THE NEW HAND

Our latest visit to the orthopedic surgeon went as well as can be expected.  We really love our physicians assistant, Melissa.  She has just been so wonderful to Jax.  Jax had numerous options once his temporary cast came off.  After seeing and feeling the pins that were exposed from his hand, Jax opted for the hard cast to cover the pins.  I had to agree.  He could have left them completely exposed or put a removable splint on it, but between all of us, I think we were both pretty freaked out at seeing those darn pins.  The bones are healing remarkably fast and he is doing wonderful!!!  I couldn't be happier with this patient!!!

It was a very painful visit.  His doctor was pretty rough with his fingers but I know he needs to get them moving. His homework assignment, play the XBOX 360 as much as necessary to get the movement back into his fingers.  He was pretty much over the moon excited about that!!!  Justice isn't complaining about that either!!  He has his buddy back so they sit together, for hours, "STUDYING!!!"

THE PRICE OF FOOTBALL (SO FAR $19,281 THIS SEASON)!!!

BROKEN

 

And so the the season ends after Jax played his best PEE WEE game of this season with an interception that he ran in for a touch down, another reception that he ran in for a touchdown, 4 amazing tackles, forced groundings, numerous assists and just amazing play after play after.  With three plays left in the game Jax took on one last tackle and then took cleats to his right hand and ended up with what is referred to as a, "boxer's break" to his 5th metacarpal.  The bone on his hand, just above his pinkie, is supposed to be straight.  Tomorrow we see the orthopedic surgeon to find out if a pin is needed or if the can reset it by just squeezing it back into place.  I have not explained that option to Jax yet.  We are taking it one day at a time right now.

*UPDATE*
After seeing the orthopedic surgeon this morning we made the painful decision that surgery was the best and only option to repair Jax's hand. He is a very tough young man, but the fear gave way to tears after the doctor left room and the unknowns actually frightened him and I enough that the tears started flowing.  I thought for a split second that it might be because he was ending his season.  I was wrong.  He just needs to know all the intricacies of the surgery. That is how he rolls. It is all about the details.  So tomorrow we face a new hurdle...  sports injuries.  The first of many.  With that, I am left to ponder a lot of other things......

Jax takes things very much to heart.  He listens, he watches, he files everything in the back of his mind and remembers everything.  Much to my dismay, he pulls things out of his files, at the most random times and uses them against me to keep me in check as well.  He is the, "old soul," that all his teachers tell me he is and so much older than his years, which scares the hell out of me.  I have watched him closely this season.  It has been a rough one.  Not physically.  Mentally.  Jax does not do well with yelling, or screaming or being talked down to or demeaned.  He is easily reasoned with and when you level the playing field or discuss things rationally, you will move mountains with him.  When you yell at him, he rolls his eyes and you crush his spirit.  I have watched time and time again as play after play has been called at practice and the screaming would begin. One by one you could see sets of shoulders fall forward, heads bow down and my heart would sink.  While I am not a coach of football by any means, I can motivate when it comes to physical activity. Sports are my thing.  Motivation and Inspiration keeps me going day in and day out. I can motivate like it is nobody's business and when I watch adults scream at 11, 12, and 13, year old boys about a game that these boys adore, they live for and will eat, sleep, and dream about if you just say the word, it kills me to see egos take over.  Egos that are taking over in adult coaches that are living out lost high school dreams on the field today.  The "what could have beens" seem to just linger in the words they yell on the field at some of these children.

Jax had to have surgery to repair his broken hand.  He had pins put in to secure the bone back into place.  Thankfully the doctor was able to squeeze his hand and straighten the break without cutting into the hand to pull the bone.  I did not realize how painful the external pins were going to be.  He came out of the anesthesia crying out for Dr. Church, the anesthesiologist, who had promised to do a block in his hand if the pain was too unbearable after the surgery.  The few minutes it took to prep him, put him back under and get his arm numb, felt like years. The doctor actually let Tommy and I stay and watch the procedure.  I wasn't leaving once they had me back in the post op area so I think the doctor wasn't even going to TRY TO ask us to leave.  He was so amazing.  I have never felt more helpless in my life and would have done anything in the world to take that pain away from him.  I finally understand how MY OWN parents felt so many years ago with me.

