Jackson has been home from the hospital since July 10! This is so phenomenal, and so fast, it still boggles the minds of those of us following his story. His recovery and recuperation time has been nothing short of miraculous, and warms the hearts of everyone working with their family. There are still some things Jackson is not able to do while he further recovers, such as not being able to swim for two weeks, and not being able to jump on the trampoline (one of his favorite things!!) until his follow up appointment with his neurologist at the end of August.
So, knowing that he is restricted, we (the online community helping the St. Aubin family) all got together and figured out something EVERYONE could do, no matter where in the world you live! It's my great pleasure to introduce to you... Paper Jackson!
How this works is: visit the Paper Jackson page by clicking >>HERE<<. Choose which Paper Jackson you'd like... either the full color image like you see here on my post, or the outline image that is perfect for kids to color however they like! Then, download it, and print it out. Color it, cut it out and you're ready to go! Take Paper Jackson with you on all your adventures this summer and take digital pictures of him with you! Then, upload the pictures of you and Paper Jackson on the Paper Jackson page you got the image from! There are already a few pictures up there, so you can see where he's been, and add your adventures to the gallery!
The goal is to see how many places around the world Paper Jackson will "travel". My #4 actually took Paper Jackson to Girls' Camp with her last week, and took pictures of Paper Jackson with the girls. He went with us to see the aerial fireworks display on the fourth of July, and will be attending the 24th of July parade here as well! He has been busy in other places as well; gardening, going to visit Plymouth Rock, and even visited the University of Wisconsin La Crosse!
Here are a few helpful hints that we have figured out through trial and error:
If you are going to color Paper Jackson, use markers. Crayons and colored pencils are not vibrant enough to show up in some pictures. It will just look like a white paper doll cutout.
If you plan to take him on more than a day trip, consider gluing Paper Jackson to cardboard so he will survive the trip
If you adventure includes water, laminate Paper Jackson, or stick him in a ziplock bag for picture taking.
Can't wait to see all the places Paper Jackson visits! On your mark... get set.... GO!
Good morning, my lovelies! I have NEWS. I have GREAT news. I have the BEST news ever! After being up with one monster or another all night last night, and finally getting to sleep at 5am, I woke up at 930 to find this text from Jackson's mother waiting for me:
"We Didn't sleep last night. He can't even take a sip of water without dry heaving. Problem (besides that) is that when he sits up the pressure in his brain changes and and the drainage of the spinal fluid changes and puts pressure on his brain. Poor kid! He hasn't needed Dilantin yet but using regular pain meds. Dilantin could make him nauseated so we're hoping to not have to do it. He has zofran and Benadryl on board for nausea. He has moved both legs and hands / arms, and has spoken so we think everything migrated to the right hemisphere which is all we could have hoped for!!!! He's asked for presents. Asked of he did a good job. Asked to watch toy story... His face is swollen, head swollen, and he's sleepy So, generally good."
Now remember, he's only 12 hours post op at the time of this text. And people? HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!
It would appear we have been given our marching orders, straight from Jackson himself. The boy wants presents! I have to admit that I had a little giggle fit with that part.
Keep those drawings, cards, letters, care packages, and pictures coming! Our guy is kicking butt and taking names!
If you need the address for sending something to Jackson or the family, or for other ways to help while Jackson is in the hospital for the next 4-6 weeks, please click HERE
And, as I write, I just got a pic message from Jackson's Momma. He's....sleeping! For the first time in four days. *MORE Happy Dance* and, just like that, my heart melts.
Have a good day, everyone. I'm going to go and snuggle some monsters, and color with them.
First and foremost, if you haven't done so already, you need to read last night's update from Jackson's site. You can do that by clicking right HERE. After you've finished crying like I have been doing since yesterday, blow your nose and read on. But please... step away from the computer to do so. I have a thing about snot. Sorry, but them's the rules.
Today, at noon MST, Jackson will check in to the hospital for his hemispherectomy. At 2pm MST, surgery is scheduled to begin and is estimated to take between 4 and 6 hours. The family will be updated hourly throughout.
I love this family. I have grown close to Gina (Jackson's mother) over the last 2 years. I have worked with her online, talked with her for hours on the phone, laughed at things her monsters have done, whined with her about the amount of poop we clean up, the amount of sleep we don't get. I have talked to her daughter when she just wouldn't leave Momma alone, and Momma was ready to lose it. That was so. freakin. fun!! I love it when I hear a little tiny voice in the background asking if Mom is talking to Miss Caryn. Totally do. I've heard screaming in the car amidst promises of "We're going to find a train. We're going to find a train! Oh, look, Jackson! There's one!"
And I wish I had words. But I find that tears have replaced words, and emotions have replaced thoughts, as surgery looms ever closer with each hour that passes, and I try to imagine what's going through the minds and hearts of Jackson's parents. And I just can't wrap my mind around something of that enormity. I'm trying. I'm really trying. But I just can't begin to imagine it. And I hate that I live so far away from the St. Aubin family that I can't be there to hold their hands while they wait.
So, instead of holding their hands, I'm writing for you. So that I can feel like I'm helping, even though it's not nearly enough. I'll tell you about the mail flurry again via video (that will make you cry). I will show you a video of ecards for Jackson that people from all over the world sent to another friend friend of mine, who turned it into a movie for Jackson to see before surgery (that will make you cry). And I will tell you the other ways you can help, which are just as desperately needed as the flurry.
