Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Hard Work Pays Off


This is a video from school today.  I will let it speak for itself.  It's a little blurry but, you can still see what's happening:)


Happy is an understatement.  This has been such a long process to get his feet to go in motion.   So proud of him and his amazing teachers and therapist's and all the other helpers along the way!!!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Dear Jason

A letter to Jason from Bubby

Dear Jason,

   Hi!  Its me Bubby.  I can't talk, so I thought I would write you a letter.  I want you to know how important you are to me and our whole family.  I want you to know how empty and heartbroken we all feel.  I am trying to ease everyone's pain......along with my sister, crazy brother and cousins.  We are the one's pushing them through.  I am trying to cuddle with everyone when they are sad and I think it is making them feel better.

   This weekend we went on our family trip to Kalahari.  We missed you a lot.   I know you would have been pushing me around in my stroller and running into everyone's heels and driving them crazy....we would have had fun doing that together.  I know you were sitting there with us and making fun of us all......my mom said that you would have been doing that anyways.

   I can feel you around me all the time.  I know you are with me and watching over me.  I have been smiling at things randomly lately, and my mom keeps thinking it is you.....she is right, but I haven't told her yet :)  I know you just have to keep a watchful eye on me.

   You were always so interested in my life.  You always asked so many questions about my medical issues, therapy, EVERTYTHING. You were especially interested when I had my surgery.  When the surgeons gave my mom the pictures of my intestines, you were the first person she thought of and knew you would be excited to see them...and you were!!

   My mom talks about you everyday with us.  She reminds me of how much you cared about us. How you did so much for so many people.  How you NEVER, EVER, EVER, needed recognition for what you did.  How you did things quietly and often.  When my mom was sick with the flu a few years ago, you drove down everyday to take care of us.  If anyone ever needed anything, you were the one to get it.  When it was realized how much an iPad would help me learn new things....you bought it for me....no questions asked, no need for an applause.

   There are some things I remember you doing with us, even though people may not think I remember:   how you would come to D.C. and see us several times a year and always brought us our Faygo Red Pop, how you would show up with like 20 bags of stuff and my mom would make fun of you,  how you would take Avery and wander around the city, always stopping at Georgetown Cupcakes, how you loved to sit with my mom at night and watch T.V. and just talk about random stuff...and I was always cuddling on the couch with you,  how you would make my mom try your chicken pot pie(even though she hates that stuff) and how she actually liked yours, how you would come over every time my sister had a concert, or any other time my mom and dad needed you and babysit me and my brother.  We always had fun with you.

   My mom says that you had a special bond with everyone you met.  You definitely have one with me, and you especially had one with Avery.  My mom tells us often about how before my dad came along, the whole family helped her with Avery. You were especially helpful and important with raising my sister.  You always took her school shopping for my mom, always helped babysit, always took her places when mom was at school or work.  You bought her her first fish, you were the only one willing to sit through all the princess Disney shows when you guys went to Disney World(mom was especially grateful for your company and how much fun you guys had people watching).  Even this past Thanksgiving, my mom had to yell at you because you were sliding her along the kitchen floor like she was still 4 years old and since she is like 5 foot 7 now, my mom thought it was time to stop.

   When I lay on the floor and play with my toys, I see all the pictures around my house, that you took of us.  You framed them and gave them to my parents for Christmas a few years ago.  There isn't a room in the house, that doesn't have part of you in it.....from the bibs that catch all of my food that you got us at IKEA, to the many One Direction stickers you got for Avery....that my mom wanted to slap you for.....but you didn't care....to the couch that you slept on many times while staying over, the Red Pop you brought over on Christmas Eve is still in the fridge, along with the Jesus mints in our snowman candy bowl.  Those 2 things will be a staple at our house from now on.

    I want you to know that I am so happy that you are part of my life.  I want to thank you for everything you did for me and my family.  I know that me being born with a syndrome, is not always easy on everyone, but I was lucky to be born into this family, who takes such good care of me.....and you are continuing to take care of me today...in typical Jason fashion.

   We could have never repaid you for all the things you have done.  My mom wants you to know, that for us, it wasn't about the "stuff" but that's what you liked to do.  It was the hanging out, talking, laughing, making fun of things, endless conversations about medical things and anything random, our childhood days in the pool, going to Showbiz Pizza, staying the night with our Granny, our bickering and arguing, but just being with you was what we loved.  You were our buddy, our brother, our best friend.   And we hope that our love to you, was enough in return.

Keep watching over me and all of us.
Love,
Bubby
 

Here are some pictures that Jason either took or is in:

Avery and Tim's Sister Melissa.
Jason and Melissa drove to DC together a few years ago.

He could always capture the best pictures

Love this picture

Both of these are 2 of my favorites that Jason took and our in our family room


Loved taking pics of Bubby

Spoiling Avery at Georgetown Cupcake

They flew out on my 30th birthday

Amanda and Jason at Tim and I's wedding
She has been to almost all of our weddings with him :)
You can't beat that smile!
Cuddles with Bubbs

Waiting at Ray's Hell Burger
Always taking him to different places when he came



We Love You Jay!  Thank you for being the best cousin and friend anyone could ask for.