That's a Wrap

It's been a busy few months at our house

Benjamin has been wrapping up his High School Years.

He competed in the State Theatre Competition 

where he received Straight Superiors.

He had his MDT spring Musical "Working" where he played a fireman.

It was a very moving performance and he was amazing.

He directed a one act scene for Center Stage Showcase

called "Trifles".

He received the "Unsurpassed Performer" for 2011-2012 school year from the RHS Theatre Department.

This is the third year that award has been given.

Ironically enough Bailee was the first to receive it in 2010.

(they want a picture of the two of them with their awards in their sweaters when she returns from MT.)

He attended Junior Prom

Looking amazingly handsome...In a James Bond sort of way.

I only have pictures of him...sad day.  

That is the bad thing about having the son, they don't get pics when they pick up their dates.

We did a photo shoot for his Senior Pics in Memory Park

formerly known as Memory Grove.  

These are just a few of my favorites..

This is what he wound up choosing for the insert in his Graduation Announcement.

Things continued to be busy finishing up the academic part of high school on a high note.

He had some big finals for his Concurrent Enrollment (college classes)

and a few big papers due as well.

I am continually amazed at what these kids accomplish these days

with being involved and getting good grades.

He then had Senior Dinner Dance at Little America

I love that this is a "Stag" dance.

He went with a bunch of buddies.

I did send his camera... He came home with not one picture.

Sigh~boys.

Next, Seminary Graduation.

He was asked to sing in a group of 4 boys for graduation.

They had a few practices and did an amazing job.

Here are pictures from Seminary Graduation 

with his next door buddy since they were three.

The big day finally arrived.

The weather was beautiful and the ceremony just long enough to be good

but not so long as to drag on and on.

It was held at the UCC center at UVU.

A great place for Graduation because you can see the whole thing.

Grandma and Grandpa Pack came to share his big day with him.

I am so proud of him for making it to this point.

For a boy who spent 3 years in and out of the hospital

half of his sophomore year on Home and Hospital

and even more months going to school with IV's or Feeding Tubes

he's come a long way

and he did it with Dignity, Style and Kindness to others.

We are so proud of who he is and the example he sets for others.

He is an amazing young man with a bright future.

If you ask him what the future holds.....

Working as a CNA for the summer and fall

(the job hunt has begun)

One Semester of school in the fall

Serving an LDS Mission in the New Year.

The Future is Bright

and I know he will attack it with dedication and joy

just as he has everything else.

Congratulations Ben.   ~We ♥ you~

Scrubs

 Benjamin has started his CNA course.

He had to have a pair of scrubs

and of course....

He wanted the U of U ones.

(never mind that they were more expensive)

So here we have Ben in his scrubs.

I think it's a good look for him.

I personally think becoming a nurse is a great career choice for Ben.

Step one is almost complete.

Attendance

The attendance rules in the Jordan District High Schools are somewhat ridiculous. You as a parent are only allowed to excuse your child 10 times a quarter for absences. Too many unexcused absences, your student has to attend attendance school. Which btw costs $5.00.

Now I do understand there are teens out there who are skipping school. I also know for a fact there are teens out there attending school SICK to avoid missing class. Bailee used to go to school sicker than a dog. Step throat...at school- Nausea's/Vomiting....at school- Fever....at school -you get where I am going with this. Germs begetting germs. Kids making kids sick.

Now Ben is going to school Sick. For fear of missing too much work. Fear of falling behind. Fear of attendance school. I am always getting notes from Dr.'s to excuse him when I can. But sometimes he is just to sick to go. He checks in for big classes, attends them so sick he can't concentrate. He checks out. There has to be a better way.

As parents aren't we capable of knowing when our child needs to be home. No matter how many days. If the child doesn't make up the work... They don't pass. So why does the school have to control it? Just fail the students who don't do the work. Let the kids who are sick stay home. Let the parent decide. The parent and child will deal with the consequence. I understand the importance of an education. It is the future of our children. But let the parent govern the child.

Not the school.

*as a postscript. RHS has been so helpful in dealing with Benjamin and his many bouts of home and hospital. They are understanding, and work with us. But....why does it have to be so difficult, so many hoops to jump through?

Prom and the Pink Bra...

March 25, 2011 Junior Prom "In Your Arms"

Ben asked a cute girl named Joy Westwood to prom. He asked her the cutest way... He bought a bouquet of Helium Balloons and tied them to kite string. Every 6 feet or so he attached a word to the string "Sorry to string you along, will you go to prom with me?", Ben Paxman. He then put the end of the kite string on her porch and wound it around her yard sorta like a small web. Then out to the mailbox where the string then went into the sky with the balloons floating up quite high. She had to follow the string and then pull in the balloons reading the words as she went. She of course said yes and we have these pictures to prove it.

Ben all studly in his tux. Joy pinning on his flower Ben putting on her flower The cute couple. They are really good friends.

They had a really good time. They went with 10 other couples.

