I HAVE SEVERAL TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY:

1. I AM GOING TO TRY POSTING ON FRIDAYS WHEN AJ IS SLEEPING. THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD AT FIRST BUT I WANT TO TRY. THIS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR SOME OF YOU BOGGER GEEKS:) BUT IT IS BETTER THAN WHAT I AM DOING CURRENTLY. I AM HORRIBLE:(

• AJ's 2ND BIRTHDAY WAS A GOOD TIME. HE HAD FUN AND I THINK EVERYONE ELSE DID, FOR AS MUCH FUN AS YOU CAN HAVE AT CHUCK E CHEESE:) THE PIZZA ISN'T THE SAME ANYMORE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT ANYWAYS. HE GOT SOME GREAT PRESENTS THAT HE ENJOYED OPENING AT THE HOUSE. SORRY ABOUT THAT GUYS HE WAS BEING 2. BUT HE REALLY LIKES THE TOYS AND PLAYS WITH THEM A LOT. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE HE HAD A GREAT BIRTHDAY.

2. I AM THINKING ABOUT CUTTING MY HAIR. I HAVE BEEN 'THINKING' ABOUT CUTTING MY HAIR FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW. I GO THROUGH PHASES OF WANTING REALLY LONG HAIR AND THEN NOT. I HOPE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO FILL A VOID THAT IS THERE BUT I AM NOT FILLING IT WITH THE RIGHT THING, BUT IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I STILL WANT SHORT HAIR. NOW WHEN I SAY SHORT I ACTUALLY MEAN SHORT. LIKE, BETWEEN MY CHIN AND SHOULDERS. I KNOW RIGHT, IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, BUT I HAVE HAD LONG HAIR ALL OF MY LIFE. ALL OF MY LIFE. LIKE IN 3RD GRADE I CUT IT TO MY SHOULDERS AND HATED IT BECAUSE I HAD WAVY HAIR. I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD.

3. SO I GOT SICK. I KNOW, OMG, WELL IT HAS BEEN ABOUT A YEAR. IT BUILDS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IF YOU GET SICK AND DON'T SUPPRESS IT THEN ENTIRE TIME WITH THOSE NASTY OTC MEDS. IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET SICK AND DON'T WANT TO GET ON ANTIBIOTICS (I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GO INTO WHAT THOSE DO TO YOUR BODY) HERE ARE SOME HITS. IT CAN BE DONE.
SO THIS IS WHAT I DID:

• I GOT ADJUSTED ALMOST EVERY DAY. (THIS BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM).
• I INCREASED MY CALCIUM BY 1000MG. (THIS TRAPS THE BAD GUYS AND FLUSHES THEM OUT OF THE BODY).
• VITAMIN C, OF COURSE.
• ORGANIC YOGURT (VANILLA FLAVOR, GIVES YOUR BODY GOOD GUYS TO FIGHT WHAT YOU ARE FIGHTING) (PLUS IT FEELS GOOD ON A SORE THROAT:)
• FEEDING YOUR BODY GOOD FOODS WHEN YOUR SICK IS IMPORTANT TOO. IT DOESN'T LIKE PIZZA AS IT IS AND WHEN YOU ARE SICK IT DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH IT. (PLUS I DON'T WANT MY BODY TO HEAL WITH PIZZA PARTS, DISQUSTING).
• VICK'S VAPOR RUB AT NIGHT ON YOUR CHEST.

THIS KEPT ME FEELING PRETTY NORMAL, EXCEPT I THOUGHT MY NOSE WAS GOING TO RUN OFF OF MY FACE. AFTER ABOUT 4 DAYS I FELT GOOD AND THEN MY NOSE RUNNING TURNED INTO A NASTY SINUS INFECTION. AND YES YOU CAN GET OVER THAT WITHOUT ANTIBIOTIC. LOTS OF TISSUES AND NASTY GREEN STUFF COMING OUT OF YOUR FACE. (IT WASN'T BAD, JUST ANNOYING). THEN WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING RID OF EVERYTHING IN RECORD TIME ( A WEEK) I GOT AN EAR INFECTION. IT WAS AWESOME. WHO IN THEIR 20's GETS AN EAR INFECTION? SO GUESS WHAT I DID?

