JONATHAN, our 25 week miracle

Jon is 4!

2011-12-21T09:18:00.001-08:00

So I win slacker mom of the year! Jonathan turned 4 on november 22nd and between colds and being pregnant I am just now getting to this post:-(

I am in awe that my little man, the baby that wasn't going to make it is 4 years old! He is my hero and he is doing great! We had a heck of a set back with him getting a cold early november then it turned into something nasty we are still unsure but it lingered its ugly head till the beginning of Dec.! Of course this came at a time when his 4 yr check up was due so his weight was not so great. However his developmental specialist thought he is doing awesome!

His speech is really coming around he tries so hard to mimic our mouth movements in order to say the word! He is very good at ya and more. He is drinking about 3 to 4 ozs from a sippy cup (chocolate milk) and LOVES it! I really think it helps him watch his sister!

He is getting ready for his power wheelchair to arrive and we are on the hunt for a van! Next year Jon will be in school full time and this freaks me out but I do know he wants to go as I ask him and he grins and says "ya". He is growing up so fast maybe not physically but he is so darn smart! I can't wait till we get his eye gaze device so he can show the world just how smart he is.

He loves his sister so much and she loves to help him every chance she can! She now wants to "pick him up" however that isn't happening any time soon, lol! She helps him walk with our assistance, gives him his sippy cup, reads to him, dances and sings for him (he thinks that is hilarious) she is such an awesome kid they both are!

Jon knows he is getting another brother not sure how much he "gets it" but he knows another baby is on the way! He is the best big brother and I just know that he will love his baby brother so much!

Leah is 2!!

2011-11-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

Leah at 1 month old!

Leah almost 2

Leah turned 2 on the 4th! SHe is an amazing little girl with so much spunk and attitude. She is very busy never sitting to long in case she misses something. She is even more involved with Jon and still kisses him a few times throughout the day. They are the best of friends. Her vocabulary is out of this world and she is learning her colors and is getting very good at recognizing them. I need to be more diligent about potty training because she would have it down but I am not staying consistent so I need to work on that. Her appetite is good and she is starting to get picky but if she doesn't like it she just won't eat then 10 minutes later asks for a snack! She puts her own shoes on and picks her clothes from a choice I give her. She loves pretend play, cooking is her favorite thing. COloring is another favorite of hers. She draws all over our picture windows but she likes to clean so she gets a wipee and cleans it off:-) She is not shy at all and says hi to everyone she would even talk up a storm if you listen. If she doesn't agree with what you say her thing right now is saying "bad mommy, daddy, papa, mimi ect but never Jon she says he is always good! She also has started about a month ago telling us she is crying. She will come to me and say "mommy, Leah is crying" so then I say why and she comes up with some doseies! Like nemo misses me, which means she wants to watch it, or my tummy is hungry! She is a riot!

It is still hard to believe she entered this world two years ago and so much has changed and to watch her grow is amazing. God has been good to us that is for sure!

Happy Birthday sweet Leah Marie!

Baby boy #3!!!

2011-10-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce we are having another baby, a boy!

I am 19 weeks along and everything is going great. Again I have gestational diabetes and it was detected early on. This pregnancy was so different then the other two. I was so nausea and threw up which didn't happen with either of the others. I am feeling pretty good these days and it is going by so fast. I am sure having an almost 4 and 2 yr old helps make time fly:-) I again got the cerclage and doing the progesterone shots.

Leah wants to kiss my belly every day and says "baby in mommas belly" I love it! We had our big ultrasound last week and everything looked great. I am being seen every two weeks for cervix measurements and ultrasounds.

We know his name will start with a J but that's all we have now:-)

It has been so long!

2011-10-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

SO we went to Chicago a few months back and I wanted to share some pictures with you! We had such a great time and the weather was perfect!

The kids on the ledge in Sears tower!

The kids favorite part of Chicago!!

THis dude rode in the elevator with us!!

So far behind!

2011-08-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

I have really slacked this year in blogging. However no news is good news! Everyone is doing great and we are thoroughly enjoying this HOT summer. Here is a break down of the things we have been doing..

-We went to visit my aunt and uncle in Tennessee in July. I love the mountains and the kids loved going on the nature walks.
-We went to Michigan Adventure were everyone has a great time! We went with my parents and Justins parents it was really fun since Jon did get to go on more than the merry go round:-)
-We stayed in Frankenmuth for the weekend. One of our favorite go to places with the kids.
-We leave this monday for a vactation to Chicago and then Wisconsin Dells.

Jon is doing awesome! He is really getting the hang of his power wheelchair, we should have it in about 3 months. So now we are on the look out for a van so we can transport it.
Leah is a hoot! Her vocabulary is astonishing! She makes up for what Jon can't say. She loves him so much and often times I will find her rubbing his head and singing twinkle twinkle.

I promise to update with a better post soon. Its almost fall here so we won't be going out much more.

Cedar Point!!!

2011-06-14T05:02:00.001-07:00

Oh my word does time go by fast with two kids! With therapy, and summer we are hardly ever home!

So we bought season passes to Ceder Point in Ohio. I knew Jon would love the shows but was a bit skeptical about Leah not sure if she would like the kiddie rides. We started by just walking around and then Leah said "go on" so I went on her first ride and it was history from there she went by herself most of the time after that.
This made me realize she is already being very independent which of course is awesome however depressing because time is flying by so fast so completely fast:-( Jon loved watching Leah get whipped around and of course she was screaming with enjoyment which made Jon laugh a bit more! I do see however him look at her as to think why is she getting to do these things and I can't. It does break my heart as I do try to get him on a few rides but with him not being able to sit up there is a very limited amount he can go on. When the attendant does let us get on a ride with him, like the antique cars, he was in heaven! He tried with all his might to "get" sissy. All I think about is if this boy could walk she would be in so much trouble, or he would be from picking on her all the time. We have a few vacations up our sleeves this year of course our one every year vacation of Michigan Adventure and I am pretty sure we are headed to WEst Virginia again for some white water rafting. I believe my family and myself and kids will be heading to Tennessee for a week to visit with my aunt and her family. And we are hoping to get some nice camping in here soon! I am going to try and post more but we shall see how that goes:-)

18 month check up!

2011-05-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

I'm am such a proud momma!

we went in to have Leah's 18 month check up and she is doing great! Dr. M was really impressed! Her and I talked for a bit and Leah just was talking away so Dr. M said she clearly knows more than 10 words which is what the typical 18 month old knows. She then asked me if Leah understands me if I were to ask her to stick out her tongue, in which Leah stuck her tongue out at the DR. Dr. M then just starting asking her the questions! She asked her "Can you try to jump"? And Leah did! Then dr. M and I started talking about Jon and Leah preceded to sing Twinkle twinkle, dr. m said "o.k that is great"! So as we were wrapping up I asked Leah to get her coat and put it on and she did (she can't really get it on by her self but she tries) and dr. M said that is something that usually comes around 2.5 yrs old too! SO she said all in all LEah is at a 24 month vocabulary and about a 36 month fine motor skills! Not to shabby for a kiddo born 5 weeks early:-) We still said no to shots and will continue to say no. She is officially a wee bitty thing weighing in at 21 bls and in the 60th percentile for height at 32 inches! I am so proud of her and Jon I guess it just what I am good at, birthing beautiful smart kids!

Leah is 18 months!

2011-05-06T17:56:00.001-07:00

Gosh time has been flying by! Leah turned 18 months yesterday and she is growing leaps and bounds! I am astonished by her vocabulary and the way she looks at things to figure it out! She says please (peez) to almost anything she wants. She stared about a month ago putting two words together momma peez, no down, she has said bu bye for a long time,and bubba no. Its just amazing how "typical" she is.
She also loves eating! Things like spinach and artichoke dip, grilled salmon, spinach fettuccine alfredo, zucchini, corn and carrots she is going to be/is high maintenance! She does not like hamburgers, breaded chicken, fruit unless its prunes, not to thrilled with any breakfast things either.
She is sassy, really sassy. We have definitely hit the terrible two's early! We can not go anywhere for too long and forget restaurants it's take out for us! She is so busy and such a monkey. Just the other day I turn around from putting dishes in the dishwasher and there's Leah straddling the baby gate, I stood there in totally shock not wanting her to freak out and fall! She has a very short fuse and wants it her way or else!
She is a lover though too! Still to this day every morning she kisses Jonathan and now says "wuv you"! She is always trying to help him sometimes to much. She gives the best hugs and once in awhile she gives the nicest, wettest kisses!
She sleeps like a dream! To bed at 8pm and up between 7 and 8. She also takes some great naps.
We go for her 18 month well baby check up next week and even though she is another skinny mini she is totally healthy, full of life and laughter. I wouldn't want anything any other way!!!

Family cruise 2011

2011-04-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

So we were scared that Jonathan wasn't going to be able to make the cruise due to rsv, however with God's hand over him and a lot of prayer he did get to go! W ehad so much fun. My parents,brother, aunt, uncle and grandma went! We flew to ft. Lauderdale, fl and then headed to Miami. We stayed in a beautiful condo that overlooked the ocean, mind you we left 20 degree weather and woke up to 80's! Then we headed to the Keys, I love this place so inviting and fun! The next day we left on the cruise ship, Royal Caribbean to the Bahamas! The first day was a bit hectic trying to get everything situated but after that we settled in and it was smooth sailing, no pun intended!
The best part was getting the kids ready for bed and we would lay Jon on the bed and Leah would "attack" him with kisses, oh I love that so much and so does he!! By the second night I would honestly say about 1/4 of the boat knew Leah by name! She would say "hi" and "bye bye" to everyone including blowing kisses to every other person she met. They had a nightly band and dancing, well little miss Leah had to be center of attention and dance too. She would have crowds coming to see her dance and my little sassafrass had NO shy bone and she can definitely shake it! They also do nightly pictures and I think this might have been Leahs favorite time because after the first night the same photographer would say "Leah do you want your picture taken?" Leah then would say "down" and run over there and start posing!
I think everyone had a blast the only downfall was coming home we had a 4 hour delay and didn't end up getting home till 2am, not fun with kids! We can't wait to do it again next year but next year will be the Disney cruise, YAHOO!

Pneumonia and RSV!!

2011-04-04T18:02:00.001-07:00

So we finally got it! RSV is no fun at all. Jon started coughing which wasn't to bad but by the third day he seemed really hot so I took his temp and it was 102, o.k so off to the e.r! I HATE going to the hospital but knew we had to do something since his cough was getting worse and the nebulizer, inhaler, and cough syrup wasn't doing a dang thing! We were up to back to back treatments every 3 hours with no end in sight! So when we go t to the hospital his temp. was 104.9 and coughing so hard. They did the breathing treatments 4 in a row and it seemed to calm the coughing, they started steroids after the x-ray showed pneumonia too. We were admitted and to tell you the truth it was the first time we didn't hear anything about his weight or nothing negative! The dr. was actually the same one we seen in 08' the last time we were in the hospital! She remembered us, not sure if that is a good thing or bad! But she said she would never forget us because of how much she seen the love I had for Jon and wasn't going to give up on try to help him. (If you go back to 08' post of hospital I did a lot of crying) She said she was happy I told her about the cp growth chart and she now uses it and if the child is not losing weight she totally understands that growth is very hard for these children! So we were there for 3 and 1/2 days! We did hbot the next day and then the following day and even though the doctors said he would have the cough for a few weeks it was gone, completely gone after his 2nd treatment! We are also very blessed that even though Leah played with her brother she never came down with it! I truly believe not exposing her to ALL those vaccines has helped her immune system so much!

HBOT video

2011-03-09T19:55:00.000-08:00

Here is a video of a mom that did hbot with her daughter! The results are amazing. We have done 80 sessions with Jonathan and would love to do more because yes we also have seen some great results. The sad part is is that its not covered by insurance. It cost roughly $5,000 for 40 sessions! We need help. We want Jonathan to get another 40 sessions. His muscles spasticity has decreased, his speech is coming along, he is so alert and so smart. This therapists comment all the time about just how much this has helped him. As a parent you want to do everything for your child. So we are asking for donations, in any amount! This money will go to another 40 session and if we get more than the $5,000 it will help with other therapies that have helped him, like hippo-therapy (horseback riding), cranial sacral therapy and massage therapy all these things help him but all are out of pocket. So please consider donating.

Having fun

2011-03-05T19:07:00.001-08:00

My the time is going by so fast! We are just enjoying life and having so much fun in the process. Leah is 16 months old and is very busy! She talks all. the. time. and I love it!! You can often hear her say hi and bye bye to everyone she has NO shyness to her! She likes to say all done, momma dadda, bubba a lot! Her vocabulary just goes everyday! She knows most of her animals, she knows her body parts especially her bum bum since I tell her she needs to sit on it when she is by her brother!! I love watching her interact with Jonathan. He is really into the pacifier again and when it falls out she says "uh oh" and goes running to put it back in his mouth but not before she puts it in her mouth then says "no" and puts it in his! She cracks us up she is such a crazy funny girl. She is a climber and it scares me so! She is into EVERYTHING and is always going and saying something!

Jonathan has been doing really good! We kicked up his therapy after out HBOT was finished and it seems to be helping. We started feeding and he is doing really good. He can now eat a fruit loop and doesn't gag he chews it pretty nicely! We are working on some great oral exercises that I think are really good for him! The therapist asked Jonathan the other day to put his tongue over here( toward her right then left) he did exactly what she said. He surprises me all the time!
He is doing really good with his power wheelchair we will be taking it home tuesday and using here. We have him using his head to go left and right and of course straight and he totally gets it! Since he is right side dominant with his head sometimes it gets hard for him to look to the left and then he goes in circles but he thinks that is hilarious! Our wheelchair specialist said "before I leave my job all I want to see is my buddy Jon use this wheelchair" well he didn't expect him to do it the first day!! Way to go dude, I love you Jonathan! So he isn't proficient and in no way could he go out on the street just yet but he will get there and he proves that to us with every day he practices!

15 month check up

2011-02-11T18:08:00.000-08:00

Leah had her 15 month check up this past week! She was 19 lbs 14ozs and 31 inches. So tall and skinny. the doctor was happy with all her developments and said that most 15 month olds say between 5 and 10 words so she stated that LEahs vocabulary is really taking off! In my opinion she is always "talking" she is so happy when she is doing what she wants! She continues to be sassy, she is a handful if we go out anywhere. So we have decided that quick meals no dining in, its toooooo hard! She is as cute as a button and knows it. She says hi to everyone and when she is ready to leave she states "byeee"! She loves being the center of attention! She also LOVES her bub (Jonathan) she is always doing something to make him laugh! She loves dancing right now she spins and waves her hands in the air and is now trying to jump! She is a great eater and LOVES pasta, bread and cheese! She started swimming lessons and seems to be a natural in the water! She had her first play date with Zoe and Mia, two great little girls. THeir mom and I have actually become good friends. Can't wait for more "dates"!

Developmental Evaluation 2011

2011-02-07T19:11:00.000-08:00

SO I stressed and stressed over this appointment. I get so nervous about what Jonathan should be doing and what he is not doing, how he needs to gain more weight and blah blah blah. Well it went far way far better than I could have imagined!

We arrived at the PM&R office and I do LOVE this doctor she is very well educated on cerebral palsy and the different options we have, in regards to spacticty, pain, therapies ect. So at a developmental appointment we see pm&r, dietitian, social worker, p.t, o.t, s.t, orthodics guy psychiatrist and a special education teacher! This appointment lasted 4 loooong hours but I loved it!

First we started with the dietitian and she looked at the blended diet I have Jonathan on and she said" where did you get this recipe"? I said I educated myself and started natural supplements and organic foods(liquids). She said "hmm, well your doing everything right, he gained 2 pounds in 2 months and he has all the necessary vitamins minerals and food groups!" His growth chart looked pretty impressive on the cerebral palsy curve, he was in the 60th percentile for weight and 97th percentage for height! She had nothing to add and told us to keep up the good work!

Next we seen our favorite doctor in the world! She had two interns with her one from Duke hospital and one from Cincinnati Children's hospital! She said to these doctors "We have 5 patients today and of all the patients you see I want you to hear this little boys history!" She went on to tell them about being a preemie then coming home doing everything on target getting the rotovirus vaccine, going blue needing blow by oxygen and then 1.5 months later getting the pertussis vaccine and everything went down from there! SO I even learned something at that appointment, she believes it was a combination of the rotovirus and pertussis vacc. because of the severity of Jonathans condition. The two doctors stood there stunned, I was even stunned that she told the other doctors! They wanted to learn more about Jonathan so we talked for a bit. Then she told them about out "non-conventional" therapies and how well they are working for Jonathan, HBOT(hyperbaric oxygen). She seen Jonathan in November 2010 and he was tight, very tight. We started hbot the end of December and seen her in Jan and she took Jonathan and bent his legs up stood him up and then put him in a squatting position and he used his muscles not tone to lift up and bring his head up!!! The two doctors were amazed and our doctor has said that hbot has worked for some of her kids but not as drastic as it has for Jonathan! She also told them she stands completely behind her prescription for Jonathan to get stem cell treatment! She really believes we would have to do it twice because she has SEEN great results from kids that have completed 2 treatments of stem cells! (Now we just need to continue to pray that we find the right place to go and God will lead us there!)SO for those of you this doctor is an md its not a holistic doctor and she does not recommend these therapies to anyone, she believes Jonathan would greatly benefit from stem cells! The two other doctors in the room were besides themselves for the next few minutes with us, asking million questions about hbot and stem cells, it just proves that doctors "practice" medicine they don't know everything!

Next we seen the social worker, psychiatrist and teacher. They preformed a cognitive test with Jonathan and he had 3 options and then he had to pick the picture they would call out using his eyes and a couple other things. They then had us wait (outside the door)while they talked and then told us to come in and told us that they DO NOT APPROVE the classroom he was in this past fall, they liked the idea of the equipment they had there but did not believe he would reach his potential and grow in that setting! They said that they wanted him to be in a typical preschool and the state will/has approved him an aide just for him! They will take care of his needs. And they have all the specifics written down for his next iep for ex. they want him in a low chair so when its circle time he is at every kids level, they will provide a pony walker or such so he can play in the gym with the kids and ect. I was teary eyed my little man will be like all the reat of the kids! If and only if we want to take Jonathan to the other school to use the hopsa and other equipment the school will provide transportation to the school for a couple hours with the exception that one of the kids in the other classrooms that are verbal can come down and talk with Jonathan!! What a great thing to hear and they WILL put up a nice fight if Jonathans needs are not met! By the way he tested at or above a typical 3 year old!!

