The Journey ofJaydyn Elizabeth, Wellborn Style!

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

July 2020

Well it’s been forever, like FOREVER, since I have updated the blog for Jaydyn. Life has been hectic. We are now in the middle of the CV19 pandemic so why not get caught up on stuff that I have long had on some dusty Post-It notes?

So in the past 5 yrs we have:

In 2016, wemoved closer to our family (within 1/2 mile of where I grew up)
Celebrated many of J’s birthdays (she’s now 8)! Yes I said 8!
Received a dreaded phone call on the evening of March 30, 2018, that my father had been in a vintage race car accident and was being life flighted To Shands Hospital in Gainesville. He had flipped his car 8 times and had a brain injury, spinal damage to three vertebrae, broken ribs, collapsed lungs, and a brain injury but was ALIVE. The next day he underwent spinal surgery and remained in ICU for 25 days. He was then transported back to our hometown for further intensive hospital rehab. We had good days and bad days, but were certainly blessed to have the love and support of family around. He was unfortunately dependent on 24hr care and not able to voluntarily move his arms or legs. Over the six months after his accident, he was a fighter and we laughed and cried many times. For those we knew my dad, everyone knew that he spoke his mind and was hard of hearing. One of the nurses asked him , “How’s your pain level?” He responded with “Huh?,” so she politely asked him again, “Sir, How is your pain level?” He started laughing and chucking and responded with “Pineapple!! I LOVE pineapple!” Now I know that’s not super funny, but we were running on caffeine, sleep deprivation and heartache so we were hanging on every funny/silly moment we could have. Then the next day we decided to take him down to the duck pond to get him some sun and get him out of the hospital for some fresh air, so we wheeled him into the elevator. I went in first, my dad behind me and then my stepmom. We were the only three in the elevator and as soon as the door closed my stepmom and I were trying to figure out which button to push to get to the main floor, we heard dad talking. We had our backs to him at this time and he said... “So how long have you been in here?” My stepmom and I looked at each other, in a what the heck kind of look and the around at dad... then we realized that he was “...talking to the man in the mirror.” He was talking to his reflection! This was likely the first time he had seen himself in months after the accident and while he didn’t look different, the brain injury caused him to every now and then to have some quirky moments. I started singing the song “I talking to the man in the mirror” and once again, just had to start laughing to keep from crying. This is the man that has always been my rock. The guy who has always been so strong, but now was so fragile. Within the next month, he would take a turn for the worse quickly and we would have to say goodbye to him. My father passed away on September 25, 2018.
I left my employer after 18 yrs in May 2018, due to corporate realignment
My husband retired from the USN after 20 yrs of service in 2019

So.... now here we are 2020. It came in like a lamb and has been roaring like a damn lion. We have been homeschooling since spring break and the kiddo is about to go stir crazy. I am working from home, she is staying busy during the week by either going to her Mimis or Grandmas house and the hubby is working from home too. We however are all about to go stir crazy and can’t wait to get out and get life back to normal. Well as normal as possible.

Stay safe -

Sunday, March 1, 2015

September 2014

September was a pretty quiet month. I started off with a Labor Day 5k run (and man was it HOT!). This is the start of my training that I talked about last month (December run). I addition to my running schedule, I have also picked up another stress reliever, riding on the Baldwin Trails. While the month of September never really had any milestones, we had a good month. Enjoy our adventures/photos....

09.10.2014- Sleeping in the car!

09.10.2014- Potty Training is going great and Lil Miss is catching on wonderfully!

09.13.2014- Captain Morgan (scratch that... Captain Amy) on the Baldwin Trails Railway!

09.15.2014- Someone isn't happy with her headband

09.15.2014- Not happy, but will always pose for a photo with Mommy!

09.15.2014- J finally passed out

09.15.2014- Her hair is finally long enough to give her a true French Braid!

09.16.2014

09.17.2014

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I started taking a glass blowing class at Jacksonville University and it is SUPER fun. It is an 8wk class that teaches the basics and techniques of the art of glass blowing.

09.17.2014
---------------------------------------------

While I am in the class, Mimi has agreed to watch Jaydyn for the evening. No doubt she is worn out by the time I get to pick her up. I love this little girl!

