Lindon Vikings 09

This was C.J.'s first year of football and he made the most of it. Needless to say the coaches were thrilled when he joined the team! Cole started both ways, offensive tackle and as a defensive tackle with a brief stint at linebacker.

He is #52 on the field and #1 in your hearts, gotta love the kid!

Which one of these is not like the other?

(anybody notice a size difference?)

Here is one of Coley plowing the field with an AF's running backs face mask the kid came up with sod in his teeth!

Who wouln't want this kid lead blocking for them?
(this is one of my favorite pics, look at his eye's!!)

Another big stop by #52 C.J. Watts!

Overall he had a great season, not quite as many wins as he would have liked but he learned alot, got in great shape, was picked as team captain 7 out of 8 games (the one game he was asked but told the coach he wanted to let one his friends take a turn), he made some new buddies, got some bruises, wore out a pair of cleats and can't wait till next year, sounds like a succesfull season!

Now (to Jami's delight) he has started basketball (we did take the weekend off), he will be playing on 3 different teams!

Tagg will be starting Jr. Flash basketball in Jan.

Gotta love having boys!

Flying Kites (part 1)

We got to go kite flying as a family with Uncle Dale and Aunty Angry this weekend. We had a blast even though the wind was not always cooperative. This was Yzzy's 1st time flying kites and after she was worn out she finally figured out which way to run when the wind blows, circles only work 1/2 the time?

Thanks Angie for the great pics and thanks to Uncle Dale for helping with all the knots!

(See below for the slide show!)

Flying kites

Kindergarten Shots!

Ysabel is turning 5 this April and is going to start Kindergarten this fall. Starting school means one thing SHOTS!
Both boys have been trying to scare the heck out of her by talking about needles and how bad it hurts, big jerks!
She was a champ, she didn't have any hesitation and said "you gotta do, what ya gotta do" she is very excited to start school and is ready to lay down in front of the school bus in order to get to go to big school with her big brothers. She was so strong and didn't cry till after the nurse left the room, and then it was just a couple small tears. She was very brave.
She is out back playing catch with Taggert and has told him she "cant run fast, only medium, cause my legs are hurty"

Here she is getting a big wet feel better kiss from her best friend!

COLEYBOY'S 10!

March 1st Coleyboy had his 10th birthday party, it landed on a Sunday so we had to do part of it on Saturday and finish with a family party on Sunday. The celebrations started on Thursday, Cole, Yzzy and I went to the Cougar's home opener baseball game, BYU won 8-3 over the Portland Pilots. It was a record game for the Watts family, we got 3 foul balls. Needless to say the kids were excited for the next game! Friday Cole and I along with his friend Casey went to a BYU baseball game, because of school we were only able to make it to the last 4 innings but we had allot of fun spitting sunflower seeds and watching baseball.
Saturday morning, Cole's basketball team played their last Jr. Jazz game of the year, he played his friend Casey's team and had a pretty good game, he had a huge cheering section, thanks to Grandma Starla and Grandpa Jim for coming out, they help to make it allot more fun and with Jami there as well allot more LOUD!
After the game we went as a family to another BYU baseball game (Cole's 3rd in a row, ya think this kid likes baseball?) the weather was perfect, sunshine and the Cougars won 10-3, even Yzzy was into it for a little while. After the game Cole went to the BYU vs Utah basketball game with Casey's family, he used his B-day money from Aunt Ashlee and Uncle Jake and their boys for his ticket (thanks Merbacks, figured you would approve of how the money was spent!) and loved it! BYU played one of their best games yet and Cole was in heaven!

Sunday Coley got his breakfast of choice, played some video games and opened his presents from us.
That night Aunt Chelsea, Jack and AJ, Grandpa Jim, Grandma Starla and Uncle Tanner all came over to have cake and rootbeer floats. Coleyboy got a BYU basketball jersey and to use Grandpa Jims BYU seats for the upcoming Air Force game, he is pumped, thanks Grandma and Grandpa! Aunt Chelsea and her kids gave him money for new batting gloves, pic's will be coming and he promises to hit at least one homerun for the Longhorns! Grandpa Jack sent money as well and Coley cant wait to go shopping, sporting goods store here we come, thanks Dad!

Here Coley is showing off his baseball cakes!

After the cake and floats what could be better than helping it settle with an all cousin trampoline jumping session!

AJ breaking the law of gravity!

Your supposed to do this after the dismount

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLE WE LOVE YOU!

39 days

After 39 days Jami finally came home!
We are so greatfull to all who have been praying, fasting, watching kids, bringing treats, sending cards, flowers and gifts, visiting, making the trek to SLC and for all of your thoughts and prayers.
She is resting at home, doing some physical therapy, and just enjoying being Mom to our 3 wonderfull kids!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Finally!

