End of Summer, Gus's Birthday and a Visit from Shannon

Summer is over and kids have started school.  We are back to getting everything back into the school structure.  We had a few fun activities and visitors before school started again.

The first was the Amazon company picnic.  It is hosted at CenturyLink field (the football stadium).  We had a lot of fun as a family.

Dad Helping Gus up a bouncy house

Lilly Crawling through a bouncy house

Face Painted

Face Painted

Twiners

Gus and an Amazon mascot

Jess and Gus on a ride

Sarah coming down a slide

Jess's brother, Richard, and his family stopped by our house to visit.  The kids loved to play together and we hope that next time they can come and stay longer.  I was at work so I was unable to see them this time around, but the I heard none of the kids wanted to leave.

My cousins Anna and Victoria and Victoria's kids came to stay with us overnight.  Jess, Sarah and the cousins went to breakfast in the morning, and I went with them to a ropes course in the afternoon.  I had a little accident where I slipped and slid down ropes about 12 inches or so.  It caused a bunch of rope burns on my hands.  It was still fun despite the pain in my hands and the couple weeks that it took to heal.

Cousins

Ready to go

Picture of the course

Victoria coming down in style

Summer finished off with Gus's Birthday.  He turned four years old and we are still waiting for the terrible threes to stop.  He asked for a firetruck cake, but he wanted the firetruck blue (after changing his mind a few times).  He LOVED the presents that he got and plays with them a lot.  He got a set of monster trucks from one of Mater's Tall Tales, (the monster truck wrestling one).  He got a marble maze tower game.  And he got a remote control car.  He loves each of them and plays with them over and over again!

Gus's Fire Truck Cake

Gus and his marble maze

Blowing out the birthday cake

Gus doing his marble maze

The kids started school in the beginning of September.  They moved to a different school, Highland Terrace. New house = New school.  They get to ride the bus to and from school as well.  Lilly's teacher is Mrs. Williams and Sarah's teacher is Mrs. McCary-Smith.  Both girls like their teachers and they enjoy being back in school, even if it does cut into their play time.  Lilly is in class with a boy named Joseph from church, (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).  Sarah is in class with a couple of girls that were in her kindergarten class at Parkwood Elementary last year.

First Day of School

Waiting for the bus can be crazy

We heard about one of the local fire stations getting renovated and they had an open house.  Gus and I stopped by to see the fire trucks and the fire station.  Gus got to sit in the fire trucks and was really excited.

Let's Go

Ready for the fire

Trying on the Equipment

I am in trouble if he thinks he can drive at 4.

Lastly, my sister Shannon visited us over this past weekend.  In July, Jess and I were looking at the theater and seeing if there was anything that we wanted to go to.  Brian Regan, Shannon's favorite comedian and one that helped made her smile during her recovery, was scheduled to come to Seattle in September.  We booked tickets and pinged Shannon to see if she wanted to come.  She jumped at the chance.  She flew in on Friday, when there was both a Sounders and a Mariner's game scheduled.  I ended up driving the car to work in the morning and taking the train to the airport to get Shannon.  

Shannon at the Airport

Brother and Sister

Jess, Shannon and I were able to have a fun night out.  There was another Mariners game on Saturday, so it took us an extra 30 minutes to get downtown.  That caused us to not go out to a sit down place for dinner but we grabbed something quick.  Shannon had scheduled for us to be able to meet Brian before the show (since he was leaving right after).  There were a bunch of groups that were meeting with him, so we only had a couple of minutes, but it was nice to be able thank him for bringing a smile to Shannon's face during some of her hard times.  Needless to say, but the show was hilarious! I know that Shannon knows most of his jokes by heart, but it was Jess and I's first show of his.  After the show, the three of us walked to the Cheesecake Factory for some cheesecake.  It was nice to get out and have a fun evening.

Don't forget that I am still looking for people to both run the Winter Pineapple Classic with me!!!  If you are interested, send me an email or sign up.  Also if you want to donate, see the previous post as it has the direct links.

