Jack Daniel's Distillery (10/23/08)

While my Mom and Step dad were visiting we visited a couple places in Tennessee. We started out in Lynchburg where the Distillery is located and went on to Memphis to see Graceland and The Peabody Hotel. While at the Distillery we ate at Miss Mary BOBO's. I will do another blog for that!

The day started out pretty good, but as we went on the tour Jackson didn't want to cooperate, so my information on the Distillery isn't that great. However, I did manage to do some research on the pictures I added to the blog.

The Distillery was Licensed in 1866, making it the oldest registered distillery in the United States and a National Historic Site.

Mellowing

Entering to Bottling Factory

Mixing tank (Empty)

Mixing Tank Room

Entering The Tour where the Mixing Tanks are.

Like I said, I really didn't get to follow the tour very much. I was so busy running Jackson's tour that I missed a lot of information. I am including the link in my blog, feel free to look up some of the stuff I may have forgotten. But, I do have few more pictures I am going to add!

http://www.jackdaniels.com/thedistillery/Default.aspx

Waverley Plantation Mansion 1852

Waverley Plantation Mansion was built in 1852 by Colonel George Hampton Young. The 8,000-square-foot plantation was a self-sustaining community complete with gardens, livestock,a brick kiln, a cotton gin, an ice house, marble-lined swimming pool, and bath houses. The mansion was also known for it's lumber mill, a leather tannery, and a hat manufacturing operations.
It is also believed that the first saddle blankets were produced at the Waverley, and the National Fox Hunters association was organized in the mansion's library in 1893. Total of 50,000 acres.
(Couldn't takes pictures of the inside)
One more thing I forgot to add was the house is 65 feet from floor to the center of the dome.

Looking down from the top balcony into the garden.

Grandpa and Jackson going for a walk.

Jackson taking a break on the steps leading to the kitchen.

Jackson and I at the front gates leading to the mansion.

This house was amazing and beautiful. Something you see and always wonder what it could possibly look like inside and the history behind it.

Jackson's Recovery

Saturday: Jackson woke up a little stiff, but was ready to walk. He seemed to know what his body was going to let him do and what it wasn't going to let him do. He pretty much laid around with Jeff and the snuggled most of the day. Sunday was a different story! He seemed to be coming back to reality every minute of the day.

Monday: Back to his normal self. Climbing in to the sink to get Grandma and Grandpa's tooth brushes. This kid would climb a building if we let him.
So needless to say we are doing good and pretty much back to normal!

Jackson's Surgery

October 17th is turning out to be either a good thing or a bad thing. The good of it is it seems that it makes the people I love better and the bad thing about it is it's on my Birthday. 4 years ago to date my Dad had his prostate removed. This birthday Jackson has a Hernia repaired. Something has got to give! LOL Next year's birthday will be a happy one!
Here is Jackson and Jeff after we checked in and got settled in his room. I have never seen a hospital gown so small before. It had the whole in the back like the big ones. I wanted to take Jackson's diaper off and get a butt shot, but I controlled myself! LOL As you can see he wasn't very happy. The last meal he had was at 6 the night before and just some milk to tide him over. Yes, we cheated! They said no food or drinks after midnight, but he is still a baby.

They had lots of toys throughout the hallways. He found this car and a Thomas the train toy! He was pretty content for awhile.

The only smile I got that morning. Two pees in a pod! I love these two more then words could ever explain.

After his surgery. We just snuggled at the hospital and the whole night at home.

It's painful to see your child so helpless. He couldn't walk and he just wanted to be held.
The Doctor said he only had the one hernia. They went in through the belly with a scope and checked both sides, but just saw the one. The left side was large as they all suspected.
Today he is up and walking, just calmer then the normal Jackson.
He is doing fine and thanks for the support.
Thank you to A&E for the Truck! Jackson held it all night.

Jackson, MS State Fair

"Jackson & I riding on the Carousel." This was his first ride at any attraction, really his first ride ever. At first I thought he was starting to cry, but when I looked down at his face he was laughing and seemed to think it was pretty fun. I on the other hand didn't really like the spinning effect, but I soon found my feet.



What it would be like to be a child again!


As we walked around the fair grounds we came across this guys holding a baby alligator. I stopped first and wanted to take a closer look. Jackson then saw what I was looking at and followed with curiosity! When the guy came to Jackson's level, he wasn't sure what to do. I touched first and then Jackson, I had to help of course!


He is so funny! He wasn't interested in touching as much as looking it in the face. When we were done, he just stood there while everyone else held it and took pictures. He was very observant!

I always wonder what he is thinking!

Well, were pretty disappointed with the State Fair. We went on the last day which was probably our fault, but lucky enough that there wasn't a lot of people. That made it more enjoyable for Jackson to cruise at his own pace. We were looking forward to the farm animals, but they were already on their way home. There were lots of goats, but Jackson wasn't impressed. There was a small petting zoo area, all of which were Pygmy goats! Wow!

We had a good family day that ended with lunch and some shopping, but the best part was there was a Target! Jeff and I laughed at how excited we were to be going to Target. They don't have one here in Columbus and the nearest is an hour away.

We got another car seat for Jackson that converts to a booster seat and a couple hot wheels. He loves hot wheels!

It was a good Sunday!

Not sure what to say about this!

Today Jeff and I were in town and we came across this:

Jeff was amazed that they even made rims that size and let alone were able to put them on this Monte Carlo. This is something you never see in California, you would only see something like this in the rap videos. I'm not kidding when I say things are different here. People do their hair different and the last thing I thought I would never see is a car full of people and kids sitting on their laps. Even the front passenger had a child sitting on their lap. It's the same law as California, they just let it slide here. Sometimes I wonder if we are even on planet earth!