I am so thankful for my father in law who came to spend the day with Binky and Justice while we were with Jax.  For my dear friend Sally who brought tea to the hospital and only spent 30 seconds with us before they took us back to recovery, but that 30 seconds meant the world TO ME!!!  For Shanen, who made Jax his absolute favorite cookies, even when you were leaving on vacation the next day.  And for everyone who has sent message after message after message to my little boy who, while big in maturity and size, was and is very scared and is still, MY little boy!!!!!

If it is one thing that I have learned this season, when adults that are in such a huge leadership role, such as a Coaching position that elicits respect with children who idolize these coaches, there needs to be mutual respect.  There needs to be mutual love of the game and concern that goes well beyond that of just a coaches title.  These coaches need to know how much these kids want to learn from them.  How much they hang on their every word.  How much they become part of these kids' families and our families, and how they can make or break our children with just a few words!

I know that Jax will recover totally from his injuries this season.  I know that his bones will be stronger and his grip will come back.  There is a slim possibility that he could play one of the final games of the season this year.  We won't push it.  We for sure don't want him to re-injure himself.  We will leave that up to him, when the time comes. 

For now, we start working on the mental motivation that has been missing this season.  And with that, we can prepare for a Titan Spring season!!!!!

PINK GLOVES and a Golden Trophy

Adrenaline was running high all week in our house.  Practices were a little more amped, it was a little harder to concentrate on homework, even I had to rethink my daily things that really needed to get done...outside of taking care of my "other 25 boys."  The last six months of Jax's work had come down to his final game of the season....  The AZYSFO State Championship game between the Titans and the Vikings.

During Wednesday's practice, Jax ripped his beloved pink gloves.  The gloves that we had bought for the month of October.  The gloves that had brought him touchdown after touchdown and win after win.   The gloves that everytime a player made fun of him for wearing, he flattened them, sacked them, tackled them, or just flat out, took them out.  He made the last minute decision to switch to one black and white and one pink.  Whatever works.

During Friday nights practice, one of the Dad's and I met with Steve Breaston, #15, of the AZ Cardinals.  He graciously handed over 53 tickets to Sunday's game against the Rams along with hats, food and drink vouchers and parking passes.  Just to do a good deed for the boys. The story of how it all came about is way to long to even go into, but I can only hope that anyone reading about Jax today, decides TO PAY IT FORWARD too.  I quickly calculated that he donated over $700.00 worth of goodies to our TITANS family and man do we feel loved!!

ONTO THE BIG GAME.......

With all that adrenaline flowing, eye black smeared, signs waving, freshly patched knees, coolers filled, hearts racing, and 21 TITANS anxiously waiting to hear their names called out before the whilstles blew, I said one quick prayer to keep these boys healthy and unhurt during this final game of their JPW season. 

Our first half did not go very well.  We scored only one touchdown but had over 75 yards in penalties for false starts, off sides and tackling in the back field.  Our little guys were anxious and making a lot of mistakes.  Thankfully our defense was holding strong, as always, and the Vikings were not able to score. At halftime I could see how upset Jax was.  He was beyond angry and could barely contain tears of frustration.  The only words that came out of his mouth were, "I WANT MY PINK GLOVE MOM!"  After a coaches talk and some quick oranges our boys came back with a new outlook on the game.

The third quarter brought on a few penalties at the start but the Vikings finally stopped covering the BIG BOY and on came his first touchdown, pushing the score up to 12-0.  Jax was excited and finally found his groove again.  He had been making all his tackles and hitting everyone but had way too many kids covering him to risk a pass his way.  Later in the night Jax told me that he finally looked at David, our quarterback, and told him, "I can't drop the ball (shaking his hands that were now wearing both pink gloves   .......throw to me." David agreed..... and the Titans came alive again.