Then there was the physical, occupational and speech therapists. We kind of already knew what we need to do in those departments because we have the best therapists! SO they want us to get Jonathan into somewhere that has augmentative communication, which we are through the university when they have an opening this month or next, we need to do more occupational therapy and with physical therapy, Jonathan will start getting kinesio taped on his right upper shoulder, we tried this before and he had a skin reaction so I wanted to try again. Here we are 5 days later with a test tape and no reaction so this will start this tuesday with full taping. They want him to get the theratog and a neck ring. He is going to start trialing a power wheelchair this Thursday! They also want to talk about getting him a kid walk, he did really good in it however they think he would do even better if he is getting taped and has a theratog on! His afo's were still good, poor guy is still in a shoe size 4 w/o afos and with they are only a 5! Grow feet, GROW!!

THIS IS A THERATOG SUIT!

So that sums up the appointment and I couldn't have been happier. EVERYTHING was great and the suggestions were awesome. Can't wait to get started with all the new things he will be trying!

Thanks to everyone that keep my family in prayer, because its working he's listening!!

Little stinker!

2011-01-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

Well Leah is only 14 almost 15 months old yet we are introducing the potty!

She will NOT keep her diaper on! We have even started putting them on backwards and that has seemed to do the trick for most of the time! She will go down for her nap and every time I went in to check on her there she is sleeping with no diaper on! So one afternoon I was watching and caught her in the act! If you notice in her left hand is her diaper going over board!

So during the day we ask her do you need to go potty and she says pah pah meaning pee pee! We make it this great big deal and put her on the potty she sits and makes the noise pisssss like she is...well peeing! So cute but it only last a few seconds then she is done that's it back to playing!

This is a picture of my mom! The kids get so happy when she is around, they love their me me!

Just because she is so cute!

Our 2nd round of HBOT

2011-01-10T17:50:00.000-08:00

So here we are with 15 more dives down, that makes 55 total! We seen results almost instantly. Was it because Jonathan had 40 previous dives or is it because we increased his pressure to 1.75 ATA? Who knows but I am happy. Justin and I are already talking about doing another 40 dives this coming summer (August?) we really, really want to do stem cell but after much prayer I think we are doing what God wants us to do for now! I believe God will show us when we are to do the stem cell, we are ready to go on the next plane however we only will do adipose tissue stem cells, which Jonathan is not "fat" enough to do or bone marrow stem cells. So that limits us to only a selective few places that do this. I guess to see results we and therapist have seen this is the BEST alternative therapy including therapeutic riding. We want to see results and we have so we can't complain just be super thankful for what has and is happening!

So the first thing we (us and therapists) have seen was after 3 dives is muscle spasticity decrease.
This is huge for Jonathan since he can be super spastic at times! Next we seen him again looking to the right something that is also hard for him to do! He is more controlled in his movement of his arms, which will help when we try out the power wheelchair at the end of this month!!
He speech is coming along still not loud but you can watch him try so very hard to mimic what your saying that of course is huge! He has learned "s" he puts his teeth together and hisses, and what we came up with is sissy. So we asked him "can you say sissy?" and sure enough sissy came out and a HUGE smile afterwards! Love it! I can't explain how big this is and I know its only going to get better with time and HBOT!!

So this new place we are going to is very different than the place we went to in North Carolina. First, its more money! However I do like the analogy the owner, Tammi said. Where we went in N.C is like a Chevrolet's and here at Oxford its more like a rolls royce!
And yes I have to agree. The mono chamber is nothing to compare to a multi chamber! We need no ear drops, no nasal sprays, no temperature checks, and no checking of the ears! Why? Because it is so easy to get to pressure, my ears pop maybe 2 to 4 times and Jonathan doesn't even flinch. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the 1.75ATA then we stay at that pressure for 1 hour then it takes 10 minutes to come back up, so a total of about an hour and half! We watch movies and let me tell you that Jonathan is such a different boy inside the chamber. I challenge anybody that knows Jonathan to come up to Oxford and see him and tell me he looks the same! This boy is moving, swinging his arms like I have never seen, moves his head left and right, its amazing, NO, it's unbelievable! Justin came up one day and wanted to see what this mono chamber was all about and was floored at the little boy he was looking at. This day that Justin came up was a hard day, for me! Jonathan wanted to roll all over me, he kept hitting me in the face and then was turning his head and trying to bite my clothes (which is something he is making a habit out of in the chamber)!
I am still in awe that he is like this at that pressure but as soon as we come up to room air he is less spastic for sure but he just can't do all the rolling, hitting and just the way he moves is not the same as if we were at 1.75ATA!

Why did we choose 1.75 instead of 1.5 ATA because the owner at Oxford has seen some marvelous things happen even in her own child! They work with doctors and professors that specialize in HBOT. They would like to see us at 2.4 ATA eventually but I have my own reservation so we will just go at a slower pace but I do think next time we will move to 2.0. I may even do 2.0 for our last 5 or 10 dives and see how it goes!

This place rocks I love it, I love the kids I have met and have made more friends! Its nice to go somewhere and they "get it". Its nice to be with people that know what vaccine injury is and support us for what we believe! Its nice to be surrounded by christians and know that the Lord is working in each of our families, all in different ways but he is there and listening!

If anybody would like more information on Oxford Hyperbaric please go to their website, its pretty informative.

Healingwithhbot.com
248-486-3636

Lets close up 2010 and bring on 2011!!!

2010-12-31T06:36:00.000-08:00

Man 2010, What an awesome year! I think this is the first year I can say we have lived normally!! We take the kids everywhere and just enjoy being a family! Jonathan did get a pretty nasty cold but all is well and both kids are very healthy. we did a lot of trip this past year and already planning next year with a cruise and going to sesame street! Jonathan is doing great with hyper barics oxygen and we already see results, muscle tone is so much better and he is taking such better steps! Its nice to get a therapists sight on this and she agrees with how much it has helped decrease his spasticity! It looks like stem cell is on hold again as I am really trying to go to Germany but nobody is calling us back so obviously this is not our time to go. We will start fundraising in the coming year including a car wash and selling tshirts!

Christmas was so much fun. Both kids loved opening gifts and Leah helped bubba open his!
Both kids love each other so much they get along great but of course Jonathan gets a bit irritated when Leah comes and knocks down the blocks I made for HIM to knock down but because he is such a lovie he just laughs it off! Leah is sassy and very determined with whatever she has on her mind and it is almost impossible to distract her! I have been reading love and logic and so far it has helped not only her but us from ALWAYS saying NO!
Well I can't wait for the new year to begin because I just know it will be great! I LOVE MY KIDS and am so happy to tell the whole world (well, world wide web!)!

Thanksgiving and kalahari

2010-12-16T19:10:00.001-08:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

Time is flying by!

2010-12-07T18:29:00.000-08:00

Where is the time going?!
We are really enjoying the last bits of 2010! We went to great grandmas for thanksgiving and enjoyed visiting the family. The kids are getting big, o.k well Leah is getting bigger but they are both getting smarter and cuter. Leah's hair is finally coming in and has a few strands in her face but I refuse to get her a hair cut yet it actually would be pointless its only her bangs, that's what barrettes are for, right?! We went to our annual Christmas play while my cousins watched Leah and grandma watched Jon. Justin and I have been spoiled with our "sitters" and have enjoyed spending some quality time together! We just got back from Kalahari and already planning our next trip. This place is the best, something for everyone. Jon LOVED the lazy river the water was very warm as well as the wave pool. Leah liked the kiddie land the best and they both are like momma and enjoyed the hot tub!! This place was very awesome with a swim up snack bar and bar for those virgin drinks for me! They have 9 slides not including the kiddie ones. Of the 9 slides 3 were family rides for 4 people. We went with our friends and their children and my friends would take the kids so we could enjoy some of the rides! They have some great deals on their website (www.kalahariresorts.com)and actually the room we were in (the two room family suite) usually goes for about 400 a night and we got it for 110 a night!! We stayed for 3 days and our friends spoiled us with a private hut, all the other visitor have to mingle with each other however if you have a "hut" its your own with flat screen t.v, refrigerator, two couches lounge chairs and of course room service! This made it very nice for nap time! The food was delicious and desserts were even better! We just had a lot of fun with really great friends! I will upload pics as soon as I can!

3 years old!

2010-11-23T17:31:00.000-08:00

(Last Year)

Happy birthday to my little man. To a little boy that wasn't supposed to make it! You beat all odds, you are so strong and a little warrior. I love you so much. You have shown me a world I would have never known, I have met people I would have never met I am a better person because of you. I see the world in a different view. I love you for you! I want to make your world the best it can be. I want you to experience everything. I want you to love the person you are, I want you to love life and I will make that my life promise to you, to make sure you live life to its fullest! You not only make me proud but daddy too and everyone you meet. You have have made us so proud of everything you have and are achieving. You surprise us constantly. This year has been the very best, you have come so far. I can't wait to see what this new year brings. I can't stress to you how much I love you, and how everything seems all better when I see your smile and you give me nice sloppy kisses! Jonathan, you are the best little boy a mother could dream of. I love you till infinity and back!

( This year)

Love you dude,
Mommy

Jonathans Journey

2010-11-12T20:26:00.000-08:00

As most of you know Jonathan was born 15 weeks to soon along with his twin brother Preston who is now in heaven! Jonathan was in the hospital for a little over 5 months. He had a surgery at just 2 lbs not even a month old yet however he survived! He endured endless pokes to obtain blood and he still has the scars on his heal today! He has had to face a lot in his young life and now he has to deal with having cerebral palsy. He has been diagnosed as a quadriplegic which means all 4 limbs are effected. He has limited head, arms and leg control. He eats by a tube that is placed right into his stomach. And even though he has all these involvements he is still the happiest little guy around!

He is involved in physical therapy, speech therapy and horseback riding and even though these things help we want to do more! So after much research we want to take Jonathan to Germany! Here we will get him stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is a drug-free alternative focused on affecting physical changes in the brain that can improve a child's quality of life.There is a lot of controversy out there regarding stem cell and why we picked Germany is because they use the persons own stem cells! So the procedure is that they take bone marrow from Jonathan's hip then after collecting the bone marrow they process it in a laboratory and both the quality and quantity are measured. These cells have the potential to transform into multiple types of cells and are capable of regenerating or repairing damaged tissue. Then the stem cells are implanted back into Jonathan by lumbar puncture.

Like I said we want to do this but need help with the cost. Its approx. 12,500 USD. That does not include the hotel, airfare, transportation or food! So if you could spare even a dollar it would make a difference in a very special little boy!

Everything should be falling into place soon. We are looking into doing a spaghetti dinner and have already received some donations! We also will have t shirts for sale in a couple weeks! Every donation and every sale from the dinner and t shirts will go to Jonathan!

The kids birthday party

2010-11-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic day we had for the birthday party! We had it at a gymnastic center. They had trampolines, a foam pit, ropes, beams they did some fun activities with all the kids including a parachute game! I think all the kids had fun. Jonathan really liked the trampoline and Leah loved the beams and ring things you hang on. We will be getting her into gymnastics as soon as she is old enough! We sang happy birthday then the kids got their cakes. Jonathan liked it but was more interested in his sister demolishing hers! Leah was timid at first then went to town there was no cake left when she was done she was even going to eat the plate! They kids got plenty of gifts. It was a lot of fun with family and friends. I can't believe my baby girl is 1 and Jonathan will be 3 in a couple weeks!

UNCLE MATT AND LEAH

MADY

Happy Birthday Leah!!

2010-11-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

Leah is a year old today!
This year flew bye so fast. I can remember last year like it was yesterday! I was going in for weekly non stress tests and diabetic check ups. I went in on a regular check up all looked great, fluid was right on, heart beat perfect and the most beautiful face ever! Then the general questions of how I was feeling and such. Then the nurse asked me how my insulin levels were doing and I didn't think anything of it but told her "well I haven't had to take any insulin and I had a cookie and my blood sugar was around 80" The nurse looked extremely concerned and said that is not normal you don't go from needed 100+units of insulin to nothing and being able to eat a cookie! So she got my doctor who said go get a milkshake drink it then check your blood sugar level 2 hrs later! I did exactly what he said and called and told them it was in the 80's. He said we were to come in the next day and be prepared for Leahs birth happening tomorrow! I told Justin and of course we were nervous but also knew we made it a lot longer then 25 weeks and we knew of the possibility of some NICU time. We went in checked blood sugar levels and then did a NST then the doctor came in and said we had to deliver! So Justin wheeled me down to birthing area they started hooking me up, everyone was taking guesses of weight and no lie I guessed 5 lbs 5ozs Justin guessed 6lbs and everyone else was in between except for some crazy resident that thought she would be about 7lbs?! They said the birth(c-section) would take place approx. 2pm we called everyone and did some texting we had lots of prayers going on for a safe and healthy baby. Justin was extremely nervous I was a bit nervous but I was also at peace knowing that this time the whole time I was pregnant with Leah I never had control but its God that I put in control. I knew this pregnancy would be o.k! It was 3pm when the doctor came in and said its time, o.k now I was nervous just because c-sections and the last time with the boys was so fast and scary! This time was so different. I was wheeled in met the doc that would give me a spinal and he was a cool as heck never felt a thing!So after the spinal Justin came in. There was the doctor and his assistant, a resident, a nurse and the anesthesiologist. Justin held my hand until they gave him the all clear to start video taping. Then he video taped them cutting me! This is kinda how it went down:

Justin with the video camera no less: Laura this is so cool, I have never seen someones guts just laying on them!

Me: Justin please, I am a little nauseated

Justin: But Laura this is so cool, OH MY GOSH THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THERE!!!!

Me: Justin SERIOUSLY!

The doctors: Justin why don't you sit down next to your wife for a little bit!

Justin o.k but can I keep the camera so we can watch this later?!

docs: thats fine just sit down!

Me: Thank You

Then all of a sudden there was this ear piercing cry, Justin jumped up, I was crying and laughing what beautiful music!Out came little miss Leah! She had the cord around her neck twice! They let me hold her all gooey and everything cord still attached. Then they took her, cleaned her up, weighed her 5 lbs 4.7ozs!They told us she was perfect and didn't need any intervention, she was sucking away at the nurses fingers and breathing perfectly! All I kept hearing was Justin asking them are you sure she doesn't need any oxygen or anything are you sure and even though they kept reassuring him he still was very nervous. At one point he said should I come get you if she looks like she may need more oxygen and they said she won't she is perfectly normal! I watch the video often so thats how I know all this part! The pediatrician looked her over and then they gave her to me, my beautiful, perfect, healthy baby girl! I only held her a minute because I was so nauseated and when they handed her to Justin he looked like a brand new dad! He was so scared of breaking her even though two years prior we had a 1 lb 12 oz baby and a 1 lb 15 oz baby! SO after I recovered I was sent to my own private room where I got to hold my baby and bond, she latched on the very first time I tried. I was crying so hard that my tears where going into her face! I never wanted to let go of the feeling the bonding that I felt at that very moment. I praised God, I laughed out loud, I sang "What a Mighty God We Serve" I was so happy no. really. I was happy! I didn't sleep a but maybe a couple hours I just wanted to hold her they kept me there a day longer because the lactation consultant and my doctor just found it hard to believe she lost her weight but by the second day was already gaining it back! We went home on a Saturday and I put her in the bassinet and just stared and thanked God for the billionth time!

Oh Leah where do I start. Our first few months together weren’t easy. You and I had long stretches of alone time every night doing what I began to refer as the midnight march. Starting at around 6 p.m., you were only happy either nursing or nestled against my chest as I walked and walked until the new day had begun - usually some time after midnight.There's one tough night that stands out from those foggy, sleep-deprived days. I just bursted into tears. And so did you. It was just the two of us crying so completely in the darkness, neither one of us knowing what was really wrong.Oh, but it was so worth it. You are so worth it. I remember thinking I’d do anything to have those long nights end. But now that they're just a piece of our past together, crazy, maternal me sometimes misses those marches and bouncing you and whispering to your sweet, helpless self.

Leah, in just one very, very quick year you have given me more than I could ever imagine. Your smiles are endless. Your giggles are constant. That fussy newborn has been replaced with a very happy baby. You’re crawling and cruising along furniture while standing, but I don’t think you’re going to be walking too soon. You love it when I crawl on the floor with you. You’ll start giggling and will speed up as if we were playing a game of chase.I love hearing your giggles or seeing you grin and wave your hand to everyone you meet. Every day with you is a gift.

I love you so much, Leah. I can’t wait to see your personality continue to emerge and to watch you grow and change.
Happy first birthday, sweet baby girl!

Love you to the moon and back,
Mommy

A miracle? No, he is a survivor!

2010-10-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

So many people tell me what a miracle Jonathan is and yes he is a miracle but I would have to say he is more of a survivor!
A miracle is a baby that last 40 weeks in a womb with no complications,comes out crying, has an apgar score of between 8 and 10, is able to cuddle with the momma after getting cleaned up and after a couple days of being in the hospital while mommy recovers gets to go home! That is a miracle! Jonathan didn't get any of that however he did survive! He survived a premature birth of 25 weeks, he survived inside an incubator (far from the comforts of the womb), the endless suctioning, the pokes, the lights, the noise, the touching and a surgery! He survived a breathing machine that did all the work of "breathing" for him. He survived from getting any illnesses that would require more intervention. He survived from getting ROP, NEC, MRSA, and brain bleeds. He survived after a PDA surgery at 2 weeks old!He survived 5 months in the NICU! He SURVIVED even after the doctors told us he wouldn't!!
Even as the days go on he is still our survivor and always will be!

11 months old!!

2010-10-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Holy cow 11 months, REALLY?!
Leah is amazing, seriously she is a great girl! She is into everything pretty happy but also is very dramatic a nice combination! She keeps us on our toes! She is walking along all the furniture and will stand for a few seconds before falling onto her bum! Everything seems so easy for her it makes me happy and sad. To see and experience what "typical" really is, makes it frustrating to me and to see what Jonathan should be doing. But I do praise God because I have learned so much from Jonathan that has helped me along the way for Leah! So just some things that Leah does and says!
Waves bye bye and hi
blows kisses
claps
dances
puts arms up for "up"
says hello
hi
ball
mama
dada
papa
baba(for her bottle but also for Jonathan((bubba))
waztha for whats that
ooh ooh aah aah for a monkey
and I think thats it!

I can't believe she is going to be 1 in a couple weeks. I was so happy when Jonathan turned one. I couldn't wait to throw his party gosh I had it 2 months early(because of rsv season) but was so ready and excited! Not so much this time maybe because she's the baby and I know there won't be any more babies coming from my body. I did want to have 4 to 5 kids, Justin and I talked about this before getting married we wanted a big family! But with everything that has happened with both pregnancies this will be it and even though I am a bit sad I know I have the two best kids in the world!

A need to brag!!!!

