This past week we had the opportunity to meet with Help Me Grow, a program through the state of Ohio for children showing delays in any or all areas of development. They met at our home on Monday morning to do their assessment. After the assessment they shared their results. Steve and I were not surprised by them at all. Jack is showing signs of progress in MANY areas, but there is a delay in his fine motor skills. He qualifies for Occupational Therapy services. We have been working diligently with Jack at home doing what we can, so this will only be an additional support for us and another person to add to Jack's team of people who want to see him do great things! Right now the focus is on his grip, lifting his arms above his head and working on tummy time for many reasons. We are working with him and seeing results, so it's been great to see his development!
The biggest news of all right now for Jack is that he ROLLED OVER last night for the first time. We are SO EXCITED about this! He doesn't have it mastered and we are still working on his arms after he rolls over, but he has the strength to do it, which makes us very excited.
I'll post pictures soon.....I promise!
Thanks for your continued prayers, support and encouragement. We appreciate it all!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
It's been a crazy month!
Whew.....I think it's safe to say that Steve and I are tired! Jack has been making incredible strides, but it's been exhausting. Shortly after Jack turned 4 months old Jack was back at the Dr. for a high fever, along with a cold. Unfortunately, he had a double ear infection. After 1 round of antibiotics his infection was cleared, but fluid still remained, and still does to this day, in both of his ears. :( We have been warned that since he has had an ear infection at such a young age, his chances of getting tubes are pretty high, given the fact that structurally his ear canals are very small, according to the dr. But, bummer for Jack that we can't get tubes quite yet. The protocol for getting tubes is 4 ear infections in 6 months time or fluid in the ears for 3 consecutive months. So, we are in month 2 of fluid in the ears. WE ARE PRAYING THAT THEY DO NOT BECOME INFECTED, and quite honestly drain on their own.
Then, two weeks later, Jack started to show signs of being sick, AGAIN! So, after 3 Dr. appointments in 1 week, it was determined that Jack most likely had RSV. They didn't test for it, but he showed all signs of it. So, 1 week ago we found ourselves in the Dr. getting a breathing treatment for Jack since he was wheezing. It seemed to help, so they sent a Nebulizer home with us for daily breathing treatments. He was NOT fond of those at all, but fortunately, we did see improvement. We go back to the Dr. tomorrow to see if they hear the wheezing. I think it's fair to say that we are ready for summer!
For several months now, Jack has had difficulties in the evenings. I wish I could say that it's gotten easier, but when having to listen to a screaming baby for hours each night, it's tiring, makes you want to cry and we feel so terribly that we can't make things better for Jack. Fortunately, Steve and I make a great team and we are managing each night with support of each other, and we remind ourselves that it will get better, it just has to. (Please....don't tell us it won't be for a while....not what we want to hear! :) ) When Jack screams, it's not a little cry for 10 minutes, it really does last for hours. It's so hard on our entire family, especially Madeline because she just feels so badly for Jack and just wants him to stop crying; it makes her cry sometimes. It's just hard when you don't know why they are crying and you can't find ANYTHING to get them to stop crying. As soon as we think we find the secret, Jack finds a way to prove us wrong! So, we continue to pray that those long evenings of many tears and screaming fits are going to end........SOON!
Several months ago, Steve and I both started to worry that Jack was not developing properly. He wasn't showing interest in really much of anything. As our concerns increased, we decided to call upon Help Me Grow of Warren County. Jack qualifies for such services due to his prematurity, as well as his medical diagnosis of Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysemia. We've been searching high and low for support, from Dr. Google to family and friends that have experienced similar situations or who work in fields to help little kids and children like Jack. We've received some great information, and daily Steve and I work with Jack, along with Madeline. By the way....she continues to be the MOST AMAZING big sister to Jack. With the "therapy" that Steve and I are doing with Jack, we are seeing great results that are promising for Jack's development. One month ago he would scream seconds after we laid him on his belly for tummy time. Now, we can keep him on his tummy for several minutes at a time! And, while on his tummy, he can lift his head with the support of us "locking" his arms under his chest. We've been working on his grip, and he is now picking up objects that are in his lap and bring them to his mouth! It really is the little things that mean so much to us, and anyone that has experienced anything like this would probably agree with me. Jack also is extremely social, loves to giggle, and seems to be very interested in the environment around him. He is now looking to the left and right, which was something he wasn't doing 1 month ago. With his strides and gains in the past month, it has shown us the importance of being diligent with his "therapy" at home and really makes us want to continue to help Jack. It is all reassuring. He's not rolling over, or even close to that, but we'll get there. We are confident in that. With the support of Help Me Grow, we're going to get Jack right where he needs to be!
