A day at the office!

My wife is away with the Woman's Fellowship, so Jeremy got to come to
the office with daddy. It started off great, but escalated. He woke up
too early because he was poopy, so he started off tired. I also had to
print a thousand pages for my wife. Jeremy took that time to explore
every cabinet and shelf. He played with everything that weighs less
than 17 lbs. (He only weighs 24 lbs). Then we went to my office
upstairs where he took everything off every shelf - I am excited that
he wants to read my Grasping God's Word book... I think that kids,
especially mine - get bored too easy. Of course, most adults that I
know don't get bored quick enough. Anyway the picture is of Jeremy
trying to escape his time out chair. He got his head stuck. He tried
backwards, forwards, sideways, and any other combination to slither
that wire frame out of that high chair. Good thing his big head kept
him honest.

Learning yardwork

It is interesting that Jeremy's first real yard work experience was
not with his daddy who used to work in lawn maintenance, but rather
was with his mommy who doesn't sweat-she glistens?... Is there a rule
that says who has to teach what to children? Will my child be less
prepared for the future if mommy teaches him to garden or if daddy
teaches him to clean or cook? Will this affect him the same way not
having triangle crayons will? Why are we afraid that the tried and
true methods of history will suddenly not work with OUR kids? I am all
about the advancement of science and education, but are we advancing
or keeping up with the Jones'?

Who are the Jones', and why do they have so much stuff?

The New Normal

I am typically viewed as one who is open to change. I do enjoy
necessary change... Progress may be a better word here. Now as the
father of two children, I am undergoing a drastic amount change that
at the least is tiresome. Although I give great value to a good nights
sleep, I understand that sleepless nights are necessary or
progressive. Change is hard work, but if you can understand the end
goal the change is not only easier, it becomes essential to all
involved.

A very Dark Knight

I am at the theater waiting for The Dark Knight to start. I am beginning to realize that while I am not old... I am certainly not as thrilled about midnight movies like I used to be. I just feel odd being surrounded by people wearing batman t-shirts... I am now a very proud husband and father to two wonderful boys and am sitting in a theater with a bunch of people who have nothing better to do than be the first to see batman. Remember when that would have made you a nerd? Is it really becoming cool to publicly love comic book characters? I am sure that it will be a great movie, but I am wondering if it will be worth the loss of sleep, an I will only be able to tell tomorrow morning. Final thought: how "costly" is a movie that makes you too tired to be an effective and patient father, and why do I always 'feel' a spiritual drain when I stay up late? Hmmm, early in the morning I will rise to praise you... maybe not early tomorrow..

Sorry, new last post

Jedidiah William Jett - 7 lbs 4.8 ozs; 19" long

The Final Post of the Day

I apologize for not keeping up the blog. Everything just kinda got crazy for a while... Jedidiah was in the NICU, Bethany was getting ready to move to her recovery room, and Bethany's father had to leave to go back to Orlando, and we were all tired and hungry. Now for new news... Bethany has been moved to her own private room, Jedidiah is doing fine and is with mom in the room, Bethany's mom (Johnnie) is staying with her. Bethany is scheduled to come home Friday morning. I am at home with Jeremy. They got along great, Jeremy kept kissing and touching Jedidiah - his baby brother. There is an online photo gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/TheJett/Jedidiah  

We appreciate the thoughts and prayers throughout the day. Thank you. If you have any questions or concerns, please text Justin (813-476-1398) or email him at thejett@gmail.com

Here is his mug

He is okay, but he swallowed a lot of fluid and they are trying to get it all out. They have taken him to NICU to keep attention to him and try to get all the fluid out. They say that this is is fairly common, so let's keep praying.

Jedidiah William Jett

More to follow

Going in..

We are under the knife! So pics will be coming soon!

Stormy Day

2 Samuel 12:24-25 No, he isn't here yet. I am still waiting for the spinal to kick on and for them to come and get me. I just enjoy trying to understand why Solomon wasn't named Jedidiah... Today we are going to read from the book of Song of Jedidiah or Song of Songs. Anyway, in case you are holding your breathe... you can relax for a little bit longer.

The Buck stops here!

Bethany is headed to get her spinal, and I am having to wait here. For those of you who are watching the clock... it will be very soon. Keep praying.

A WELL OILED MACHINE

This morning has been quite chaotic. I suppose that is normal, having a baby and all. What I noticed at TGH, as the shift was starting, is that everyone knew where to be, when to be there, and how to be there. Meaning that people flowed through busy hallway intersections like water. Even the lady at Starbucks knew what over half of the customers wanted before they even got close to the counter. I actually had to stop and let the traffic settle before I felt adequate to join the aquatic hallway journey. I just learned to stay close to the wall as a slow car on the interstate. It does make you think about "vain repitition". Have I become so fluid and possibly mindless anywhere in life? Do people feel like they need to move over because they are not fluid enough to keep up? Why do I think that it is their fault, instead of mine for not slowing down just a little... even now as I type this on my iPhone waiting for USF to fix things...