2010-10-05T18:48:00.000-07:00

I am the happiest mom ever, when I heard that Jonathan walked in the "Hopsa" I was happy. But then the teacher said they took video I was estatic! It brought tears to my eyes, this is great. Here is to another milestone!
BTW this is not the way I brought Jonathan to school! He was wearing a shirt over his onsie and he did have his afo's and shoes on!

An apple a day..!

2010-09-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Jonathans first week of PRESCHOOL!

2010-09-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Jonathans first day with his new elmo backpack he picked out!

Can you believe it, the first day of preschool?! I remember when I prayed for him to make it till the next day! Oh my little man is growing up! So the first day went very well for him and I did alright of course I cried but I controlled myself.
We checked out the other kids, seen his coat rack with his name on it, and talked with his teacher Miss Ashley! When I got home it was just me and Leah, I was lost. My routine was gone to some degree but it was nice to have some one on one time with Leah. I think she was wondering where her brother went because she kept crawling around the living room a bit confused. When one o'clock came rolling around I was so eager to see my boy and there he was sleeping, I had to do a double take because my boy sleeping thats a miracle! So we woke him up and he was happy as could be. We said bye to the kids and I couldn't stop kissing him, I missed him so much. The next day was harder for him and me! He was happy walking into the school however when the teacher came to get him he started crying and had a little blue spell. He is so darn smart he understood that this was the place I dropped him off! So we tried to reassure him and I stayed for a bit but when I was leaving he started crying. I knew I had to just go but it was so darn hard! When I picked him up the report was great! He settled down and then had fun in the swing and hitting the toys. He LOVES circle time and Miss Ashley said he is making choices with his eyes on what songs he wants to hear so I was really happy about that! He did great all in all and he loves school so far!

10 months old!

2010-09-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

O.k could someone please tell me where the pause button is! Leah is growing up way to fast! Its sad really, when you have a special needs child you get to enjoy each milestone for awhile but with Leah once she masters something shes on to something else!

She is pulling up everywhere, its so scary. I don't want her to fall and hurt herself but i also know this is part of her learning so she has fallen and no tears just gets up and does it again! I swear my hair is getting grayer by the minute!
She dances, its very cute I must say. I really want to get her into a tumbling class she would rock it out there! I just caught on that when she poo's I usually say pee you and hold my nose well 8 out of 10 times when she goes number 2 she says pooh its awesome, thinking I'll have to get a potty chair for her 1st birthday and if we are lucky she can be potty trained before 18 months, just some wishful thinking:-) She is eating great but not really gaining guess she will be skinny minnie like I WAS! She is getting some beautiful hair in a very sandy blonde. And yes she still is temperamental boy its her way or no way and she screams, LOUD! So different to a little boy that you can barely hear, but Jonathan does laugh when she cries which now makes her more upset. I can see battles ahead and me having to give a little since I am very hard headed! Overall she is sweet, loves the camera, and can fool anyone into thinking she is a quiet happy baby all the time, she gets them every time!!

Being silly and renaissance festival

2010-09-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

WE went into a costume place to look at costumes and ended up making everyone laugh in the place with having the kids try on different masks. It was a riot my daughter loves the camera and being silly and Jonathan loves seeing people laugh. I think we spent a good 2 hours in this place we had so much fun!

We went to the renaissance festival in holly which we do every year! It was fun. Jonathan loves watching the jousting and Leah loved seeing the ladies dance and sing! We had a group of girls dance with all their attire just for Leah it was great she laughed and danced right along!
They had a petting farm and both kids loved that, I have never known a kid to love animals as much as Jonathan does. Its great maybe he will be a veterinarian some day:) They also had a playscape and the kids liked the slide, who doesn't!
They both had fun going down every time we would get ready to walk away poor Jon would give us his boo boo lip and pout, we'd say o.k one more time and he would be all smiles, I love this kid!

Virginia

2010-09-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Virginia was nice, very warm but nice!Leah and I flew and my dad, brother and Jonathan drove. We stayed for a week and did a lot. beforeafter
Jonathan got a haircut on the military base at Quantico he liked seeing all the guys in uniform getting their haircut and felt like such a big boy sitting next to them however when the lady buzzed his hair in the back he wasn't going for that, I think the back of his head is sensitive. We did a lot of shopping on base its cheaper and there is no tax so I had to take advantage of that. We went to the arcade almost everyday since my aunt and uncle live so close the boys went go carting while I LOVED the batting cages!! The kids were great the whole week I was very impressed since I had to take them by myself everyday my brother did come with me but he likes video games so he didn't help unless it was convenient for him but thats o.k we managed. We tried sushi for the first time minus raw fish since I am still nursing and it wasn't so bad. Had a few krispy cremes which is really bad (fattening wise)! We also went to Kings Dominion that was so fun it was really nice at night with the lights and music both kids really enjoyed that!
It was a nice visit since my aunt and uncle haven't seen Jonathan in a year and hearing how much he had progressed since the last time they seen him made me feel real good because sometimes I forget how far Jonathan has come! And this was their first visit with Leah, oh is she a trip! She is very hard headed and wants everything her way! She would only go to my uncle if he would tell her he was going to see the doggie otherwise forget it she wanted mama! So know we are trying to squeeze everything in before summer is really over!

Michigan Adventure

2010-08-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

So I completely forgot to post on out recent Michigan Adventure camping trip!

We went about 3 weeks ago and it was great, the weather, the kids, the park! So we stayed at a new rv resort called duck creek it was awesome a great play area, a pool and hot tub, shuffleboard, and basketball! We took the camper and stayed 5 days we enjoyed just relaxing a couple of those days and went to the park and met up with one of Jonathans super therapists! Jonathan did get to go on some rides like the antique cars and the marry go round and ferris wheel it was really neat to see him enjoy that. Then we headed to the water park where Jon slept the whole time and Leah took a nice nap while on the lazy river! Justin and I got to enjoy a couple rides while the kids were being watched by my dad and brother, it was fun!

We headed up to ludington and met up with my cousin and her husband for some tasty ice cream then we headed back to camp to bbq and watch all the kids in the park cruise around with their bikes that had glow sticks on them (it was the parks version of the dream cruise)
Jon really enjoyed that! So it was a really nice trip that even when we left I got to go do some retail therapy for school clothes for Jon! If anyone is looking for great pants that are really slim, like Jon is. Baby gap/gap kids, has them new this year there called the 1969 slim pant the are small in the waist and legs and they're adjustable(waist)if your kid like mine has a super tiny waist!

West Virginia 2010

2010-08-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

What a blast this vacation was! Its was hot very hot but we all had so much fun well maybe not the whole time!
So we left wednesday and spent the night in Ohio we arrived at our cabin early thursday. We checked out our surronding tried to organize our days and what we were going to do beside white water raft! We did some sightseeing thursday and just relaxed and that night we enjoyed a fire while sitting in the hot tub that was on the deck looking into the woods a bit freaky but it was relaxing which was much needed even the kids slept good that night! Friday Justin and I went rafting while my parents took the kids for a hike and lunch. Rafting was so much fun this was my 6th time rafting and Justins 1st so it just happened to be that we were both the captains of our raft which is really funny because we are both seriously competitve so when the guide said forward it was like a race to see which one of us could get our side going faster! The guide cracked me up both of us liked him and we will definitly request him again. So in all my rafting I have NEVER fell in well of course we being miss big shot was telling justin we are coming up to the first rapids and boom I fell in! I don't think I have ever seen the look he had on his face before it was the look that he just lost me forever, it was nice! But after I got back in he never let me live it down. So there was afew spots the guide let us jump in and float on our backs though class 1 rapids (very mild) and it was fun until he warned us about the copperhead and rattle snakes that like to swim across the river thats all it took I no longer went into the water! So the guide said this was the last of teh rapids we could get out and swim if we wanted, nope nadda not me! So it was little ol me by myself in the raft all the rest of the folks even the guide went in until he came up behind me and pulled me in and Justin was in on it!!!! Oh well it was all in good fun. So we got back to camp and I ran up to teh kids and the look on my parents face told the whole story, I said was she hard to deal with and both together said"yea" my dad went on to say not for a little longer will we watch her she has lungs and she knows how to use them! What I forgot to mention is Leah is really starting to be clingy to me and only me its pretty much mama ALL. THE. TIME! So after kissing on teh kids we went for a hike! It was a great hike 3 miles long and it was pretty strenuos up the mountain to the most beautiful ridge looking over the river we rafted and the famous arched bridge! Now that night we needed teh hot tub because we were sore! Saturday the boys (justin and dad) went zip lining it looked fun but its drop off was really high and you got up to 50 to 60 mph and that scared me a bit! They had fun and thats all that mattered, there were some awesome ATV trails which we are hoping to take our new rzr out to next year! Then we did some hiking along the river and let Leah play in it, Jon wasn't havening it he just wanted to "walk" we went back to the cabin and yes went in the hot tub again. Sunday we left, it was so much fun and can't wait for next year! Our summers go by way to fast we stay so busy and fall is just around the corner here in Michigan! We are hoping to do one more small vacation before hibernation, we are hoping to go to Kalahari resort and then it will be time for halloweekends at ceder point!

9 months old

2010-08-17T04:35:00.000-07:00

o.k so I am a little late for this but hey better late than never! We just got back from our 5 day vaca from W. Virginia but I will update on that later.

So little miss Leah is 9 months old! She is doing great into everything! She was in the 50% percentile for weight, height and head circumference. She crawls everywhere and is trying to stand up it's actually really scary how fast she is developing. She eats great when she likes it and it has to be from plum organics or ella organics she's picky!She loves to feed herself even if that means getting the food into her hair and ALL over her face, its messy but i love it its a wonderful thing to see her explore and try new things! She is babbling all the time says mama constantly and ba for balloon she loves balloons. She is not sleeping great at the moment through the night but she is cutting yet another tooth this will mean she will have 7 teeth which is far more than she should have at her age. She is trying so very hard to do a somersault which even amazed our pediatrician when she seen it! So all in all she is a spunky little girl with so much life and love to give, I love her so much even if it means sleepless nights again for awhile!

A glimpse into Euro-Peds!

2010-08-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

So we are through with our second week of Euro-peds and even though the first week was rough, a couple blue spells due to the stretching we are gaining so much more head control and range of motion with Jonathans legs!

So like I said the first week was rough! Just a different therapist and environment was a lot. Then add intense stretching some lady massaging arms and legs while laying on warm body packs for 45 minutes. Then its exercise time! So the first day was arm splints on, in crawling position, sand bag on legs to keep tone down(excellent idea) and lift, lift, lift your head! Then he did some chin tucks on a giant ball then he sat up while keeping his head up, this is all very difficult for Jon and sometimes he uses his tone to keep his head up but hey whatever works! So the stretching and massage is at every visit but the exercises will change from day to day. The second visit was that Jonathan got to ride a bike, this bike was very cool!
SO the therapist and Jon's aide helped get him in strap him up and as I am watching I say please watch his g-tube area and they already had a custom pad around it then I say are you sure he can do this he has very little head control the response I get, he will be o.k mom we've seen kids like him before and they do fine. And that's it he did just fine nothing around his head to keep it up he did it all by himself!!! It was so cool I was really trying to hide my tears as my little boy cruised with help up and down the hallway and he was keeping his head up by himself the whole way.
He lasted about 10 minutes then he was exhausted they got him out but he still had to do some sitting exercises for the last 15 minutes by the time we left and got into the car he was out and snoring! I love this bike and if he continues to love it as much as he did I think we will have to invest in one for Christmas!
I do have to say that some of the exercises that he does we have done before however their techniques like the sandbag on his legs to keep his tone down is fantastic or using the arm wraps for his head control brilliant. I really think he has already gained a lot from here in the short 2 weeks and there is so much more they have to offer ideas, equipment, techniques it's great not only for Jon but for me to use these techniques and to help other parents try these ideas they may have not known about.
I think we will be doing another round of HBOT in September in conjunction with Euro-peds and see if that does anything!

A visit to Jonathan new school!

2010-07-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we went to visit Pathway the school Jon will attend this fall! It was nice, we got there and the teacher greeted us and then took us to the classroom where the kids were having circle time! We sat in the circle Jon on my lap he looked a bit confused at first seeing all these kids. They were singing songs mostly the aides were singing, there were about 6 kids all with different aspects of disability. Then one of the aids came to Jon and asked him to pick a song his choices, wheels on the bus (his favorite) or head shoulders knees and toes. He looked right away at the picture of the bus and its history from there. He was so happy smiling and very attentive for the rest of the songs. When it was time to leave he started to cry, this is new for him. When he wants to continue doing something he gives us a boo boo lip or starts crying so we say one more time and he smiles from ear to ear! So we looked around the classroom said bye to the kids and then he was ready. We met with the nurse who is very nice but better then that she is very precise which is what I like I know he will get feed and be treated just fine. Jon will have his own aid that is shared with one other kiddo, they really were involving every kid with what they did. They have so much equipment for mobility to laying they have great toys and things for him to develop and speech boy they have computers and so many different programs for the kids. So even though it did bring tears to my eyes to see him in school I am reassured this is the right thing to do for him.

Creepster Crawler

2010-07-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Jonathan loves the creepster he does well, to keep his nogging up is very hard work but otherwise I think this video shows just how good he does! i am just so proud of him!

Jonathans Chill Out chair

2010-07-12T14:07:00.001-07:00

Jonathan got a new chair called the Chill Out chair, I love this thing! So when we went in for our evaluation at Euro Peds about 3 weeks ago I had to fill out tons of paper work, not even kidding! One was a liabilty form if they were to sprain or break a bone they can't be liable, crazy! Anyway I was holding Jon and I said well I really don't want to put him on the ground she replied o.k put him in that chair! I looked at her and thought are you crazy my son as you know is a spastic quad with very limited trunk control he can't sit up in a chair, I told her he can't sit up in a chair by himself she responded and said its o.k he will be able to its made for kids with his tone! I put him in it and noticed it was sunken in where his tushy goes, I'll be a monkeys uncle he sat in his first chair unassisted no straps nothing, all by himself! I called right when we got in the car and it happened to be that they were having a HUGE sale, I really wish I bought another one but oh well I am so happy we have this one! It also comes with an ottoman! We will use this everywhere we already brought it to our friends kiddos birthday party it was so nice to sit him in a chair and not have to hold him or lay him down. He was so happy to be in the action where he could see the kids! We will use this chair everywhere, did I mention we ALL love this chair!

Leah at 8 months

2010-07-12T08:45:00.001-07:00

Leahs first attempt of egg yolks!

Leah is growing just so fast its unbelievable! She masters a new milestone it seems each week!

She now has her two bottom teeth and her two top teeth are half way through, our nights have been long her poor little teeth hurt! She is still getting my milk however I have had to supplement with 4 to 5ozs of formula a day to keep up! She eats some finger foods egg yolks were a hit however she got a little rash on her back so will will try again later. She still loves all vegetables I steamed some broccoli and she loved it, still not a fan of fruit, juice not even melon the girl loves veggies. She however did eat chicken and turkey, chicken being her favorite esp. if its mixed with some baby carrots. I got this cookbook and absolutely love it its called First Meals by Annabel Karmel its a really awesome book that is not only for babies but toddlers too heck there are meals I want to try like enchiladas with turkey and tomato sauce, mmm!
She is crawling everywhere, she just started going on her knees and she rocks and then falls back on her tummy and inch worms everywhere its only a matter of time she has her belly off the floor and really cruising! She walks with our help of holding her hands but isn't showing int rest of pulling herself up yet, I know she is only 8 months old! She continues to say momma and seems like she is starting to say dada, she LOVES to sing. I start singing the abc song and she sings right along in her own babble of course.
Leah singing!
She "talks" to Jonathan and loves playing with him, and Jonathan just eats it up he gets frustrated some times and will use his legs to completely turn himself the other way when he doesn't want to play anymore because Leah is usually getting a little rough which makes Leah very upset that he doesn't want to play!
She is still a little peanut weighing in at 15 1/2 lbs but is 27 inches long so another long and skinny kiddo! I love this girl she keeps me on my toes and who ever told me it was going to be easier I say HA to you its not easier she is a handful but I will take it everyday of the week!

2010-07-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

Two of the cutest kids I know!!

We had a great 4th of July spent with family and friends, we have a party every year actually this was the 10th one I have hosted! We did have an E.R run due to my husband getting 1st and 2nd degree burns thankfully he is going to recover with little to no damage! We managed to get out of the E.R and my husband still went about the firework display! We had a couple first timers and their response was " I had no idea you had a show like this" we have it on the lake so there were a lot of boats docked in the middle waiting for the show! Leah wanted nothing to do with it and Jonathan loved it!

Jonathan had a sleep study a couple weeks ago and to our surprise they told us he has severe sleep apnea and wanting us to come in for an appointment with their ENT! We went today and this was by far the worst appointment ever beside getting a look at his vocal chords, which deemed that he has no paralyzing to them! However this ENT doctor told us his tonsils and adenoids look great so they could do the surgery and MAYBE that could help, so tell me do you really think I am going to put him through a surgery that MAY help and IF it help it will only help 1 or 2%. Give me a break no way am I doing that plus since the study I have watched him for numerous hours while he sleeps and yes he does wake up a little to catch his breathe but only because he is in a deep sleep as the doc put it its while in rem our deepest sleep cycle. So another option is to try CPAP the same idea as when he was really itty bitty so we will try this I am sure it will be unsuccessful because who wants to sleep with something stuck to their face but we will try. The nurse practitioner said it plain and simple surgery isn't going to help but maybe a bit, cpap may help but him maturing will help the best! So as I said we will try CPAP and go from there!

We are planning our Michigan Adventure trip at the end of July, Jonathan is going twice a week for horse therapy and he starts Euro-Peds July 22nd and will continue swimming but will have to eliminate horse therapy because of the intensity of Euro-Peds!

Mackinaw, Ballonfest and Jonathans new chair!!

2010-06-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

I think I have the cutest boy in the world!

Its been awhile since I posted and a lot has been going on. we love summer we are hardly ever home actually we only sleep there it seems these days!

We went to mackinaw a couple weeks back with our friends the Buckleys and it was fun! A lesson learned we no longer will camp up north during the first few weeks of June, it was raining again this year and a bit cooler! We did get to go to the island and it was very nice the first half of the day then it rained and got really cold. We also went to the falls in the upper peninsula and we got to visit family! Over all it was a nice trip but any trips with family and friends is FUN!

We also went to the ballonfest in Howell last week that was beautiful the weather and the fireworks, we went again with the Buckleys and I think their kiddos and Justin had the most fun, he was throwing them up in the air and they were giggling so hard it was priceless! We also had my friends the Hoags with their little guy Michael he's a cutie!

Jonathan went with my parents to the international fireworks they actually spent the night on the Canadian side so they could also visit family, he had a great time! He has also seen the Livonia fireworks and Hamburg fireworks I think we have a pyro on our hands, hehe but he does LOVE the noise and colors!