• I GOT ADJUSTED AND PUT HEAT ON MY NECK AND EAR.
• THE NEXT MORNING I FORGOT I HAD ONE!!

I WAS NOT THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE GONE IN A DAY BUT IT WAS AWESOME!!!

IT HAS BEEN A WEEK AND A HALF AND I FEEL LIKE I AM FINISHED WITH THIS.

OK THAT IS ENOUGH RANT. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW IT WENT. SOME OF YOU COULD TELL I WAS SICK LAST WEEK. IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS JUST LET ME KNOW.

SO BEFORE YOU RUN TO WALGREENS AND COVER UP WHAT YOUR BODY IS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THINK, HEY, MY BODY CAN DO THIS IF I GIVE IT THE RIGHT TOOLS AND THEN I WILL BE STRONGER AFTERWARDS:)

4. FOR THE LAST TOPIC, I KNOW I AM IN ALL CAPS, BUT IT IS EASIER. (SORRY IF IT HAS ANNOYED ANYONE). ON A DIFFERENT NOTE.

MY SISTER IS MOVING IN WITH US. WE KNEW THIS MIGHT HAPPEN WHEN WE WERE WAITING TO FIND OUT THE FATHER OF HER NEWEST SON, CHASE. PREMATURELY SHE MOVED IN WITH THE GUY WHO IS ENDED UP NOT BEING THE DAD. SADLY, BUT THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO WORK IT OUT. THEY BOTH HAVE A SON OF THE SAME AGE WHO GET ALONG WELL AND THOUGHT THERE WAS A FUTURE TOGETHER. WELL, HE HAS SOME COMMITMENT ISSUES, OR JUST SOME ISSUES, AND THEY ENDED IT THIS WEEKEND. SHE DOESN'T FEEL ANYTHING TOWARDS THE DAD OF CHASE AND SO SHE IS GOING TO MOVE BACK HOME. WE HAVE THE BIGGEST HOUSE AND SO SHE IS GOING TO STAY WITH US FOR A LITTLE WHILE. IT IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR HER, I HOPE. SHE MIGHT GO TO SCHOOL. SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL WHEN SHE WAS IN CAPE, BUT SHE DIDN'T. MAYBE THIS WILL FORCE HER TO DO SOMETHING. EITHER WAY, I JUST WANT HER TO GET BACK ON HER FEET AND BE HAPPY WITH WHO SHE IS AND NOT BE DEPENDENT ON A GUY. SHE HAS HER LITTLE BOYS AND THEY ARE AWESOME. SHE IS A GREAT MOM AND NEED TO LIVE FOR HER. PRAY FOR US AND HOPE EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTH THIS WEEKEND. TALK TO YOU ALL SOON.

Our kid is Amazing :) JK'N

Ok so I could totally be tooting AJ's horn, but I am impressed. He got one of those wooded puzzles for Christmas and to my knowledge he has never played with them before. You know those ones for toddlers with the red knobs on the front. Well, we were playing in the floor with it and I was letting him try to put the shapes where they go. He wasn't getting it well so I was pointing to where they go. No big deal he has never done this before. Well, the next night we were playing with it again and he was matching the animals together and soon he was putting them in right side up. I was amazed. I mean he's not even two, I know right?!! I have no idea what age those are for but it was pretty fun. Anyways I will post soon.

Viewer Discretion Advised.

SO I PROMISED PICTURES AND HERE THEY ARE.


THIS IS A BEFORE AND AFTER. PRETTY DISQUSTING.




WE HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS. WE WERE IN OKLAHOMA FOR A WEEK AND THEN CELEBRATED WITH MY MOM'S SIDE THE WEEKEND AFTER. THIS WAS NICE TO NOT HAVE TO GO CRAZY OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT WAS REAL SPECIAL AND WE ENJOYED OURSELVES.


