adventures of a not-so-common fellow

Jack!

Oh my son Jack-- 

He is quite the adventurer, as you should know if you are a regular reader here.

The week before last, he took on another adventure and had his first 

Endoscopy

aka: Colonoscopy

This Kid Knows How To Party!

(Jack as he started his "colon prep." By the way- he will not be drinking blue gatorade again)

Jack has had severe gastrointestinal problems since 6 months into his mission.

We didn't know...

Didn't know he was going to the poorest state - in the poorest section of Brazil.

Brazil- where the sewage runs free. 

Heaven knows I was better off not knowing.

He certainly didn't tell me.

 Neither did his mission presidents.... no comment here on that.

I guess Jack is right, what were they going to say? 

 This guy is no stranger to the hospital-

and let me just say

AMERICAN HOSPITALS

I love you

I love your doctors & especially your nurses.

I love your hospital gowns & clean pillows.

Your machines that tick away working diligently. 

I love your mostly private rooms- and clean blue gloves.

I know you are not perfect... but oh the difference. 

If we knew what other countries know-

we would pray with thanks to the All Mighty God for what we have!

Jack writes all about his Brazilian hospital adventures & much, Much more in his new blog:

The Adventures of a Common Fellow

check it out

Let me know if you do & what you think?

jack turns 22... wow

This past Saturday 

March 16

My Jack turned 22.

wow 

It's been almost a year now since Jack got home from his mission in Brazil.

So happy- so happy to say he is home.

Well- he is in the state & living in Provo, Utah where he attends Brigham Young University- which was his childhood dream. He is feeling good- mostly good. He came home pretty sick with malaria (it's inactive) and fierce stomach & headache problems, after spending nearly the whole two years of his mission service severely invaded by worms & other ailments (like several bouts of salmonella poisoning, dengue fever etc.) We've seen specialists, and frankly do need to see some more.

 But- he is much better & keeps getting better.

We are blessed.

He worked hard on his mission through it all- he has these amazing stories. It's so fun to have his companions  visit with us and to hear about it from their perspective- really amazing & crazy & scary & how did my boy get to be a man so fast? I love this kid.

So- for his birthday in true Jack style- he had an adventure.

His best buddy Corey & he were up with a group of friends watching a movie the night before his birthday & it got late-- they decided at this point- they probably wouldn't get up if they went to sleep. Instead of going to bed- they headed up to their favorite fishing spot. All they had on them was their poles & knives. They bedded down next to the fire they made, on the ground. 

When the sun came up & they could hear the fish jumping-

 they got up and within 15 minutes had each caught fish.

What else would you do with fresh fish on the morning of your 22 birthday?

Grill it on a make shift grill of course!

Man vs. wild has nothing on Jack & Corey.

A couple of months after Jack came home I was in getting my temple recommend renewed & I broke down & cried. I cried to the poor guy and said Why? Why did he have to get so sick in the service of God? He told me an amazing thing that has stuck with me-

He said, Jack has an adventurous spirit. He went places & talked to people other missionaries may not have been able to see. He wasn't afraid. He had what it took to put himself on the line. He will be blessed for being that missionary & he will be watched over by angels for the rest of his life. 

This rang true in my heart.

Writing this post reminded me of that interview & those words & yes-

 we all have different missions in our lives.

I hope I have the courage to follow through with mine.

Happy Birthday Jack

thanksgiving in pictures 2012

I woke up on Thanksgiving day a little early to get the turkey going and--

asleep on the couch was my son Jack.

A flood of emotions came over me.

It was less than a year ago - when he came home from Brasil.

He has been so sick & slowly getting better.

Blessed- I felt & I FEEL blessed.

Blessed that he felt it was important enough to keep working while he was so very sick- he did keep working (I would have quit)- blessed that he is getting better. Happy- happy he is home. Well, in the same state anyway. He is rarely here but he is happy & doing well in school & working & having the time of his life at BYU- frankly I wouldn't have it any other way.

To be honest - I haven't always felt this way.

 (yes I was a little angry that he got sick, like that did any good?)

It's good to be on this side of this whole situation.

anyhow

THANKSGIVING WAS WONDERFUL

 (Johnny aka: world's best kiss thrower)

Probably my favorite part of Thanksgiving this year -- well one of many-- was this mural Ethan drew for me.  How fun & wonderful is this!?

Thanksgiving is becoming one of my favorite days of the whole year!

I hope yours was good too.

catching up!

I never mean to go so long between posts..

it just happens!

It's usually a sign- a sign of my mental state & the state of affairs in the family.

This week = BUSY & HECTIC & I don't like it.

but what can you do?

survive

I have some talents-

I have some things I do okay, or well, or even just mediocre...

BUT can I just toot my own horn here & say

I make a Darn Good Pizza!

This isn't the most flattering picture- but last Friday night (pizza night) I made several to.die.for. pizzas. 

This one is the last one I made & combined all our favorite ingredients dividing the pizza into veggie- pepperoni/mushroom- pepperoni.

good stuff

Right now my favorite is a thin crust- with roasted sun dried garlic for the sauce, three cheeses & fresh basil. Oh mama

Brett & I were winding down & headed to bed Friday night when Hailey came home, ran upstairs and proclaimed -- "There is a porcupine in our front yard!!"

what?

Brett ran downstairs & sure enough next to the short fence that divides our yard from our neighbor's was a 3-4' porcupine! What in the world?

