What's Up Doc?

Has anyone ever looked so stinkin' cute in a hospital gown?

Jet had a big week of doctor visits last week - first on Tuesday he his 4 month check up at the pediatrician - then on Wednesday we went to his PT at the hospital for a follow up - then on Thursday he his second visit to the Spina Bifida Clinic. WOW! Can you say little trooper? Going through all that back to back was no easy task - but Jet was a jewel as usual. :) He's so friendly and loves taking in everything that he only got fussy when he had to miss his regular naptime at the clinic - that visit began with a 7am wake up and wasn't over until 12:30pm. Jet would start to fall asleep on me only to be woke up by a new doctor coming in to meet him.

So here are his stats: 16.5 pounds (75th percentile) 25 inches (50th percentile) and his head was 44cm (90th percentile! lol.). He's growing right on track for the most part. Our only cause for concern was his head growth was very quick - it jumped from the 50th to the 90th in 2 months- a little too quickly according to the doctors. So we mentioned that to our neurosurgeon when we went to clinc. Our NEW neurosurgeon I must add - Dr. Hudgins is moving to Ohio and we will miss him so much. There is something kind of scary about switching doctors - especially when Dr. Hudgins gave us so much comfort and put us at ease during a very uneasy time. But our new doctor - Dr. Brahma - couldn't have been more friendly and seemed very capable - I felt a very good sense of security talking with him and feel confident that this should be an easy transition. :) Thank you God. All that to say - he ordered another head ultrasound on Jet (I was thankful for that action) and oddly and thankfully it seemed unchanged since August. He was very happy at how cognitively aware and alert Jet was so he wasn't too worried yet. I was very glad to here it looked okay still - but we still didn't have an answer for the quick head growth so we are scheduled for a CT scan in a few weeks.

Please, please pray that everything will be sorted out - our hope is that the fluid will go down or stay the same. If it has increased or the CT shows fluid putting pressure on his brain Jet will have to undergo shunt surgery. We are SO thankful that we have made it this far, but we still hope to never have to cross that bridge. Still, we have a Heavenly Father great support system for whatever comes our way, and in that I find peace.

In every other aspect Jet is a super star! The orthopedist and rehab doctors were very pleased (almost surprised) at how good his feet, hips and legs look and move so far. We once again heard the phrases "He looks great" and "He should walk without to much trouble" and are so happy! Go Buddy Go! What a blessed baby you are! :)

So what's the reason I'm wearing a dress again?

Are you sure I have to wear this?

You will be right here Mommy..right?

I'm going to see HOW many doctors?!

At least I have Aubie.

I was such a good boy - Mommy and Nina took me to Barnes and Noble for a story later on. Good stuff.

Fall is Here!

We've been having some incredible fall weather here in Kennesaw and we LOVE it!

The air is crisper, the sky is sunnier, the clothes are cozier and our little buddy is snugglier. :) On tuesday night we took Mr. J to his first football game! Nothing says Fall like high school football - and the weather was so nice! We bundled our boy up, drove down to David's school (where he teaches...not attends. :)) and stayed a whole 20 minutes before the blaring band, boisterous crowd and banging bleachers were too much for our little guy. lol. He was too overwhelmed poor thing. So we opted for a cozier, quieter evening at home. But not before we documented the occasion with some family pics.

Jet's Little Longhorn t-shirt showed his budding school spirit. :)

Daddy is so cool.

Mommy is not so bad either. lol.

Off to the game!

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month

An average of 8 babies every day are born with Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine. There are over 60 million women in the U.S. who could become pregnant and each one is at risk of having a baby born with Spina Bifida.

A friend of mine with a little girl born with SB posted this on her site. I had no idea that October was SB Awareness month but yay Jet! He has his own month! :) Here is what her post said and I thought it was a good summary for anyone who wants to know more about something that is so close to us:

"Spina bifida is a major birth defect of a baby's spine. It is one of the most common, permanently disabling birth defects in the United States. Spina bifida occurs within the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. It happens when the spine and back bones do not close all the way. When this happens, the spinal cord and back bones do not form as they should. A sac of fluid comes through an opening in the baby's back. Much of the time, part of the spinal cord is in this sac and it is damaged.