T-Minus 10 minutes

We were just told that we are about 10minutes away from surgery... not like 10minutes driving distance, but like we are still waiting for the surgery(delivery) room to be prepped. There has already been like 4 others babies delivered this morning. The excitement continues to build...!

Ready to go!

I am glad that I have this hair net to keep my hair out of the way during surgery... I don't have any hair! In fact I shaved my head last night, but you never know when a .003 mm hair will fall out and magically float into the surgery side and cause all sorts of problems! Anyways, we are going in in about 45 minutes! Please pray for Bethany and Jedidiah. Thank you.

Aunt Judy (honorable mention)

Last night we tried to watch The Lord of Rings and they showed the Hobbits' houses and how they were dug into little hills. Johnnie mentioned that she would like to live in a hill house. I mentioned that my Aunt Judy lives in a house in the side of a hill... No big news until our nurse this morning is named Judy... coincidence? So I mentioned that my Aunt is named Judy, and Bethany mentioned that she lives in a house dug into a hill. Our nurse is now elated, and when we mention that we are going to visit in several weeks Nurse Judy from Tampa mentions that my Aunt Judy sounds very cool and that she would like to visit her also. So Aunt Judy, here is to you being cool and the topic of conversation for about 30 minutes... we salute you!

Still preppin'

This is Bethany on her way to surgery... not really, but good pic of her on her hospital bed.

Surgery Prep

We are now beginning to prep for surgery! YEAH. Apparently TGH scheduled Bethany for delivery on August 15... could you imagine? Bethany says, " FINALLY!"

A WELL OILED MACHINE

This morning has been quite chaotic. I suppose that is normal, having a baby and all. What I noticed at TGH, as the shift was starting, is that everyone knew where to be, when to be there, and how to be there. Meaning that people flowed through busy hallway intersections like water. Event the lady at Starbucks knew what over half of the customers wanted before they even got close to the counter. I actually had to stop and let the traffic settle before I felt adequate to join the aquatic hallway journey. I just learned to stay close to the wall as a slow car on the interstate. It does make you think about "vain repitition". Have I become so fluid and possibly mindless anywhere in life? Do people feel like they need to move over because they are not fluid enough to keep up? Why do I think that it is there fault, instead of mine for not slowing down just a little... even now as I type this on my iPhone waiting for USF to fix things...

NEWS

No news is not always good news. I am still trying to get proof of our appointment for this morning. USF Health is working diligently to prove their absence of fault. Will update soon

Jedidiah

6:13 am - in the prep room. They don't have us on the schedule... soooo they are gonna try to FIT us in... Long day ahead!

Un-understanding:

As I am watching The Devil Wears Prada, I am fascinated by the way Andrea's (Anne Hatheway's) friends become so unfriendly when her life starts to get ahead. People spend lots of time teaching young people that they need to choose their friends very carefully. Then this movie goes and shows friends pulling someone back and down. She (Andrea) gets a great job, often quoted as the job that a "million girls would die for." When work requires extra, her friends think she has sold out and become un-friendly. Why do people sell their lives short for friends, shouldn't friends challenge us to achieve and attain? In the end, her "devil" boss gives her a recommendation that gets her a great job as a journalist (her dream job). Sometimes in life, it is the people that we call "friend" that can hold us back. I know several girls who have fathers who are just non-existent. Dead-beat at best. Sometimes, we are held back by the people that should be pushing us forward.

Do you have people in your life, that should be pushing your forward and lifting you up, but are actually pushing you down; maybe even holding you under water? Sometimes I really understand why God flooded the whole place...

Mother Nature (of People)?!?

What a great day! We went to a doctor's appointment today and ended up having extra tests done, so we left a little later than planned. I am so impressed with my family and our synchro-nicity (I know its not a word). We were able to leave the hospital, stop by work, get check, get corporate credit card, leave work, arrive at home, change clothes, go to grocery store, get drinks & snacks, go to bank, deposit check, go to Taco Bell, go back to church, fill coolers with ice and drinks... all in an hour!

We took the students to the beach today, even though it was raining over the beach - and we knew it before we left. We arrived at the beach and it was raining, raining hard. So we ran and hid under the pavilion like cockroaches when the lights get turned on (at least thats the way they show them on the commercials). It stopped raining and we ended up having a great day.

Sometimes in life we need to head into the storms in order to claim a life that is worth living...