I'm guessing it is down from the mountain 2 miles up from our house? 

Unless some one's pet porcupine got out? Is that possible?

Before now- I've only seen a porcupine in the zoo. Actually the porcupine didn't get me out of bed- so I didn't really "see" it at all. Apparently, it takes more than a wild animal in the front yard to get me outta bed.

Moments after the porcupine incident quieted down-

this showed up on the doorstep.

Chloe was asked to the Homecoming dance!

Her first school dance- exciting! Even more so than a porcupine in the front yard?

-You decide-

***

Sunday we were invited to dinner with Marcus & Brittany's family down in Lehi!

It was so kind of Brittany's mom to invite us & so much fun... no photos... but so fun. 

Trent was in true Trent form - not bad- just Trent. Brittany's mom was so sweet & patient with him. They have a GREAT DANE!!! Trent was in complete amazement & very curious.

Monday after work & driving carpool etc...

I made Chicken Pot Pies for dinner in my new Breville Mini Pie Maker.

Very exciting- for a self proclaimed food addict  anyway.

Tuesday after work & driving carpool

 (it takes almost an hour to drive Trent's carpool- because of the location etc! It's exhausting frankly)

I met the former missionary Jack AKA: sick - still sick & getting sicker BYU student-

at the U of U hospital.

We are back to the Post Travel Clinic & Dr. Scott Benson.

He is a wonderful doctor & he is trying his hardest to help Jack & find out just--- what is up?

He is losing the weight he gained since he got home- suffering from severe chronic headaches, body aches, fever, chills, constant stomach issues (I won't give the gory details- besides vomiting), nausea & lack of appetite, and inactive malaria.

mother fear on steroids

In the mean time-

I got an Instagram account!

Notice the difference in the photos-

before

after

This is Jack leaving the hospital with his bag o' fun. 

(bottles for stool samples)

Yes- we are back to looking for pesky parasites.

Let me make myself clear- I'm not looking for them- the lab is.

 Thank heavens for that.

In other news: The first most beautiful child in the world started Joy School.

Oh how I miss him!

-what a week-
my instagram name
pjmesser

jack- the update

A couple of people out there have asked me how the former Missionary Jack is getting along?

So tonight-- I give you an update.

I didn't ask permission... I hope that's okay, Jack?

He's pretty easy going about stuff these days, so I don't think he will mind?

Jack has been home for 2 months now. 

It seems like he was gone forever & like he never left all at the same time.

I really, really like having him around.

 Don't get me wrong- I know he is a grown up now. He will leave in August to go back to BYU and that's okay. He will do great there, he loves BYU & it is still a dream come true to be a student there.  He is working part time at the airport & currently looking for another part time job. It's not easy since he will be moving in 2 months. He spends a lot of time with Brian- I was not sure if the day would come when they didn't fight. They haven't (as far as I know) even argued once since he came home. So nice- I guess they have both matured? He goes fishing at least once a week & loves the airplanes he works on. He has gained nearly 25lbs since he came home. sigh- he really needed it! We went to a specialist at the University of Utah - who specializes in travel illnesses. This doctor has seen a lot of return missionaries. He was checked out for parasites, dengue fever & malaria antibodies. He had the malaria & no parasites... so far. He was told if he starts having stomach problems or sees anything (oh golly) to go back. Sometimes parasites hide out & are not detected for years. Malaria- oh dear me. It stays with you forever. It hides out in your liver & comes back to visit you from time to time- so they say. If you get malaria more than once it can be fatal- no sweat the doctor said- "if you get a high fever- it goes away- then it comes back- just go into the ER & tell them you have malaria- they will know what to do."

What in the world?

 How about if you get any fever you run to the ER with your mommy & she will panic until they do something? 

He gets a lot of headaches. His body is still healing. He was sick a lot- most of the two years. He worked hard & he/we have been so very blessed to have a missionary.

It's nice- nice having him home. Seeing his friends come home- I love it. He is a darling boy, but then I am his mother. He came home with an even greater love of the Savior, of the great USA- a stronger determination that he can do anything with divine help, and humble. So humble.

I love you Jack. 

P.S. If you get a fever when you are at school & don't tell me- I swear I will take you down.

missionary jack- he came home!

Missionary Jack came home

 to a neighborhood of yellow balloons & welcome signs- it was a glorious reunion.

Actually-- before heading home we stopped at In & Out Burger. If you have been reading for a while, you may remember that an In & Out Burger was announced & started building before Jack left for Brazil. It's been up & running for years now- per Jack's request we headed there for lunch straight from the airport. 

It's been said- at least at our house- there is nothing quite like an American Cheeseburger.

Back at home we unloaded & headed into the house.

We got a better look at the shoes.

Jack is so proud of the miles he put on these babies.

Um- hello? We could have sent money or even a pair of shoes? boys?

Still- they are a constant reminder of the work. The work he has given the past two years of his life for. The work of spreading the good news- that Christ Lives!

Yes- we love these shoes.

Jack had presents waiting for him at home. He missed two Christmas's & two birthdays!

Mostly- Jack had presents for us.

Brazilian candy- purses- a hammock for dad. Lots of souvenirs- it was so much fun to see what he brought us.

I am so humbled.

Part of why I haven't written here is - how?

How do you describe such an experience? It is sacred. 

I am blessed.

God On High, Hear My Prayer- Bring Him Home

He's home.

All is well in my world.