New Friend

As some of you know, I have developed a strange, new allergy to pineapple since DJ was born. You might be surprised to know all the foods that include pineapple (barbecue sauce, Sweet and Sour Sauce, even cough drops, etc.) in the ingredients. Food manufactures do not have to list it as an ingredient since an allergy to it is rare. Some of you don't know how severe this allergy has become. Janelle almost was able to collect on my life insurance policy about 3 weeks ago. Janelle accidentally fed me a piece of Teriyaki Chicken (actually, she was thinking 50K upgrade). I left the event at the school (which was put by our friend Adrianna) to get some Benedryll into my system. As I ran up the stairs to our apartment, I started to become short of breath. My throat was starting to close off on me. I took the Benedryll, and then drove back to the school to get Janelle (who at this point was trying to call me, since she was worried about me). I was still having some problems breathing once we got home. I almost called the clinic for help, but decided I would probably be okay if I laid down. About 30 minutes after the initial allergy attack, I started to return to normal.

Well, today I heard that 2 doctors from Nome were in our village today and tomorrow to see patients. I called and was able to get some time to visit with Dr. Brock. After describing above story to him he asked if I would be able to wait a few more minutes while he looked a couple of things up for me. Well after seeing how pineapple juice is frequently used as a "Natural Flavor" he issued me an epi pen. An epi pen will stop the reaction almost immediately if I ever unintentionally get pinapple again, and have a severe reaction. The only draw back is that I will still need a dosage of Benedryl to stop the reaction, and will need to go to an emergency room right away. Getting a shot with the epi pen has the same affect to the body as drinking 30 cups of coffee in one sitting (i.e. getting really, really, really hyper and then crashing for the next two days). So... I guess I'm safer now... but I'm hoping I'll never have to use it.

Jake

Early Morning Post

It seems that I do my best thinking and posting early in the morning. Actually we have been so busy with the district wide inservice it is hard to find time to even think. We had a friend of ours from Shaktoolik stay with us (she is pregnant and sleeping on a classroom floor, just doesn't sound like fun). During the week we hosted a pampered chef party, there was a stamping up party, a body shop party, a baby shower, Janelle had a meeting (yeah random selection), and a concert (Pumuya). So now after going a week without sleeping enough, I caught a cold, so I sneezed myself awake this morning. I woke Daniel up with it, but surprisingly Janelle slept through the whole event. I just got the pot of coffee brewing and as soon as it is ready, I think that I will play a little bit of Wii before it is time to wake up Janelle.

F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G, but Good

Check out the "Our 'New' Home" Post to finally see the pictures of our apartment. I have finally uploaded all of them. Here are some picts of our unfinished Moon Room (named such because it is North-Facing, as opposed to a South-facing Sun room) Obviously still under construction. Will upload more picts as project progresses.





So... right now, Adrianna and I are at the volleyball tourney here in our little village. Jake and Dan stayed at our apartment with DJ to watch the rest of the Indians Baseball game. Dan was practically falling out of the recliner with excitement; he was not leaving for a UNK volleyball HS match. The Indians game is at the bottom of the 9th, and still tied 6 to 6. I have been slow to start my blog because everyone has been asking me to get online and check the score from the bleachers here in the gym. It is impossible to get away from athletic events. I think it is very good that we went to the MARINERS game with Jeff, Teya, and Brennan this summer (where I had a lot of fun)... or I would be resenting sports in general. After all, gross motor skills and I have never gotten along; they've only been a source of humiliation for most of my life. But now that I am confident in my other (non-athletic) abilities, it is not a problem anymore, and I am starting to enjoy sports through Nintendo Wii (thank you Jared, Loretta, Bill, and Grandma Betty)... and even enjoy being subjected to a live game once in a while. I must say, I have been really CRAVING a game of raquetball lately, and have found myself remembering with fondness the time I had to guard Nate Simmons during a BB game. Yeah... that was educational... but it makes me smile.

Well, we finally bought a mirror for our guest bathroom yesterday. And then we hung it. And shortly thereafter, we heard a loud crash.

We bought another mirror today.

Come rain or shine, you will have a mirror to see that face of yours (that we miss so much) when you come to visit us.

One week left in the quarter... then we have our big district conference. The year is going by so quickly. All is well, except for the fact that we are ABSOLUTELY FREEZING in our new place, and we still don't have a great sound barrier between the two levels. We are still thankful to be out of district housing, but without heat in all the rooms, and unfinished rooms, we're losing heat constantly, and DJ has actually been waking up in the middle of the night from being cold. Can't wait to get that problem fixed. It has only become a problem in the last few weeks, as winter is making its approach known.

Here are some picts of our truck. Not the prettiest... but it gets us from A to B so far, and we're really thankful to be out of the wind as the weather gets colder--especially for DJ. We bought it from friends, and got a great deal on it. One more reason to count our blessings.







































Love you all,
Janelle

Cantaloupe-Head

If you haven't already done so, check out the Adrianna and Karis blogs. These women have been shaping our days a lot lately, and helping Unalakleet feel a bit more like home. And Karis has a super-cute pict of DJ wearing a cantaloupe on his head in her most recent post. (Scroll down her Sept 6th post a bit to see it.)

Just so you know... we miss you all! Moms, dads, grandmas, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephew, niece, Sarah & Mons, Jeff & Eileen, Nate & Ann, Walter, Nate & Angie, Jeff & Monica, Aimee... and all the rest of you that we think about and pray for all the time. We love you, and look forward to seeing you again.

Janelle

Can't Sleep

So Janelle has been pestering me since she started the family blog for me to finally post something so here it goes. DJ woke me up at 5:00 am this morning (actually I was already staring at the ceiling). He had a dirty diaper. Changing a dirty diaper at 5:00 am wakes you up the rest of the way. After I changed him he went right back to sleep, unfortunately I couldn't. So I got online and checked the news reports on CNN and Sports Illustrated. The headlines reported that one of my favorite players in NFL has retired. Good Bye Mack you will be missed. Well the coffee is ready and it is time to wake my sleeping wife. I'll try and get back post again later.

Celebrations and First Snow of the Season!!!

Snowflakes falling all over town. No one slipping, sliding, or rushing round on snow machines yet... but Winter is definately reminding Autumn who the boss is in AK. Yeah-hoo! Yee-haw!

We had an awesome, busy weekend. Jake and I have become Pampered Chef Consultants. Let us know if you ever want to host a party while we're visiting! Your kitchen will thank us!!! So we had our first cooking show at our place, and had lots of fun.

And the next day (September 30th... A.K.A. Aunt Lynette's Birthday) we celebrated Jake's birthday with some friends, and we fixed home-made calzones, and I made him some of Aunt Lynette's Carrot Cake! Even though I had to modify the recipe (since Jake is now allergic to pineapple) it was enjoyed by all... not even crumbs left.

Jake had a good birthday on the 1st. We just took it easy and played some Nintendo Wii. I made him spaghetti (one of the only things I actually cook in our house... I pretty much only do baking), and we played with DJ, who was being particularly fun and cuddly, as if he knew it was a special day... but then, he's almost always fun.

I finallly talked to Teya for a bit yesterday. I always love my sister time.

And then I got more "sister" time, when I FINALLY talked to Sarah Janelle Remke!!! And in case you didn't know, she's got the Egyptian Flu, and is due to pop VERY soon!!! Did I mention that I love Sarah, and that I am SO excited?!!!!?!!!

Love you all! Pictures on the way!

Janelle