Mothers Day - A note from the fam

The woman in this picture is my babies momma. You all know her as Diana. She is also the woman who agreed to marry me. She is incredible. Below you will find notes to her from each of our family members in honor of her on this Mother's Day.



Diana, I love you. You're my everything. When you said you would marry me my whole life changed. You are a picture of grace in my life that I get to see everyday. You are smart, funny, forgiving, loving, hardworking, strong, and you bring a stability to our family that I have never known. Really, there aren't enough words.









Mommy, the doctors said without you being on bed rest for 10 days before I was born I might not even be alive. That is hard for me to believe because I always feel so alive when I am near you. You take such good care of me. You feed me, give me hugs and kisses, take me a walks, and even snuggle me when I am sad. Dad says you're the best mom in the world and I believe him!










Hi Mommy!!! I am your little boy. I love it when we play!!! We have a had long journey since we first met and I am so thankful for how much you have taken care of me. I couldn't imagine being a happier little boy and I think it's because you love me sooo much. I get the feeling we are gonna have soooo much fun together.



Hi mom. I know sometimes I am a lot to handle but you seem to love me anyways. I love to play with you, protect you, and love, love, love it when you let me sleep in the bed. I also love it when you let me play with the little babies. We have such a great family and we all know it's because of you. Do you want to play?!?!?!?!



We love you babe! Thanks for taking such good care of us and loving us so hard. We have such a wonderful family and are so blessed. I (we) couldn't imagine life without you. Happy Mother's Day!

Love,

Jason, Addison, Aidan, and Tanner

ps - props to Rebecca for taking most of these photos. You can track here down here. She is available for all of your memory capturing moments ;)

Daddy Daycare on Mondays!!!

Man,

Mondays are hard work ;)




I think it's supposed to be naptime... maybe we can stay up a little longer...

Benefit Show Tomorrow Night

A lot of you know I went to Kenya in August of 2007. We went there to begin what we hoped would be a long-term partnership with my friend Joseph Wamutitu and his work all over Africa (namely Kenya) and most specifically The Africa Hope Center. The Africa Hope Center is a childrens home just outside of Kenya for children who have lost both of their parents due to HIV/AIDS.

Since going over for the first time we have worked to raise money and awareness for what's going on, sent folks over to aide in leadership development, sponsored children, helped them with their building, and we are about to send some friends (Kyle and Anna) over for 1 month to hang out with the children at the Africa Hope Center. (on a side note Kyle and Anna just got married a month ago and they are spending their next month in Africa - HAH - awesome.)

That leads me to whats going on now (better said - Thursday night.) We are hosting a benefit show at our church building to raise the rest of the money for their trip. Here are the details.

What: Benefit Show for Africa Hope Center - http://www.africahopecenter.org/
When: Thursday April 9th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Visio Dei Building - 524 E. Whitaker Mill Rd. Raleigh NC - www.visiodei.org
Why: Good Music, Good Cause, Keith Urban might be there (he also might not be)
Who is playing: Dakota Darling - http://www.myspace.com/dakotadarlingmusic - AND - A Clerestory - http://www.myspace.com/aclerestory

These are both great bands and we really do have a great venue with a rad sound system. The show is $5 and the bands have agreed to have all proceeds from the door and from merch sales will go directly towards The Africa Hope Center. Please help us get the word out. Email / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube. All forms of social media are acceptable and appreciated ;)

Feel free to just send folks here for details or you can use this Facebook Link - http://www.facebook.com/editevent.php?guests&eid=68574192977#/event.php?eid=68574192977

...or both... but most certainly... one or the other.

Hope to see you Thursday.

CHEERS!

-Jason

Need some prayer and support...

Not for me this time. We have some good friends Jeramie and Joye who just had a little baby boy. His name is Ethan and he is a stud (I got to see him today.) He was born with a few complications one of which will require open heart surgery on just his 3rd day of life out of the womb. That is tomorrow (or today, Wednesday, depending on when you read this.) He goes into surgery about 8:30 and it could go for 4 hours or so.

