been running with this pain for quite a while and it just got so severe that there was a question as to whether racing at the level he is would be good this weekend.

The doctor believes that one more race would have broken this bone and he would have most likely never have run competitively again.

We are so thankful for great medical care, great coaches, and great trainers who have stood with our son through this.

Running is not his life, but running is part of what gives him amazing joy in this life.  When he runs you can see his joy.

It makes me think of the Eric Liddell quote,  
 "God made me fast.  And when I run, I feel His pleasure."


So though we feel great joy in the fact that it was caught before it broke, we sorrow with Drew over the loss of a season when he was running so well.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

MPSF Indoor Championships 2013

 A while back, while on our way to Palm Springs Drew was racing in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Indoor Championships in Seattle.  This is the Pac 12 Championships plus a few more schools. 

He was racing the 5000M on a 300M indoor track.

We were hoping to stream it live as we were driving, but David's IPad would not allow live streaming.  We were truly bummed and did not have much time to figure out a back up plan.

David quickly called Danielle and told her to get it online and give us a play-by-play over the phone. 

Poor girl was home alone with Harrison trying to get him down for the night!  LOL

She did get him down and we were off.

I was driving through the middle of downtown Sacramento at rush hour when all this was happening at dusk.  What a hilarious combination.

So being a runner herself, Danielle was able to give us good play-by-play as the race was progressing because she is knowledgeable.

David kept interrupting her to tell her who the other runners were--it was kind of fun listening to the way they were bantering back and forth.

Then as things progressed they both were getting so excited and David kept grabbing my arm.  I had to keep reminding him I was still trying to drive!

Then as Drew passes everyone Danielle just starts screaming he is in the lead, he is in the lead---David is hanging on every word.

Then Danielle says they are coming, they are coming.

Then just yelling....

David is about to pass out in the car, because Danielle is so excited she forgets to tell us who wins!!!!

Wow, what a way to hear about an amazing race.

So Congratulations Drew on being the 2013 MPSF Indoor 5000M Champion!

We are very excited for you.

Oh and we did get to see it about an hour down the road when it was posted online.

So here it is if you would like to see it.

 http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/250020-2013-MPSF-Indoor-championships/video/695636-m-5k-f01-drew-jordan-upsets-stanford-contingent-2013-mpsf

This and That

We have had a wonderfully peaceful week around here!

That was sure nice.

Part of my week entailed getting some pictures ready to go up on a new frame a David's office.

Oh did I have fun going through some photos from a couple of summers ago.

We  all miss the life Drew brings to our house!

 I think Drew feels it his personal responsibility to toughen up his little brother!

Then again what big brother doesn't!

 But they he is so very gentle with Hannah.

I have watched this phenomenon over and over with the males in our extended family!

The tough side helping boys to become men and the protective side with the young ladies, treasuring them.

It is wonderful to see.

Can you tell we are in Drew withdrawals?

I guess it is mostly because we just realized that when we head to Seattle for the Refresh Conference, Drew will be in town to run a indoor track meet.  We are very excited that these two activities crossed.

So looking forward to some long quality time with my family this weekend and some special friends.

David and I will also have a long period of time to talk about some future plans with schooling and testing and such for the kids.

We are in the process of having Hannah tested again at the Child Development Center.  Being that we homeschool, I felt it was the best way to document her developmental delays in case there was ever a question about how she is doing in school.

It is always good to have quality time with David to discuss the kids progress and any ideas he may have that I have not seen.

So after our productive week, it looks like we may be moving into a sweet weekend.

Sickness

We have been fighting colds around here, but I think yesterdays hike sent little Hannah over the edge, sadly.

She spent most of the morning and afternoon in bed, but I am happy to say she doing lots better tonight!

My youngest treasures have not been sick much, there is some questions running around out there as to whether kids who have suffered some kind of early trauma are sick as often as other kids.  Their early trauma usually puts them on high alert much of the time, hence their bodies are like hyper-vigilant, and possibly this keeps them from getting as sick as other kids.  I am not sure of this, but I do know mine are not sick very often at all.

This was probably the one of the sickest I had seen Hannah with a high fever and sweats.

All this got me to thinking how differently all my kids have been when they are sick.

Danielle my wonderful first-born who introduced me to motherhood----when she was sick everyone knew it because she was a moaner!!  Kind of like she wanted everyone to suffer with her--LOL!  Lets just say we were always very excited when she got well!!----Love ya Danielle :)

Erinn my middle child peace-maker---when she was sick just give her a good book, something soothing for her throat and some quiet and she was happy and would come and let you know if she needed anything else.  We did not so much rejoice when she got better, because she was so quiet when she was sick.

Drew my rough and tumble boy who never stopped---he spent his first 10 months sick and in someones arms, after that when he got sick it was about the same.  He was my snuggler when he was sick, not so much at any other time, because he was so busy all the time.  I almost enjoyed him getting sick, just for the snuggle time!

Caleb my curious kid who is always fidgeting---the few times he has been sick he is up and down and back and forth, as though he would get more sick sitting still.  Kleenex are torn apart and blankets are everywhere!  I just pray we can keep him caged enough he doesn't get everyone else sick with his constant motion and sniffling!