Jonathans is going to be going with my parents down south for a week to visit family I am still undecided if I am going but know he will have a great time with or with out me, he loves his grandma and papa!

And lastly Jonathan received his tomato chair, I love this chair! It took 6 months to get its made just for him and he likes it, its nice to see him sitting up. It has a huge tray too so we can put stuff up there so he can play however he mostly knocks them off but whos to complain he's using his arms to do that!

THERAPY

2010-06-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would show you a couple pics of Jon in the pool at therapy. He is doing really well in the head control department! So I can't say he has it completly in control and he doesn't keep it up a lot but its more, more than ever! HE is now lifting his head and body in the pool. He uses the head float but if you notice the therapist is barely holding him he brings those legs up and kicks and he holds his head up for a little while! HE loves swimming so this therapy won't stop any time soon plus a huge plus we LOVE his therapist Tracy!!!

We got our evaluation from Euro-Peds and I am beyond excited!! Jonathan was able to lift his head with no help! The therapist Jenn was able to hold the tops of his shoulder for stability but nobody had to give his head a lift HE DID IT ON HIS OWN!!!!! I am the proudest parent in the world! I Love this kid!!!!!!

Where is time going?!

2010-06-06T16:52:00.000-07:00

Leah is now 7 months old! She scoots and rolls, has two bottom teeth, says hi and mama,her favorite foods are green beans and carrots and has an attitude like no other!

Were Home!

2010-05-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

Our group
Jonathans pal Ben, Jonathan loved this boy, he was a pretty cool kid!!

Where the heck did time go, its almost June!!
We finished our last 20 dives and it went great. Jonathans muscles are looser and he now says papa! So far he can say, hi, I love you, bubbles, five,and papa a very random mix except papa he loves saying that! I was skeptical about HBOT (hyper baric oxygen treatment) and how it would work with Jonathan and if it would even work. To tell the truth I was scared to death after his first 2 dives and thought we were going to pack up and leave because he had a blue spell, I was scared to death! I talked with my new friend Jen (we have known of each other via web for the last almost 3 years when we were both preggos with our boys)and she said to stick it out and she would pray, well thats it we stayed we seen results and I am so happy we stuck it out! We didn't really see great improvements until the second half. He was always happy EVERY day never mad, never had super stiff muscles, and is using his left arm so much more! I'd like to use someone else's quote because a lot of people can't believe what oxygen can do for you. "Sometimes GOD thinks outside the box"! So I am a believer of o2 therapy, so much that we may go back in September! Jen and I
We met some really great people, and actually Jen and her family will meet up with us in August for some whitewater rafting, I can't wait!
Here is a couple shots of the trails we took while in N.C, they were on the very tip of the mountain!

On our way home we stopped in Kentucky, Cumberland Falls area and took both kids horseback riding I wasn't nervous at all until I actually was on the horse then I told the guide to keep the money and we would go back! He said y'all will be fine don't worry so I continued the ride with Leah and my dad with Jonathan, I wasn't at all calm until I seen the barn again on our way back, WHAT WAS I THINKING! It went fine both kids LOVED it but my crazy mind kept thinking what if, and that in itself is scary! Then we went back to the hotel to find a tick on my belly, YUCK, GROSS and FREAKY!! I was trying to stay calm but I was screaming inside! The receptionist was kind enough to come down and gradually pull the ugly little rodent out of me, ugh! I couldn't sleep a wink I kept looking at the kids checking them out, threw out all the clothes we wore that day and bought new shoes, I was freaked! We headed home the next morning and we were out of the hotel at 1030am a first because we never get out before noon I think not sleeping and the thought of ticks being all around me had something to do with it!
So we are home now and Jonathan is doing great but me trying to get back in the swing of things is hard! Just a couple weeks and we are going on a family vacation with our friends!

Half way done, 20 more dives to go!

2010-05-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

O.k so we have been here for 20 dives we have 20 more dives to go! Jonathan is a champ he is doing really good actually every morning I ask him "do you want to see the kids" well no brainer he smiles and is ready to go! Every morning for the last 4 days he has been doing AIT therapy before and after each dive so at the end of the day he is so tired. He will continue the AIT therapy until the end of next week.
after his long days!

I do believe we have seen some improvement with Jonathan's muscles they are more relaxed he is not as stuck to the right and I think his brain to muscles may be communicating better. I see him look at his arm and you can see him think about what he is going to do with it and since his muscles are more relaxed his movement seem smoother.

I can't wait to see what 20 more dives are going to do. I keep hearing from other families the o2 really helps the kids eyes so I guess we will see (no pun intended)!
The oxygen chamber where 4 adults and their child sit in and when you get to pressure the kiddos put on the hood as Jonathan has on!

We have went on some walks in the mountains and hopefully this weekend, we only get Sundays off, we will go see Grandfather mountain with another family. Today we are going to a dinner with the other families. This past Tuesday we went with Ben and his mom Bonnie to a circus but when we, Bonnie and I thought circus we thought elephants big tent but what we got was a lady that did face painting, dancing and concession and a guy that was a clown, sponge bob, a snake handler and concession. so a two man show but there were 3 dogs that did some tricks too but it was the company that was fun. I think Bonnie and I laughed more at how bizarre this circus was than anything! So we are having fun and staying busy.

On another note Leah is doing great too. She turned 6 months old last week she is ALMOST to crawling and eating more than I can make, so I think with the frozen supply I may only get 8 months of b. milk in Leah I really wanted a year but if I can make it to 8 months I will be so happy! When she is out of b.milk she will go to goats milk since it is so easy to digest and it just plain better for us!

Miracle Mountain (HBOT)

2010-05-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful state, North Carolina is rich in mountains and the air is so clean the people are a lot sweeter, nicer and respectful! The drive was uneventful besides taking the road they warn you not to take because it is full of sharp turns high altitude and some almost one lane roads along the mountain. This would be my fathers idea he thought it would be cool to experience it, uh ya real cool! Well the center is not what I expected but hey its not the outside that counts its what is inside, right?! The house (trailer) we are staying in is o.k but when they offer you mouse traps when you first arrive, I freaked to the point I was going to pay for a hotel but since we are high in the mountains it would be a 40 min ride each way! So I have stuck it out and this is day four oh I am such a city girl! The weather is phenomenal warm days cool nights I am not complaining.

Jonathan is doing great his very first dive went very well. I think he was wondering what the heck this bubble on his head was! The second dive went o.k he freaked out a little towards the end and had a blue spell(breathe holding) but after that did fine, just freaked everyone out! Second day went awesome for all the kids in our group and yesterday was an off day for Jonathan but he did well he actually fell asleep for the afternoon dive. Today we are moving from the 8am group to the 10am group and I am sad because we met two really cool kids but we can still hang out after sessions! So this morning we will be with a different group the plus is Jonathan will be with his "earthly twin" (thanks Jen) Like I have posted in the previous post her little boy, Liam and Jonathan are very alike so that will be nice to be with them. I haven't seen really any improvements yet except that supposedly oxygen is a natural laxative because Jonathan has not needed anything for his bowels I feel bad because its really enclosed and Jonathan doesn't have the most beautiful smelling poo! But because we are all in this same boat just some kids are higher functioning but some are a lot lower functioning everybody understands! So continued prayers would be great!

I really do love being here its like a whole new world, a world where everyone is "special" there is no staring, no name calling, no use of the "r" word just a bunch of kids that all want to play together and parents that can talk to each other and everyone can relate to being to tired, not knowing if we are doing enough, what does the future hold for our children and how far do you go for your child and when enough is enough! You know this therapy is for Jonathan but I think I am benefiting from it also. I am the only first timer everyone here has done this before and have seen minor to some pretty incredible improvements. Yesterday while we were in chamber I watch a mom singing to her daughter which she does every dive and her daughter has visual impairments as well as infantile spasms or seizures and this is their second time doing o2 therapy this little girl has been seizure free and yesterday while she was singing the little girl seemed to look at her momma and she was smiling and laughing it was tear jerking to say the least. There are a couple little boys who are autistic and are doing fabulous actually the parent to one of the boys was in my group and this is their second time and are staying 2 months for back to back therapy because they have seen great improvements!

Well I must go to our session please pray we continue to have successful dives!

Leaving for a month for HBOT

2010-04-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

So we are headed for an adventure to NC! We will be gone for one month to try hyperbaric oxygen treatments (HBOT) It will be done twice a day for 6 days a week! We are excited to go and can't wait to see the results! I actually know someone that has gone through it already and will be back when we are there. I have actually known this person a fellow micro preemie mom from way back when I was on a forum for pregnant with twins. We both lost one of our sons and our surviving sons are very similar in aspects to their CP. I believe her son was a 23 weeker and Jonathan is a 25 weeker and they were born a week apart! Well she seen a difference in her son and thats why they are going back. So we looked into doing this last summer because there is a treatment center only 5 miles from us! However they do more geriatrics then children and since this is our first time I wanted LOTS of experience for Jonathan! This place we are going is all about children so like I said we are excited! I will try and post as much as possible while we are there to update everyone! Please keep us in your prayers!

A Day Out with Thomas

2010-04-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

My dad and brother took Jonathan to Greenfield Village for a Day Out with Thomas the train! Jonathan loves trains and had a lot of fun despite the colder weather! Last year Jonathan would have never let any stranger touch him let alone put a temp. tattoo on him but this year was different he watched the lady put it on, his muscles were not tight and was happy enough to let her put one more on the other arm! Funny thing when I was little my parents were strict and I could never have a temp. tattoo because I might get some kind of ink poisoning but my son gets two!
When you look at his photos notice how great his head is midline and his muscles aren't to tight and this is him with NO baclofen, I love it but wish I would have taken him off sooner!

All about Jonathan

2010-04-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

Jonathan is in the middle of lifting his head!

So much to blog so little time!

Well Jonathan got his new AFO's (braces to help correct his walking) and he didn't mind the braces however it was hard for him to walk with the braces and shoes since the shoes are one size bigger so they are a tad heavy but he is getting used to them and I see a little of an improvement but now we have a problem of the AFO's not fitting so we are waiting for the orthopedists to come out and either fix the area they are making red marks on his foot or he might need new ones!

Jonathan is officially in a big boy bed, no more crib! He likes it for the whooping 20 minutes he is in it but still prefers to sleep right next to grams and papa!On the weekends he is right next to Justin and I and Leah is in her bassinet on the other side, one big happy family!

Jonathan has started swimming and LOVES it, we have taken him off his baclofen and we (therapists incl.) have seen some remarkable stuff he is moving his arms so free. He now waves bye bye with his whole arm. He is reaching and grabbing for things the therapists puts in the pool, hi is in a GREAT mood! It is the best thing to see your child achieve and conquer things he has been trying so hard to do, we are all so proud! He is now saying bubbles and he has been saying hi however he is using it correctly too! When we meet someone or he see his therapist he says hi, its great!

So this past weekend my parents and brother wanted to take Jonathan to the monster truck show my response, yea right way to loud for him even if he wore earmuffs! So we compromised they took him for the pit pass engagement. He looks like he enjoyed by the pictures. My mom says he was laughing and smiling at all the big trucks so I was happy he went to that. My brother says he thinks it was the showgirls in skimpy outfits that he liked, oh boy! So theres our little man all boy for sure! Can't wait till this years fairs for the demolition derbies and truck pulls he did love those too!

5 months old

2010-04-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

Yes Leah is 5 months old she is getting so big! She is now sitting almost unassisted, she is on her belly and is kicking to start scooting, she is talking up a storm(babble), she is now eating cereal, she loves to stand, she is very observant, she puts EVERYTHING in her mouth, she's been rolling for the last couple weeks, she loves car rides, and she now puts her arms up almost consistently for "up" she is very smart and I am not just saying that cause she is my kid, she really is she picks up things so fast and her pediatrician still thinks she is a month to two ahead of her peers.

We are very proud of her. She sees a p.t for some very minor torticollis and actually we will be discharged in a couple weeks but her therapist says she has never worked or known of a baby at 4 months old trying to sit up and play with her toys she said it is so rare and now that she is 5 months old we can let her go for almost 10 seconds without her falling to the side! The therapist thinks with just how fast she is going trying to scoot on her belly she may be crawling soon, she also thinks she may be an early talker and walker. Its just awesome not only is she doing good but she has helped Jonathan already in so many ways. I just love my children they are the best in the WORLD

21 Weeks

2010-04-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

Your probably wondering why I would name a post 21 weeks, why is this so significant? Well 21 weeks is when my water broke and I ended up in the hospital till the boys were born(they were born at 25 weeks). 21 weeks is how long Jonathan(Preston passed away) stayed in the hospitals neonatal intensive care unit. And 21 weeks is how old Leah is.
I never realized how long 21 weeks really is, it seemed like forever when we were in the hospital but 21 weeks have flown by with Leah. 21 weeks almost 1/2 a year, a half year I missed bonding with Jonathan. Leah was born 5 weeks early but the bonding started right away as she was pulled out and we heard her cry o.k scream she was placed on my chest. What a feeling a feeling I missed with my boys a feeling I longed for. Leah came home with us and fortunutly no nicu time. We co sleep with her, she lives in her baby bjorn attached to me most of the day I know her cries I try to know her wants before she cries, some call this attached parenting I call it "normal" For the last 21 weeks I have been able to kiss, love, and snuggle with Leah. I play with her and will just look into her blue eyes that are looking right back at me and think this is what its suppose to be like, this is how all moms(dads too) should be able to bond with their babies. My bonding with Jonathan didn't really start till he was home. Yes I was able to hold Jonathan and kiss him in the n.i but its not the same you have nurses watching you, some thinking why is she holding him so tight, why does she kiss him so much. (I can tell any of you, you will never know what its like to have a micro-preemie and I pray you never will have to know what its like!) A nurse actually had the audacity to tell a social worker she was worried about Jonathans safety because I cried a lot, WHAT? My little boy fought for his life. I seen him get poked, bagged, surgry at 2 lbs, My baby boy Preston passed away after 6 hours, I cried a lot? I would love to tell that nurse guess what I still cry for all 3 of my children, Jonathan because I see just how far he has and is going for Preston because I miss him so much and Leah because she is just growing up so fast, too fast!I am just overwhelmed with joy for my 2 PERFECT living children. I still kiss and love on Jonathan I just wish the bond would have started from the begining with BOTH my boys!

This story is true and it represents a fair share of mothers out there that have premature babies. Nobody should have to see their baby suffer from premature birth and in my case a death too! YOU can help prevent premature births by donating to the MARCH of DIMES. By donating the money raised for March for Babies you will be helping:

...support all-important research offering preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects

...educate women on things they can do to increase their chances of having a healthy baby

...provide comfort and information to families with a newborn in intensive care

...push for newborn screening and health insurance for all pregnant women and children.

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

If you would like to donate please go to http://buckleytriplets.blogspot.com/ and on the right hand side you can click to donate! I love this family we have become very good friends they have triplets that were born 14 weeks to soon and they are doing amazing!
We walked last year however this year we will be leaving April 23 to north carolina for a month to try HBOT hyper baric oxygen treatment for Jonathan! We will be donating to this cause and hopefully next year we can walk again!

Our family trip to the smokies 2010!

2010-03-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

Ah its nice to be home. Our trip was just awesome, the kids were great the weather was o.k and the places we seen were beautiful! Our first stop was in Kentucky, Cumberland Falls I have been going there since I was a kid. My parents took my bro and I for about 7 years straight.
We did some hiking which I know I had to have lost some weight because when you walk its not straight path its what they classified as mildly strenuous and yea they were right I am so out of shape!
Anyway we seen the falls did the hiking then left the next morning oh by the way the very first campground was a last minute idea, my all powerful husband thought we could make it without stopping and the kids would be fine and even though I told him we just went to florida and I know the kids will not make it that far he insisted well the kiddos won! The point this campground was so in the boonies we were the only family NOT living there and the next morning they had freakin roosters cock a doing at 430am not cool! So back to us leaving cumberland we headed to cleveland tn to my aunts house and we stayed there for 2 nights and went to chatanooga and seen Ruby falls in the caverns Leah did not know what to think as you see in her picture she was a bit freaked with the darkness, Jonathan being ALL boy loved it and was so happy!

Jonathan inside the camper

Grams and papa taking the kids for a walk

Then it was off to Gatlinburg tn to sum up our time there I am ready to move in a second! It was so beautiful we did some hiking, rode a sky tram (in which Leah let out the most horrific scream and scared everybody on the tram this guy with the most southern accent you can imagine said"I really thought something seriously terrible happened"!) into the mountains and there were people sking up there and when we left the ground it was a nice 65 degrees, crazy! We ate at almost every bbq place my hubbys idea not mine I am a bit sick of bbq. We went to Ripleys believe it or not museum, aquarium, house of mirrors and did as ski lift I did not enjoy that just a flimsy bar holding you all the way into the mountains!

We drove to the peak of the mountain again it was about 70 that day and when we got up there it was a30 degrees and ice all over the trees. Our last day we went to Dollyworld for opening day what a blast the shows were phenominal Jonathan loved all the dancing, music and lights and Leah was quiet a very rare thing for her these days! We did see Dolly Parton too!
We bought the greatest fudge in the world, snickers and yea so much for that hiking we did! Jonathan got to go on this dinosoar ride sitting on daddys lap and it was pitch black in the begining so I was a little scared but I don't know why cause he did great and of course loved it! This was by far our greatest family trip yet! Did I mention I want to move

Leah telling us ALL about it!

2010-03-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

I just thought I'd share with you a little bit of Leahs conversations she has with us lately. She has been babbling so much these past couple days its become routine for her to start her conversations in the morning and of course right before bed.

Family

2010-03-10T19:22:00.000-08:00

Great Grandma(gg)

We went and visited family yesterday. We went and seen gg and the kids great aunt and uncle. I feel so blessed to still have family gatherings, you know I think in a lot of families not just mine you can remember going over grandmas and have all the cousins over and just having fun. Well my dads mom passed away a couple years ago she was quite young I think 72 she kept the family together now I feel its my duty to uphold this "duty" she used to do. So Christmas this year was at our house. Its still not the same everyone grows up and goes their own way and you see each other when you have a family reunion every 5 years! Well I want it to go back and I will try my very hardest to let Jonathan and Leah be raised around their cousins, grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles, I loved it and I think they will too! Simply said "there is NOTHING like family!"

Leah is 4 months old!

2010-03-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

I took Leah to her 4 month well baby visit last week. Leah is doing everything "perfect" she is right on with her peers even though she was 5 weeks early and get this she is probably about a month ahead of her peers in regards to her head control, she does stomach crunches that are envied! She is sitting very well in her bumbo seat I should take pictures of that. She is out of her 3 month clothes and into 3-6 months she has such chunky thighs I love em!!