LITTLE UPDATE ON AJ, HIS HAND IS GREAT. HE IS REALLY STARTING TO TALK. HE KNOWS WHEN TO SAY 'THANK YOU' AND 'PLEASE' IT IS TOTALLY TODDLER TALK BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND HIM. HE UNDERSTANDS HOW TO TAKE PICTURES FINALLY. HE SAYS 'CHEESE' THE ENTIRE TIME AND THEN CLAPS AFTERWARDS. IT IS CUTE. HE IS UNDERSTANDING US AND COMMUNICATING. ACTUALLY LISTENING TO US, SOMETIMES. HE IS GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE TIME OUT CHAIR.


THIS IS A PICURE OF MY NEWEST NEPHEW, CHASE. HE IS ALMOST THREE MONTHS. THIS IS THE OUTFIT WE GAVE HIM FOR CHRISTMAS.



ALL OF THE GIRLS TOGETHER AT MY SISTER'S. SHE HAS LOST ALL OF HER BABY WEIGHT. SHE MAKES ME SICK. I THINK SHE WEIGHTS LESS NOW. WHATEVER:)
THIS LITTLE GUY SINGS AND LIGHTS UP AND AJ WAS HAVING A BALL.

JASON AND I KNOW HOW TO COORPERATE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA SO AJ ISN'T IN THIS ONE.

WE WENT TO A BANQUET HALL FOR NEW YEARS WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS. IT WAS FUN AND I THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT IF WE COULD HAVE:)

Thank you guys for all of the prayers.
We have needed it. AJ's hand is doing great. He had the stitches removed on Monday and it is healing great. I was hoping this experience would keep him from throwing as many fits, but it hasn't. He He He
I didn't plan my time very good for Christmas cards. I have them and I made cookies, but this hand thing has messed up the pictures. I don't think I will get them out till later, if I get them out. Ho Ho Ho
We leave tom. for OK. We are excited. AJ gets better and better in the car so we don't dread it so much. It seems like there is something else, but I can't remember. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas this year. We are really excited to actually have some left over money to buy presents for people. Praise God for not being in school. I have never been the type to just get Christmas presents for people. Usually they know what I am getting them and they are usually practical. I am proud to say I have not asked anyone what they have wanted this year. And it has been so much fun.
Congrats to the Hyser Family on their newest addition, Kaleb. He is so cute.

Happy Holidays,
Jason, Jen, and AJ

So I don't have any pictures, yet, but AJ had a little accident over the weekend. We were eating some fruit out of a can and he started to through a fit:) Well, he gorilla slapped my lap, but the can was in the way. Needless to say he cut his hand. It was bleeding so I took him to the sink. It was a mess. I didn't realize how big of a mess until I took it out of the water and saw what had happened. Well, lets just say he had to get 8, yes that is right, 8 stitches. His hand is little, 8 stitches is a big deal. We had to strap him into this cocoon thing so that the doctor could work on him. It was not fun:( I did not signed up for this. I hope this is the only thing we have to go through with having a courious little BOY. Keep us in your prayers, Please. Talk to you all soon.

Hey All, I know it has been like since May or something but a lot has happened in the Rhodes's life. We have moved two times, I graduated from Chiropractic School, we welcomed a new nephew into the world, and I'm sure there's more. In the mean time we haven't had the Internet and then when we got it our computer blew up! I know right?! Enough excuses. Jason has figured out Logan and is a rock star. AJ has gotten over a black eye very nicely (he got 'helped' off of a bunk bed) and I think he is working on his next molars. I am enjoying work just fine. Family time is my favorite. So about Halloween, we were going to go out trick or treating, AJ was Tigger, and had a dum dum sucker before we left. He loved it to say the least. So when it was gone he was wanting more. Well, I am a little weak and he was being so cute so he got another one. Well, when that one was gone he, of course, wanted another one. He couldn't recover from the fit throwing when he couldn't have a THIRD sucker and had to go to bed. Anyways it was still cute to see him in his costume. I love you all and will talk to you soon.