I know a lot of you who follow our blog care about little babies because of all the support you showed us when Aidan and Addison were fighting through some scary times. As you can imagine this hits close to home for Diana and I and we would love you to offer them some prayer and support as well.

You can pick-up on what's going on on their blog here. It doesn't matter if you know her/them or not - I assure you it helps just to know others are praying, hoping, caring, and entering into your fears and hopes. Please just take a minute and offer them a thought, a prayer, or some love.

Praying for baby Ethan tonight,

-Jason and Diana

Long Overdue

Hello family and friends,

I appreciate all of the emails, phone calls, and text messages reminding me I haven't given the masses their updates on our children. There are two primary reasons for this:

1)We haven't put any pics up lately due to our camera malfunctioning again. We are waiting for our friends at BestBuy to send it back to us. We have a memory card with over 100 pics from Christmas time through now.

2) The second reason is that we now have 2 children and finding time to sit in front of this machine and type has become more difficult to come by.

As amends to my slackness, I would like to offer you this video I created of our children smiling. It is not long however you will see that our babies are infact growing bigger and stronger and more beautiful as each day passes.

Enjoy!!!!

-Jason (and Diana)

ps - thanks for caring about our family... we love you.

Interview with Silver

Some friends of mine have a new record about to be dropped (like it's hot) and I am working with them to get the word out for their CD release shows coming up. I say "shows" because they have one in Raleigh as well as one in Charlotte. Below is an interview with the band talking about their new record, cd release dates, and Pat's favorite color (guess which one I made up?)

I would love to ask you 3 favors as you watch this video:

1) Plan on coming to the show. They have worked really hard to put some great songs together. Their record is awesome. Support local music. Don't do drugs. Prevent forest fires.

2) Think of someone you can specifically introduce to Silver Music. Invite them to come with you to the show.

3) If you have a blog, friends in you email contact list who like music, a website, or a grandmother who is really into "edgy" pop... please do what you can to get this video to them. I ask you to embed it in your site, send them here to this site, or just email them the youtube link. By the middle of the week we'll have another video/acoustic recording for you to push out for us as well ;) ---> Online community is very helpful in this sort of thing ;)

Thanks for your help!

Raleigh folk, put it on your calendar now.... Next Saturday Night ---> The Pour House.

Here is The Official Silver Music Site. Check that out right after you enjoy the interview:



Cheers!

-Jason

30 Years Young

So, this past Tuesday... on February 3rd I turned 30 years old. No, I don' feel old. My body doesn't hurt or ache, my knees feel better than they did last year (running long distances was from the devil), and I am no more forgetful than I was 10 years ago (no jokes here.) In fact, I feel great. Nonetheless, this is something close to a milestone. I dont think I ever thought about "30" when I was younger. Not sure if that means I simply "live for the moment" (if you know me well, you're probably agreeing right now) or if I didn't think I would make it this long as crazy as I have been from time to time.

In looking back on 30 years I have had an amazing go at things so far. I have loved every second with my family (that is ever increasing in many ways.) My parents and grand parents have shown more support than I could ever ask for. I have had, lost, and still have some of the best friends anyone could ever want. I have had incredible teachers, coaches, bosses, and role models. I have even had and still have great pets. I have tried many, many things. I have failed in things. I have succeeded in things. I have loved and lost (and wouldn't change it.) I have loved and won. I am certain I have hurt some people and I have felt remorse. I have gotten to see places all around the world and had the priveledge of serving people there. I recieved double the blessing in return from those same people I was looking to serve. I have tried some things I probably shouldn't have tried (no need to list things here ;)I have grown to learn wrestling, sushi, music, reading, coffee, beer, poetry, movies of all kinds, the guitar, musicals, jui-jitsu, marketing, red wine, avocados, guacamole, french toast, animals, people, the world around me, and God our Creator and Father. I have also been given who I am convinced is the worlds greatest wife (for me specifically - I dont want to down play other folks wives) who loves me more than I deserve. Together we have been given two miracles in our children Aidan and Addison (maybe more someday ;)

Though the previous paragraph wouldn't communicate it (after all those post is about me turning 30...) I have also realized to a small degree, this world isnt a small story with me as the main character but instead a much larger story with me as a small character. I am coming to know this more and more and it is continually changing my life for the better. Everything up above has served in some way to reveal that to me. I pray I continue to learn this and helps me become who I was created to be.