Right now her stats are
12 lbs 2 oz
23 3/4 inches
39.7 cm head cir.

she is growing great the only thing is she prefers to look to the right so we have to do some stretching to correct that. She rolled from front to back in the dr. office for the first time that was super cool! She babbles and coos so much I think she might like to talk like her mommy:-) Jonathan still loves to "hold" Leah, he can be having a bad day and all I have to say is "can u help mommy and hold Leah?" I get a super huge smile and when I put her next to him he "talks" to her, it would melt any moms heart!
I have to admit though Leah isn't to fond of any one holding her except mommy but she is now letting daddy hold her to but at night she only wants to snuggle with me, I secretly LOVE it but don't let Justin know, hehe

Just Chilling!

2010-03-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

The last week has been pleasant. We have been resting up for a very busy summer that we are extremely excited for! The kids have been chilling, enjoying the winter wonderland, Jonathan loved making snow angels.
We have been trying to be as "normal" as possible with Leah, we have gone to frankenmuth and spent the night so Jonathan could get some swimming time in and see the lights at Bronners, then we went to the outdoorama in Novi Jonathan was giving lots of attention by ALL. Every booth has something to offer about the outdoors, Jonathan got to pet lots of hunting dogs, and a bobcat. The exhibitors we're very kind to Jonathan going out of their way to show him the animals, it was nice. Of course Leah was oohed and ahhed at and a lot of she really looks like mommy, which I loved!

We will be leaving for our family vacation in the next 3 weeks we plan on going to Smokey Mountains and visiting family. We are going to Hyperbaric oxygen therapy the whole month of May in North Carolina and then starting Europeds with Jonathan in June its a pretty intense therapy that is 2 days a week for 3 months, I 'm really excited to see what Jonathan will do! Therapeutic riding will start up again we will be going some where new this year. We have 1 camping trip so far, set with our friends the Buckleys to Mackinaw thats is going to be lots of fun, I love their kids!! We plan on going white water rafting in July/August we're taking the parents so they will watch the kids:-) many cedar point(amusement park) zoo, and up north trips to the cottage! I LOVE SUMMER!!!!

Random Disney photos

2010-02-23T06:49:00.000-08:00

Some random Disney photos.

This picture is taken at the Coca Cola factory in Atlanta. The red chair is the one used in the first season of American Idiol, my brother thought it was cool, Jonathan not so much!

Jonathan says "I love you"

2010-02-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

So as I mentioned in the last post Jonathan says I LOVE YOU! I am beyond words, I am amazed I am estatic! For Jonathan to do this is simply amazing. The first video is him saying I love you. The second video is him saying hi but not quite doing that for me, then he tells us what monster say, he loves doing that he tries "scarring" us often its a hoot then again Jonathan says I love you. Just watch the video I think you might be just as amazed! I love my little man!!!

Walt Disney World 2010!

2010-02-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

We are back from our fabulous 2 week trip to Florida, granted we took 2 days to get there and 2 days to get home just cause I didn't want the kids to be cooped up in the car for to long. I drove most of the way there looking at the vans temp. gauge rising higher and higher I loved it. We first stopped at our favorite place Corbin Kentucky, home of Cumberland Falls what a gorgeous place. My parents used to take my brother and I there every year for our family vacation and can't wait to start taking Jonathan and Leah! We awoke from our hotel to 2 inches of snow, really no big deal but down there they pretty much acted like it was a blizzard, how funny!
We then stayed in Atlanta Georgia and visited the Coca Cola factory what a fun place Jonathan enjoyed this immensely they had over 60 flavors of coke brand sodas and Jonathan tried almost all of them:) the one from Africa he liked a lot, it was a fruity flavor but all in all his favorite was regular coke! Do you remember vanilla coke? I forgot about that till I tried it not my favorite but its o.k. We then headed to our condo we rented. It was very nice when we arrived the temp gauge reading a beautiful 71. Then it rained the next day so we went to Disney Quest( all video games and some simulated rides) mostly for my brother but Jonathan loved the lights and sounds. We visited Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure not much Jonathan can go on but again he enjoyed the shows, lights, music! We also went to Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios(formally MGM studios) Hollywood Studios was great they have a show from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse one of Jonathans favorite shows so when Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy came out and sang the hot dog song he was smiling from ear to ear. When they had the kids get up and dance he looked at us as to say "well you going to help me up or what" I stood him up and he moved his legs and was laughing it made me so happy but also broke my heart that he wants to do these things himself and I watch him watch the other kids, Jonathan is no dummy he knows what he wants he just can't understand why he can't do it like the other kids. My complete confidence is in GOD with this matter I know he has a plan with Jonathan and it will be the greatest plan I could have ever thought of! We also went on a behind the scenes tram ride that all of us went on and a journey through the movies ride we all went on all in all that park was fun for Jonathan but I have to say Magic Kingdom was by far the greatest. They were the kindest people to Jonathan! They handed him stickers they talked to him and when we went on the rides they let us sit in the very front. He loved the ride "Its a small world" which is a boat ride with dancing people all over the different countries. He went on a Nemo ride, and a Snow White ride.
Leah also got to go on all these rides! Again I can't say enough about just how nice these people were to Jonathan it made me very happy! Epcot was o.k not much to do with the kids except walk around which would have been fine but we picked the one day it was 78 degrees outside so we hopped back to Magic Kingdom! Another really cool thing is that I am still a little shy when it comes to b.feeding Leah so I am not like some of the moms I seen just walking around with their kid latched on making it look really easy. I have to sit down and I like privacy and Disney is great they have kid care centers in their parks in which there are private rooms for mommies! We also used these rooms to feed Jonathan! This trip was great it would have been better if daddy was there but in his line of business he was really needed!!!! It did rain another day and the nights were cold 50s I know not as cold as Michigan but when you walk around all day in the 70s then in a matter of hours its in the 50s its COLD! The kids did wonderful I can not complain the ride down was great we stopped a lot to stretch and get some fresh air but the kids never whined, Leah slept most of the time. They slept beautiful every night. We did have a scare though, one morning as I was dressing Jonathan I noticed red spots all over his back front and head but not the face arms or legs!? I thought oh my gosh its chicken pox I wa so scared so I used the Internet and googled and thought it didn't really match up but heat rash looked more like it. So I bought some calamine lotion and viola the next day it was gone! I was so relieved! The very best thing happened while on this vacation I was giving kisses to Jonathan and said I love you nothing new I say this every night but what happened next brought tears to my eyes! When I said this he said it back now at first I admit as a mom I have always wanted to hear these words but I turned around and looked at him, he was smiling and I said I love you he did it again I screamed literally!!!! I called my dad and brother and said listen he did it again knowing we understood him he was laughing, I am very proud of him because when I post the video you will see it takes a lot for him to do this. I am so proud of his accomplishments, as one mom put it its inchstones instead of milestone with preemies and I don't care I'll take it! On the way home we stopped in Tenn. to visit my aunt and cousins they recently moved there from MI . We miss them dearly but know how much they love it there and the boys go to an excellent christian college (Lee University) and they are both doing great! We got home to Michigan and snow we watched the temp gauge from FL. to MI go lower and lower VERY depressing! So we are back and getting into the swing of things again and can't wait till March for our family trip still not sure on where we're going but it looks like smokey mountains. I will post the video of Jonathan saying I love you soon!

My Beautiful Kids

2010-01-29T06:52:00.000-08:00

Jonathan is finally getting his bottom two teeth one on each side of his two center ones hence why his tongue is out! He has that tongue out all the time rubbing that area where the tooth is coming in.

Vaccinations!

2010-01-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is enjoying the new year! I have wanted to write on this topic for awhile and now that we have Leah I believe now is the best time.

Vaccination, to do, not to do, do it on a alternate schedule you as the parent are hit with many decisions and this is by far one of the greatest. We vaccinated Jonathan because we thought we were doing the right thing, doctors know best right? WRONG! My first clue of stopping Jonathans vaccinations should have been on April 22 2008. Jonathan was 5 months old but he was born 15 weeks premature he had the body and immune system of a 1 month old (his due date was March 3). My mother in law went with me to Jonathans Dr. appointment and I remember this appointment like yesterday. We walked in and the nurse said o.k its time for Jonathans Rotavirus vaccine(RotaTeq) a vaccine I now know is for diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting what the heck what was I thinking (a vaccine to stop the bodies natural way to gets rid of toxins) obviously I wasn't! Jonathan got the vaccine then immediately went blue we had to shake him to get to be responsive he came around and the nurse not worried at all and me a terrified mom that just got her baby out of the NICU on April 17th after 5 months crying holding Jonathan. The Dr. came in and said well he won't be getting that one anymore no crap shirlock! That vaccine has since been on the "watchlist" by the FDA because kids were becoming ill after it and the government warned doctors of potentially life-threatening twisting of the intestines in infants vaccinated against a virus that is the leading cause of early childhood diarrhea. The condition, called intussusception, is the same that led to the withdrawal of the first rotavirus vaccine eight years ago. UGH Obviously Jonathan has not had that drug since and to this day my little boy has constant stomach problems.

Jonathan got his last vaccination on June 25th 2008 which consisted of DTaP,Hep B,IPV and Pneumococcal conjugate. Watch this video: This video was taken in the morning just before his vaccinations that day then that evening after the vaccinations Jonathan developed a fever was a bit out of it a call to the peds office was in order only to hear this is normal after a vaccination he'll be fine tomorrow! I want to cry, I want to scream, I want to knock some sense into the nurse that told me he would be fine! Yea he was fine the next day but as time went on Jonathan stopped eating from a bottle starting getting really tight muscles started crying non stop for 3 months (20 hours a day), I'll take Leahs colic any day!!!))Later to discover my baby has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, my 2 year old can no longer hit his toys with ease, it now takes 2 people to feed him(he now has a g tube)cannot have a bowel movement without pain or castrol oil being administered!!! Why I ask myself did I take a video that morning of all mornings?!

Why do you get your kid vaccinated? Just read some of these facts then answer that question!
Childhood Immunization Schedule. It calls for one vaccine, against hepatitis B, on the day of birth; 7 vaccines at two months; 6 more at four months, as many as 8 vaccines on the six month well-baby visit. Before a child reaches the age of two he or she will have received 32 vaccinations on this schedule. Seven vaccines injected into a 13 lb. two-month old infant are equivalent to 70 doses in a 130 lb. adult.

The schedule states, "Your child can safely receive all vaccines recommended for a particular age during one visit." Public health officials, however, have not proven that it is indeed safe to inject this many vaccines into infants. What's more, they cannot explain why, concurrent with an increasing number of vaccinations, there has been an explosion of neurologic and immune system disorders in our nation’s children.

Fifty years ago, when the immunization schedule contained only four vaccines (for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and smallpox), autism was virtually unknown. Today, one in every 68 American families has an autistic child. Other, less severe developmental disorders, rarely seen before the vaccine era, have also reached epidemic proportions. Four million American children have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. One in six American children are now classified as having a learning Disability.

Our children are also experiencing an epidemic of autoimmune disorders – Type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and bowel disorders. There has been a 17-fold increase in Type I diabetes, from 1 in 7,100 children in the 1950s to 1 in 400 now. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis afflicts 300,000 American children. Twenty-five years ago this disease was so rare that public health officials did not keep any statistics on it. There has been a 4-fold increase in asthma, and bowel disorders in children are much more common now than they were 50 years ago.

To put to rest concerns that MMR vaccination might cause autism (in a small percentage of children), the New England Journal of Medicine, in 2002, published a population-based study from Denmark, where its authors concluded, "This study provides strong evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism." The NEJM did not disclose that the "Statens Serum Institut," where three of the authors work, is a for-profit vaccine manufacturer, Denmark’s largest, or that four other authors have financial ties to this company. Only one of the eight authors is not associated with this institute, and the CDC employs him. The study compares the prevalence of autism in 440,000 MMR vaccinated and 97,000 unvaccinated children in Denmark born in the 1990s. A statistical slight-of-hand in age adjustment makes the study show no causal effect; but when unmasked and reformatted, the data actually shows a statistically significant association between MMR vaccine and autism (as Carol Stott and her coauthors make clear in "MMR and Autism in Perspective: the Denmark Story," in the Fall 2004 Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons

Here is a picture of Jonathans vaccinations he received.

This is a website I really like and encourage you to go to and think about that lingering question, should I vaccinate my child?!http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm

Now because we live in a sue happy world I must post this:
Any information obtained here is not to be construed as medical or legal advice. The decision to vaccinate and how you implement that decision is yours and yours alone.

Leah is 2 months old

2010-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

This post is a little late, Leah turned 2 months old on the 4th. She is doing great. We went to the peds and she said "she's perfect, she is feisty and strong" holding her head way up off the table and looking in both directions, she is holding her thumb in her mouth for a couple seconds then she loses it! Her weight is excellent 10lbs 2 oz and 21 3/4th length. For her corrected age (she was 5 weeks premature) of 1 month she is in the 75th% for weight and height and for her actual age of 2 months she is in the 25th% for weight and height. So when she came home she was eating about 24 to 25 ounces now she is eating about 18 to 20 its hard to tell when your breast feeding but daddy feeds a couple bottles and we weigh her weekly so she was gaining 1.5 ounces a day now she is at .5 oz a day totally normal. She smiles ans giggles most of the giggles are at night, she is no longer having colic she outgrew it about a week ago (thank you dear God). She is sleeping very well from about 9pm to 8 or 9 am with a little shot of b.milk around 1am but she goes right back to sleep so I can't complain. She is officially out of newborn clothes and into 3 months. She LOVES her brother will give multiple smiles to him and Jonathan loves when I ask him "can you watch sissy for me" and I put Leah down next to him and he tries to hold her hand and smiles at her, it makes my day! Leah also has lots of attitude which I love, its funny because my friend Jamies daughter Maddy has lots of spunk and I always said I can't wait for that, well I got it! Leah loves her pacifier an if you take it out you better have earplugs she'll let you know how she feels well for almost everything! The other night for example she was laying on me and I adjusted her ever so slightly and she screamed and hollered till she got back in the exact location she wanted, my mother looks at me and says without hesitation looks like a Laura jr., thanks mom! Well I have no complaints from the Shigley family everything is going great!

So spoiled and rightfully so!

2010-01-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

I don't have to buy any clothes till this summer for my two kiddos and toys forget it I think Jonathan had his own toys r us in the living room! It was a great Christmas I was nervous about taking Leah anywhere because of flu season but we did venture out and got to visit with family and friends and I am happy to report both kids are healthy! Both kids are doing great, Jonathan is eating more he ate a little chicken some bread and he can now finish a mini ice cream sandwich! Leah oh Leah she is another story, she has colic so crying she does! She cries and I am the ONLY one that can console her! Justin will hold her she'll calm down for a minute but then let out a wail that really sounds like someone is torturing her and then I come to the rescue and she usually calms right down! I must admit I loved it but now I would like it if she let her daddy hold her too! Oh well this is "normal" right and I wouldn't trade it for a thing! Jonathan thinks its hilarious when sissy is screaming he is now trying to mimic her its cute. When I put them down together he usually rubs her head and she stares at him and smiles. One of Jonathans presents he got was a leap frog piano thing, its great! It is very loud and it lights up plays music and has a woof woof that he can hit and it makes a doggie woof sound so of course he loves it and so do I for now like I said its loud it has a lower volume switch but that is louder than most toys are! I am going to try an upload a video of him playing with it. I am very proud of this video because Jonathan now understands most everything we ask him to "do" if we want him to hit something, grab something, roll, walk, kick etc we ask him "Jonathan do" and he will either smile or do it (hit or grab something)!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great start to a happy New Year!

Blessed...

2009-12-21T00:26:00.000-08:00

...with a wonderful family!

I am in such bliss right now! What most parents take for granted I am cherishing.

You see when you have a child 15 weeks early you don't get to cuddle,kiss,love on them, you don't get to hear the cries, you don't get to change diapers, you don't get to bath or feed them naturally in the privacy of your home and you don't get to go home with them after giving birth instead you hear bells and ringing everyone is watching you, you have to pump your milk in a room that is the size of a closet, you see your child get poked throughout the day and getting fed through the multiply i.v.s they have. So that is why I love getting up just to look at Leah sometimes I cry because its hard to believe what a perfect little girl I have, her blue eyes look back at me and she smiles thats really all it takes from either of my kids a smile and all the hard times get pushed away. I am proud of my kids, Leah is a great baby she does cry and its ear piercing but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Jonathan he is my fighter and still is, he loves his ice cream, nacho cheese and sour cream, suckers and coke yes I know what a great mom I am! He has come so far and he is the king of smiles that loves to "walk" in his pony walker!
I have been going around the house lately just singing a song that sums everything up its called "Blessed" by Martina McBride I do thank God every night for all he has giving me! My kids are the best and I love them dearly

First haircut!

2009-12-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

Jonathan got his first haircut a couple days ago! I didn't know how he would handle it but had a feeling he would be fine. Jonathan has no real sensory issues you can brush his hair, you can touch his mouth he even loves his teeth brushed1 I think the baby massage that I still continue almost every night has helped, he get a full body massage from head to toes with baby lotion and all, I think my turn is about up!
So Jonathan's Aunt Jessi cut his hair he did great smiling pretty much the whole time the only problem we really had was he didn't want to sit in his highchair actually he didn't want to sit period so instead he laid across my lap.

This past week my friend Jamie came over to give Jonathan a birthday gift and Leah got a beautiful outfit! Jonathan loves this gift its a dog named Scout from Vtech and you can program it to say your childs name, favorite color, favorite food and I am sure there is many more things it does but I was just as excited to play with it! Jonathan smiles and "talks" to his new "woof woof" he actually says ooff ooff which we know as woof woof!

Everything is going so great in our household, I thank God every night for this perfect family I have!

Leah is a month old!

2009-12-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

Holy cow where does time go? Leah was a month old on the 4th! She is 7lbs 5ozs which is a lot considering she was 5.4lbs when she was born than came home at 5lbs so in a matter of 3 weeks she has managed to gain over 2lbs. I know I am crazy but I called the doctor to see if she was gaining to fast her response was first she laughed then she said its nearly impossible to overfeed a breastfed baby my response was but at night (and after every feed I pump because she doesn't empty my breast) my husband feeds her 120ml bottle(4oz) again she laughed and said there is only a handful of her parents that would even know what 120mls are she told me "Leah is a typical baby she is doing fine" now when I heard these words all I could think about is Jonathans NI nurse Kim, this was a typical response from her "everything will be fine" and it usually is, I must be a very paranoid parent but who can blame me! I spent 5 months in a hospital that is NOT normal! SO I must say Leah is doing everything a "typical" baby should. She is starting to get her days and nights in order which is very nice! She is so alert and looks around to find the face that is talking to her.
She did manage to get a blocked tear duct but so did Jonathan, a very easy thing to treat! We still have not ventured out so most of my family have not even met our little princess. We do go on car rides and she, like her brother love car rides!