Jami has been checked into the Neuro Acute Care Unit. They have wasted no time in running a whole new battery of tests. Hopefully we will get some answers and Jami can get the help she needs!
After 35 days in the hospital, and still not knowing what, when or how, hopefully we are at the right WHERE and can get some answers!

Our folks

"Your folks are like God because you want to know they're out there and you want them to approve of your life, still you only call them when your in a crisis and need something."
Chuck Palahniuk

What a true quote, not that the only time we call is when we are in crisis, but what a relief that they are there, and without hesitation, come running when we are in need.

Jim and Starla have been such a blessing to us and to the kids this last month, our kids are happy and adjusted, far better than could be hoped for. They have set aside their busy life, literally put their lives on hold, opened their home to the whirlwind and have not only held on but embraced it! We are so grateful to not have to "worry" about our kids, of course we do, but not in the sense of how, what, when etc. They are not only well cared for, but loved, we really couldn't ask for more in this tough situation. What a great blessing that not all grand kid's get than to be spoiled non stop by their Grandma and Grandpa!


My Dad sent this to Jami today, he will never know how timely this was or how much it meant to her.



Dad is not one who ever did things for thanks, he just did them cause "that's just what we do for family, or for our friends."
Living in the same town for 34 years we can't go anywhere that I don't run into someone that I know, most of them are from Provo and "the hill" and it never fails, they always ask
"how's Jack?" or "how's your Dad?"
He was never hung up on titles, just wanted whoever he came in contact with to be his friend. My answer is always the same, Dad is Dad! Enough said.
I can only hope to be like him!
We love you Dad, thank you!

Thank you to our family and friends for the continued support and prayers.

A day late

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE COOLEST KID EVER!JACKIE WE LOVE YA KID, YOUR THE BEST BB GUN SHOOTIN, BIKE RIDIN, TATTOO SPORTIN, KARATE BAG KICKIN, SISTERS HAIR PULLIN, JACKIE WHUPPIN GIVIN, LONGHORN SHIRT WEARIN, CHURCH CLOTHES HATIN, MARIO CART PLAYIN, NEPHEW AND COUSIN WE KNOW!
HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY!
WE LOVE YOU!

February 4th

It's hard to believe this all started 3 weeks ago, in some ways it feels like yesterday and in others like a year ago. We really don't know much more than we did when we went to our family Doctor on the 15th. Thus when they say they "practice" medicine, they really mean they are practicing on you!
What we do know; Jami is sick, she has had one heck of a viral infection in her brain and brain stem that seems to have began to turn, but, just when we feel things might be really moving along, the virus likes to show it's sense of humor and revert back to one of its many tricks just to remind us it is still here. There has been significant nerve damage, the whole extent we do not know, but, we are optimistic for a full recovery.
Jami has been a trooper and really re-written the definition of endurance. One of the nurses who has had limited interaction with Jami, but has seen her on this floor since she came in and has helped a number of times during her seizures and contractions, today was here to help during one of her massive contraction attacks. He knelt down and talked to her, he has been nursing on this floor, and in the renal unit (this floor is one step down from ICU and CCU) for years. He told Jami that she was by far the toughest person he had ever met, to go through such pain, frustrations, length of stay, therapy, regression, tests, tests and more tests and always with a smile, always happy and grateful. It was encouraging for her, this guy has seen it all. He was very serious and is not the type to fluff somebody up, he knelt down and was talking to her, wiping tears (his and hers) calming fears and offering encouragement as well as admiration for her endurance. The other nurses were shocked to see this side of him. She is the epitome of strength through all of this and has been a true example to me and others.
Her time here at the hospital is coming to an end, we are now trying to find a rehabilitation facility in Utah county that fits her needs, so if anyone has advice we are all ears!
Please continue to keep Jami in your thoughts and prayers, she is still very sick and the Doctors are still trying to get the right cocktail of medication to keep her from having seizures, suppress the viral infection and stop her headache so she can be stable enough to start real therapy and look to coming home.
Thank you for all of your love and support, Jami has found true peace by connecting with friends old and new, family and strangers through all of this.