And something so special to Steve and I is the relationship between Madeline and Jack. It seems as though the two of them have an incredible bond. I believe it to be for many reasons. I believe God has made Madeline one super, empathetic, caring, loving little girl who appreciates the gift of her brother, and Jack can see how much love is in Madeline's heart for him. There are no words to describe how the two of them interact. I can tell you though, when she is around, Jack responds so well to Madeline. She is so calm with him, gentle and loving, and the nice thing about Madeline, she doesn't judge Jack, she doesn't resent the fact that he screams ALL of the time (it seems!), and she never questions why we do what we do, she just helps. She is truly a gift from God to us. This past year for her has been traumatic, with my pregnancy being so terrible to having a brother born with complications (which were SCARY for ALL of us), and yet she seems so happy to be where we are today. She appreciates the family unit. She appreciates Jack's smiles. She appreciates the idea of being a big sister. She is really very special to Jack. Steve and I both adore their relationship and we know that the 2 of them connect in a way that we'll never understand, but we appreciate that! It sure is amazing how insightful a 6 year old can be, and how much she can help our little guy develop.
Big news for Madeline......she lost her 6th TOOTH on Tuesday evening! She sure is a cute little girl without teeth!
We continue to pray for Jack and his development. We also remind ourselves that Jack's issues could be much worse. We pray for all the babies in this world, and we're thankful for the one we call our son. We truly are blessed.
Thanks for all of your continued support, thoughts and prayers.
Then, two weeks later, Jack started to show signs of being sick, AGAIN! So, after 3 Dr. appointments in 1 week, it was determined that Jack most likely had RSV. They didn't test for it, but he showed all signs of it. So, 1 week ago we found ourselves in the Dr. getting a breathing treatment for Jack since he was wheezing. It seemed to help, so they sent a Nebulizer home with us for daily breathing treatments. He was NOT fond of those at all, but fortunately, we did see improvement. We go back to the Dr. tomorrow to see if they hear the wheezing. I think it's fair to say that we are ready for summer!
For several months now, Jack has had difficulties in the evenings. I wish I could say that it's gotten easier, but when having to listen to a screaming baby for hours each night, it's tiring, makes you want to cry and we feel so terribly that we can't make things better for Jack. Fortunately, Steve and I make a great team and we are managing each night with support of each other, and we remind ourselves that it will get better, it just has to. (Please....don't tell us it won't be for a while....not what we want to hear! :) ) When Jack screams, it's not a little cry for 10 minutes, it really does last for hours. It's so hard on our entire family, especially Madeline because she just feels so badly for Jack and just wants him to stop crying; it makes her cry sometimes. It's just hard when you don't know why they are crying and you can't find ANYTHING to get them to stop crying. As soon as we think we find the secret, Jack finds a way to prove us wrong! So, we continue to pray that those long evenings of many tears and screaming fits are going to end........SOON!
Several months ago, Steve and I both started to worry that Jack was not developing properly. He wasn't showing interest in really much of anything. As our concerns increased, we decided to call upon Help Me Grow of Warren County. Jack qualifies for such services due to his prematurity, as well as his medical diagnosis of Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysemia. We've been searching high and low for support, from Dr. Google to family and friends that have experienced similar situations or who work in fields to help little kids and children like Jack. We've received some great information, and daily Steve and I work with Jack, along with Madeline. By the way....she continues to be the MOST AMAZING big sister to Jack. With the "therapy" that Steve and I are doing with Jack, we are seeing great results that are promising for Jack's development. One month ago he would scream seconds after we laid him on his belly for tummy time. Now, we can keep him on his tummy for several minutes at a time! And, while on his tummy, he can lift his head with the support of us "locking" his arms under his chest. We've been working on his grip, and he is now picking up objects that are in his lap and bring them to his mouth! It really is the little things that mean so much to us, and anyone that has experienced anything like this would probably agree with me. Jack also is extremely social, loves to giggle, and seems to be very interested in the environment around him. He is now looking to the left and right, which was something he wasn't doing 1 month ago. With his strides and gains in the past month, it has shown us the importance of being diligent with his "therapy" at home and really makes us want to continue to help Jack. It is all reassuring. He's not rolling over, or even close to that, but we'll get there. We are confident in that. With the support of Help Me Grow, we're going to get Jack right where he needs to be!
And something so special to Steve and I is the relationship between Madeline and Jack. It seems as though the two of them have an incredible bond. I believe it to be for many reasons. I believe God has made Madeline one super, empathetic, caring, loving little girl who appreciates the gift of her brother, and Jack can see how much love is in Madeline's heart for him. There are no words to describe how the two of them interact. I can tell you though, when she is around, Jack responds so well to Madeline. She is so calm with him, gentle and loving, and the nice thing about Madeline, she doesn't judge Jack, she doesn't resent the fact that he screams ALL of the time (it seems!), and she never questions why we do what we do, she just helps. She is truly a gift from God to us. This past year for her has been traumatic, with my pregnancy being so terrible to having a brother born with complications (which were SCARY for ALL of us), and yet she seems so happy to be where we are today. She appreciates the family unit. She appreciates Jack's smiles. She appreciates the idea of being a big sister. She is really very special to Jack. Steve and I both adore their relationship and we know that the 2 of them connect in a way that we'll never understand, but we appreciate that! It sure is amazing how insightful a 6 year old can be, and how much she can help our little guy develop.
Big news for Madeline......she lost her 6th TOOTH on Tuesday evening! She sure is a cute little girl without teeth!
We continue to pray for Jack and his development. We also remind ourselves that Jack's issues could be much worse. We pray for all the babies in this world, and we're thankful for the one we call our son. We truly are blessed.
Thanks for all of your continued support, thoughts and prayers.
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