A few plays later Jax scored his second touchdown of the game. This boy was psyched beyond belief.  he was all over the field, making tackles right and left and made a huge fumble recovery to allow for the final touchdown of the game.  The game came to an end with the TITANS victorious with a score of 26-6.  I couldn't wait to pass out their golden CHAMPION medals.  I took a chance buying them in advance but knew these boys were that good that they would win.

It wasn't until each boy had their medals and I went to put Jax's around his neck that I realized that he had HUGE tears of joy streaming down his face.  That was when I lost it.  I had been completely emotional all week about this game but really tried hard to keep it in check.  He was so happy and I was so proud.  A few of the other moms kind of made fun of me about me crying, others started getting tears in their eyes when they saw mine...either way.... I didn't care...... my kid scored two touchdowns and played his heart out for this team and I was simply PROUD beyond words!

You earned the right to be called a CHAMPION Jax.  You earned that Huge golden trophy for your Coach and your played your heart out with those pink gloves....even with all those boys that had the nerve to make fun of you for wearing them.  You had the last laugh though didn't you?  I will miss your team as you move up to a new level next season.  It will be bigger and stronger boys and you will have to train to meet the demands of that team.  I know you can do it.  You have proven yourself this season.  You proved you are capable of being a top athlete, an honors student and wonderful son.  Not that any of those were ever in question!!!!  Keep up the great work.......Just make sure you take a shower!!!!!!

Dear Jax,

Everyday I hear I have yet to blog again, it has been so many days since I have blogged or, Mom, why haven't you blogged?  Well, kiddo, here it is. Just for you.

As you read this, I hope you keep in mind, that it is not just for you.  It is about our entire family.  Your season is coming to an amazing end this Saturday.  No matter what the outcome, you have come a long way in 6 months.  You trained hard, you learned from amazing men, you listened, you worked as a team, you worked on your own, you gained knowledge and muscle mass and size...Lord did you gain size.... and you matured.  We are very proud of you.  No matter how your game ends, know that you have won.  You learned what it felt like to lose a game that was lost on uncertain terms and you learned what victory felt like.

I hope that you realize that it has been a long 6 months for your entire family.  Every person has given up time, energy, and other things to always be there to support you and your love of football.  From the 4 days a week practices to 4 days a week with practices and games, it has never been easy to get everything in and make it seem simple, but everyone has given it their best for you so that you could be successful on that field every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and on game day Saturday.  Please don't ever forget that Jax.  It has been so much more a part of your success than just your practices, than you will ever realize.  No matter what your little sister or brother may say or do, they look up to you and respect the young man you are becoming and the athlete that you are.  Don't ever tarnish that image Jax.  It is an honor to hold such a place in a family.

I hope you know how proud I am of you.  I listen to parents talk about you and how many of them are shocked that this is your first fall season. You are still my little boy even if you stand nose to nose with me.  I want you to do your best on Saturday and when that last second ticks away, hold your head high, because no matter what, your family will be there with you, proud as ever for the season you have had and the player you have become.

I Love You!
Mom

DECEMBER 4TH

I THINK SOMEONE IS A LITTLE HAPPY..... CAN YOU GUESS WHO IS GOING TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON DECEMBER 4TH?

WAY TO OWN IT TODAY TITANS!!   27-0... I THINK YOU PROVED YOUR POINT!!!!  BRING ON THE VIKINGS AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!!!!

SOARIN'

THEY ARE COMING TOGETHER AS A TEAM!!!  AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF HOW FAR HE HAS COME THIS SEASON!!!   STILL UNDEFEATED AND THE TEAM TO BEAT!!!! 

GO TITANS!

THE FINAL SCORE AGAINST CASA GRANDE....28-0!!!

TITANS TEAM

2010 Fall JPW Titans!

(Thankfully this is not their actual team photo!!!!)