parenting

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Dear Jack: Your Sister Appreciates Your Reindeer Games

6 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack: Your Sister Appreciates Your Reindeer Game

Dear Jack,

Whatever you’re into and at given moment, Holly is always eager to be invited to the action. She sees you as an important source of knowledge, based on your 6 years of life experience, along with your adventurous boyhood perspective.

Last Sunday, all it took was me finishing a bottle of nearly expired cold-pressed juice from Kroger, with the “Woo-Hoo!” sticker on it to celebrate the savings.

Before I could make it over the recycling bag in the pantry, you saw the potential: “Daddy, can I have that bottle?”

You began tossing it into the air, finding enjoyment as it would bounce on the hardwood floor each time it landed. It didn’t take long for Holly to crawl over from the living room and plant herself right into the middle of the action.

She also could was able to see the wonder of an empty bottle flying through the air.

I know you aren’t aware of this, but it’s little events like that when you teach your little sister about life. She is learning from you. She is taking those lessons seriously.

As her brother, there are certain unique things you are able to teach her that I just don’t have an eye for. It’s those kind of reindeer games that remind me that you and your sister live in a version of the world where excitement can be found in things like… garbage.

Her already playful spirit is only being enhanced by your daily influence. There is a reason she immediately stops what she’s doing whenever you walk by. There is a reason she has a reverence for your silliness.

Because to her, you can offer life lessons that only come from an only brother. While she definitely loves her Mommy and Daddy, she looks at you in a way like she looks at no one else.

You’re a really big deal to her.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your Sister Appreciates Your Reindeer Game

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Dear Jack: Your Parapharyngeal Abscess/Our Weekend in the Surgical Holding Room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville

6 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack,

Dear Jack: Your Retropharyngeal Abscess/Our Weekend in the Surgical Holding Room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville

Thank God.

It is because of God’s grace that this story has a happy ending.

You are okay now, but it was one intense weekend.

Saturday morning Mommy left your baby sister and me home while you two were planning on picking up the groceries (as our pantry and fridge were empty) and then to the doctor for a check-up regarding your Strep Throat (as you missed nearly every day of school last week because of it).

What was expected to be a forgettable doctor’s visit actually resulted in them sending you immediately to the Emergency Room in Nashville; which is about an hour’s drive from where we live in Spring Hill.

Dear Jack: Your Retropharyngeal Abscess/Our Weekend in the Surgical Holding Room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville

As Mommy called to tell me this urgent news, she also informed me that her phone didn’t get charged the night before, so she only had 17% charge on her battery.

Six hours passed after that brief and urgent call, with me not knowing any news.

As the afternoon proceeded, the hunger started kicking in- not to mention, I realized that Grandma’s plane would be landing soon at the Nashville Airport; as she had coincidentally planned for visit for the next two weeks, all the way from Sacramento.

Dear Jack: Your Retropharyngeal Abscess/Our Weekend in the Surgical Holding Room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville

It was about that time Mommy called me, having found access to a phone charger at the hospital, and informed me that you would have to stay overnight and possibly have surgery the next morning. Your Strep Throat had yielded a potentially fatal condition:

So I quickly packed an overnight bag for myself and a diaper bag for your sister, and miraculously made it to the airport in time to pick up Grandma, even with an unexpected trip to the gas station as I remembered I only had 1/8 a tank of gas in my car.

From there, I had to find my way to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. It may not seem like a big deal, but I had never driven there from the airport; only from our house, coming from the other direction on I-65.

Dear Jack: Your Retropharyngeal Abscess/Our Weekend in the Surgical Holding Room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville

Mommy called me and reminded me to pick up some dinner, since none of us had eaten in nearly 12 hours. Fortunately, I was able to stop at a Qdoba and pick up some burritos for us while Grandma stayed in the car with your baby sister.

Once we finally arrived, I traded places with Mommy, so she could take Grandma and your sister all the way back to Spring Hill.

That surgical holding room became our living quarters for the next two days. And despite the circumstances, you and I made the most of it. I enjoyed the time we got to spend together, just hanging out- something I know we don’t get to do enough of.

You ended up not needing the surgery, as the antibiotics in your IV helped reduce your neck paralysis enough over the weekend.

Dear Jack: Your Retropharyngeal Abscess/Our Weekend in the Surgical Holding Room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville

I love you so much.

Crazy enough, I never had time to be afraid. I only had enough time to take care of you. And pray.