July 28th 2013 update

I have been pretty bad over the last month to update the status on the blog.  Sorry for that.  There was a lot that happened in our lives that I haven't caught up on.  Lilly got out of school on the 21st of June.  That Sunday, we headed down to Utah as a family.  Jess and the Kids stay in Utah for 3 weeks until the 10th of July.  They had a good time with the families during their time there.  They drove back to Seattle in a caravan with Jess's parents.  Jess's parents are heading to Hawaii for 6 months while her Dad does more research in the islands.  Her parents stayed with us in Seattle for a week and a half as they shipped their car and left from her to Hawaii.

I only spent a couple days in Utah before I flew out to Dresden, Germany for work.  We acquired a team in Dresden that I have mentioned previously.  I spent two and a half weeks in Germany working with the team there.  It was productive.  It is a gorgeous city with the Elbe flowing through the middle.  We were able to bike to work a number of the days along the river.  It is amazing to spend time in a city with a lot of history.

Since I got back from Germany, we have tried to get back into a Summer routine with the kids.  We are counting down the time until we finish with Sarah's treatment sometime in November.

Yesterday, we had the ward picnic at Hamlin Park here in Shoreline.  It was a beautiful day and a great day to let the kids get out and run around.  We love the ward and our friends out here.  We are grateful for all the help that we have and the love that surrounds us.

I am trying something new with some pictures. Here is the album of pictures from Dresden:

Dresden, July 2013

Family Reunion 2013

A couple of months ago we got an email from my brother who said that he had some time before he started his last year of residency, and he wanted to plan a family reunion.  We moved the date out by a week so it corresponded to our spring break.  The family decided that the Orlando would work well.  Everything fell into place and we had a reunion planned.

We all had a great time, even though we have a few bumpy times.  We thought we had planned enough time to get to the airport and make the plan, but the stroller got hung up at security (it wouldn't fit in the scanner, and they took 15 minutes to hand check it) and we made it to the gate 2 minutes late.  Unfortunately, the next plane to Atlanta was 7 hours later that evening.  They were able to get us on the plane.  It did turn our flight from arriving just after midnight to arrival the next day.  So for the next 6 hours, Gus circled the S terminal in the airport hundreds of time, running the whole way.  The rest of the flight was uneventful.

We arrived Sunday morning and got settled.  The girls only got a few hours of sleep on the plane so we all took long naps that day.  Everyone arrived by late Sunday and we started the fun.

Monday was a day at SeaWorld.  There weren't many crowds and we had great fun.  The girls loved to feed the sting rays with their hands.  Gus loved to see the dolphins jump and said "big mess, agua" when ever there was a big splash. Jess took Sarah and Gus home earlier for naps while I stayed will Lilly.  We had a fun day.

Dolphins during Feeding time

Brooklynn, Lilly and others watching the dolphins

Grandpa Butch, Hunter, Kim, Lilly pushing Emma

Monday night provided excitement as usually.  Sarah had been complaining since the plane about her ears and had asked for cotton balls to put in her ear.  Unfortunately, when I changed it on Monday evening, we noticed that it had colored fluid on it.  From previous experience, we knew that it meant that her ear drum has probably ruptured.  Jess took her to a children's hospital and got it confirmed.  She got some medicine and started feeling better a day or two later.

We spent Tuesday relaxing as a family and went to the pool together.  It was nice to have a relaxing day to get used to the heat of Florida.

Wednesday was our big day at Walt Disney World.  We decided to go to the Magic Kingdom.  My brother Aaron and his wife did a great job in the park of keeping us moving and hitting the most popular rides first so we didn't have many lines.  Jess took Gus back to the Condo in the afternoon for his nap and joined us for dinner and the fireworks.  Thursday was spent at the condos in the morning and then headed back to the Magic Kingdom for the afternoon and evening.  

Lilly excited at a ride

Sarah on the Merry go round

Mom and Gus

Gus having fun

Sarah and Lilly and Belle

Sarah tired at the end of the day

Shannon chilling at the condo

Friday was a family day.  We did some shopping and swimming and enjoying a lot of time together.  The week ended too early and we had an early morning flight home on Saturday.  It was a great trip and we are grateful to my brother for suggesting it and for all of my family making it happen.

