Now showing...The Kaylors...on Ice!

Jake's brother Zak has been in town this week.  He is a ton like Jake, but with even more energy (if you can believe it!).  Bryn even said, "Is that Daddy's twin?"!  Because he is just pure fun, and such a great uncle, the girls have almost instantly bonded with him.  

The girls love to have him swing them around like a monkey! 

Katelyn thought she was too old for "monkeying around", so Zak picked her up and showed her otherwise!!

Like Daddy, without back problems! Yea Uncle Zak!!

Jake and Zak both love their computers and word games.  I think in this picture they are actually playing scrabble via the web together at the table!

Kateln got her hair cut the other day and could not stop taking pictures and touching her soft hair.  I know she wishes she could get her hair professionally styled each day.  Wouldn't we all!

Today, I was able to finally fulfill little Bryn's wish.  Every time we go to the mall, she wonders when she will be old enough to ice skate.  Knowing I couldn't go, I took the opportunity with Uncle Zak in town to be the other hand needed for the little ones to ice skate for the first time.  Katelyn, even though in her lifetime has probably skated a dozen times, is a great skater.  She is very comfortable on the ice. Jadyn and Bryn surprised me so much. They were so good for their first time on ice! They all skated for almost 2 hours! I am so happy to have been able to watch all their smiles:)

Pool Therapy!

This week, I had the awesome opportunity to begin pool therapy!!  Yea!!

We had originally looked at Health South, which was going to charge an absorbent amount of $250 a session!  I went hunting for another place and found Green Oaks Rehabilitation.  Unfortunately, it is not on Green Oaks, but on Magnolia in downtown Ft. Worth.  It is privately owned, and the feeling there is so positive and much more like a family in this small facility.  They originally said it would be $30 a visit.  It might end up being a different price, but after my first session, Jake and I acknowledged that it was worth the price and the drive.

During my first session, I was standing with assistance and doing lots of leg exercises.  Today, I was walking (my PT was holding onto my back with a gait belt) laps in the water and doing squats!!! It is wonderfully warm in the water and the hour goes by way too quickly.  

I am so grateful for this therapy.  I am so looking forward to my next session.  Right now, I am going twice a week.  

I knew you would all be excited along with me. Thank you all for your love, support and prayers.

Jess

 

Pavel Studios

My brother-in-law, Matt, is an excellent photographer and is trying to expand his business as he and his family relocates to Tennessee. I know he will travel anywhere for your event. Plus, if you ask him to travel back to Texas, there is a good chance he would bring the whole family back home to visit!! So, I think this is just a great idea all around. Check out his new website: http://www.pavelstudios.com

Much love,
Jess

San Antonio was muy bueno!

We had a wonderful time in San Antonio last week.  We were blessed to be joined by my Mom, Garett, Austin and Aunt Sandy!!  We relaxed, swam, went to Sea World, laughed, cried, laughed 'til we cried, ate yummy food and just had a lot of fun together.  On the last day, Bryn kept telling me "Thank you for taking me to San Antonio!" every time I looked at her!  

On the first night, my brother Alex, who lives in California, was in San Antonio on business! We all met for a nice Mexican dinner.  What fun! The girls had seen Alex earlier in the summer, but I have not gotten to see him for some time.  It was great to catch up.  

The next day, we went to Sea world! The girls were so looking forward to going. The shows were spectacular! Jadyn's favorite part was feeding the dolphins. In fact, she said it was going to be her favorite thing even before she did it!! I am so glad it held up to her expectations. Later on, she actually said that "everything" was her favorite. I think I agree:)

One of my favorite activities was when the girls got their hair braided and they said they could keep them in for about 2 weeks.  Wow! Two weeks of having their hair pretty much done is money well paid to me!!  

Another favorite time was swimming! I was able to get into the pool at this hotel courtesy of a lift system.  I had not been in a bath tub, let alone a pool since California, so it was such joy to be in the water with the girls.  They had so much fun!  The hotel's lazy river lived up to its name.  Half way on the river led to a beach area where the girls enjoyed playing in the sand. I was so thankful for this opportunity.  

My mom bought a disposable water proof camera so I will have to post our water pictures after I can get them converted to a digital format. Sorry! Just imagine us having a fabulous time. Here we are getting ready to go into the water!!



Sandy has some more pictures on her camera, so I will post even more fun later!!

Physically, let's just say, I made it! It was wonderful to be in the water and I am excited to start water therapy with my new PT, Andy, on Tuesday. It was also the best feeling in the world to see smiles on the girls' faces having fun. It was a great trip, and one filled with blessings. The blessings that made the trip possible and so many more during our stay. I love vacations. It produces so many memories and is pure fun. I think we should all take them more often!

New photos!

My Aunt Janette sent me a few photos from her trip to Texas from her camera. Enjoy!

