October 31, 2004

I hope you all have a very safe and spooky Halloween! We decided not to dress J up this year since he is too young for trick-or-treating and we don't have any plans. We will next year though! 

November is going to be very busy for Jacob, Brett and myself. J has at least one appointment each week, I have a couple appointments, and of course, there is all the planning and preparation for our move on the 20th! Add school and work to that, and it will surely be busy! I will do my best to keep you updated as often as possible! 

Thank you everyone for your endless love and support. Jacob is a miracle, a Gift from God, a blessing. We wouldn't be this strong with out you.

October 23, 2004

Jacob visited with two of his therapists on Thursday. Both were so happy to see how well Jacob is sitting up and controlling his head. They even heard him giggle! Brett and I are to continue doing crawling exercises with him and encourage him to reach for things and explore. In mid-November, Brett and I will be attending a satellite seminar documenting the research study of a child with ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity), which as many of you know, Jacob has. We hope to gain further insight on the condition and what researchers are working on for the future.

Everything with the house is going great. Unfortunately, we were not able to get any pictures of the inside during inspection this week to due the camera acting up. I have a feeling the problem is the cheep batteries I put in it. We are going to the house again this weekend, this time with a camera packed with name brand juice to hopefully get some pictures to share! 

Updates will be posted more frequently in the coming days and weeks as J has quit a few appointments coming up! Eye Doctor, Therapists, Pediatrician, etc. So check back often!

October 18, 2004

Boy, oh boy, Jacob's first tooth is really coming in! It's through the gum and feeling sharp, but it's not in all the way up quite yet. He is doing wonderfully with his contact lenses. Brett and I are happy it only has to be taken out and reinserted once a week, because J doesn't like it at all!! Although we hate making him mad, the contact has done so much for him already. We see him reacting more and noticing things in front of him. I think it is helping raise his head more as well. 

Things are rolling along with the home-hunt. We have found a great place in fact and submitted an offer. The offer was accepted and we should close on November 19th!! We are very excited. We knew finding a nice house in our price range wouldn't be easy, but just as we grew discouraged, there it was! It's a very cute place in a great neighborhood! Tomorrow we will be at the house for the inspection and will take some photos. I plan to share them with you soon!

October 10, 2004

Jacob has done very well during his first week of wearing a contact lens. Tonight Brett will remove it (I can't handle anything eyeballs) to soak in solution over night, then he will put it back in tomorrow morning. We have noticed some changes in J's reactions with the contact. He notices toys when we place them in front of him and sees things coming toward his face, like a tissue to whip is nose. 

J saw his retinal Doc last week who was happy to report that J's left retina has begun retracting. Brett did not ask what percentage, but that is great news nonetheless. He will see him again in about a month. 

And in family news, things didn't work out with the house we were looking at, but we are now working with the owner of our town home who is a real estate agent. If the last year and a half has taught us anything, it is that everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be will be. We'll find a great home soon, I'm sure! 

October 4, 2004

There's a lot going on in Fighter Land! Today, Jacob went to see his Ophthalmologist who decided to try contact lenses with Jacob. What Brett and I didn't realize, was that we would talk about it and try it all in one visit. It was our understanding the contacts would have to be ordered. So, J came home with a new contact lens in his right eye. The nurse showed us how to insert and remove the lens. J will wear the lens for a week at a time (sleeping included), removing it only one night to clean. With proper care, the lens should last a year. That is if it doesn't pop out and we lose it! We also had J fitted for new frames. The frames we purchased a few months back are already too small for him (which was our reason for getting the contacts). We will use the new glasses as backup when the lens is taken out for cleaning and if it is ever lost/torn. 

In other fighter news... He is finally cutting his first tooth! Well, it hasn't actually "cut" yet, but there's a definitude bump on his lower gum and he is drooling puddles daily! We are very excited, although we hope the process picks up because J is very uncomfortable. My poor baby! 

In family news... Brett and I are in the process of buying our first home! We looked at a house last week and fell in love with it. We got word today that we pre-qualified for a loan so please wish us luck and keep us in your prayers!