Prayers for Collin

I know that this is not always the venue to ask for prayers, but right now, I feel like it would be best to ask. It isn't a huge deal, but it could end up being.

Collin's development has been delayed. It is very likely it is simply because he is a boy and he develops a little slower than our girls. And that is perfectly fine. But regardless, he is not 15 1/2 months old and doesn't walk or talk. He has mastered walking as long as he is holding on to something. When holding onto a hand he walks very wobbly, but if you let him go, he immediately drops to the ground. His talking consists of mamama, dadada, nanana...none of which is specific to anything. Obviously there are a lot of factors in all of this. It is very possible that he has a large heavy head (which he does) and as such, he can't hold it up well enough. But it is also possible that there is something else all together.

Here is where the prayers come in. Justin sat down with Collin's pediatrician because of his concerns for Collin. They came to an agreement that if Collin is not walking unassisteed by the time he turns 16 months, then we will do a CAT scan to make sure there are not other problems inside his skull. We hope to not have to do the CAT Scan at all. So we ask for your prayers for Collin's development to catch up just a little bit.

Again, it is possible that this is nothing. And I realize that there are plenty of kids who don't walk until they are 18 months. There is concern though, given Collin's delays and head size and shape. So please keep Collin in your prayers, and maybe throw in a prayer for peace for his mom and dad too! We could use it a little!

October 4, 2009 is the day Collin hits 16 months.

Residency Applications

Applications are in! Well actually, they have been in for a little while now. We submitted 40 applications. 35 of the programs have downloaded all the available documents for the application. NOw it is a lot of the waiting game. A lot of the programs don't send invites for interviews until NOvember. We have heard that there are some that invite the end of September, beginning of October. But there is no guarantee when invites will come. It is crazy to think though, that in about 8 months, Justin will be graduated and officially be Dr. Clayton. It has such a nice ring to it! Dr. Justin B. Clayton. Wow! I can't wait for that day. we have our favorite programs, and we have our not so favorite programs, but they are all in places we would be more than happy living. I have worked on gathering information on each of the locations. We have cost of living comparisons, and houseing comparisons and lots of other info. As Justin gets interviews, the list will continue to grow. There are some things that I am holding off doing too much research on until he gets interviews. Schools for the kids, locations to live in the city, jobs for me...those can all be researched once our list is being brought down a little bit. But I am excited. It is a new adventure in our lives. Thinking about all the places we could end up is wonderful. Boston, Rochester NY, Rochester MN, Lebanon NH, Dallas/Fort Worth TX, Houston TX...and so many more. All of them are wonderful places and I look forward to the upcoming months and to finding out where we will end up.

I can't tell you how proud I am of my dear Justin. He has worked so hard for his career and continues to do so. Aside from working to do well in his classes he has worked his butt off for his family. I carry so much gratitude for him and all he has done for me and for our beautiful children.

I love you forever Justin, Always and forever!

I am so Behind!

There is a lot that I could blog about today, but mostly, I want to share the pictures from the completion of my most recent project.



It took me a couple of weeks to get the sanding all done. It started out as a dark brown dresser, but it was old and beat up. I sanded all of the finish off and replaced the side panels. Once everything was done and put back together, I stained it with a beautiful maple finish. After a few coats of laquer, that is the finished product. It is no sitting in Collins room, filled with clothes. It is my big accomplishment. I am pretty proud of it, if I can gloat for a minute.

Anyway, the project was a lot of fun and has led me into other endeavors. I am currently working on drawings and stuff for a new headboard. Actually, just a head board, since we have never had one. I am kind of excited about it. It is going to be one of those cushioned head boards and it will have a wood frame, probably stained in maple like Collin's Dresser. The measurements are all done, and I think I have figured out all of the designs and everything. My good friend Julie is going to make one form her house too, so we are going to work on it together. My only challenge now is choosing a material that will coordinate with my blue bed. We will see how material shopping goes. I guess we will see how it goes...

Dearest Husband

 
So Justin is still in Utah. If you read my last post, you know that the kids and I just got back. Unfortunately, we had to leave Justin behind. This is a sorta cheesy picture of Justin and I that we took while we were together for a day in Las Vegas. This is actually the day that he left Vegas for Utah. It has been a bit of a difficult time having him gone. I have been with the kids with hardly a break, except one evening last week at Michelle's. I have spent every waking moment with the kids--Whom I love will all my heart, but sometimes don't us mom's just need a break. Anyway, back to Justin...I miss him terribly. I don't know how people do this frequently. My sister's husband spends 4 days of every week (I think) out of town for work. I haven't seen Justin now for more than a week...and I hate it. We don't get to talk as often as I'd like because he works long hours during the day and goes to bed early for his early mornings. With a 45 minute drive, and needing to be at the hospital by 6, you have to get up pretty early...I think he said 4:30 the other day. Anyway, as result, I don't get to talk to him much. It has been hard. But the kids have been pretty good. School starts on Monday and it will be good!