After the dance they had plans to go to one of the boy's house for desert and a movie.

Ben got sick. :/ (this has been happening a lot lately)

His date was so nice about it.

He came home and took a pill and his date continued to the after party with his friends.

About 30 minutes later he was able to join them.

and take his date home. :)

Junior Prom was a success.

The next morning

When I went out the van I found this....

A pink bra. Laying right there in the back seat. Now you might be wondering WHY.. How could there be a bra in the backseat The girls had brought clothes to change into and then changed their minds and stayed in their dresses. One of the girls must have dropped the bra. No funny business was involved.

I told all the boys they would have to ask their dates find out who the owner of the pink bra was so it could be returned. It was a Victoria Secret bra They are EXPENSIVE. You would have thought they had all been sh0t. The reaction was ridiculous!! "What, We can't ask about a bra?" Some of the boys who did not ride in our van were so so glad... and mocked those who did and would have to ask this horrible question. A lot of debate was had between the three boys how they would word it, etc.

This is how it finally went down. (by text) boy: "So did you by chance leave an article of clothing in the van?" girl: "What is it?" boy: "ahhh It's pink" girl: "ha ha ha ha" She then would try and coax what it is out of him. He would never say exactly what. Until she declined leaving anything. Each boy had this same conversation, humiliating so they tell me. ;) Until finally, one girl did claim the pink bra. It was returned in a brown lunch sack. I had to place the bra in the sack and staple it shut before the boys would handle it at all. ninnies

And there you have it

Prom and the Pink Bra.

*I wrote this post in one format...it kept changing when posting. I finally gave up!!!! What you see is what you get. So if punctuation doesn't make sense. It wasn't typed that way. :/

What a difference a YEAR makes....

One year ago today
We were here.....

It says the 31st because I didn't get around to taking a picture
Until after midnight.
Benjamin just out of a 5 hour surgery
at Primary Children's Medical Center.
It was his fourth surgery.


Below are pictures of the following weeks.
Ben was nearly 16
He weighed 83 pounds and was
5'1"tall.
He has had all kinds of needles, tubes and procedures.
PICC line
NG tube
NJ tube-feeding tube
Port a Catheter
Iv's
Folio Catheter
An abscess the size of a softball
drugs of all kinds...
and pain....
He went to school with an IV for a few weeks
with a feeding tube from his nose for a few weeks
He spent nearly half the 2009/2010 school year
on Home and Hospital...and still managed to get good grades.

Here is a picture taken
just after he had a scary heart rate of 150
a fever of 104
and pain beyond belief.
This is after the meds finally took effect.
I was always amazed that he would find his smile.
But he did.

Here is a picture of the needle they would shove into his clavicle
where his port was located.
Here he is with his tower...
and his many pumps.
Some of his best friends were nurses.

Almost tubeless and feeling so much better.

Over the last three years he has spent 100 days in the hospital.

And endured it all with a smile.

Here he is today.

5'6 and 3/4.

132 lbs.

That is a 49lb weight gain

5 and 34 inch growth in one year.

He is Healthy

Eating what he wants

Pain free.

Driving

Enjoying high school

dating and friends.

Lovin' Life and Looking good.

(if I do say so myself)

See what I mean..:)

P.S. Check out my previous post today to see Booklyn as a Southern Belle

BOYS vs. GIRLS

At our house everything pretty much comes down to this.

What the boys would do...

and say.. in any given situation

vs

What the girls do and say

in any given situation.

It's a constant topic of conversation here.

Also what girls think

vs

what boys think.

Apparently we OVER think everything.

:)

But this week/weekend

I learned through first hand knowledge

the difference between a date/dance

planned and executed by a son

vs

one planned by a daughter.

Girls:

Two weeks or a little more find a cute way to ask boy.

Take a friend for moral support to accomplish task.

Find a group.

Decide on day activity.

Decide on dinner

Decide on after dance activity

Shop for/find a dress.

Sometimes this may be borrowing/trading.

Sometimes shopping for matching tie for date.

Decide on Hair, Make up, shoes

and accessories.

Order Boutonniere.

Figure out logistics making time for all this

plus time to get ready.

Photo ops.

Enjoy.

Boys:

boy: "Maybe I'll ask someone to the dance"

Mom: "you should it would be fun"

Time goes by

boy: "I think I will ask someone to the dance"

Mom: "You better hurry it's only two weeks away"

Time goes by

boy: "I will ask someone to the dance"

Mom: "Good, who and how"

boy: "let me think about it"

Time goes by

boy: "okay I know who I'm ganna ask"

Mom: "How?" "When"

boy: "I was hoping you would have ideas"

So I come up with ideas.

SHOT DOWN!!!

I'll ask Dad. (Dad likes moms ideas)

But...they were my/girl/not boy ideas.

I come up with some more.

The dance is now like 12 days away

He finally agrees to one.

Then wants me to do the work.

Which being the loving mom...I do.

The planning, the putting together...

THE DELIVERY!!