Monday afternoon you were able to come home- and by Wednesday, you were able to go back to school and I could easily see you were proud to go back.

And even though you never said it out loud, you were so happy to see your sister again. Neither of us had seen her in over two days, actually.

Dear Holly: It’s So Rewarding to See You When I Come Home

“Can I hold Holly, Daddy?” is now like your new catch-phrase.

Thank God you are okay. I just keep saying that over and over.

Love,

Daddy

Your Retropharyngeal Abscess/Our Weekend in the Surgical Holding Room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville

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Dear Jack: I Haven’t Forgot about You over There

6 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack: I Haven’t Forgot about You over There

Dear Jack,

I experience guilt over you. I don’t get to spend enough time with you.

However, it’s not an issue of choice. It’s not that I could be spending time with you but am choosing not to.

Instead, it’s that in order to make a living for our family, Mommy and I both have to work. That’s nothing unique. That’s a normal problem.

But it presents a lifestyle in which despite living in a wonderful neighborhood and you being able to attend one of the best schools in the Nashville area, Mommy and I have to spend so much of our time commuting- and therefore, you spend time at “before care” in addition to being at Kindergarten most of the day.

During the week, my time is so limited with you. Every morning, I get you ready for school and drop you off. Every night we eat dinner together and then I get you ready for bed. All time combined, that’s barely an hour.

So really, it’s mainly just the weekends where I get to spend time with you. Granted, we’re having to buy groceries, clean the house, run errands, and go to church.

Not to mention, I’m constantly taking care of your baby sister when we’re all together.

I’m not able to pay you the attention I want. You don’t demand it. But I’m not able to give you what I want.

That’s why I treasure our quality time together. That’s why I make the most of it.

I experience guilt over this. I don’t know what else I can do though.

This is simply what I know as being a modern-day American parent who works full time and lives in a commuter’s community.

I wish could be with you more. You’re worth so much more than I can give you.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Daddy’s Phone is Your Holy Grail

8 months.

Dear Holly: Daddy’s Phone is Your Holy Grail

Dear Holly,

Coming out of the Christmas season, you have plenty of cute toys for a little girl your age. And it’s not that you don’t appreciate what you have, it’s just now that you crawl around any chance you get, you suddenly have the ability to stake out that most fascinating toy of all… my phone.

As I lay down on my side next to you as you’re playing, you get this sneaky look on your face. Then you pull yourself up on my hip, as to sort of look over the “fence”, in an attempt to scope out that magical toy you know is laying on the carpet a few feet behind me.

At this point, you instantly gain more than enough confidence in yourself- you suddenly hoist yourself over me, face first, onto the other side. It looks awkward and painful.

But for you, it’s worth it.

Dear Holly: Daddy’s Phone is Your Holy Grail

By the time I turn my body over to face you, it’s too late.

The smile on your face says it all.

No, this isn’t one of your plastic toy phones. This is Daddy’s phone. This is your equivalent of the Holy Grail.

Granted, I always know what you’re doing from the moment I see that sneaky look of yours. I just let it happen. I enjoy watching you work so hard for something that gives you so much joy.

It’s as if you think I didn’t see you find my phone, so then you try to hide it to try to save it for later, like a hidden treasure. Your current go-to hiding spot for my phone is under the rug in the guest bathroom.

You’ve yet to turn my phone settings to Spanish or call someone I barely remember who still happens to be saved in my contacts.

Even at just 8 months old, you know my phone is off-limits and against the rules. Therefore, nothing is more alluring!

Love,

Daddy

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We’re Going to Arenacross in Nashville: January 28-29, 2017

We’re Going to Arenacross in Nashville: January 28-29, 2017

While we are no strangers to monster truck shows, we have never attended Arenacross before. That’s right, we’ve never got to see a whole show of motorcycles flying through the air. But that will all change on the weekend of January 28th and 29th when Arenacross comes to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Congrats to Stefanie Lancaster, whose family of 4 will get to attend the Saturday night show for free; after being the 1st reader to comment on this post!

Top photo courtesy of ShiftOne Photography.

In the meantime, here is a preview of a couple of the drivers will be there…

 

Local Hero 

 

 lh_trevor_tate

Trevor Tate                         

Date of Birth: 8/21/96

Hometown: Greenbrier, TN

 

·         About Me

1.       What are some of your interests/hobbies/favorite pastimes?

§  Hanging out with my friends, anything motor related.

2.       Who are your role models?

§  My Dad, Kevin Windam.

3.       Do you have any pre-race rituals?

§  Not really. Tell the people next to me good luck.