Looking back - other than pain I could have caused others; I wouldn't change a thing. I sincerly mean that. Laughs, tears, celebrations, and pain. All have brought me to where I am and I love it. Thanks for walking alongside me in this big world. It's been a blast and I can't wait to see the next 30.

Love and Peace,

-Jason

ps - I feel the next 30 should be more productive as I already have some of the basics down already (walking, running, talking, etc)

pss - it's gonna be a lot of fun with Diana watching our children grow-up...

pss - thanks for all who made it to the crazy surprise party Diana threw for me. that should be a blog post all to itself. thanks for all the calls, voicemails, cards, and facebook messages. you are all incredible friends. we are truly blessed.

Mery Christmas

Merry Christmas! I pray that the beauty and mystery of the God sending His son Jesus to be born in a manger as the savior of the world would be a bit more real to you this year. I pray that out of that the realization of new possibilities and limitless hope comes to you and your family.

Here are a few recent blessings and encounters with hope from my life right now:

Mommy, Daddy, Aidan, Addison, and Tanner

We might have been under the mistletoe... lucky for me.

First Christmas...

I saw the stockings hanging on the mantle while we were taking pictures and... well, I couldn't resist.

They acted like they liked it... ;)

As far as presents go... we're good on stuffed animals for a while... ;) The two tan bears on the bottom (one with a tank top and one without) were mine and Diana's growing up.

Daddy dressing his girl for some Christmas pics!!!

Aidan just being a stud...

I think we might have our hands full for a while.

I do a lot of things wrong in life. I find hope when I look at things like this. I find hope when I remind myself of stories like Christmas. I realize there really is a Hope for all of us. Friends, Family, folks I dont really know... Merry Christmas.

Love and Peace to you.

-The Gore Fam

*Thanks to Rebecca for taking the pics. Love you!

Anberlin

Good rock tune for the Holidays...

Dear Anberlin,

thank you for making great music.

Love,

Jason

Advent Conspiracy

I found this on singer/song writer Robbie Seay's Website. It's really good. Makes you think about things. Take 4 minutes. It could help Christmas really come into focus.

Love and Peace to you and yours,

-Jason

Feliz Navidad

So this past weekend my buddy Scott Wenger played trumpet and harmonica with me on Sunday morning. I have been wanting to play Feliz Navidad for a long time so he complied but he didn't know exactly what part to play. So, using my handy Mac I created a version just for him.

Musicians:
Jason Gore - Acoustic Guitar / Vocals
Pat Downing - Mouthing Trumpet / Vocals
Larry Dempsey - Vocals
Zack Van Hoy - Vocals
Jon Gould - Innocent bystander

Then afterwards I decided to create a video for this well produced cover of the holiday classic. Note the quality of the "human mouthed trumpet" performed by Pat Downing...

In honor of Scott Wenger I give you... Feliz Navidad. If you dont know Scott Wenger then this holiday classic is just a gift from us to you. Enjoy.

Please let us know what you think...

Coffee Pot/Maker

I have a friend (ahem... I will not name any names) who accidentally broke their coffee pot... anyone have a replacement laying around??? It needs to be replaced by Monday morning... ;)

thank you,

-Jason

*I assure you it is not me who broke the aforementioned coffee pot. I am merely trying to help a friend (or family member)

**It is certainly not Diana either...

Car - You look very sad... ;)

Last night about 10pm we heard a loud bang outside our house. I ran downstairs and out on the front porch (this seems like the Christmas Story so far - I was upstairs and heard such a clatter... I ran downstairs to see what was the matter... ;) The story doesn't finish with 8 tiny deer or a large man with a white beard and a red suit.)