So, wipe your eyes (again), and blow your nose (away from your computer, please and thank you), set up those speakers, and prepare to view. Here we go.
Mail Flurry for Jackson **courtesy Beth Wilde**
Jackson's eCard movie **courtesy Deanne Shoyer**
And now, we're going to talk about those other ways to help I mentioned before. You can send gift cards for gas, groceries, and restaurants, because food at home and hospital, and transportation are not optional. So, you'll find a list below, that are actually clickable links (and I tested every. single. link.) which will take you to online sites for ordering gift cards, if you choose to help in that way. However, if you'd simply like to make a donation to the family, you can do that through rally.org by clicking HERE.
The address for mailing gift cards, drawings, letters and care packages is:
Special Happens / St. Aubin Family 9609 S. University Blvd. #630303 Littleton, CO 80163-0303
The St. Aubin family has told me over and over again how touched they are with the enormous outpouring of support they have seen over the last week. That's because of you all, the online special needs community, and others who have made it their purpose in life to show the family that they are not alone. Please help me continue in this effort of love and support, and help the St. Aubin family by choosing one of the options above.
Hands and help wanted images via the Google images
Happy Monday, all my dedicated Monster House addicts! There is SO much to tell you today. Firstly, though... a HUMONGOUS standing ovation to everyone who is participating in Jackson's Mail Flurry! Bombdiggity!!! I have heard several times from Gina, Jackson's mother, how touched and truly thankful the family is for all the love and support they feel with each envelope and package they receive. My cup runneth over, y'all. I'm proud of ya!! Keep those cards and letters coming. And, if you need a flier about the mail flurry to post on your church bulletin board, at a daycare, a library, your pediatrician's office, OT's office, whatever... shoot me an email and I'll be happy to send you the PDF.
Speaking of the mail flurry.. there is a completely awesome giveaway being hosted by my friend Deanne over at Small But Kinda Mighty. Here's all the info. What you do is, click on over to her site using the "completely awesome giveaway" link above. Create an ecard for Jackson using any iOS app, and then email it to babyomum@live.com .If you do not have an iOS device, no worries! Create a paper card, and scan it or take a digital picture of it, and email the pic to the email address above. Now, the cool part about doing this is, THEN you can enter some of her giveaways and gain extra entry points for emailing her the card! What could you win??
$10 gift card to iTunes, Target, or Amazon
One app of your choice from KidsAndBeyond, and a copy each of 123 Kids Fun All In One and 123 Kids Fun Alphabet.
Copy of 123 Kids Fun All In One and 123 Kids Fun Alphabet
Seriously.. how cool is THAT?? So, when you're done reading the news report from the Monster House, click on over people!! Deanne wants to collate all the cards that are emailed to her and get them to Jackson so he can see them before his surgery. And people? Surgery is this Friday. Get on it!!!
Next in the news, and just as important, is a need that became known to me late last week. Jackson needs a weighted blanket. And he needs it now. Any of you that have little monsters, or even big monsters, with sensory issues know how helpful a weighted blanket can be. And you also know how seriously expensive they are. Carl from Why Not Fathers has posted about this and has a great idea for getting them the blanket they need. Check it out by clicking the "great idea" link above. In case his idea doesn't work(and it might not), we are running a little fundraiser. We need to raise $300 pretty dang quick. It's not a lot of money, and it will purchase the weighted blanket Jackson needs. Please help, whether you donate $2 or $20, your contribution is enormous. Your help in promoting this fundraiser is greatly appreciated. We need to get the word out, and we need to do it quickly, so I'll ask you to please share this to facebook, twitter, google +, whatever social media you use, please post. Donations can be made through rally.org, and the info can be found in the next paragraph.
This brings me to the last bit of news for today. Sober up, y'all. And pay close attention. This part isn't going to be all fun and glitter. Here we go. Jackson's surgery is this Friday. As in, four days from now. That's quite a reality check, isn't it? On Friday afternoon, the halves of Jackson's brain will be separated. And no one is really quite sure what the outcome will be until they see it. And this is where it gets real. On Jackson's official site, there are not only daily updates, but also links for donations to the family through rally.org, and a page full of resources for those of you who would like to send gift cards for gas, meals, or groceries. Addresses for care packages and other resources can be found there as well. Remember, these needs start happening this weekend. THIS WEEKEND. The hospital is 30 miles away, which will make their gas costs soar. Gina and Hubs will be spending all the time they can at the hospital with Jackson, and will need to eat. The sibs will be tended while Gina and Hubs are at hospital, and there will HAVE to be groceries in the house. I think of it like this: if it were one of MY monsters having this surgery, I know Gina would be posting things like I am. I can't do any less for her, Jackson, and her fam.
I am continuously astounded at your generosity. I am regularly brought to tears with all you do for others. I know it's a lot that I'm asking. But, I'm asking. Because you would do it for me.
If you would like to know what other ways there are for you to help the St. Aubin family now, during the hospital stay, and after, besides the mail flurry, please read this post.
The St. Aubin family would like to express their love and appreciation to all of those who have already participated in the mail flurry. They are overwhelmed with the enormity of the number of people willing to help them at this difficult time.
Keep up the good work, everyone!! Don't let up! Don't stop! Keep those cards, letters, banners, drawings, and care packages coming! Need more info? Have an idea for something you'd like to do, but need to ask a question or twelve? Shoot me an email at frazzledmomma@livingwithlogan.com
Video credit to Beth Wilde. I love that Wildel8y!!