My poor boy

2009-12-01T11:11:00.001-08:00

So my last post was Jonathan was pretty much back to normal, well he wasn't he was still crying very uncomfortable and now having massive blowout that seemed black and tar looking. So back to the doctors to ask for a stool and urine sample. We turned it in saturday morning and by 9pm the doctor called us. She told me to sit down because his sample came back as a serious bacterial infection in the intestines, which was caused by his antibiotic(augmentin) he took for his ear infection 4 WEEKS ago! Apparently that antibiotic is very strong and took over all his good bacteria and he was left with only the bad bacteria. This explained his weight loss, which was 18 1/2lbs 2 weeks ago! Not wanting to eat because there was no room, and his bloody stool and crankiness. If this would not have been caught Jonathan would be in the hospital today trying to recover, I thank God for giving me insight on knowing to ask for a stool sample because it is VERY hard to know what is hurting on a kiddo that is non verbal! I continue to pray this is what was causing everything that has happened and there is anything else going on inside him, He is back to himself the last 4 days. He is very happy so happy he is belly rolling again and laughing which has been 4 weeks since we have seen a smile,
he is smiling at his sissy and trying to either grab her to say I love you or pushing her away to say o.k you can go now;) I love love love seeing the smiles the last 4 weeks have been very trying! Jonathan did see the doctor today and he was 19.15lbs so that is good. I thank you friends and family for all the prayers! Enjoy the new pics, don't you love his beautiful smile?!

My big 2 year old!

2009-11-23T04:37:00.000-08:00

Seriously where does time go? My little man turned 2 years old yesterday and even though we didn't have a great big party we had fun. Jonathan is doing better he isn't 100% but hes 90% back to his norms. We are getting another blood draw today to check his liver it has been questionable the last two times so please pray everything turns out o.k today!
Jonathan LOVES to be out so we went for a drive stopped and got a frosty from Wendys, he loves these things! We went home and just celebrated the 6 of us, my dad and brother we're there too!
Its been trying the last couple weeks with a newborn and on top of that having Jonathan cry and not know what is wrong, so to say I am happy he is almost back to norm is an understatement! I really want to get him back in his pony walker but he is having nothing to do with it, oh well I have to give him time to get back in the groove of things. He really is not enjoying Leah, a lot of sibling rivalry! Whenever he sees me holding her he cries, if she cries he starts crying, he stares at her and wont even smile. He wants me all to himself which in a way makes me sad I want him to like Leah and I know its going to take time but its heartbreaking when I pick her up and he gives me those puppy dog eyes and tears are streaming down his face, he doesn't know why he is not getting 110% of my attention anymore. I have talked with a few micro preemie moms that have had a special needs child then another baby and said the transition was anywhere between 4 and 10 weeks till the older one got used to the idea of another sibling.
Even though its been two years I still miss my other little boy Preston he only lived a short while but I think of him everyday, I imagine what it would be like today with 2 toddlers running around and driving me crazy! I really wish I could have kept them in longer, I wish I could of kept them safe like Leah. I miss you and love you Preston and can't wait for the day we all meet again!
Jonathan, we love you and you are doing awesome with everything you are a very determined little boy, you set out and do things doctors said you wouldn't be able to do. You amaze us, you bring us so much joy your the love of our lives and can't wait to see what this coming year brings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love those eyes!!!!

Some pictures of Leah

2009-11-15T15:01:00.000-08:00

The bottom one is me, notice any resemblance?
Our first outing to the pediatrician

I Have only time now to post pics but will do an update later. Leah is a pretty easy baby she is up from 12 to 5am mostly eating, can you believe she is almost eating as much as Jonathan! Jonathan on the other hand is not doing so good I have been in tears a lot because hormones I'm sure but we are back to Jonathan crying day and night it all started about the time Leah came home! He is not eating so good he has actually lost a pound so of course dr. is worried but she agrees first thing we need to do is figure out why he is crying and upset! So please pray that Jonathan gets better soon!

LEAH MARIE

2009-11-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

Leah Marie has arrived, 5 weeks early!
She was born at 35.1 weeks. Justin and I were aware that it was possible going to happen wednesday when I went for my nst tuesday. Leah looked great on the nst however I was requiring very little insulin to no insulin at all the last couple days. The doctors discussed that this was a sign the placenta could possible "shut down" in a couple days in which we would of had a stillbirth, very scary!!! So we went back for another nst on wednesday and the day before needed no insulin(my insulin requirements were 4 shots a day for a total of almost 200units, a lot) so that happened at 9am and we were sent down to labor and deliver to get prepared.I was very nervous but knew we made it a lot longer than 25 weeks and knew GOD was in complete control. At 341 pm little Miss Leah was born weighing at 5lbs 4ounces and crying on top of her lungs, only a micro mom would understand why I was crying and laughing at the same time it was music to our ears! She was 18 inches long and required NO NICU time we all came home this last saturday and will update more but for now this will do, I'm tired and its hectic around here!

A hospital stay for me!

2009-11-02T09:02:00.000-08:00

So I got admitted to the university thursday night but was able to come home friday late 9pm. The reason for the stay is that my blood pressures have been high or higher than when I first became pregnant my "normal" bp was 116/ mid 70's well the last few weeks its been creeping to about 135's over 90's so last week they asked me all the preclamptic questions if I had blurred vision, headache, sudden swelling, pain in upper right of stomach and I said no to all the above I felt fine. So come thursday I had a severe headache, took 2 tylenol and took a nap, I am so very, very thankful my parents are here to help because I don't know what I would do! Anyway I woke up to the same headache and just thought well it will go away sooner or later plus I was excited because Justin and I were going to get a tour of the birthing rooms later that evening not knowing I was going to get my own private tour! Well Justin came home and said you look pale are you o.k I told him I had a headache for about the last 3 to 4 hours he freaked and called the triage and talked with a nurse they told us to come in and I explained that we had a tour up there and we would come up after if I was still having a headache! Well long story longer we did miss the tour because my headache did get worse. They took my bp and it was 138/95 they started an i.v of saline took cultures and then took another bp which was now 141/105 I was going to be admitted! The residents then decided AFTER all blood work and cultures came back NORMAL that they should start me on magnesium (I HATE this stuff) which I have never had and it really no really sucks! My insulin a bp cuff consistently on my right arm a foley catheter and leg pressure cuffs so I wouldn't get blood clots!!!!!!! I was very upset to say the least my headache was gone after they gave me percoset(sp?) my test came back normal but oh ya I was at a teaching university so hopefully someone there learned something! I was not allowed to get up, or eat and those that know me I get a little feisty when hungry. So then they wanted to do a 24 hr urine test, they had to wake me every hr to make sure I knew who I was because mag. affects everyone different so sleep was not happening that night to say the least. The did give me the steroid shot x'2 hence why I couldn't leave till 9pm because they have to be 24 hrs apart and I really forgot how much that shot hurts! The best thing that did happen though is I got to hear Leah hiccups, kicks, moving everything and she was a superstar I was worried when the docs started talking delivery because I really want to make it to at least 36 weeks (tomorrow I'm 35) but was also very thankful that if she was going to be born 9 weeks longer than the boys is very significant! So I am home now monitoring my bp which has still been high but no other symptoms so they are saying I'm a mild case of preclampsia but that could turn around to severe overnight! I really wish the docs/nurses would know when not to explain things because I have a very worried/frantic husband and now if I even walk to far he wants me to check my bp to make sure I'm o.k, God knows I love him!

The pony walker

2009-10-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Jonathan has done it! He is now walking forward with his pony walker and its without the headrest!!! It is very exciting because the therapy place we were borrowing it from needed it back so we we're left without one then the therapist through the school district started coming and said that our good friends (the Buckleys) daughter didn't need it anymore because she is a champ and walking better without it! Good for us and great for them, anyway the way it was set up is the seat is tilted forward and there is a big table attached so Jonathans arms can rest on that, we put a blanket on the table and he rests his head on that but uses his arms to lift that noggin when he is walking. I will post pics and I would really love to post a video so you can all hear his great laugh, he loves it and looks so happy doing it!
We now have almost all therapy in home for the season, p.t and speech and hopefully in the next month o.t too! We did join aqua therapy again and its on saturdays and its one on one and there are only 3 other kiddos that day, so I am loving it he is not exsposed to any children so hopefully that means he wont get to sick this winter!
As most of you know I am now 34 weeks along and very tired! The plan to take the cerclage out is when I hit 37 weeks and by the way it looks from my last c-section operative report I will be able to go vaginally if I want there are pros and cons! So they say once they take the cerclage out it could be 2 days or a week and everything will happen, they definitly wont let me go past 38 weeks because of the diabetes. The nst are going good we did get a scare last friday because Leahs heartrate was going tachicardic (sp?), very fast but as soon as I went to the bathroom, which seems lately is every 45 mins to hour she cooperated. So we're chugging along only a bit longer and then my beautiful baby girl will be here!!!!

Great growth survey for Leah!

2009-10-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

So just wanted to let our faithful followers know that our appointment went great yesterday! Leah looks great she had the hiccups while they were listening to her heart so in between a beat you heard a hiccup! She is a whooping 4lbs 6ozs. I am going to start non stress tests next week every tuesday and friday also they check the fluid levels once a week I think I am really getting excellent care this time round. We are all starting to get a little nervous but was almost in tears when the doc came in to talk to Justin and I and said how remarkable she looks and what a great job I have been doing! I think Jonathan is going to be so surprised but he is such a loving little boy it will all be good. I praise God everyday that she has been able to stay in, just one more day. They scared me a little about the swine flu and if it were to become a pandemic only Justin would be allowed in for the birth and stay, so I pray there is no pandemic but I remember when hospital and doctors offices were freaked out about SARS way back in 2003 or 04 (I think) and we never had a pandemic just scared everyone out of there whits! Well I am getting more and more excited everyday I can't wait to see just how beautiful she is, so only 4.5 more weeks!

Everything is good!

2009-10-14T14:08:00.000-07:00

Jonathan is no longer going to go to our very awesome o.t. Stephanie was amazing with Joanthan but because of the flu season I just can't risk him getting sick plus he is not getting the H1N1 vaccination I have to be extra cautious, just wish other parents would do this and not send their sick child to therapies/school its not fair to anyone! We hate leaving but will be back in the spring. We will definitly be diligent about feeding Jonathan because I don't want him to lose what he has learned! We thought he was coming down with a cold but it looks like its just me. I was miserable the last 3 days yesterday I finally went to docs and he said it was bronchitis so I took the antibiotic and today am feeling much better! We gave Jonathan this great homeopathic medicine for cold and cough and it really seemed to work his cough stopped the next day!
I am now 32 weeks pregnant and its getting very clear to me that Leah has little room in my belly she will stretch so Justin and I will be amazed to see this little round head sticking out of one side of my belly, very cute! Tomorrow we go in for growth and am hoping she is almost 4 pounds, 4 pounds that just sounds huge to me and everyother micro preemie mom! It looks like after talking with the doc yesterday we are going to induce at 37 weeks and I really wanted to try vaginal labor but I guess the risk is to high for uterine rupture but I am o.k with this because I just want a healthy baby girl and am praying we can make it to 37 weeks, only 5 weeks left!!!!!!!!!!

Little Miss Leah is 30 weeks along!!!

2009-09-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

First lets start with my little big man!
this is his costume this year, a sock monkey!

Jonathan is doing great spoiled but great. We went to Cedar Point and he went into his first haunted house! My boy didn't even get nervous he would be laughing when we got to the exit! I really think the lights and noise kept him entertained. People would stop us at the exit and look at him with amazement and usually say something along the lines of "oh my gosh he's not even crying!" I'm sure a couple people were like crazy family I should call social services for endangering him! Trust me he was fine he did great!

We really need help in the letting him down more I noticed in all the pictures he is being held, no stroller, no laying in the motor home but always in someones arms, I'm sure he doesn't mind though!

Now about little Miss Leah, don't you just love that name?!
I went in today for my 30 week appt. cervix is still closed haven't budged a centimeter. I am so happy I did get the cerclage! Still on progesterone shots although they kill I am also happy I'm taking them! I have had some braxton hicks the last couple weeks but nothing to worry about, I say this after I went to emergency and they told me they were braxton hicks! She is almost 3 1/2 pounds she is getting bigger and I love it, I even love the kicks (and there are many) where you look at my tummy and we play guess if it was a foot, hand, or elbow! People that I don't know tell me how small I am for 30 weeks, personally I feel big!

I guess as long as Leah is growing I don't care how big or small I look! Justin and I were sitting in the hospital and a nurse noticed my shirt moving and she said I think someone wants out. We both looked at each other and both at the same time said "no" its way to early she looked at us and said oh I was just kidding! Then today at my appt. I had a lady complaining about how she can't wait to deliver she can't stand the kicking and heartburn and turned to me to say how far along are you, oh I bet you can't wait either. To her surprise I said oh I can wait I can wait for as long as it is to have a healthy baby! I will say its so cool to be this far along because we both know I am not going to get pregnant again to feel the hard kicks, to feel tired to show off my belly to sing and touch her and know that because of our great GOD I have a growing baby in there, I feel so proud of myself! I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous still because I am but because she is such a mover and kicker it helps! Please continue to keep us in prayer for a healthy baby girl!

Chew it, chew it......

2009-09-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

Jonathan is continuing to do great with feeding. He has mastered pudding texture loves Carmel Dulce DE leche pudding (my boy)! He is doing really well with graham cracker crumbs crushed in it and now we are doing cheerios! We have done noodles and he really likes it especially if it has cheese, he does get a bit nervous when its first introduced in his mouth but we sing..

chew it, chew it, chew it
chew it so you don't choke
chew it, chew it, chew it
chew it so it goes down your throat.

He loves the song and knows exactly what to do when its sung.I admit the exercise that we do in his mouth has really helped, no more gagging we have been able to get the spoon to the back of his mouth with no problems. The exercise is from Beckmans so how you do it is: put your first finger inside mouth, thumb on outside and do big circles while pulling out a little on cheek while you do it. Start out so your kiddo don't choke and within a week or two you will probably be able to get to the back molar area!

My parents took him to the state fair and he rode the carousal then he sat with my father and a baby kangaroo. He wasn't so sure about it and you can tell by the pic he might have not enjoyed sharing papa's lap!

This weekend we are taking Jonathan to cedar point an amusement park in Ohio and camping. The weather is starting to get cold starting this weekend so its almost time for summer to come to an end!

Jonathans home and his first dentist appointment!

2009-09-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Jonathan is home I missed him so much! He seems to have grown longer but not really any wider but thats o.k he is a very happy boy! He tried some new food with stew being his favorite, yuck he didn't get that from me:) My parents took tons of video but no pictures! I thought maybe he would forget who I was but I was standing at the gate waiting for them to get off the plane and when he seen me he just started laughing, guess he didn't forget!

The next day we went to our state fair and he pet lots of animals and licked the powder off my funnel cake, I only ate a bit because of the diabetes!

Today he had his first visit to the dentist, she was awesome very friendly and kind! She talked for a little bit then got Jonathan to smile and laugh then went in his mouth he didn't cry, moan nothing she scraped his teeth to check the strength then brushed them in which he laughed cause at home when we brush we say tickle tickle tickle your teeth then she applied some fluoride. She was very impressed with how white, straight and strong his teeth are after being in the NI for so long. He does have an underbite which may change with his growing jaw and every tooth is popped through except his lateral teeth on the bottom you can feel them but their not through so we have to just wait. It was so nice to go see a doctor and finally hear everything is good and no problems!

What is a mom to do????

2009-08-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

O.K I am BORED! Jonathan has been gone since Wendnesday afternoon and actually I was good about him going to Florida with grandma, grandpa and uncle Matt the airport was very nice about letting Justin and I walk to the departing gate to see them all off(after 9/11 they only let you go up to security and you have to say your goodbyes there) it was around Jonathans nap time so I put him to sleep in my arms but then when it was time to board the plane and I had to hand him over I started feeling my eyes swell then of course tears. Now I know his grandparents know exactly what to do, plus after going over everything about 100 times I was not worried about that but this was our first time away from him more than just over night! The gate attendant was really nice he tried pursuading me to buy a ticket and go but I am just way nervous about flying and being pregnant and the what ifs... plus since disney is my favorite spot it wouldnt take much pursuading otherwise! So I gave my baby another kiss and off they went. They had to call as soon as they landed so my stomach would no longer be in knots thank heavens its only a 2 hour plane ride! They got there safe and sound Jonathan slept the whole way except when they were landing he woke cause of the bumps. Of course I call everymorning and every evening to talk to him and see what there doing and how his feedings are going. Friday my mom said he had so much head control that she has never seen it that good. They are definitly spoiling him holding him everywhere and not letting him stay in his stroller (they tell me with it being 90 to 100 degrees he doesnt like the stroller) he's loving ice cream and he loves shamu the whale at Sea World, they went to the ocean and he loved trying to jump the waves with grandpas help, he liked the water park except for his face getting wet and he is pretty much pooped by the evening he has been sleeping good and eating fine so I am happy but definitly missing him. On the other hand justin and I have gone out to dinner almost everynght enjoying stillwater for his birthday! We went camping and slept till 10am which felt awesome! I think I will be a little productive today and tidy up Jonathans room and put away summer clothes and start getting fall and winter clothes out we went shopping (retail therapy is the best therapy) and bought some cute outfits and tomorrow I am going out with some friends and going to lunch and then clean house some more then tuesday evening I go and pick up my sweet boy!!!

Random Photos

2009-08-23T05:43:00.001-07:00

These are just some random photos from the last couple weeks. He has been very spoiled when it comes to naps, Jonathan takes a great two hour nap but it has to be on me (my belly) which is starting to be very difficult, but he has managed o.k while his uncle Matt holds him! I think I might want to break this before baby Leah comes!
Another picture of him being spoiled he can't stand it when we go through drive thru, I think a lot has to do with he wants to eat too however this is getting better he is chewing pretty good cause he was starting to get sick of everything being mushy,(he is growing up) he ate a little pita bread and yea he does get a little nervous but we sing him "chew it, chew it, chew it" while showing him our mouths chewing and usually he does just fine. So the picture of my dad holding him outside his carseat while we go through drive thru (unbelievable)!

SWIMMING! I need to say no more this child of fine is a fish. Grandma and grandpa have been taking him in our pool almost everyday, he loves it.

Then we went over Justins parents and put him in the lake with his floaty and he loved it he almost fell asleep in his float because of the waves rocking him! One of the pics is in his carseat with his swimsuit on and he doesn't look to happy but once he knew he was going swim, swim, swimming he was a happy camper! notice how long he is!