Justin, I miss you and I love you. I can't wait til you are home again...9 more days! At least its single digits now...

Still not sure if the 6 month deployment in the air force medical corp is worth the Financial benefits...Still need more time to think on that!

MobJet

i was introduced to this new website...It seems kinda cool. Anyway, I thought I would share with you. It is kind of along the lines of a twitter type thing, but I like it better!

http://mobjet.com/

You can follow my Jet by sending a blank email to: get.jaidiclayton@mobjet.com

or get.jaidilynne@mobjet.com

http://www.mobjet.com/jet_streams/1204/jets/3337

http://www.mobjet.com/jet_streams/1210/jets/3349

Hope you enjoy! You can post more than 140 characters if you want...Its Cool! And Videos and pictures and anything else!

Blog MakeOver

With all the new pictures I have gotten recently, I decided to update the background on my blog! So take a look...I think it turned out well!

3135

3135
18
3

3135--That is the total number of miles that I (JAIDI) drove, by myself in a car for the most part with 3 kids in it! You read that correctly. It was a long trip. The kids were remarkable near perfect. Or at least as perfect as I could ask for while on a 2 1/2 week trip!

18--That is the total number of days away from home!

3--The number of kids in the car with me 75% of the trip. (one of the girls joined Justin in his car for the drive to Vegas).

In the past 2 1/2 weeks, I have spent on evening (Thank you Michelle) away from my sweet angels. And while, I could use another girls night out, I am happy to say that my sanity still remains pretty much intact! :) Of course, that line in itself, may qualify me from insanity...So you can take it anyway you want.

Our trip was wonderful. We got to see and spend time with so many people.

Las Vegas was the first leg of our trip. After starting our drive at 6:00am (after getting the kids up and out the door, stopping for gas and breakfast, we left an hour later than planned) we arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30 their time. For a total of 15 1/2 hours, the drive was successful. Aside from the extra 2 rock chips we got on the way, it was even uneventful! We were blessed to be able to spend some wonderful time with some members of both the Pierce's and the Clayton's. We missed the family members that we weren't able to see. Hopefully we will see you all soon! We were able to see Brisa's Baptism, meet a couple of Pierce Girlfriends...(loved them both), eat some amazing food, and enjoy each others company. We even got a chance to take a family picture before Justin ran off to Utah.

From Family Pics 8/2/09

Utah was the next leg of our trip! The kids and I loaded up the car and drove out of Vegas at about 7am. We arrived at the Lindorf home at about 2:00pm. We enjoyed some wonderful visits while we were in Utah, but are sad that there were so many people that we missed. Nate and Kristen were such wodnerful hosts, and it was great to be able to spend time with both them and Justin for a little while. We also had some wonderful visits with Mauni, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, former BYU co-workers, Scotty Mac, and probably more people that I am forgetting to list (Sorry). Regardless, we had a wonderful visit with so many great people. Here are some pictures from those visits...but not nearly enough!

We had a wonderful time visiting with everyone! It was so much fun!

The last leg of our trip was the vacation from my vacation. It was my visit to my sister's house. Michelle and her family were such wonderful hosts! :) Kaylee and Tiffany gave up their rooms for us. The reason I classify it as my vacation from my vacation, is because throughout the first 2 legs of the trip I felt like I was constantly going. I always had the kids with, and I never had much down time. When I got to Michelle's, while the kids were still with me, I wasn't chasing them, I didn't have to keep as close an eye on them, and they could play. Michelle's Kids took over for me. They chased kids up the stairs, they took them to play in the park across the street, they jumped on the trampoline with them. In all, they did everything with them, so i could sit and not do much! My visit with Michelle was wonderful. We actually did do a lot, but it felt so relaxing, because there was less stress! We were able to take a bunch of pictures of the kids too!
As I said, the visit with Michelle was great. She even gave me a much needed Girl's night out. The Time Travelers Wife was a really good movie, in case anyone was wondering!

Yesterday, through tearful goodbyes, we left Loveland and Michelle's house at about 7:45. After filling up with gas we were on the road! I was expecting the 10 1/2 hour drive to take 11 or 12 hours. I mean 3 kids...usually you stop! But we made it home in 9 1/2 hours. I am still not sure how I managed that and stopped for food for a half hour! We got home last night at about 6:00, unpacked the car, cleaned/vacuumed the inside of the car, went through the 2 weeks worth of mail, and rearranged the girls bedroom... and still got everyone to bed before 9:00, except me! I rolled into bed about 10:30.

With all the driving, I was also able to listen to a couple of books! They were re-reads, but still, I "read" Eclipse and Breaking Dawn again, and enjoyed them just as much as the last times i had read them! Still an excellent read!

Well that is my vacation recap! Thank you to everyone who took time to visit with us. It meant the world to us to be able to see so many friends and family!