Then I ask him about a group.

He ho hums for days.

I pressure him.

Dates are way more fun in groups.

Finally, he succeeds in coercing some friends

into asking dates.

Success.

What are you going to do for a day activity?

(which btw I think is ridiculous)

What happened to dinner and the dance?

Anyhow...irrelevant...

He asks for suggestions...

I give them..

He scowls

SHOT DOWN!!

I'm going to ask dad.

(dad likes mom's ideas) you see where this is going

Mom's just have NO clue!

Moms Know all!!

Finally, he and his friends decide.

And so it goes...

with dinner plans,

after plans,

who will drive, times etc.

IT was painful. LOL.

I felt like I was dragging it all out of him.

Then..

He needed new clothes.

But, he doesn't want to shop for them.

Can't I just pick a few choices out and let him decide at home.

I shop...

I pick two.

One Dark Purple, my favorite.

One Blue, average.

SCOWL...

Purple..That's our school colors.

(never crossed my mind)

Just thought it would look good on him.

I coerce him into trying it on.

He succumbs.

He likes it.

What shoes to wear?

What cologne to wear?

What kind of flowers to order?

What pictures to order?

and so on..

Conversations/reminders about how to treat a girl.

SCOWL

I know all this.

You and Bailee have been POUNDING it in my head

for years.

It's true. We have.

He is a gentleman. :)

They say boys are easier...

I am inclined to disagree.

It was his first dance...

I'll let him off this hook this once.

So the Jury is out on this one

Boys

vs

Girls

He did look studly!

He is handsome if I do say so myself.

Cute date too.

Licensed to Drive

It's official...

Benjamin passed his drivers test last week

May 26th, 2010.

Hurray for Ben!!

SCARY!!! for parents.

He has been very patient

after all he was sixteen in February.

Due to all his time in the hospital this year

he was behind with the drivers ed.

So finally...

I have another driver to run errands

and most importantly to get himself

from point A to B.

It is a relief to have him driving

but, nerve wracking too.

You always worry every time they get in the car.

Strict RULE at our house.

Text or Call as soon as you arrive at your destination.

Text or Call right before you leave for another destination.

I will always know when they arrive safely.

~sigh~

Drive Safely Benjamin. :)

"Then" and "Now"

Benjamin Lincoln Paxman

is

16 years old today!!

February 9, 1994

He came into our lives

a Bouncing Baby Boy!

Look at him way back when...

He was such a blond cutie. ;-)

Who loved and still loves

anything fishing, camping and hanging with dad.

Here he is flying on his flyswatter!

Bailee got the broom and he needed something.

This is what he found.

Love his "Scary Face"

3 years old then...

Today!!

(also pic of the day)

Some girl is ganna be lucky to date this stud!

He knows all the great ways to treat a date.

Bailee and I have been teaching him

for a year.

He celebrated by pigging out on meat

at

Rodizios Brazilian Grill.

We Love you Ben!!

Our family wouldn't be the same without you.

Happy 16th Birthday!

PLUGGED IN!!

Meet The Wicked Witch of the West!

That's what Ben calls this double tower.

At first he called it the Twin Towers,

But we felt that was not a good name, so he renamed it.
It's two towers on one wheel base.

He takes it anywhere and everywhere he goes,

which isn't very far.

When we say plugged in, we mean PLUGGED IN!

Count them, five pumps.

Each with it's own set of tubing,

plus the monitor on the wall with 4 leads and

an oxygen cannula. And let's not forget the tube in each nostril.

Seriously!

The most important pump on that stand is the little gray one at the bottom.

This controls the pain med.

This is Ben's best friend these days.

Were really hoping for a break up soon. ;)

What a tangled mess he is.

Metal Mouth

We decided after much deliberation to just do it.

So to add insult to injury...

we put braces on Benjamin.

I felt really bad about adding one more thing for the poor boy.

However, the dad decided what better time to put braces on.

On Friday when he has surgery he will be on major Pain Med,

so by the time he finally gets to eat...

He should be pain free.

That's the theory.

I personally think he looks good no matter what. :)

Spooktacular!!

We have just Spooktacular news!

Seriously....

Halloween is THE date.

Benjamin will have his major surgery.

When the Surgeon suggested this day,

Benjamin had a really funny look on his face.

That's kinda spooky don't you think?

I DO! LOL!

All the nurses said they make Halloween so fun

they all dress up etc.

I said, "Oh good, now he can have hallucinations while coming out of general anesthesia."

NOT! ;)

Sadly it is time to try the surgery.

He is healthy enough to have the surgery.

Also, we really want to get him in and out of the hospital

before flu season gets any worse.

The Surgeon feels we don't have anything to lose

and a lot to gain if it works.

Benjamin will be able to finally eat food by mouth.

He looks forward to the possibility of having

Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Pumpkin Pie.

Not to mention Stocking candy.

May I also mention he has a LIST of places

and menu items he would like to eat...

When he can.

Hopefully soon.

Wish us luck!