Upon getting outside I saw my car up on the curb... not parked by the curb at the appropriate 6 inches where I left it but literally, on the curb... by about 3 - 4 feet. My friends who hang out on the corner by my house yelled up at us cause they saw it. They saw some small red car plow into my car and then drive off. Judging by the angle that my car was sitting in relation to the curb, they had to have hit pretty hard and at a weird angle. They hit on the back left corner panel.. right into the gas tank and smeared all the way down the side to the front bumper. Both tires on that side were flat and both rims were bent. It looks like my rear axle could be broken as the back left tires is crooked.

We called 911, went out driving to look for their car as they couldn't have made it far (to no avail), and then called one of my brothers who works for RPD. I haven't heard anything from the Police yet so I am assuming they haven't found anyone.

This is a little sad cause it's the car Diana drove when I met her, it's paid for, and gets great gas mileage. Our plan was to drive this until the "wheels fell off." Well friends, that time has come sooner than expected ;)

Perhaps we will be able to fix it.. perhaps not. Either way.. it's no biggie. Things like this happen. In studying Exodus with our church over the last couple months I got closer than I have ever been able to get to a point where I thought... this is all just stuff. It's all "smoke and bubbles." Last night when I came back in and told Diana we actually just started laughing. We are gonna have to locate another vehicle if this one isnt fixable for a reasonable price and that could be troublesome but other than that... I am just sad cause our car looks sad ;(

I will post pics soons...

Until next time.. watch out for a little red car with beat-up front right side. They have difficulty staying on the road. (Unless ofcoarse someone at our church did this on purpose cause the music is too loud or something - of which case you have nothing to worry about ;)

Love and Peace,

-Jason

Thankful...

We have much to be thankful for this year... Here is an attempt in no particualr order.

- First and foremost... We're both thankful to get to be married to each other - Diana could just be saying this to be nice but I really mean it ;) - I never knew you could have so much fun just being with someone. I know I am a better man for being with Diana. I hope she could say the same - well, except not a better man but a better woman

- We have 2 babies and they are home with us now - seems like so long ago this whole journey started

- Our familiy is incredible - our parents, grand parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins... you've all been so great to us

- Our friends - seriously, you guys have gone so far to show us your love. thanks for making life more fun. from serving us, to giving us a chance to serve you, to challenging us to be the people we should be, for laughing with us and for crying with us... it just makes life better

- Medical Staff at Wake Med - our nurses, nurse practioners, and doctors were absolutely incredible. from our first night meeting with dr. Khera talking about earl labor and delivery to our last day there with Aidan and Addison's nurses we were blown away by their service, sincere concern, and compassion

- Our jobs - things are crazy right now. we consider ourselves fortunate to have a way to have income right now

- Health Insurance (I know everyone doesnt have this. we do. if we didn't we would probably be bankrupt. seriously. in a way... it's my fault your insurance cost alot. 2 babies born 3 months early cost a bit. we got a bill for Addison the other day. WOW.)

- Tanner - We have a great dog

- Our Roommates - we share a house with another family. things are hard when you live with people sometimes. it challenges you to examine lots of decisions you make and how you communicate. overall it's a really cool thing. i think it makes you a better person. kinda like a second marriage, which would be wierd. overall, they are pretty cool. we love them very much.

- Music - All aspects of it. that it is alive. for what it can do inside you. that i get to listen to it. that i get to play it. for the people i get to play it with... this is proobably the coolest part.

- Exercise - diana and i both enjoy it. she is thankful for her ability to run and go to the YMCA. lately i have been training at CrossFit and working specifically in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu. this is very close to wrestling in many ways. not sure why this is so much fun for me but it is. in some ways i feel i am better at this stuff than anything else in my life.

- Scent - I like when things smell good. i love how certain aromas can take you to a certain place. coffee, ocean air, oranges, basil, flowers... i will stop here.