Most children born with spina bifida live full lives, though they often have lifelong disabilities and need many surgeries. Some of the problems that a person born with spina bifida might face include:

• Not being able to move lower parts of their body. (Some might need to use crutches, braces, or wheelchairs to get around.)
• Loss of bowel and bladder control. (Some might wear protective clothing. Others learn new ways to empty their bladders and bowels.)
• Fluid building up and putting pressure on the brain (hydrocephalus), which needs to be fixed with an operation.
• Allergy to latex (a created material found in some rubber-type products such as balloons or hospital gloves).

All children born with spina bifida don't have the same needs. Some children have problems that are much more severe than others. Even so, with the right care, most of these children will grow up to lead full and productive lives.

Learn what spina bifida is, how it can be prevented, and where to find resources for those affected."

www.kystbyeverlee.com

http://www.cdc.gov/features/spinabifida/

http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.liKWL7PLLrF/b.2642323/k.8E10/Spina_Bifida.htm

After reading this I was once again thankful for how wonderful our little Jet is doing. We have some hills to climb - but Jet is well- equipped. :)

Sunny Sunday

Somehow I've crossed over to what many are probably calling "the bad place" where I've managed to take so many pictures of my little boy that I'm making new posts EVERY DAY. lol. I know David is like "seriously?" when I break out the camera again...but then he is always happy about the results. He's just as much of a sucker as I am for a little boy with blue-grey eyes and a double chin. :) So here we are again...at home after church...the sun was out...the breeze was blowing...the baby was smiling...what else could we do?

Mommy your funny!

What are you up to?

Aren't these socks justtoo much!

Mommy and Daddy took turns getting in on the action...but we just couldn't compete...so we went back to what really works. :) Just cuteness at its best.

All tuckered out...time for another nap.

Fantastic Four!

That's right! Our little Jet-Man is four months old today! We go in Tuesday for his 4 month check-up so we'll let you know the stats on just how BIG our little guy is in few days. Until then lets take a look at just one month ago...

and now...

I think he looks older! :) Something about his face and maybe his hair loss. lol. He's definitely more stable on the bottom step now (our favorite picture taking spot when we're on our own) Of course mommy is holding on to him for dear life. lol. But he's beginning to THINK he can sit up all on his own. It's very funny how he tries to wiggle away from me now. And he's doing all kinds of new tricks! Of course..he's always been good at my favorite trick... looking adorable. :)

Happy 4 month anniversary of the most amazing day of our lives.

We love you Jet. ~ Mommy and Daddy

Bambi Moments

I have been noticing babies push up to stand on their parents laps forever. It always looks like a very funny/awkward balancing act that is a given prelude to pulling up on coffee tables and couches and getting into things babies shouldn't. :) And in all honesty I didn't dream to see my little Jet do this. We always hoped he would walk and are given hope that he will - but it still took me by surprise to feel him push against my lap. It was right after bath time and I was holding him on my shoulder - his feet on my lap- when I felt him push up! I held him out in front of me to see if he would do it again and he did! Over and over! I called to David who came running and tried to video tape it but in his excitement he held the camera sideways. lol. So needless to say that will be one home movie we get nauseous watching. But here we are a few days later and Jet is still attempting his latest act that makes his mommy squeal. :) He is very wobbly of course and no where near standing for real but he is definitely pushing up on our laps and giving a little upward thrust. This is amazing when we think of how it was very possible for Jet not to have any leg movement and now he is doing this!

This is Jet's imitation of Bambi trying to learn to stand up and attempt a few words. I think he's trying to say "bird". :) It looks like his Aunt Kelly is lifting him up and down but Jet is controlling the quick up movements. Go buddy!