He RADIATES

 It's hard to put into words how grateful we are to see Jett reach his 2nd birthday...and reach it BOLDLY, might we add!  He is one healthy and strong boy right now.  This past year has been so much fun with him. We can actually say that now and MEAN what we say!  He really is so much fun. Our first year with Jett was scary and full of hospital visits and the unknown.  We weren't sure he would even make it past his first birthday.  In fact, at times, we prayed that Heavenly Father would do what He needed to do to ensure Jett's comfort...whatever that may be.  However, Jett's strong will to live took over and he stayed with us!  The second year started out rough for a bit (with sickness and such), but from March until now, Jett has been the happiest and healthiest boy!  We couldn't be more happy with our little guy.

Daddy was able to come to Jett's PT appointment last week.

Jett cuddling with Grandma Sherrie

Cody and I talk a lot about what exactly it is about Jett that draws people to him.  There's something about him that just melts your heart and makes you smile.  For the longest time, we couldn't figure out what it was and then, just last night, I was reading a passage out of a book and the answer became very clear.  Currently, I'm reading a book that my mother-in-law gave me called One Tattered Angel by Blaine M. Yorgason.  It is a true story about a family that adopts a little girl with severe disabilities.  She was born missing a large portion of her brain (much like Jett) and was expected to only live a few months.  Well, I'm not finished with the book yet, but I do know that the little girl lived until she was 8-years-old and greatly impacted the lives of those around her.  Below is the passage that I read last night.  It starts out with the father speaking to his wife about their daughter, Charity.

Passage from One Tattered Angel:

"That little girl touches me in ways I have never been touched, " I told Kathy one day. "I absolutely love and adore her, but I'm also in awe of her; I cry with joy when she smiles at me; I can hardly keep myself from smothering her with hugs and kisses; I find myself constantly singing to her; I feel guilty when I'm around her because I don't know how to care for her the way you do, and yet I know with every fiber of my being that she loves me unconditionally; and I don't think I will ever in this life stop wondering who she really is.  Yet if I were asked what Charity does to affect me like that, I don't know if I could give a sensible answer."  (The last statement is exactly what Cody and I talk about all the time!)

Continuing on:

"Sure you could," Kathy responded.  "She may never talk or sing or run or jump or play like other little girls, which are the things we always talk about when we describe our children, but she does do something.  She RADIATES.  She is like a lamp with a bulb that seems to grow brighter the older she gets, radiating love and joy and peace to any who come near and want to feel it."
                                                                                                   -Blaine M. Yorgason

I couldn't have said it more perfectly myself.  Jett isn't able to do much physically, but what he does for us emotionally and mentally far outweighs any of that.  He simply RADIATES.  When I hold him, I literally feel all of the stresses in my life melt away...and he IS my biggest stress! I don't get it.  I really don't, but I'm grateful for the blessing that he is in my life.

Happy 2nd Birthday to our little Fighter Jett!!  Keep fighting the good fight little man.  We love you so much and look forward to many more years with you.

One of Jett's nurses did this fun Christmas craft with him.  Jett's hands and feet were painted and stamped onto the canvas to create the pictures.  Too cute!  It immediately made it's place on our wall.

Our First Jett Powered Success

Our first Jett Powered event was held on Saturday, July 20, 2013 and was a smashing success!  Thirty-six amazing athletes showed up to support the foundation and perform an intense workout, appropriately named the "Jett Powered" workout.  Each athlete paid a registration fee of $20.  In addition, some athletes were sponsored for reps completed, which made them work even harder!  

The "Jett Powered" Workout

30 Minutes to complete AMRAP (as many reps as possible)

100 m Run

10 Ground to Overhead (using barbells)

10 Burpees

10 Air Squats

10 Hand Release Push Ups

This workout was intense and was a test of endurance for each athlete.  However, we all thought about how strong Jett is, which gave us all motivation to work hard.  Some even said, "If Jett can power through, WE can power through!"  

Jett was, of course, there to witness the event.  He was so excited about the workout that he fell asleep mid-workout as athletes were dripping sweat and working their hardest! 

Total donations received from this event came to $1700!! That number is still growing! Thank you to all those who made personal donations, bought Jett t-shirts, and, of course, participated in the workout.

This event brought people closer together for a great cause!  We had so much fun joining forces with the staff at Fit Farm Crossfit and plan on doing another Crossfit competition in the future.

And we're OFF!!

Check out all these athletes killing their workout!

Our helpers, Tessa and Taylor…thanks guys!

The FIT FARM Crew and athletes post-workout…and Jett, of course, post-nap!