Jackson's Surgery

Jackson is now having surgery on October 17th. He has a cold and they aren't sure about the pox. They want to give him some time to get better. So, now we are going to go back to the Doctor for a check up for his Hernias and the cold issue. I asked Jackson this morning if there was anything else inside his little body that needed to come out and he simply replied "No."
I will keep you all updated on his schedule of events and his Doctor visit.

Memphis, TN

This is the National Civil Rights Museum where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

Saturday's Fire Parade

Grandma and Jackson at the end of our block waving at Sparky on the Fire Truck.
It's Fire Prevention month!

They threw candy and fire hats at the kids and went all around the neighborhood.

Jackson walking back for more. They went by our block twice.

He got a sucker and wore his hat around most of the day. Well, that was until he stepped on it.

Finger painting gone bad!

Ok, this is my fault! Jackson started out with his shirt on, but he really didn't seem that interested. So, I took his shirt off and painted his belly. This is when he started to have more fun! I think I had more fun then he did, but I could be starting bad habits! Oh well!

He did some of the face painting himself!

Just starting to get the hang of getting really dirty!

First Solo on Tuesday 9-30-08

Putting on my G-suit for my first solo flight.

Doing a walk around.

Getting ready for engine start.

Taxiing for take off.

Dunk Tank

After your first solo you get dunked in the solo tank

The water was full of dead bugs and tasted like crap!

Jackaroo thought it was cool. (Good job Daddy!)

This Weeks Events

Monday:
Looked at a new car, ran errands with Rebecca & made Pie!
Tuesday:
Bought new car, art class with Rebecca, watch Jeff Solo and get dunked in the tank, made Rebecca a birthday cake, had dinner with Rebecca and had a beer! (Jeff will post on Saturday and tell you all about his Solo)
Wednesday:
Saw Flight Doc, Imaging Center for ultrasounds, drove to Birmingham, AL for another Doc visit
Thursday:
Our 4 year Anniversary, relax & catch up! (Kathy cooked me dinner and bought a bottle of champagne!)
Friday:
Take my car in and possibly drive to Tupelo to view Elvis's Home.

Our New Car

2009 Honda Pilot

A lot bigger then the Element! Seats 8, leather,
sun roof and yeah I have seat warmers again!
My Element was a down grade from all of my other
cars. I am finally moving back up and going BIG!

The only thing we didn't get was the navigation.
We have a TomTom and we didn't get the DVD player.
We just bought a portable DVD before we moved.
Plus it was $5000.00 more.

I love my new car! Happy Anniversary & Happy
Birthday to me!!!!!

Jackson's Hernia

Children's Hospital in Birmingham, AL

Jackson riding the cow before we headed home

10/01/08: Jackson needed to be seen by the doctor again for some swollen testicles. They looked bruised, but didn't know what this all meant. Needless to say that it was more of an emergency and we ended up seeing a flight doctor on base, he then referred us out to the Imaging Center and then they sent us to Birmingham to see a specialist at the Children's Hospital, all in one day. It ended up being 2 Hernias and they are going to do surgery on Tuesday the 7Th. I will keep everyone updated through this process. Just keep Jackson in your thoughts! I am scared for him to go under. He is so small and you never know.

I am thankful Kathy has been here with us and she is going to stay until next Thursday to be with us and Jackson.

It is going to be an in and out procedure. They consider this to be some what of an emergency due to the pressure on his testicle and circulation of things in that area.

My First Strawberry Pie!

This is my very first pie I have ever made! It's from my Cooking Light Cook Book and boy is it good!

Chicken Pox

That is what I said! Jackson was officially diagnosed with the Pox. We have been going back and forth for a month now and questioning if they were bug bites or the pox. If they were bug bites then we would all have them. Jeff and I have both had the pox, so that would probably explain why we don't have any red bumps on our bodies.

The first time I took Jackson to the doctor, I was told that they were just bites. Well, he continued to get more but just a couple at a time and mostly around the leg area. On Sunday a week from last Jackson woke up with these suppose bites all over his body. (My first thought when all this started was Chicken Pox, but you usually trust your doctor.) I wasn't quite sure what to think other then this isn't normal and Jackson and I have been sleeping in the same bed and I don't have them. Well, I called the doctor, again! I pretty much told them the story of our first visit and explained that I wanted to be referred out to a specialist. They told me that I needed to see a doctor and they would determine weather I need to be referred out. I told them I didn't want to see the last doctor we saw cause he didn't know what he was talking about! He even told me he didn't know very much about children. That says a lot.

Off we go to the doctor with Kathy, my mother n law. We see a different doctor and the first thing that comes out of his mouth is Chicken Pox. Yeah! We are finally going some where with this. He couldn't explain why it's gone on for so long, but he was sure it was Chicken pox. He wrote a prescription and told us if Jackson gets a fever to call right away.

Well, Jackson never got a fever this last weekend, but he sure hasn't been himself. It is all making sense now. Needless to say more of the bumps are scabbing over, but he is still getting new ones. Definitely not as bad as last weekend. (Note to self: always go with your first intuition.)

Sorry for the bad picture. I took this with my cell phone and Jackson wouldn't sit still.

Finally started flying!

First day on the flight line. This is our initial beer
offering to the instructors. It is sort of a right of
passage, we spent a $1000 on beer and put it
around the simulated pattern that we fly around the airfield.

Getting strapped in for my first flight.