Now my little Hannah the baby of the family---she never complains, I am serious, we are working hard on her verbalizing her needs, so when she says she is not feeling well it is a BIG thing.  Today she stayed all day in her room and I never heard a peep.  I had to keep checking, just because I was worried and she was so quiet.  When the fever went away, I had to go tell her it was OK to come out an join the family. 

So there you got it.  Five kids and  5 very different outcomes to sickness.  I just thought it was interesting and that I should put it down before I forgot the uniqueness of the situation.

Now don't ask me about David--Let's leave it by saying Danielle got it from somewhere!

Joy abounds

 Our at home kids who enjoyed sleeping in till 9 o'clock!  No early risers around here!

 Little Miss Joyful with her Pooh socks.  No, it does not take much to make her happy.

 My boys wrapped my present for me and put it under the tree like this!  Can you guess what I got?

 At least this one was totally covered!  In their defense I guess wrapping a new soup pot is a hard task!

 Drew with his annual traditional duct tape wrapped gift from Caleb and Hannah.

 We did not let him use a knife this year.  It took a while for him to find his treasure.

 As you can see Caleb was very proud of his wrapping of his Dad's meat tenderizer!

 Liberty usually had to get into the midst of things.

And here she is with some help.  She did leave the ribbon around her neck all day!

Egg Nog?

 Yes, it is the 5th annual egg nog mile!  Gross as it is Drew keeps getting people to come back year after year, and lots of crazies that have never tried it before.

 Caleb is still the youngest begging for this unusual form of torture.

 Even Drew at times was looking like egg nog was becoming unappetizing.  He actually did this at WSU also before coming home.  Yes he is a glutton for punishment.

 And then there are those moments when you can tell he cherishes all the pain he can inflict on his stomach.

 Caleb is looking pretty good still here.  If you are not sure what is going on. You drink and 16 oz glass of egg nog run a lap, and do it again and again till you get your mile done.  If you are lucky you will get rid of the egg nog at some point and relieve your stomach of the pain of 1/2 gallon of the stuff.

 Drew savoring glass #4.  He is in the lead, and this will put 1/2 gallon of egg nog in his stomach.

 Looking a little harder!

 And definitely more so.....

 Now it is down-right painful---by choice.

 Ahh....the sweet release of an empty stomach!

 Caleb wondering if this is ever going to be over.

 Drew thankful that it is over, at least the running part.

 Coach Piet always a good sport in showing the kids how it is done.

 Caleb definitely wondering how he thought this would be fun.....again!

 Caleb heading out on his last lap, looking as 'green' as he can!

 Oh....way to go Caleb you missed the new track and the new turf!  Bet you feel better.

 Oh... the finish line and an empty stomach.

 Yes, I did it!

Drew with his good friend Richard and Coach Piet.

Thanksgiving

 Since the blog is still being happy and taking my pictures, I though I would catch up, since this is a journal of our family's journey.  And who would not want to see more pictures of cute Harrison all bundled up like a little polar bear to go on a cold evening walk.

 The crowd out for a walk, not all so willingly--LOL!  Some thought we were crazy--Danielle.

 Drew and Courtney on the other hand are very familiar with cold nights coming from Eastern Washington.

 Our cute little Harrison getting ready for bedtime before Thanksgiving.  He is such a cutie!

 Harrison can not believe they put him in an outfit with a large TURKEY on his BUTT! 

 My parents, Great Grandpa and Grandma Fogliasso, with their first great-grandchild!

 David's grandmother, Harrison's Great-Great Grandma Mae.  Yes we have 5 generations on both sides.

 Drew and Courntey

 Caleb and Harrison

 My mom and dad, Loren and Marsha

 Ryan and Danielle

 David and Grandma Mae

 Thanksgiving night hike.  Part way up you can see Medford totally socked in under the fog.

 You can see where they are headed behind them, Roxy Ann Peak.

 Wow!

The evening sunset over Medford---Beautiful!

Crater Lake--I Think

 Still doing make-up pictures since the blog is taking them now.  Over Thanksgiving weekend we headed up to Crater Lake when Drew was on his way back to college.

 We always have to stop so David can take pictures at the river..

 I sure do miss this guy when he is at school.  But we are very proud of the man he is becoming!  And the way he has handled the adversity of this lung issue he is dealing with.

 Can you tell it was cold?  Thankfully Harrison slept through the whole thing under that blanket.

 Yes, read the sign.  There was a steep drop off to the lake below in the fog.

 As you can see we did not listen very well.  And yes that is a large hole that I fell into and everyone was laughing hysterically, Drew so hard he did not even help!

 Such a beautiful picture of Crater Lake--NOT.  But what a nice family!

 Ryan, Danielle and Harrison.  Danielle kept saying this is why she lives in Santa Barbara!

 Drew with his girlfriend, Courtney, who came and enjoyed Thanksgiving with us.

 Love this picture--they look mischievous.  But then again that pretty much describes Drew's whole life:)

 David took about 100 pictures of Ryan, Danielle and Harrison trying to get Harrison to smile.  I was exhausted afterwords from all the jumping around and yelling his name.

This was my favorite.  I have a cute grandson, what can I say!