Doing better

Things here in room 382 are looking up, Jami is doing better in allot of ways and we are so grateful for the smallest improvements and she has made some pretty big steps. Knock on wood, it seems as though the seizure medications have finally been dialed in, they have really been spread out and we are so relieved. We are hopefully optimistic that the virus has peaked, it really seems she is on the fast track to recovery. Everyday people cant believe how much better she looks. She has been working really hard with her therapists. The physical therapists come by 2x per day. She has a speech therapist that drops in once a day and is always followed by the occupational therapist. Needless to say she is getting lots of attention. They are very hopeful that they will be able to mend the nerve damage and optimistic that it will not be permanent. She still has major headache pain and lives in her sunglasses, she is definitely the coolest patient on the 3rd floor. Next week we are hoping she will be moved into the transitional therapy unit and begin the next stages of recovery.
Once again we are so grateful for all of your kind thoughts and prayers. Starla is always telling us of all the people who have called, dropped off cards, helped with the kids and are praying for us. The kids are doing great, Grandma Starla and Grandpa Jim have been such a blessing and it sounds like it has been one big adventure with a little school mixed in to fill the slow times of the day. They are very happy and have loved the cards, gifts and phone calls that have come into "just them" THANK YOU FOR LOVING OUR KIDS!
We are so thankful for friends and family who share their love in so many ways. Please continue to keep Jami in your prayers, we are not out of the woods yet but the timber is getting thinner!

Update Saturday night

It has been amazing all the support we have felt as a family, what more can we say than, Thank You to you all.
Today we met with another one of Jami's doctor's and kind of vented some frustrations. He handled it well and expressed allot of the same concerns and frustrations at their inability to put a real name or terms or to be able to provide some expectations that might be able to help along the way. They can give diagnosis, that are broad sweeping but contain no real or applicable information, more as something to call "it" or to calm some of the nerves and questions we have than actual facts and steps to take so we can move forward.
The medical teams are working diligently, calling each other at all hours brainstorming with ideas, or, "have we considered this", studying medical journals from all over the world, and just talking it through with colleagues locally and all over the country. Thank you for all of your suggestions, and questions to ask, we bring them up continually and apologize to the Doctor's for second guessing or questioning, they are always professional and open to questions and not afraid to run one more test to make sure.
We are so appreciative to all who are going through this with us, Jami continually says "I can feel their prayers". Thank you to all, there is no greater appreciator of people and their time and talents than Jami, and even in all of this, she is continually thanking everyone, or apologizing to the Doctors and nurses for taking time away from their day's, at first they did not know how to take her, but her sincerity and love shine through even in the darkest times and they have all shed tears with her, tell her they love her and continue to ignore the poor people on this floor of the hospital.
Thank you for your inspiration, calls, blog comments and text's, we have read them all many, many times and feel your love, they have been a true "re-charge" for her through some very hard times. I have always thought I had an amazing and very strong wife, it has been made more than apparent through this time that she can take more than her share and smile through it, apologize for putting you out and make you feel more comfortable by laughing through some very hard times, I am so blessed to have her as the mother of my children and so proud to call her my wife!
Thank you again for your prayers, and continued prayers in our behalf, we feel your faith and it helps us to continue on.

Greg & Jami

Thanks and update

First off, thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, tears and worry. It has been a blessing to read all of your texts, voice mails, emails, tweets, blogs, comments and cards to Jami. It has been such a great distraction in tough times to be able to read and re-read them to her, she always smiles and cries, (so yes, she is still the same Jami) and says how much she loves whomever had sent the note.

Her personality and love has all the nurses neglecting their other duties to stay and chat, laugh, cry and spend a little more time with her. She has 2 awesome nurses that work at night that are literally angels sent from God to look after her. Both of them on their time off today (when they should have been home sleeping and being with their families) have come into check on her, and give her hugs and encouragement. It is truly amazing to see people who are devoted to healing others and see Gods hands at work through them.

Her doctors are hopeful and have spent many, many hours trying to figure out what is causing this to happen. They are fully invested in her recovery, and continue to come up with new ideas, and tests to try to pin this down and make it right. If anyone has Dr. Houses #, Jami would gladly make you the pie of your choice, I would even promise a whole summers worth of lawn cutting for his mobile number!

Jami is on a roller coaster right now and wants off, the highs and lows are frustrating to say the least. The good news, the paralysis in her face appears to letting up, the bad news is the migraine that has yet to stop, her constant joint, skin and deep bone pain and that her body is continually racked with whole body contractions almost like a seizure so she has been unable to get any real rest. Pray for her to be strong, for her body to accept the medication and to stop fighting itself, so that she can get the rest she needs to begin to heal and for her Doctors and nurses to be continually inspired to provide the care our Jami needs and has given to others.

The kids are staying at Grandma Starla and Grandpa Jim's, the boys are going to a BYU basketball game tonight, they are well cared for and loved. Homesick but happy.
Thank you to you all for your continued love, prayers and support

Greg & Jami

BRING ON THE CARDS!!!!!