4.       What is your favorite memory on or off the race track?

§  Hitting Laracco’s leap, holeshotting at Loretta Lynn’s.

5.       What is your favorite city to travel to and why?

§  Nashville, because it’s close and fits my style.

6.       Which Arenacross event would you consider your hometown race?

§  Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

 

·         Motocross, More Intense

1.       Tell us about your first AMSOIL Arenacross experience?

§  This is my first race with AMSOIL Arenacross

2.       What first attracted you to the sport of motocross?

§  Watching my Dad, and seeing it on TV.

3.       What’s it like racing in front of thousands fans in an arena environment?

§  An adrenaline rush and just puts a smile on my face.

4.       For those outside the sport, how would you describe AMSOIL Arenacross?

§  Rough and tough.

5.       What is your favorite track?

§  Fast Farms MX

·         Building Tomorrow’s Champions

1.       How did you get started competing in motocross?

§  I was 8, and just started riding in my backyard.

2.       What advice would you give to kids who want to enter the sport?

§  Have an open mind and keep it fun.

3.       What is your favorite part about competing in motocross?

§  That all of it is on me.

4.       What drives you?

§  To better myself and keep having fun being competitive.

5.       What personal mantra guides you?

§  Be the best I can be.

6.       What type of training regimen do you follow?

§  Running, cycling, riding.

·         Inside the AX Fan Experience

1.       What can fans expect when they come to an AMSOIL Arenacross event?

§  Exciting, tight racing.

2.       Why do you think motocross is such an attractive event for the entire family?

§  Because they see how much effort goes into it.

3.       What is your favorite part of an AMSOIL Arenacross day?

§  Making the main events.

 

·         “It all started on a mini…”

1.       How did you first learn to ride?

§  Dad tied a rope around me and if I went to fall he’d pull me off.

2.       What was your first motorcycle?

§  KTM Mini 50

 

Local Hero 

 

Hayden Davey         

Date of Birth: 11-8-08            

Hometown: Mount Juliet, Tennessee

lh_hayden_davey

 

 

·         About Me

7.       What are some of your interests/hobbies/favorite pastimes?

§  Riding dirtbikes, swimming, riding bicycles.

8.       Who are your role models?

§  Ronnie Mac , Ryan Dungy, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana.

9.       Do you have any pre-race rituals?

§  Bounce on my seat and smack my hands together.

10.   What is your favorite memory on or off the race track?

§  Riding in the KTM challenge, Monster Energy Supercross and meeting all the top riders there.

11.   What is your favorite city to travel to and why?

§  Loretta Lynn’s Hurricane Mills Tennessee, and watch the races.

12.   Which Arenacross event would you consider your hometown race?

§  Nashville

 

·         Motocross, More Intense

6.       Tell us about your first AMSOIL Arenacross experience?

§  Two years ago in Nashville was my first year racing. I had a blast!

7.       What first attracted you to the sport of motocross?

§  My Dad and watching it on TV.

8.       What’s it like racing in front of thousands fans in an arena environment?

§  Intense feeling, but it all goes away when I line up on the gate.

9.       For those outside the sport, how would you describe AMSOIL Arenacross?

§  Tight bar to bar, never give an inch racing.

10.   What is your favorite venue to compete in?

§  Loretta Lynn’s.

11.   What is your favorite track?

§  Fast Farms.

·         Building Tomorrow’s Champions

7.       How did you get started competing in motocross?

My Dad tricked me to go watch and brought my bike. He signed me up to ride instead of just watching!  I was 4 years old.

8.       What advice would you give to kids who want to enter the sport?

§  Step away from the video games and have some real fun.

9.       What is your favorite part about competing in motocross?

§  Jumps

10.   What is your greatest memory as an AMSOIL Arenacross rider?

§  The first time lining up and seeing the crowd.

11.   What drives you?

§  I want to be the best and win.

12.   What type of training regimen do you follow?

§  Practice, practice

·         Inside the AX Fan Experience

4.       What can fans expect when they come to an AMSOIL Arenacross event?

§  Close exciting racing.

5.       Why do you think motocross is such an attractive event for the entire family?

§  Takes the whole family to make it work, everybody has a job and is rewarded with good finishes [at the race].

6.       What is your favorite part of an AMSOIL Arenacross day?

§  Lining up at the gate.

 

·         “It all started on a mini…”

1.       How did you first learn to ride?

§  I was 4 years old.

2.       What was your first motorcycle?

§  Yamaha pw50