Family Newsletter Q1 2013

When my Father was in Grad school, he started a family newsletter with his family.  That newsletter has continued for 30+ years and is a good way for all of the extended family to stay connected.  Every family writes an entry every three months and someone compiles it and sends out copies.  I thought I would posted our latest version as it contains a decent summary over the past 3 months.  For members of the Blackham Extended family, you get to read our post early :)

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Dear Family,

This quarter has been one of change.  For the first time as a family, we didn’t travel to Utah for Christmas.  It was also the first year in almost 10 years that I didn’t teach skiing.  It has been a big shift in our view of the holidays.  While we missed spending time with all of you for the Christmas Eve Eve party, we were able to start to build some traditions as our family.  It also caused Jess and I to reflect on all the many traditions that we have been part of for so many years.  Many we want to keep strong in our family going forward.  

Well before I get to much into Christmas, let me take a step back to November.  Sarah had a first in November.  We had visited the ED for a fever a couple of times over a weekend a week before thanksgiving.  On Monday midday, we got a call that Sarah had a blood infection.  This caused her to be admitted to make sure they got the fever under control and to make sure the antibiotic they put her on would be one that worked on the bacteria that was in her blood.  This experience also let me realize how much our sense of reality is warped.  I was at work when Jess called and let me know what the hospital found in the blood cultures.  It was almost lunch time.  I told Jess that I would meet her at the hospital and stay with Sarah.  I finished a meeting that I had scheduled before hopping on a bus.  I talked with Jess to see how things were going.  I stopped off and had lunch before making my way to the hospital to take over for Jess and transition Sarah from clinic to inpatient, as that is the preferred way to get her admitted.  Through this whole process, Jess and I were calm.  It is very different from anyone else who would go through the process.  Most people would have been very concerned for a child who has an infection of the blood, but for us it was just another admit to the hospital.  Luckily, we only had to spend 3 days in the hospital, but had to spend the next 5 days, heading into clinic daily for an IV dose of antibiotic.

Thanksgiving was quiet.  We had dinner with some local friends.  It has been fun as we have done it multiple years with them.  Their tradition is that each family member gets to pick one food that they are thankful for and that becomes their dinner.  We provide the traditional side of things and it makes for a great Thanksgiving.  I think this year we had ribs and curry in addition to the traditional fare.

My parents and Tonya and Shannon came to visit a couple of days after Thanksgiving.  It was nice to have them in town and spend some time with them.  We had a crab feast at home that worked out really well.  Sarah and I picked some crab up from Pike’s Market and everyone loved it.  It was a fun dinner for everyone.  It might be a new Thanksgiving tradition for us.  

As I said, Christmas was full of new traditions for us as a family.  We kept many of the staples that we had in Utah.  We got the kids up and they couldn’t see what Santa brought until after breakfast and reading of the Christmas story.  We got a Digital Piano as a family, and the girls are looking forward to starting lessons soon.  Jess has even been able to pick out a few tunes without having any instruction.  She will be a much better pianist that I ever was.  I have enjoyed sitting down and playing the right hand of hymns and other things.  We don’t have many piano books yet, but hope to increase our library.  This was also the first year that we made the kids pick out the gifts that they gave to each other.  We gave them a limit and it was good to get them thinking about others.  One of our new traditions, was that we lit a fire in the fireplace before we started with the tree and presents.  It was nice to have a cozy fire to help set the atmosphere.  The presents didn’t take as long as happens when we are at my parents.  I am sure it was because we had only had a third of the number of people.  

January was a fairly quiet month for us.  We are finally settling into a routine with Lilly in school and Sarah on maintenance.  Gus has a new obsession.  He loves fire trucks and will watch youtube videos about them responding and just listen to the sirens.  He also goes crazy when he hears the sirens when he is playing.  We love his enthusiasm for life, but have trouble keeping up with his energy.

Lilly is enjoying school.  She loves her class and is making lots of friends.  She is starting to plan her party and is having trouble cutting her list down to the 10 friends that she can have at her party.  