New Tunnel

AJ and Kaiya Got a new Tunnel from their Mimi. AJ cried and was scared of it at first, but when Kaiya got in it he didn't mind too much. They both really like it now. They giggle and laugh together. It is cute.

We went to the Zoo

My mom, aunt, her girls, my brother, his girlfriend, Landon, baby Ryan, Max, AJ, and I went to the Zoo. It was fun. We saw the Puffins, Penguins, Zebras, Giraffs, and Monkeys. There was more but those were the highlights. Landon thought the monkey house was "stanky" and AJ wanted his second nap, all in all it was a good time. This was AJ's third time going to the zoo, but the first time with me, so it was AJ's first time:) Plus these are the first pictures of proof.

I know that you all think that we have fallen of the face of the earth, but we haven't. I have not been able to post. I apologize. I was just trying to log on, and I've been having troubles. There won't be any pictures today because I don't have any with me (we don't have the Internet at home right now). I'll put some on my jump drive and post them soon.

Update:
The Rhodes family is finally in a house. We are still renting but it is a major improvement. We love having the extra space and a yard. AJ loves the hardwood floors, but his legs don't. He thinks he is the King of the house. He is actually able to roam without getting in as much trouble:) We hosted Easter this year. It was wonderful. There was about 15 people there, and we had a Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. It was nice.

AJ is walking all over the place and is having a great time. He has 8 teeth and we are expecting 2 more soon. AJ has been dealing with a nocturnal (night) cough for a few weeks now and we can't get him over it. We recently took him to the Ped. and he said he has Allergies!! Well, actually it was, "He doesn't have Pneumonia or asthma so I guess it is allergies". We don't know to what yet. We have started giving him some natural supplements and he has been allowing me to adjust him, and finally he is doing much better. I think what happened is that we have had crazy weather and our windows have been open some of the time. I don't know if it is the pollen, but his diet hasn't changed for a while so that's what is getting the blame. He knows some sign language. Kaiya's mom brought over some of them and they have been learning them. He has mastered; Hi, Buy, Eat, All done, Please, blow a kiss ,and I think that is it. It is really neat to be able to communicate with your child this early.

AJ loves to sit in the oven drawer. It is one of his favorite things to do.

This is a one seater. Kaiya wanted to sit with AJ and he let her. They love this piano.

Jason is finished with finals and is getting himself prepared for the next trimester. He is going to have quite the load. He was just elected to Co-President of a Club he is in at School. We are pretty proud of him. This group is called Maximized Living and is about teaching you how to run a large Chiropractic practice (so that you can help as many people as possible) and still have a great Spiritual and Family (and friend) life. All of those things are important to us.

I am finished with finals for good!!!! I will have to take my last boards in the middle of May, but I will never take another Logan test again. It is an awesome feeling. Ask me how good it really feels after boards. So right now we are supposed to be on a break, but in order for me to start with that Doctor in the end of May, I have to have all of my Logan requirements complete. So there is a little pressure to get everything done, but I know I can do it. (I have to:)) So until later when I put up the pictures, See ya.

We have a new Arrival!!

Well, not us but the Johnson's. They were in our old small group. Plus, Jason and I go to school with Josh. Sarah and Josh welcomed baby Andrew on Thursday at 1:40 in the morning (about). He weighed 8 lbs and 6 oz. He is so adorable. The new parents were very proud.

AJ's Spinning

This was just a cute picture of him getting spun in a chair. He was having a good time and you can tell. If you look really close you can see his newest tooth. It is his upper left tooth. It arrived a few days ago, but we knew it was comming 4 weeks before that:)

Wrapping up the first year

AJ is almost 1. I can't believe it. He has gotten so big. He went from 7 to 23 pounds in this year. I hold little babies and it really is hard to think that he was that little at one time. He has 4 teeth and he is the fastest bear crawler we know:)(ok he is the only one we know). He has been a real joy to our lives. He is a gift from God.


