Andy & Jessica

Me when working on Jude’s bible memory verse for this week: “God is holy.”
Jude: “That means I can jump through him. That’s a funny joke.”

Jude: “I keep teaching Levi something. S + S = 8.”
Me: What? Huh?
Jude: “Yes. A backward S plus a forward S equals 8.”

(Wow. Who thinks of that?)

“Are chocolate chips darker than sin?”

“Mom, have you ever thought of this…does God have a cell phone number?”

“I’m not scared of strangers. I have my white belt.”

Tonight Jude and Levi were playing cops and robbers. Levi was the bad guy. Jude was lecturing him and making him repeat things like, “I will give up my life of crime,” etc. Levi complied even though I’m sure he didn’t even know what he was saying. Then Jude said something that really shocked me: “Say what you do; do what you say.” I was so surprised because the “Do what you say and say what you do” phrase is one that I have heard a lot in my career because it really sums up ERISA compliance — operate the plan in accordance with its terms and ensure its terms are consistent with administration. I asked Jude where he had heard that since I didn’t think I’d ever said it around him. He shrugged as if I was naive and said, “Ha! It’s a phrase.”

Jude and I worked really, really hard and he finally got his white belt today after his 6th or so attempt.  He had to know 5 karate words that are associated with 5 karate stances.  I managed to accidentally record the white belt ceremony while attempting to take a picture with my new phone, but then also managed to snap a cute picture.  Jude was really proud of himself and I was so relieved.  I was pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to use the camera on my new phone on the fly like that.  Now I’ll have to google how to tie karate belts since I have no idea.  Coincidentally, my mom traveled to Fargo today to watch Jude’s cousin test for his first belt in Taekwondo.  Things will always get a little physical when those boys get together, trying to out-do each other.

 

For being only 5, Jude has more scars than most people.  And they all tell a story.

Left eyelid — Jude’s first scar was my fault.  Jude was 2 or so and on the boat with us and wasn’t sitting down.  I floored it to get my brother up barefooting and Jude fell and hit a clamp on the boom and needed 6 or 7 stitches.  I feel extremely guilty to this day about this one.

Head — Jude’s 2nd scar is from the incision to remove his first brain tumor.  It is at least 6 inches long and was probably 3/4 inch wide.  It is bigger than it had to be because the surgeon likes to keep in the stitches longer than most.  This incision is a hair-free zone since hair cannot grow through the scar tissue.  The surgeon was able to use the most of the same incision from the first surgery for the 2nd surgery at the time of recurrence.  The entry point for the 2nd brain surgery was a little lower and different so there is a much pinker scar at the bottom of the original head scar from the 2nd surgery.  The 2nd surgery actually resulted in a smaller head scar since they were able to cut out some of the width of the first scar.

Right neck — Jude has a scar on his neck from where an IV was stitched into his neck for his first brain surgery.

Left ear — Jude has a scar on his left ear from when he was running at full speed and tripped and fell into the corner of our coffee table.

Middle of forehead — Jude has a circular scar about 5 millimeters in diameter in the smack dab middle of his forehead.  This one resulted from one of the donut shaped GPS-type stickers on his forehead for brain surgery.  It did not come off well and ripped off a bunch of his skin.  This one irritates me since I would think it could have been avoidable if more care was taken in removing the sticker.

Left upper chest — Jude has a 1-1/2 inch, pink and raised scar on his left upper chest from where his port was placed for radiation and ultimately removed.

I like to smother his newer scars with Mederma whenever I think of it to get the best appearance possible. 

These scars may have faded a little, but are a constant reminder of what Jude has been through.  Jude doesn’t know it, but these scars get him extra hugs and kisses from me (not that he was ever hug or kiss deprived).  They also get him extra treats from me since I have a hard time saying no to him.  What a tough cookie!

 

 

Last night Asher was running around with a dum-dum in his mouth (Jude had one so Asher insisted on having one too and I have a hard time saying no to them) and barking out like what appeared to be various commands that none of us could understand (maybe because he’s still 1 or maybe because of the lollipop in his mouth).  Andy said to me, “He’s all you, Babe.  Crazy and wild.”  Asher is adorable and delightful and I’d be thrilled if he was all me, except I suppose a little of Andy’s artistic and techie abilities would be nice.