A Poopie Experience

My wife has been telling me how I have been in a much better mood since I have been running/swimming/biking more. I understand this, because science has shown exercise to release endorphins (happy feelings) into the brain. Well, I have been somewhat cranky - so my wife NEEDS me to run. I went for a run this morning with my father's day gift (Nike + iPod Nano). I selected to run 5K (3.1 miles). Well, apparently I selected a 3K because I was finished in like 18 minutes and that would be a new record for me, and trust me I am NO speed demon. So I continued to run 'til the display on the iPod said that I had completed 2.5k, then I knew it was time to turn around. I did, and pushed hard to get back to the starting point. I finished my run and was feeling great. I hopped in the car, ready to head to work and get my regular day started. Until I realized that I had brown excrement on the bottom of my shoe (good thing I am not trying to sell my car to a guy today at 11:30am. I jumped out of the car and began to stomp my foot and then scrapped any leftovers off with sticks and pine bark. All that said, the day has been off to a great start.

The question, "Why is it when we are trying to get positive things going in life, do we always seem to step in poo?" "Am I the only one who feels this way?" Every time I begin to do something worthwhile or beneficial, there is always poo on the bottom of my shoe (metaphorically, of course)." "Anyways, let's scrape it off and get back to great things!"

Bankin' on love

I love my wife, and I secretly enjoy running errands for her (sometimes). She asked me to make a deposit for her at her bank (a separate account for her business). I parked, walked in with a friend and was greeted promptly (without a smile). I gave the lady my wife's envelope and said, "I am here to make a deposit for my wife." She smugly asked if I had a deposit ticket, implying that I didn't have one. I told her that I did and went to her counter and handed her the completely organized envelope WITH a deposit ticket completely filled out. She opened the envelope and took out the cash, the check, and the few loose coins (about $1.50's worth). She grew a frustrated face through her annoyed face, and told me "we don't take coins unless they are rolled." I asked what I am supposed to do if I don't have enough to make a roll, but rather only have... say $1.50 or so. She shrugged and tilted her head as to say, "I don't care, just don't bring 'em here." What really compounded the issue was that this same lady told me several weeks before, that I was told that I could NOT put money in my wife's account. Really?!?!?

So if there are any readers out there;

If a bank cannot handle $1.54 in change, how are they supposed to handle larger amounts. This was a serious question posed my someone I know regarding a semi-recent $10,000 deposit.

Again, why do I attract all the weirdos...?

The Credit Union

So in the process of trying to sell my car, I have come to realize that I do not have the title to my car. Not that I don't own the car, but that I don't have a copy of the title. A friend and I drove to the Tax Collector's office this morning to get a new copy of the title, this should be no problem since I paid the car off 4 years ago (there shouldn't be a lein on the car). Well, I was told that there was a lein on my car and therefore could not get the title until I had a "lein satisfaction notice". Fine, except for the gentleman who was interested in buying my car!

I got the paperwork and called the credit union that had the lein. They did not have any record of my account or my purchase. "This is good" I thought, "that means I don't owe them any money." 

I spent several hours on the phone with the credit union and got nowhere. Everyone that had answers or could help was either not there, or was busy. I finally got to talk to a lady who worked in the lein records office and was treated very rudely. I asked if I could have the "lein satisfaction notice" overnighted to my office. She said "no", but patronizingly told me that she would mail it regular mail. I would not have been so annoyed had they not ever mailed me the title to MY car in the first place (for the previous 4 years). I demanded to speak to her manager, and the manager was as rude, but agreed to overnight me the "lein satisfaction notice".

We will just see how everything goes...

How to sell a car...

Contrary to the title, I do not know any secrets to selling a car. I have waited 'til 3 weeks before my son is born to get serious about getting a different car. That is not really a problem, but I don't have any money to put towards the purchase of a different car, so I have to sell our car and then turn (rapidly) and find a reliable and also larger car. 

So I listed our car on Craigslist (which has not been letting me post pictures). I received several e-mails and phone calls. I met with the first gentleman who did not realize that "manual" meant "stick-shift". The second guy I talked to laughed when I told him about the first mix-up. When I sent him pictures of the car, he apologized that he did not realize that 4dr meant 4 doors, not 2.

What is it that makes me attract crazy people???

Read my next blog to hear more...

Blogging for Beginners

I have been thinking about blogging as a way to vent out my frustrations in life. I have not been blogging because by the time I get back to a computer, I have either forgotten my frustrations or they just seem so petty and not worth starting a blog over. All of that being said, when the iPhone 3G becomes available, I will be able to edit, post blogs right when they happen. So I don't have to wait. That is the only reason I am dropping $300 is so that I can blog rapidly. Not really, but who is reading this anyway?