Has he gotten cute or what? He has started talking a little bit. He is not a parrot yet; he says things when he wants to. He will call Jason, "DaDa". He says "Hi" on the phone. He says his name all day. He says "Ah Jh" it is funny. Now everyone calls him that instead of AJ. He still only whines "mama" but I know he will say it normal someday (I like it). He doesn't say them very clear, but we know what he is saying.








AJ will walk; eventually

He doesn't really seem like he wants to walk. He is happy getting around by crawling. Although, he loves his walker. He grins the whole time he walks with it. He can walk with us holding one hand and he likes to stand by himself, but no walking. I don't think we are ready for it anyways.



He's up against the wall

We were moving things into the other room and he was in the middle of the mess. Then Jason called me in to see that AJ was standing up against the wall. We thought it was funny looking. He is going to be upright soon. It's going to be a different look.

We wanted to see what his hair would look like mohawked. We haven't done it in a while because his hair had gotten longer. I didn't realize how long it had gotten. It was out of control and he didn't like it either:)


Jason and I

We are doing good. We are back to school and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I start my new job in May, and I am really excited. I have started some training now and I am going to learn a lot. I really like treating patients.

Jason is working and going to school. He is a wonderful husband and father. We are both really enjoying this chapter in our lives, and we need prayer for our future plans:)

Merry Christmas!!
AJ is a Bongo Baby

Oh my, what a Christmas. It was very fun. AJ was a "HAM" He is starting to understand what to do when the camera comes out. Look out. He really enjoyed his first Christmas, and wow his family spoiled him. We started our Holidays at Mimi's house where he got some great toys, one being a Bongo chair. Everything AJ likes becomes a bongo. He bangs and bangs on stuff all day. Now he has a musical note to go with his banging. He plays it very well. He loved getting into the tree. Man, am I glad we didn't put one up this year.


Crackel Barrel:)
Our next stop was with Papa where we ate a very good breakfast at Cracker Barrel. (I don't know why but I always called it Crackal Barrel.) Anyways, he got to visit with the fam. somemore. He enjoyed the rolls. Papa got him some cartoon videos.

Mafia

Jason and I went to a Christmas party with our Bible Study friends. It was a good time. AJ was an angel. He played for a little bit and then went to sleep for a few hours so that mom and dad could hang out with their friends. After a long evening of stuffing our faces, playing Mafia, and exchanging some cool gifts we went home. The Larson's have a beautiful home and were nice enough to host the hang out. Thanks.

Oklahoma
Our final stop was in Oklahoma. We found out that AJ hates his car seat. He isn't used to going on long distant trips. He cried for 5 out of 7 hours on the way down there. If you have heard AJ's cry it isn't that loud but anything for that amount of time would make you go crazy too. But we got there safe and sound. He was a little better comming home.


He had a whole new house to explore. And he had a great time getting into all the new stuff. And not one but two Christmas trees to tear up. He was pretty good about staying out of them.


He liked opening gifts and loved his cousins, Gage, gifts. He got the cutest Elmo that rolls around on the floor laughing. It was cute. AJ loved it. We had a lot of family to visit while we were down there. Some hadn't seen him for over 5 months and some hadn't seen him, ever. He was really good and stayed on his schedual pretty good. We had a nice time.
I started a tradition with Jason on our first Christmas together. He likes Christmas Nutcrackers and so after the first year when his parents gave us tickets to go and see the play I got him one of his own. We have been together 3 years now and this is his latest one. He liked it, but AJ liked it better.

Celebrate

We have a new couple to celebrate. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were married on Dec. 1, 2006. It was a short and sweet service at the Murphy estate. It was performed by a family friend. Sue and Steve Cushing were the whitnesses. Then there was a party (reception) afterwards for friends and family. The rings are beautiful and they look very happy. We are all very happy for the new couple.