My mom with granddaughter Ella.

Aunt Diane with grandson Jace.

Jadyn, Kaylee, Kaycee and Bryn at the pool.

Mom, Jacque, Sandy and Janette in their cute pink shirts!

Janette is on the left and Jacque on the right!

Zander, Kaylee, Austin, Jadyn, Bryn, and Mark with Tweety Bird and some other strange character at Six Flags!

Today has been a "good" day for me physically, and Katelyn is coming home today! Yea! I know she has has tons of fun in Oregon with my family, but I miss her like crazy! I hope she took lots of pictures for me to show you.

Love to you all,
Jess

Visitors and the waiting game

We have had a great week with my aunt Janette and family coming to visit all the way from New York. They drove the trip in two days, which is an amazing feat! We had lots of family dinners, a trip to Six Flags, and fun celebrating the 4th of July together. It was great to see their family! (Pictures to follow:)

I moved up my MRI to this week as I was in a lot of pain (the appointments were scheduled for Monday and Wednesday). The MRI showed no fractures, but tumor growth where the pain is that I am having in my lower back. My pain management doctor (Bruel) is in contact with my radiation oncologist (Spangler) and oncologist (Haley) to adapt the plan to help me feel better. As long as that area had not been radiated, Bruel seemed like that would be a good choice. He also adjusted my pain medicine to better manage the right pain I am having. I like this doctor a lot and I am thankful he has come onto our team.

Each day is different. Some are pretty bad, others are good almost all of the day. I cannot pinpoint what makes a good or bad day. I know the distraction of doing things and having friends around really helps keep my mind occupied on other things. I have also been known to think that a coffee drink at Starbucks curs many ailments!

I have many pictures to catch you up on. I finally downloaded my mothers pictures of Bryn's lovely birthday tea party. She felt so special and had tons of fun! Bryn has such wonderful friends and awesome parents.











Katelyn was a huge help at Bryn's party. She took pictures, helped with all the games, encouraged the children, passed out food, monitored them outside...she was so patient and kind. I really don't know what we would do without her:) If anyone needs a party planning assistant, I know she would do a great job for you!! She even held babies...here she is with Ella



Ella came over to visit (Hope comes over a lot to help me) and she loves snuggling with her cousins.



Jace came over for a visit too (with his mom Mandy of course). I love to play with Jace. His smile is so cute.



Bryn and Jadyn dressed up like Pipi and a tiger (from Kumg Fu Panda) for their camp at Trinity Valley a few weeks ago. Here they are, ready to go to camp. At camp, they wore their masks that they had been working on and went on a parade.





Mixed in somewhere in my camera was a picture of Bryn when my dad was in town for a visit. We went to Traildust for dinner and Bryn wore a tie to be cut off (a tradition in the restaurant--a no tie policy!) We had a lot of fun with my dad, but we did not take a lot of pictures. I think he did, so maybe he could send some to me (hint, hint!)



I love this picture of Bryn and Jadyn getting ready to swim...so grown up! My mom has taken the little girls and their cousin Austin swimming at my grandmother's country club pool quite often this summer.





Lat week, Jadyn and Bryn had fun washing Dad's car! I think the car got washed a little.



When Gene came into town, I knew he could fix our wobbly living room fan. He and Uncle Mike did just that. They also added a remote control! Yea! However, I was slightly worried about their method of using the ladder.



Jake and I were at the doctor in Dallas all day when our family enjoyed Six Flags. Jadyn and Bryn were able to tag along and they all had a great time!







The 4th of July brought the annual Arlington Parade. We comprised an entire block! Okay, this is not all our family, but it is a good portion of the area! Jake, Sandy and Pam and Chance all got up way too early to save our nice seats in the shade. Thank you!!

Ella loved her flag and waved it proudly!



My cousins Corbin and Carter are so grown up! They are enjoying the sun watching the kids swim. We all went over to my Aunt Jacque's house to swim and cook out. Fun!!









Thankfully, Aunt Pam loves the pool and loves her nieces and nephews. She usually spends most of her time in the pool with them!



I am not sure of how this happened, but Sandy is in the pool with all her clothes on and I think Uncle Mike had something to do with it!



I so enjoy my time with our family!



The evening of the 4th, we went to the Curtis's (Zander and Kaylee's grandparents house) to set off fireworks. We did this last year too, so I officially call this a tradition. The first picture is of the men explaining all the rules. I think the speech ended with "Fireworks are fun, but fireworks are serious."





We stopped at a fireworks stand before we got the the Curtis house and bought plenty of fireworks! We all loved the show Jake, Shawn and Gene put on. Here are the girls in awe! I love their sweet faces.






As usual, whenever I post, it's long.  But I hope you enjoyed our pictures.  Take care,

Jess