Jesse's ENJJPT UPT Graduation Day

May 19, 2017

Jesse's ENJJPT UPT Graduation Day

March 31st, Jesse's graduation day, was packed full! ENJJPT had a fun "red carpet" day planned for the families to be able to see what it's like to be a student pilot here: briefings, out to the flight line, simulators, up to the tower, etc. They provided breakfast and lunch too! The family loved getting to see all the jets up close and see what day-to-day work is like for Jesse.

*I was still contracting this morning (great timing, body!) but wanted to at least go to the morning briefing and breakfast, but soon found that I couldn't move/stand/walk without contracting and had to leave early :( Nurse Jill decided I needed to go be monitored at the hospital. So sweet Marissa was so kind and watched Lucy at home while me and mom went to L&D, and the rest of the family kept doing the activities with Jesse the tour guide! :)

Of course, because I was just laying in a bed at the hospital, the contractions calmed down. The doc sent me home and told me to drink lots and lots of water. Turns out because I had been sick the week previous, I have been quite stressed getting ready for family to be there, and was definitely dehydrated. All of which made for the perfect pregnant lady storm -- resulting in the contractions. So, I came home and my mom watched Lucy while I drank lots of water before taking a real long nap. I woke up feeling a little better, but rested the rest of the day to make sure I was ready for graduation. And by the evening, after a bath and more resting and more water, I was like 100 times better! Contractions had stopped and I felt really good. I was OH SO GRATEFUL! Especially that it was just dehydration and baby boy wasn't actually making his appearance at like 23 weeks.*

After the whole base tour, the gang came back to rest up, get some sun, and eat before heading to the hanger to see the F-16! A guy in our ward was able to coordinate it so everyone was able to see it up close and sit in it. Jess loved showing off his future jet to his fam! :)

Finally, it was the actual graduation ceremony time! The ceremony was sweet, simple, and to the point, just what any graduation should be ;) But it was so cool to see get his wings pinned on and officially become a United States Air Force aviator! :) There was a reception after the ceremony with yummy finger foods -- it was fun to relax, eat, and talk with the whole family! Lucy girl was able to stay home with a babysitter, so that was nice to have some free time!

Once everyone made it back home, we hung around just talking, having Jess open some presents, and listening to Mark play guitar.

Words cannot express how proud I am of Jesse. And how grateful I am to our Father in Heaven for everything that has happened in our lives over the last year or so. Jesse worked so hard (and prayed so hard! ;)) and accomplished so many goals. It's so cool to see him be given a F-16 slot and graduate UPT! Way to go Jaybird, we all love you! :)

Well, he's officially UPT complete, onto IFF, then B-course!