- Where it all comes from - different people attribute things to different places. we attribute all that we have been given to God our creator. we are ever grateful for the gifts that we have been given in our life and our hope is to honor God in response. he is the author of all that is good and right. he is our provider and i believe everything on this list comes by Him.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

-Jason and Diana (Aidan and Addison and Tanner)

WARNING REALLY CUTE BABIES BELOW

Here our some of our favorite photos from the past couple of weeks...

Addison on her way to her first doctor appointment



Our little genius



Loves the pink chair!



Love the pink pants!



Aidan on his way home



The empty bed...



Addison laying with Daddy



Aidan in his favorite...the swing




Together...

Aidan is home!!!

Yep, we have our little man home! We were told this past weekend it could be as early as Wednesday that he could come home. Then we got a call Monday morning and the doctors asked if we wanted to bring our son home?!?!?!?!? Our answer was an astounding "Heck yes we do." (think Napolean Dynamite)

So now we are 2 days into having our entire family together and it's great. Seeing them together in our house seems to good to be true. It is a bit of a whirlwind getting adjusted to their eating and sleeping (and our lack of sleeping) and all that stuff but so far so good. We're just happy to have them home. I hate leaving my house now. I really do. This is unfortunate because I have to... well, you know... work and stuff.

Praise our God He has brought our family together. I get the feeling that an adventure we have never began to dream of is about to settle in. I pray we love and live the way we should. I pray we don't miss a moment of the excitement (I don;t think we have yt.)

I promise to get some pics (and video) up as soon as I can.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers,

-Jason, Diana, Aidan, and Addison

ps - I went to bed last night feeling under the weather and awoke this morning feeling sick. This could put us in quite the predicament as we are trying to keep sickness away from the kiddos... So regarding this I could use some prayer and... a good doctor downtown if anyone knows of any. I dont have one.

Safety For our Children's ;)

**funny video at bottom - reward for reading long post**

Hey guys... The childrens are doing great. A l ot of folks have asked about seeing them so we're writing this post as a head's up as to what to expect from us over the next few months when it comes to the babies.

First of all, thanks so much for the prayers, love, and support. I feel like I have said it 1,000 times but it still isn't enough. We have amazing friends and family. We are excited for you all to meet them and they are excited to meet you too (I mean, I assume they are.. they can't really talk yet.)

Secondly, as you are about to meet them we wanted to give you a heads up about somethings our doctors from the ICN (intensive care nursery), our nurses, nurse practitioners, and our pediatrician has drilled into our heads. We want you to know about something called RSV (respiratory syncytial virus.) Though most babies by the age of 2 have had RSV, for term babies, it may appear no different than a common cold. For premature babies it can show itself in quite a different way. Babies born before 36 weeks (Aidan and Addision were born at 28 weeks) are at the highest risk for pneumonia, bronchiolitis, RSV, and other possible fatal complications.

Preventing the spread of RSV is very difficult. Since we've just spent over 80 days (and counting) at the hospital we're gonna do all we can to avoid having to go back and to keep our babies healthy during RSV season (October - April.) RSV can be spread through touching, in the air by coughing or sneezing, or by touching an infected object (like these.) The virus can live as long as six hours on hands and up to twelve hours on objects, and it spreads very easily, especially from child to child.

When I first heard about this I thought, "don't they need to build up their immune system anyway?" The doctors have assured me the quick answer to that is, "No." Since our babies were so premature they have not acquired the necessary immunities to fight off infection. If they contract this virus they could have to go back to the hospital again and may develop serious complications.

So, to help us out with our quest to keep them at home and healthy we will ask you to follow a few guidelines when you stop by:

1. When you get here, please wash your hands and use hand sanitizer (it's not hard to find in our house right now ;)

2. If you're sick, live with someone who is sick, or have been in contact with someone who is sick during the day it probably isn't the best idea for you to stop by. (on a side note - if you are sick and need something.. feel free to give us a call and we'd love to help you out ;)

3. If you smoke, we ask that you change your clothes and not smoke before you come by as premature babies lungs are very sensitive to smoke (mostly during first two years of life.) (This is even hard for me as I enjoy smoking a pipe all through the fall and winter.)