Well my parents leave with Jonathan this Wednesday for a week to Orlando, to say I am going miss him is an understatement. I am a little nervous he has spent the night with g&g before for a night but this time a week guess I be doing lots of phone calls! I already have plans of cleaning Jonathan's room putting summer clothes away going shopping to get fall and winter clothes ready and possible buying a big boy bed since we will use the crib for Leah. I still haven't bought a single girl outfit I am still nervous, I think I'll wait for another 5 weeks then I'll be 30 weeks along! I can't believe summer is coming to an end but its exciting because I am still pregnant, thank you Lord and its getting closer to the due date!!!!!

WHY???

2009-08-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

This is not supposed to be a depressing post but I have been staying awake a lot at night thinking about so much I thought I would post it and maybe it would help.

Jonathan is doing great, he is now using the honey bear cup and he took some sucks by himself I don't know were time goes but he is sure growing up!
I look at him and he is so perfect in my eyes yet why don't other people see that. Why when we go to the park all the other mommies are chating and I am sitting on the swing just so Jonathan can feel the wind in his hair. Why do I see a mom in the mall with two "typical" twin boys and I constintly think what did I do or not do that I can't have both my boys, why I will have to explain to Leah she had another brother but was just to little to survive. Why do I have to even think about Jonathan going to preschool next year it terrifies me, will he have an aide, will they know what he wants, will he understand that mommy is dropping him off but I WILL be back for him later, he has never been away from me or if he has its been with grandma and papa. Why, Why, Why do I have to constintly fight for therapy? When I get a denial letter because 1) speech is not a nessecity, what the crap does that mean, speech is a huge thing he will be able to talk maybe only a few words or maybe GOD has another plan. or 2) Only needs 2 days a week instead of three days a week of p.t, again what the heck does this so called person sitting behind a desk know about my son, nothing absolutly nothing I challenge him or her to come to my home and look at my son and tell me in my face he is fine and only needs certain days, I didn't ask to use this so called "benefit" of therapy through my insurance if we didn't have to by all means we wouldn't use it, I am not the only one that has to fight for things I read about others of special need kids and its not just fighting for therapies its a fight for EVERYTHING, schools, equiptment, services why is this? I am scared of what the future will bring to Jonathan if us parents have to fight for our kids and for those of us that have non verbal kids what will they do when there older who will protect them, who will be their voice? I really want to start a fund its not going to save the special needs world but if it could help a handful of great, smart, happy, loving kids wouldn't that be wonderful? So if you have any ides on how I would start this drop me a comment I know my hands will be busy when Leah comes but I have a ways for that and if I could just look into it and get some ideas that would be so awesome!!!!! FOr all of you that have special need kids, keep fighting its hard I know but some of these kids have only one voice and thats you and if you do have a special needs kid I compliment you its a hard journey and I don't know you or your child but it doesn't matter your kiddo is great, smart, funny, happy, and it because of you!!!!!

Laura

He's eating!!

2009-08-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Jonathan did great with the pudding and graham crackers he ate it with no problems at some points he would get a peice of cracker and look at us as to what do I do with this but Stephanie just gave him more pudding and down it went. Yesterday I was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chicken noodle soup and Jonathan was on my lap and of course watched every bite I took I know your supposed to wait till 2 till you give kiddos peanut butter but I tried it anyway, he loved it and had probably a good teaspoon worth then I thought I would try a noodle, I had to work up enough guts to try it cause I don't want him to gag. So I tried a little bite and he immidiatly brought it out with his tongue which is great he didn't gag he knew it was something different but then brought it back in his mouth and CHEWED! No gagging no spit up he did chew it for some while so it was pretty mushy but oh well he did it. I didn't want to press my luck so thats all I tried we'll try again another day. We learned he loves blueberries mashed up really good and sprinkle a little sugar and he thought he was in heaven. I continue to make him high cal smoothies and he has now tried apricots, blueberries, mango and kiwi and seems to like them. Still the majority of his calories goes through his tubie tube but he is doing ten times better then 2 months ago!

Baby Leah is growing she now weighs 1lb 1oz at 22weeks she is in the 55-60 percentage we had a fetal heart echo due to the gestational diabetes actually there is an increase of birth defects with this however her little heart looked beautiful and there is no signs of any defects and surprisingly they did not want a follow up the nurse practitioner said 90% of cases get a follow up just in case. So little Leah is doing good she now kicks frequently and gets hiccups often. Only another 15 weeks yipee!!!

So heartbreaking!

2009-07-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

Jonathan is doing great, he did have a cold and lost about a pound but am very confident he will gain his weight back. He has been very active with grandma and papa, they have spoiled him (nothing new) taking him to fowlerville fair almost everyday he really enjoyed the animals but loved the demolition derby, tractor pulls and another day od demolition derby justin and I both went to the last demolition derby and my parents weren't kidding! Jonathan smiled from ear to ear and just giggled when those engines roared he really loved watching them smash into each other laughing and jumping while daddy was standing him up on his lap. Tell me does that sound like ALL boy to you?!! They have taken him to the movies and he did really well it was an imax movie at greenfield village, my parents have a membership there so they go often, I particularly can go once or twice and I've seen enough but Jonathan loves it too so that is great.

Jonathan started feeding therapy about 2 months ago with a new therapist at a new place. His therapist was really surprised at how eager he wants to eat but gagged if you went any further than his front teeth then said he needs to be desensitized sure dude whatever you say! You can tell I was optimistic about anything working because we have tried what I thought of as everything! Well fast forward to now and Jonathan more then ever wants to eat, we will get something to go and Jonathan watches from his carseat and cries he opens his mouth licks his lips anything to get food in his mouth. So as we pulled over I got him out and I was eating a cheese omelet and Jonathan ate all the gooey cheese and just loved it but this happens ALL the time we have even stopped him from being in his high chair when we eat because he doesn't get that whatever is going on in his belly won't let him have more than a couple ounces even though he might reflux he wants to do it again and cries because he wants real food and clearly as of right now he can take pudding like texture and he won't touch baby food not even stage 3 he wants our food! Well yesterday at his feeding therapy Jonathan ate 1/2 butterscotch pudding he likes flavor no vanilla or chocolate he wants lemon, butterscotch, carmel(pudding of course) Stephanie his o.t can now get her fingers all the way back to his molars no gagging no reflux just sits there looking at her (as we are clapping and praising him) as to say "oh this is what you wanted me to do , no biggie" and opens his mouth a little bigger he has done this for the last couple weeks with this week being the best. So next week we will be trying crushed graham crackers in pudding to change a little of the texture. He still drinks about 3-4 ounces of water a day by mouth on top of his blended high calorie smoothies(smoothies by g tube). He also loves sweet tea, thats my boy right there!!! I tried giving him propel a flavored water with just a tiny bit of calories. SO I asked him do you want water, I wasn't lying it is water just a little berry flavor he eagerly opened his mouth happy to take some, as I put it in his mouth he looked at me as though I was poisoning him and preceded to spit it out he thought it was the grossest thing ever he didn't let me hold him the rest of the night thank GOD it was in the evening I felt terrible. I'll let him stick with water sweet tea and a little bit of cola, all I can say is I tried! SO hopefully with prayer and lots of it, he will be able to take the crushed crackers and we can move to bigger things.

It's a......

2009-07-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

GIRL!!!

20 weeks along and going strong, I went today to make sure everything looks good and baby looks great she is getting big and had her feet and hands in her mouth. In two weeks they will be doing measurements and weight. I am starting to get nervous any little twitch or cramp I just start praying! This little girl has a lot more baking to do!

Look at my boy, I am so proud!

2009-07-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

Ok so I said we were getting a kid walker, well the p.t thought lets try the pony walker and see what happens. I had tears, he was so happy when grandpa put him in it. Jonathan has not really attempted to walk but look at him his head is held high just a rest behind his head he has it up without my help, he was standing!!! Now don't get me wrong he got very tired after about 10 minutes and his head did plop down but 10 minutes is huge, humungous, ginormous o.k you get the point, I am just so amazed at my little man!

Hippo Therapy, My big 30th, Fourth of July and Walking N Rolling

2009-07-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Jonathan is doing great with horse therapy his legs are very loose which is helping with his walking, his head control is still loose however both p.t and o.t and of course us have noticed when his head falls he does control it to bring it back up! He hates wearing his helmet so usually halfway through its off his head and he is so happy.

I had my big 30 which my husband did a fantastic job at planning, it was on the fourth so we had a great firework display too. Jonathan was is a great mood the whole day he is now getting another molar so he has been a little pukey and whiny.

Jonathan is getting a walker I am so thrilled about this. He has been "walking" with our help of holding his upper half for a good while so our p.t has insisted on getting him a Kid Walker I seen it a couple weeks ago and it is so cool! The wheels light up and it fits Jonathan pretty good he might have to grow another inch but since it takes 3 months to get it we mine as well get it now plus our p.t is going to let us borrow one for the time being. Jonathan has been getting around the house by using his feet he plants them on the floor and pushes off he is getting really good at this we leave him for a minute and he is in a completely new area. He also is rolling not all the time but doing better then he has he hates being on his belly so if you hear him cry you usually know he ended up on his belly!

We just ordered Jonathans glasses he looks like a little professor and they will be here in about 2 weeks. He continues to do really good at responding, we ask him if he wants water he opens his mouth and he is taking it by sippy cup, we ask him what a doggy does and he sticks out his tongue and pants like a dog (that is what his new speech therapist taught him) he is now saying "hi" when HE wants to but does do it for the therapists and of course new girls he meets(my little flirt)! We are now starting to go to a new speech therapist she is great, we are going to work on switches for him and practice more speech he will mimic what the therapist is saying ex. she will say bu bu bubbles then proceed to blow bubbles which is one of his favorite things in the world and then you see Jonathan put his lips together like trying to do this and using the switches has actually been proven to want kids that are going to be verbal use their voice sooner, I don't know but he says hi and we only used a switch a handful of times!

Check out this picture of Jonathans hair, its getting out of control people will ask if we cut his hair like this, uh no its a natural mohawk!

About the baby, I am still pregnant and showing, the diabetes is killing me but oh well. We went in for our 18 week survey and all measurements were great actually the baby is weighing 9oz thats the 70th percentile yippee!! Oh for any of you that want to know the sex I will say in my next post in a few days don't you just love suspense!

A great story

2009-06-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is actually coming from another blog and I just loved it and thought I would share..

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

"Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it's life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

"You will simply call her, 'Mom.'"

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-06-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

For Jonathan that is! Jonathan has had a very busy two weeks to say the least. My parents have really been helping out and now I can't pick him up for the remainder of the pregnancy which has proven to be very difficult but once he see's grandma or grandpa he is a happy dude knowing he is going to be picked up. Well my parents have taken him to a fair that was in hamburg which is basically down the street, Jonathan rode a camel with my brother and then held a baby alligator with grandpa and my brother. I was a little freaked out when I saw the pictures and it looked to me Jonathan was a bit confused about the alligator (they do rubber band the mouth shut) but he had fun. We have gone to two graduation parties and he loves people so him getting shuffled around was a blast, he loves ice cream and I love giving it to him, my brother thought it would be great to give him cotton candy in which Jonathan thought it was the most disgusting thing out there and spit it out while giving my brother the are you crazy giving me that, look! Then it was off to downtown Detroit for a walk by the river, and going to Detroit institute of arts. Then yesterday was the big international fireworks on the Detroit river so my parents took him to Canada for the festival which they didn't stay long due to the weather being 98 degrees but they went into their hotel room which was facing the river and he stayed there splashing in the pool till firework time then went to watch them but Jonathan had already fell asleep! So for the last two weeks Jonathan has been sleeping really good my parents really are wearing him out and he LOVES it he does not like being home unless he can go swimming outside then he is a happy camper! I believe today they are going to the zoo I will have to give them my camera so I can get some picture because they haven't taken any!! Then in August my parents are taking Jonathan for a week to Orlando my favorite place in the world!

I did get my cerclage done this past tuesday the actual stitching didn't hurt I talked with the anesthesiologist the whole time about Jonathan its funny how many people don't realize the extent of cp, I say my son has cp and its oh I'm sorry and they think he is just sitting in some wheelchair left alone and is totally handicapped. Yes he does have handicaps but he is the happiest dude around very responsive and loves to watch Blues Clues! Then what really gets them is when I tell them he rides a horse for therapy I usually get some weird looks then of course I have to say there is a therapist that rides with him but just in 3 sessions Jonathans legs are so lose I hate missing this week but I have to take it easy until friday then I can start doing things as normal except I can't pick Jonathan up! I was in pain yesterday I could hardly walk and had some minor cramping, today I am feeling better no cramping and I am going to do a little more walking, some retail therapy sounds good for me! So as long as I'm up to it we are leaving tomorrow to go to Ludington on lake Michigan so the boys can go fishing and I can relax it should be a nice weekend up there too! Then the following week is the 4th our annual party which I am so not ready for, Justin is we have both our jetskis working and Justin just bought another tube that you stand up on which I would have loved to ride however I will have to wait till next year and I am missing wakeboarding too, I'm not the best but I love it! We have lots of fireworks its nice we have a pyrotechnic in the family so we will all be on the boats while the fireworks go off, we are a pretty competitive family so everyone on the lake trys (I said trys) to out beat us it hasn't happened so far but we'll see!

No cerclage yet! But I do have gestational diabetes, ugh!

2009-06-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

So my cerclage was cancelled after 7 pokes of trying to get an i.v started and 4 additional shots of lidocaine! There was an emergency C-section that took a lot longer than planned so I could have continued to wait (we were already there from 10am till about 5pm) and starve or I could go home and eat. So we went home not before stopping at my favorite sub shop Dibellas oh I love that place!

I also have g.diabetes and this for me is probably the hardest thing in the world to control! I love I mean LOVE pasta, chips, bread oh I am getting hungry just thinking of these things! So to say this is a hard thing to control is an understatement but I am with 4 shots a day of insulin! I really don't fit the profile of g. diabetes says the doctors I'm 5'7 140 lbs (remember I'm pregnant) and interesting enough I did not have it with the boys I was however a beautiful 123 lbs and gained to 140 when I delivered them so the docs are thinking maybe its weight but I am not by far obese so I can't believe its because I gained 20 some pounds but another guess is I will have diabetes even after I give birth (to a 38 weeker of course)
Do you realize I am probably ice creams biggest fan and do you realize its summer and ice cream and summer go together! So I am allowed a little just can't go to extreme it is so hard when your pregnant and craving ice cream ughhhhhh! But I am doing this and I am doing this for my growing beautiful baby inside but its still hard! So I am still getting the cerclage this coming tuesday and July 9th we find out what our beautiful baby will be!

Who's going to be a big brother...?

2009-06-10T15:21:00.001-07:00

I AM!!!!

Yes, thats right! Jonathan is going to be a big brother! I am currently 14 weeks along and praying and knowing GOD has a perfect plan for this growing family! I am going tomorrow for a cerclage and than waiting 20 to 24 weeks for another miracle to be born! Please keep us in your prayers!!!

Higgins Lake Camping Trip!

2009-06-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

What a great time we had! The weather was o.k, friday was very nice, saturday was cold and then it rained that night into sunday! All in all it was fine. We went with our friends the Buckleys they have triplets (26 weekers)close in age with Jonathan and one of their daughters has CP. What a blast it was to watch Jonathan just take everything in, I really thought he would pay attention to Annabel their daughter that has cp but I was wrong he watched Madeline and their son Johnathan but I really think he was watching Maddy closest! Maddy was saying "hi" a lot this weekend and it was so cool because our Jonathan tried mimicking her and when Maddy and Johnathan were walking around my boy wanted to follow them I would put him on his feet and he would just smile and try to walk with them (with help of course)! Jonathan did "play" with Annabel they were on the floor and we all have the same early on therapist so when our Jonathan got one of Annabels toys she used to have she seen it and wanted to play with it! Our jonathan is not so mobile but when he seen her playing with it he would take his foot and try to move her away from it, I guess I need to teach him to share however Annabel is a lot more mobile than Jonathan so she just moved out of his way and continued to play, very cute!

Another funny thing is Justin and I had ribs about two weeks ago and he insists on boiling first then putting it on the grill, well I told him I was reading that you should just put them on the grill and slowly cook it because boiling takes some flavor away. Yea right my husband listen no way his manly way is the only way to cook it, well get this! BJ (Jamies husband) was going to cook ribs for us slowly on the camp fire so no boiling! Justin was in love and so was I, I don't think I heard my husband say thank you so much for food! They were super tender and tasted great, thanks BJ there was no way Justin would have ever listened to me!

We also had smores, which I couldn't eat to many(will explain in a later post) but the two I did have were excellent
We let Jonathan sleep in his own bed and he loved it and did great! We went on a couple stroller walks that were really nice,Jamie had our Jonathan cracking up she played peek a boo with him while he was in the stroller he actually always smiled at her when she smiled at him, he so cute! We watched the red wing game outside next to the camp fire and had many people come and ask us the score, it was a lot of fun and can't wait to go again with them!

Teething Bites!

2009-06-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

Well just less than a month ago I was writing about Jonathan having two teeth, so much for that he now has two top, top and bottom molars and still the lonely bottom tooth..how? He has been miserable off and on and his tongue and hands in mouth with chewing have been in overdrive my little baby is looking more like a toddler!

We also officially turned the carseat around he is 20 lbs and he LOVES (understatement) looking forward especially if we put in a movie! We are going camping tomorrow with our friends for the weekend and it supposed to be nice I can't wait. Justin and I bought Jonathan a camping chair so when we make smores he can sit there without us having to hold him. I think this chair will work great and can't wait to post pictures.

Jonathan started horse therapy and did o.k there was no crying which I was very surprised over! He actually fell asleep on the horse so it only lasted about 25 minutes but we will start doing this every week. He still enjoys his water therapy but hoping daddy will soon hook up our heater to our pool so he will enjoy that too! It honestly is silly to have a pool here in michigan our weather changes so frequently! We went on the pontoon boat last week and again this year I see this being our wind down for the day its so relaxing, Jonathan loves watching everyone on the lake. This year I think he is going to try tubing o.k just kidding maybe next year?!!

Memorial weekend we went to mackinaw island. It was so beautiful I was a bit nervous to go because of the teething but Jonathan did great! We walked the island ate lots of fudge found out my kid loves chocolate fudgsicles it was great. He did good sleeping in the motorhome besides getting up every once in awhile because his teeth hurt.

Last but not least Jonathan has a definite personality he is either super happy or a crank! When he wants to be left alone please leave him alone he wants nothing to do with anyone, he is super independent which will get him far with his cp! Even with his teething I want to cuddle him but he wants to be left alone puts his hands in his mouth and he tries to calm himself! He is a super flirt with the gals if your a female and you smile at him boy your in for a treat he gets the biggest cheese on his face!
Will update with more pics next time!