One update for me.  I just got called the end of January as the Ward mission leader.  It is going to be a busy calling but is has been good to be close with the missionaries and helping to preach the Gospel in the area.  There are many people who are excited about learning the Gospel.  I hope that I can help the missionaries and the ward to increase missionary efforts in the Ward.

We love you all and wish we were closer, so we could spend more time with you all.

Love,

Nathan & Jessica Blackham

Dear Family,

I like to eat turkey for Thanksgiving especially with the Barlows (editors note: those are our friends).  I am doing good in school.  I am learning lots of math, which is my favorite subject, and recess too.  I like my teachers Ms. Ng and Ms. Kim.  They teach me a lot.  I like Christmas a lot, especially the presents.  I am learning the piano from my babysitter, April.  I love you all.

Love,
Lilly

Sunday Update

Just wanted to drop a quick update.  This week has been nice.  Since I was already taking the week off to go to Utah, I stayed at home after canceling our Utah trip.  Other than Sarah's RSV and ED visits, the week was mostly a normal week with the kids off of school.  As a family, we played at a park and played games.  Jess and I were able to get out by ourselves a couple times.  On Thursday, we were able to make a trip to Ikea and acquired a new couch for our front room.  On Saturday, I was able to take Jess out for dinner.  It is nice to be able to spend sometime without the kids.  We always enjoy it.

Thursday Update

Sarah got her lab results late Tuesday.  Her ANC was 1100, but her hematocrit was 22.  They transfuse whenever it gets below 20.  They scheduled another set of labs to be done on Thursday.  We got some steak and got her to eat it on Tuesday night.  On Wednesday, you could see her start feeling better.  She went upstairs from her basement and played with kids.  Aaron and Kim and their kids got here Wednesday evening.  It was fun to see her play around with her cousins.  She didn't want to eat dinner and retreated to her safe place in the basement for dinner and the rest of the evening.

We are excited for Christmas and the activities that it brings with Family.  We are grateful for all the support and love we feel each day.

In Utah, Again

We are safe in Utah.  The drive was pretty uneventful which is the way we like it.  We stopped with my Uncle and Aunt in Richmond, WA.  We love to see them on our trips.  The girls and Gus did decent in the car.  Gus even took one nap, even though he usually takes two.

The sickness I had been feeling over the past week or so got worse and I made a trip to the insta-care this afternoon.  They though it was a possible sinus infection and gave some medications to help with it.  I hope it clears up quickly.

The girls and Gus have loved being at their grandparent's.  They have more people to play with and they get to stay up later.  Sarah is showing some signs of low levels of hematocrit.  She has labs scheduled for Tuesday morning.  Hopefully, she doesn't need any transfusions while we are here and Utah and she can have fun with family that comes around.

We are grateful for the love and support that we feel from all of you.  Thanks so much.

Wednesday - 7 Sep 2011

I watched Sarah and Gus this morning while Jess took Lilly to the school district offices to get her registered.  We are still a little worried about how the environment is due to Lilly's Allergies.  We are praying that the teacher and school will be understanding and work with us to make sure that Lilly is safe.  I am beginning to feel old, in that I have a child who is starting school.  Next thing I know, Lilly will be graduating high school and leaving the house.

Gus is climbing up on everything.  He is ready to be walking.  Jess and I are not ready for that yet.  We are constantly finding him where he shouldn't be.  He is fast it getting around too.  At least we don't have stairs in our current home.

Sarah and Lilly play really well together.  I know that Sarah is going to miss Lilly when she is at school.  Hopefully Lilly can teach Sarah what she learned in school each day.  My brother Aaron did that for me when I was younger.  I know that it gave me a head start in school.  God is truly in our lives.  He puts us in families where we each grow off each other.  We help each other to reach our potential.  He also gives us people around us to help to grow and he gives us opportunities to become like him.  I am glad that I know that I will be with my family forever.  I love them very much.

Thank you for all the support that you have given my family.  We are very appreciative of all the love, thoughts and prayers that have been expressed on our behalf.  It means a lot to us.