Unfortunately we will not be bringing them out to large social gatherings thru the winter which is tough on Diana and I because we are so social. Their lungs are still very fragile until they are two years old and our goal is to make it thru these first two years without contracting this virus. Believe me this was not the plan we had for our kids and not the easiest thing to do. Diana and I are both a bit the type to throw caution to the wind with our own lives. We've always been adventurers of sorts but we do feel this is the best for them over the long haul.

I hope this stuff makes sense and if you've got any questions feel free to ask. We're so excited about being parents and hope that we can raise our children in a way that shows them and the world a love that is special. Thanks for playing a part in that with us.

Love and Peace,

-Jason and Diana

ps - writing this seemed like a public service announcement

Addison is Home!!!

Yesterday (Friday) was an incredible day. Many prayers were answered and our daughter has gotten to come home. It was a bit difficult for us though as Aidan just isn't ready yet to come home. When we first had to leave them at the hospital it was tough but we both knew in our minds they were there together. This is the fist time they have really been apart not to mention we cant be there 24/7 either. None the less I know he is excited for his sister to come home and get the place ready for him.

Since she has been home she has gotten her first bath at home, has been eating well, and Diana has not been able to put her down.

Here are some pics we've taken over the last few days.

You can tell they love each other already...

Telling secrets too...

This is just a cute picture - DAH HAH

Addison just found out she was going home...

Telling her brother bye for now...

Loaded up and coming home!!!

Diana finally getting to rest with our baby girl...

Same position... different location.

First bath at home...

All confy in her crib...

Finally at home...

One last one for safe measure...

So she is home safe and sound. Diana and I would like to ask you all to keep all of us, espeacially Aidan, in your thoughts and prayers right now. He is having a little more difficulty catching onto this little thing called... eating. You see it's quite necesary for growth and satiability to put food in your body on your own power. Right now he has good days and bad. Some feedings he takes it all himself and others he just runs out of gas and they have to feed him through a tube. It's not that he is way behind and more that Addison is just moving at a faster than normal speed but either way we still would love to get our boy home.
Here is a shot of the big boy...

So - here is to our daughter coming home. Hopefully Aidan will soon to follow. I've been home for 1 day with my daughter and I dont want to leave to do anything. I am sure there will be bad days.. but with what we've gone through... I am really appreciating this time with her.

Thanks be to our God!!!

-Jason

Noshavember

Well, I have other friends participating in this madness called Noshavember. Perhaps I too, will participate. I do have a moderate headstart due to my busyness (laziness) over the past 2 weeks. Perhaps we will keep a weekly photo log here just to monitor progress.

Here is today's photo. We'll do this again in a week.

Photo Shoot!!!

Our brilliantly talented friend (almost family kindof) has taken some new pics of our babies. I am only gonna put a few of them up here but you can find the rest of them on her blog. These are from a couple weeks back so Aidan and Addison have both grown a bit even since here.

Health wise they are doing well. They are both off of oxygen... well, from outside help ya know... they are breathing plenty of oxygen from just the room ;) The next big step is getting to where they can eat all of their meals themselves. They are still a little reliant on their feeding tube though they have made a ton of progress. They just get a little tired after a while and lose focus. Once they get this down though, they will be comin home!!!!

Well, here is what you really want to see...
Addison's tiny hands...


There aren't words for looking down at them... so many things I want to tell them...


I am not sure what happened here... I turned around for 5 minutes and my daughter has a tutu on.... This was actually a gift from a friend who makes them... you can track her down here if you want one ;)

I think we have our hands full...


Our beautiful babies...

Again, we're so thankful for all of the love and support throughout this entire process. It has been as beautiful and as challenging as anything Diana and I have ever experienced together. It has lead us to crying one second and dancing the next and I know has brought us closer than we ever thought we could be.

Much love...

-Jason