Been awhile!

2009-05-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Jonathan is doing good! We went to his hearing doctor and again his hearing is improving funny enough its improving without his hearing aids in!! So they turned the hearing aids down and now I'll try them a little to see if this helps otherwise we will continue what we have been doing obviously it works! So know both ears are considered mild hearing loss, that is just music to my ears! He is babbling a lot more no real words but his voice is great and getting stronger! He does know when he wants something and can "talk" with his eyes or by motion of his mouth. An ex. is when we ask him if he wants water he opens his mouth with his tongue out, its pretty funny. He is doing fabulous with "eating" we are really try to desensitize his mouth he is fine with anything going in but only the front of his mouth when you get to the back molar area he gags so we are doing lots of oral exercises. He has had his one bottom tooth for a good month and know his front top tooth is half way out and two teeth right next to it are showing so hes been miserable for awhile! He is drinking by mouth 2 of his 6 bottles he loves whole milk and he is still gaining despite the lesser of calories whole milk has compared to formula but I want him completely off formula.He also drink from his sippy or bottle about 5 to 7ozs of water a day! He is now a chunky monkey at 19lbs 10 ozs. Soon we will be turning his carseat around which I'm a little nervous over since the head control, well isn't under control. I don't want to look in the mirror every time and his head be flopped over! I do know he will love when he can turn around because he is such a people person he watches everyone when were out. Talking about out it is so wonderful to finally be able to go outside, go to the zoo which we finally got a membership to because I think Jonathan enjoys looking at the animals, we went up north last weekend and it turned out beautiful. Jonathan woke up at 630am his usually time and daddy took him since he is working so much he wanted to bond, much to my surprise when I woke up at 9am (oh it feels so nice to sleep in)they were both asleep in the bed! Jonathan must have felt me move because he opened one eye and I got the biggest smile, I loved it. I am so happy its spring the summer for us goes by way to fast. We have almost every weekend taken up till mid august! We again this year will have many trips up north to the cabin, we are going to mackinaw island, a cedar point trip, a camping trip with our friends, our 3rd annual 4th of july party, and I think we are going to start the tradition of going to Michigan adventure ever summer it was fun last year the resort was so nice and it was on the lake! SO to say we have a busy summer is an understatement! Jonathan is exactly like Justin and I he loves to be out he does not like being couped up in the house but I still think that even though we would have loved to venture out this winter it was the best thing we did to stay home and have therapy come to us and limit our doc appt., we didn't have many colds and the couple he got he fought very well! Next year maybe we'll go out more and not be in such a bubble because when he's 3 he'll start preschool and I want him to have a strong immune system! I really can't even fathom preschool he's still my baby! So long for now!

Thanks to everyone!

2009-04-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone that donated to March of Dimes. The walk was absolutly perfect, the weather was great however it did start to get really hot! We were able to raise $800 and we are still getting donations! Jonathan did really good he slept for most of the walk then was up and just taking it all in. We had 12 people walk with us and that felt good knowing how much support we really have. The walk was very organized and at one point they had a memorial garden for the babies that have passed and of course we made an angel for Preston, I started crying I miss that little boy so much and wish he was here with us! We also met up with our friends the Buckleys they have triplets that were born at 26 weeks and their one daughter made an angel for Preston and gave it a kiss, that of course brought tears to my eyes too! Speaking of the Buckleys their other daughter and Jonathan will be starting horseback riding this saturday I am super excited! I really hope Jonathan will enjoy it. Jonathan is doing more babbling and doing excellent in aqua therapy we started at a new place for occupational therapy and so far I am not to impressed but we'll see how it goes I need to give it a little more time. Jonathan went to the pediatrician this past friday and is now a whopping 19lbs 3ozs I am not pushing to much more in him because he did gain about a pound in 2 weeks a bit fast for his age, funny how months ago we needed him to eat everything and now I'm slowing things down! Well I have no pics of the walk since my camera needed to be charged and I forgot to do that! Thanks again for everyone that helped March for Babies!!!

A year ago yesterday!

2009-04-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

Has it really been a year? The time did go by pretty fast! Just in case you have no idea what I'm talking about its been one year since Jonathan came home from the NICU. Wow things have definitely changed in this past year (to say the least). When Jonathan came home I thought I was super mom there was nothing that could try my nerves, there was going to be no such thing as being sleep deprived,I knew everything about my baby there was nothing that was going to surprise me, and this parent had the whole parenting thing down I mean I did spend everyday of the 21 weeks he was in the NI sometimes I thought I was the nurse boy was I WRONG!!!

When Jonathan came home on April 17 2008 I will admit it was easy he was eating on schedule sleeping a full 10 to 12 hours at night I had no complaints. Then in June we started him on cereal and stage one baby food, sure it got messy but he was eating. Then starting in July/August he started crying not just crying but an all out cry for 20 hours a day sleeping for an hour here and an hour there. It was o.k however he was probably going through a stage and surely by the end of the week he'll be back to his normal happy self! Wrong again! After about 3 weeks of this I was completely sleep deprived, I had no idea what to do and sometimes we both cryed!This non stop crying went on until the end of nov. then finally our ped suggested we go to a pm&r doctor and she prescribed the most beautiful drug in the world..baclofen. Once Jonathan got his first dose there in front of us was a happy, cheerful babbling little guy! Oh I will not miss those days of crying! Then there was his feeding, feeding uggg! We went a slight step back and had to get Jonathan an NG tube to feed him because he was eating but not enough to gain weight, he had his for about 3 months and then we did the unthinkable or at least that's what I thought at the time, we had Jonathan get the G tube surgery. Today I can say it is a relief not to worry anymore about getting every drop of butter in him or every last bottle down his NG because now I stop to think how miserable that must have felt like! The biggest news I can report is Jonathan is no longer losing weight but is a chunky monkey at 18 1/2 pounds and 30 inches long! He is doing swell in therapy actually we got a stander which I need to take pics of, he did not like it at all we have to really work on getting him to stand in it then once he's not scared he's o.k and he loves us to pull him around te house. Next week p.t is bring over a pony walker because this boy WANTS to walk so this should help him. His head control is coming around I am sure by this fall he will have it under more control. We start therapeutic riding in May and I hope that he likes it, we have been putting him on our 105 pound dog to ride around and he smiles up a storm its cute to see! He also has more hair just on the top, actually just enough for daddy to mohawk it! And last but not least he has his first tooth it is really white and big its cute to see his smile with the one big tooth. His top gums are really swollen so I'm thinking those are coming soon plus the whining crying don't let me down I'm going die if you leave me cry and you feel so bad so you end up carring him EVERYWHERE(grandpa)! Miraculously he stops crying and he feels all better:) Enjoy the pics

Our Virginia Vacation!

2009-04-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

We are home and had a great time! Jonathan did so good with a lot of help from my mom and dad. He was happy the whole time actually not until the day before we were going to leave did he get a little fussy. We took the in laws motor home so that was a treat, Jonathan sat right in front of a window so that kept him entertained through most of the trip. When we got to my aunt and uncles home it was about 65 degrees a lot warmer that when we left our home at 40 degrees. Jonathan absolutely hammed it up with everyone he giggled and showed off his kicking techniques. He loved my aunt holding him this was actually the first time in a long winter hibernation that someone other than mom, dad and grandparents held him on the other hand he loved my uncle from anyone elses arms he just wasn't so sure about uncle Dave holding him (he does love you though uncle Dave:)) We went to Washington D.C where Jonathan "walked" a lot in central park, we seen the white house the capital building, the pentagon, the Washington monument, and even walked around the largest seafood barge Justin and my dad enjoyed that not so much myself and mom it was a bit stinky! We went on lots of drives and went to a beach called Colonial beach Justin really liked this because when you enter the town it says "you are now entering a golf cart community" and they weren't joking there were lifted golf carts everywhere! Jonathan slept through most of that trip. Then we went to downtown Fredericksburg that was interesting but what I thought was the coolest was the caverns I really didn't know how Jonathan would take this because of the elevation and his lungs, well I guess I worry a bit much because he was perfectly fine!
Then we drove through Shenandoah National park that was breathtaking surprisingly the deer there are not afraid of you and come right up to you we did stay in our car for that! Jonathan for the most part was vomit free except when Justin had him try cocktail sauce errr! Then it was time to leave and we had to leave a day early because an unexpected SNOW storm was coming to Michigan and that is what Justin does, snow removal! Do you know how depressing it is to leave 65-75 degree weather, the day we left people were mowing their grass!!! We did make it home just in time for the big snow storm but because we had to cut our trip short we will have to go on another!!! Thank you so much for everything uncle Dave, aunt Carole and Kenny we had a great time!!

P.s If anybody here in Michigan wants to try the best burger around go to 5 guys burger and fries, we went in Virginia and we are all hooked, theres a couple here too

FIRST TOOTH!

2009-03-24T17:39:00.001-07:00

Yes thats right Jonathan finally got his first tooth, the bottom middle one. He was cranky and had a slight temp. I wondered if it could be a tooth but have been telling everyone for the last eight months "I think he's getting his first tooth" but now I can really say it and in a way I am glad its here but in some way I am going to miss that famous toothless grin! Well the next day he was fine and then he started getting a fever again and it was 99.7 which is where it was when his tooth came in so nothing to worry about however a little later my parents called to say it was 100.9 o.k so I know its not a tooth and Justin and I were in Grand Rapids which is about an hour and half away. I told my parents give him some Tylenol and take his temp in about 1/2 hour. Well not good it was 101.9, so we were already on our way back and I called the peds office and it was an ear infection! So the last couple days have been whining and crying from both of us:) He is feeling much better now and I started him on his blenderized diet and we have completely taken him of prevacid which I thought was crazy since he was on a very hefty dose (21mg) but it has proven that he will puke on it or without it! Our GI still can't figure why Jonathan wants to eat but after acouple bites pukes then wants more, however he did eat mashed potatoes the other night and he drank from a real glass and did great! So we will try again slowly. His feeds are going o.k thanks to my online friend Shannon and Jonathan can down 4 ozs in 30 minutes via G tube but that means his tummy is expanding! He is still a peanut but is growing slowly the docs want him at 1000 cals a day to catch up I say yea right and to be perfectly honest every time I try to increase his calories he pukes so I believe his body is telling me that he can't handle anymore and yea he is gaining slowly but he is gaining on his own curve not what is the curve for "average" babies because we all know he is not average he is Jonathan and he is going to grow at his own pace yes he may be 2 and then hit the big 20lbs but guess what we will all be happy cause we aren't all stressed about him not getting enough calories, puking up all his calories and where can we fit an extra bottle in. I now know enough MICRO preemie parents and their kiddos are way below the "average" growth chart but every ones happy and another thing while I am still ranting I really dislike when doctors use the phrase failure to thrive because in my book Jonathan is underweight to their "average growth chart" however his hair is beautifully his skin is the softest, smoothest skin you have every felt, his head is growing his length is growing his nails grow like weeds he pees and poops regularly so how is he failing to thrive? O.k I am done with that!
Another great thing is therapy he is doing very well with his head not completely up but can manage it by that I mean he can control when his head goes down he is using his muscles to lower it and raise it where it used to just flop back! This next part is amazing! Jonathan is trying to walk yes I said walk if we stand him up while we are standing and he is in front of our legs so basically our legs support his head he will pick up his feet in the correct pattern, one leg the other leg and so on I showed the therapist and they were both blown away they said that usually doesn't happen that way! So Jonathan will be getting fit for a stander to help more of his head control. The therapist also commented on how his feet stay flat so that was good too! We are going to start therapeutic horseback riding in May and are very excited about this. The instructor will sit with Jonathan and work on his trunk. And last but definitely not least Jonathan is telling us with his eyes what he wants. The therapist suggested we take pictures of things his bottle, toys, highchair, swing, stroller, etc. and then ask him and see what he does so we have only done this, this past week but its working. I will ask him something and he responds with his eyes or he'll cry but hay I'll take anything! I didn't realize how well he really knows whats going on but his therapist Allison put a rabbit sock on his foot and she put that foot in his mouth and then out and back in and so on for about 5 minutes then asked Jonathan wheres your bunny well he lifted his foot that had the bunny and every time she asked he would show her while keeping his other foot down. So I was a little sceptic since the other foot is his weaker side so so repeated the same process with his other foot then asked him wheres your bunny and holy cow he lifted that foot while keeping his stronger one down! my kids a genius and this is what prompted the pictures and him "talking" with his eyes!I love my boy so much!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-11T08:30:00.001-07:00

E.R visit x2

2009-03-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Wow is all I can say! This past week has been very tiring.

Since Jonathan has gotten the G tube things seem very difficult. At first on the 12th when he got the surgery of course he was in pain. It seem to subside by the 16th monday and then I started him on a blenderized diet consisting of rice milk, coconut milk, sweet potato, chicken, yogurt, flax seed oil, probiotics and pear juice everything organic! Jonathan loved this new "food" he was eating by tube. and when we went to the peds he gained 8 ozs which is really great for jr. because he doesn't usually put on weight that fast. Well on the 20th we had an appt. with the surgeon that did the g tube surgery and we told him that the area looks so red and irritated, his response is it looks irritated so lets wash the area 3 times a day and apply ointment, o.k thats not a problem! Oh ya the best news Jonathans reflux was gone completely after starting this new diet! The next week went great and then on friday night the 27th Jonathan started to reflux a bit but we weren't to concerned but on saturday Justin watched Jonathan and he threw up projectile vomit 4 times in a matter of 2 hours now we're concerned. So I called the peds office and he lost a half pound and everyone thought he was constipated so we went home put in a lovely suppository and gave Jonathan just pedialite by tube and he seemed to do o.k only two more spit up like pukes. Well Sunday was another story he started the day puking projectile but we we're able to keep some pedialite down enough for wet diapers so Sunday was just a pukey mess. Monday morning Jonathan was just in pain and crying non stop so E.R here we come, we went to Beaumont and they thought maybe it was the tube so the resident came down checked it and said he thought it looked o.k then the nurses tried to get blood from Jonathan and let me tell you when I tell a nurse that Jonathan is VERY hard to get blood from and they look at me like I'm crazy it really ticks me off! Oh and of course I was right it took them 3 pokes and all 3 bursted so the last one they were able to get enough for a CBC but even that was pushing it. Well long story short they sent us home! All day monday was a puke fest and we were all exhausted to say the least. Tuesday started out with Jonathan not being able to hold even his meds down so E.R here we go again but this time we went to the University, we got there they were very nice and sincere (our last visit was terrible and I swore we would never be back) I bursted into tears because I didn't know what was wrong with my baby. They took blood and got blood the second time they tried and was able to put in an i.v, Jonathan was very dehydrated to say the least they pumped so much pedialite in him it wasn't funny how could I let my baby get that way! We were admitted to the peds for an overnight stay and on the second day we tried a new formula because I literally scared the heck out of everyone with my blended diet! He excepted the new formula Nutgen and we were able to get him up to his continuous feed but they wanted to keep us one more night just to make sure. He did fine just a couple spit ups but that was fine. We still really don't know why he started with the puking the docs had us a bit worried it was rotovirus because of the watery poop that had the most stinkiest smell in the world but that culture came back negative. They think it could of just been a stomach bug I don't know but Jonathan is now doing good trying to put his weight back on all in all he did lose a bit over a pound which just kills me but oh well he'll put the weight back on. Why can it take just 5 days for him to lose a pound but it takes me months to lose a pound? WE did talk with a nutritionist that did inform us we should have been giving Jonathan about 5 ozs of water on top of his blended diet so I think that my little diet was to heavy on his belly, so I am giving him a break and then will start him back on it because I loved just how happy and energetic he was and the fact that his reflux was gone!

So Jonathan is definitely doing better he even wants to eat a bit more. Daddy feed him some sour cream and he just loved it and yesterday we had chinese and he just wanted more of my pineapple chicken he is so cute! He did try to bit with his gums the chicken I think he was getting tired of sucking all the juice off , he gave me a bit of a scare!

Hearing aids

2009-02-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

Jonathan has recieved his new hearing aids! It took a little bit to convince him to keep them in but is getting better about it everyday, he likes to laugh when I put them in.
He seems to really concentrate when their in but he doesn't babble as soon as we take them out he just babbles up a storm so I think he needs to get used to them.

Jonathan loves his swing however is getting way to big for it his legs hang out but he loves to take his nap in it.
He has also showed interest in wanting his favorite monkey to share his little space next to him. I put it next to him and he just smiles and then leans his little head on him an ends up falling asleep. He's cute what can I say!

The Hits Keep Coming!

2009-02-23T19:13:00.000-08:00

The last week was hectic.
We went to Jonathans PM&R doctor who confirmed his diagnosis of cerebral palsy she actual labeled it as a spastic quadriplegic. Meaning he is going to have a hard time with all developmental milestones. I always knew he had some form of cp but I guess when the doctor told me it really hit me hard, Justin and I were a complete mess! Who wants to hear that their child is going to have a hard time sitting, standing or walking things most parents don't even worry about. Don't get me wrong I love my little man with all my heart and am very happy to be his mommy. What scares me is the future, when he goes to school and he sees other children doing things he can't and wondering why! Sometimes I just sit and pray and ask why, why couldn't the boys just stay in a little longer, why does Jonathan have to go through this too then what keeps popping up when I am done is this.. why am I so worried am I not supposed to put all my trust and faith in him! Is GOD not the one that brought Jonathan from being profoundly deaf to slight/moderate hearing loss! Is he not the one that gave Jonathan life when on the second day of life the doctors came to my room and told me Jonathans is very sick and probably won't make it either!
So I come to this Jonathan is who he is GOD gave me him for a reason, he has a plan for him and I will love my baby the very best I can!

Now on to some other stuff!

Trying to get used to a feeding tube is not easy, Jonathan likes to grab it and pull not a very good thing so I had to come up with an idea. I put a small washcloth over it and ace bandaged it around his whole body its very interesting but it works he doesn't scream every time he hits it. The feeds were not going good but I think there getting better, we have him off all formula and he is on a blenderized diet. This consists of organic everything, coconut milk, rice milk, a fruit, a little oatmeal, some flax seed oil, probiotics, pear juice and yogurt he is tolerating it well. He has very little reflux now and he started gaining again. My mom got him to eat about an ounce from the spoon, I was ecstatic and he seemed to enjoy it too, however just as he was about to take another bite he threw it all up. We thought it was just a fluke but the next day he eagerly ate another ounce for me but then threw up so he wants to eat but for some reason he can't keep it down. So we are going to see a GI doctor just to rule anything that could be bothering him, oh ya he LOVES coke we give him maybe a straw full once in awhile(thanks Grandpa V)and he just smacks those lips for more, hes a goof but I love him!!!