09.17.2014

09.17.2014
The only problem with her going to sleep on the way home from Mimi's is that there is a pretty good chance that she will wake up when we get home!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

09.18.2014- Had to get a Selfie in! Since I am working from home, it is very rare for me to get dressed up and my hair done!
------------------------------------------------------------------------

09.18.2014
-------------------------------------------------------------------
While these pictures are out of order (date wise) I just had to include these pics. We got to JoAnns Crafts and it was pouring rain outside. So, I jumped in the backseat and we started goofing off with the camera (OH and some SOUR PATCH KIDS!!)

09.08.2014

09.08.2014 - I just love this Angel

09.08.2014

09.01.2014

09.07.2014

09.30.2014

09.30.2014- Sitting in Time OUT!

09.30.2014- Not a HAPPY camper in TIME OUT!

09/30/2014

August 2014

August, August, August.... What a month it was. We left off last month with Jaydyn having her surgery and I do have to say, "that was a rough recovery!" The doctor was amazing and he said that she may be one of the kids that if fine, sleeps and is in fully recovery at Day 7 or she could be the restless, hyper and slow healer finishing up around day 14. He was also right by saying that it would get worse before it got better... (more on that in a minute).

However, after 7 days of being cooped up in the house with a healing child, I decided to run a "few" races and participate in the Tour de Pain. For those who are not familiar with what the event is, it consists of 3 races in 24 hours. Starts Friday evening at Jacksonville Beach for a 4 mile run (2 out and 2 back), the second race is a 5k (3.1 mi) first thing Saturday morning (in the Baymeadows area neighborhood), and the 3rd and final race is considered the 1 mile sizzler (through the streets of Downtown Jacksonville). I was able to release a lot of stress, but also realized how much I loved running. This started my interest in further races (hint: it will take place in December).

Race 2- Tour de Pain (3.1mi City Run)

Tour de Pain - 1 mile Sizzler!!

Race 3- Tour de Pain (1 mile SIZZLER RUN!)

As munchkin began to heal she started getting her personality back, but not without some problems. It appears that she is one of the few that has problems with the nerve endings reconnecting around her adenoids. This results in sharp and extremely sensitive surges of pain at the base of her ears. She would finally sit down and fall asleep when she would wake up screaming. She was the child that hydrocodone made hyper. I had to take her off of it, medicate her through chewable Tylenol and Benadryl. It just broke my heart to see her going through this, but I had to keep telling myself that it was for the better. On day 14, it was like someone switched the light switch and I had my little J-bird back.

Day 9- Jaydyn still wasn't feeling well, but she is a little trooper.

While I received a new position at work and was adjusting to Jaydyn getting better, we went down to the local Aquatics Center in hopes for a nice day at the pool. Within minutes of arriving at the center, we were all told to evacuate the pool because lightning had been spotted within a 10 mile distance of the pool and that they would have to shut it down. While waiting J and I got a few photos...

August 13, 2014 Pool Day @ Jacksonville Equestrian Aquatics Center

Short lived time at the pool, but we had fun while we were there!

Grandma and Grandpa lived up to their true state and just had to buy J a new bike and helmet. While we all know this kid has a big head, we never realized how much of a big head this kid had. They got her a 4T helmet, but that didn't fit (too small) so J ride around in Grandma Jeannes helmet for the day until they could exchange her Princess helmet for a bigger head.

August 14, 2014 Grandma and Grandpa got J a new bike and helmet

J and I surprised Miss Stina at the Treaty Oak Park for a quick visit during her lunch. J just wanted lovins. I love my sweetie!

August 15, 2014 Treaty Oak

The only thing better than a craft/arts market is the face painting. This was Js first time getting her face painted and she did a great job sitting still. She wanted to be a "Pink Tiger" so that is exactly what she got.

August 16, 2014 (patiently waiting her turn)

August 16, 2014 (Looking good!)

The one thing that I love to do is NOT SIT STILL. Since we were recently rained out at the pool, the next best thing was to go to the beach and play in a bit of sand. Plus this was the last day of mommy's vacation from work. I start my new position at work tomorrow and needed a good night sleep the night before (had to wear J out).

August 17, 2014

Not only is mommy starting a new position at work, Jaydyn also starts at a new daycare. I enrolled J into Tutor Time, which also happened to be the first day back to school for the big kids, but J felt like a Princess getting her picture taken her First Day 2015 at her "new school"

August 18, 2014- First day at new daycare

Every mall trip results in mommy getting change for the merry-go-rounds.

August 23, 2014

Just a few random photos....

August 28, 2014

September here we come... HEALTHY and STRONG!!