March Update

Things have been busy around here with work, therapy, family gatherings, etc. Our doctor has been out of the country the past couple of weeks, so we are still waiting on the final results and what next as far as meds. Last time I spoke to him, he thought it was reasonable to come off the phenobarbital in the next couple of months. So hopefully, we will know more about this and the trip to Detroit this week.

Jack has still been going strong in all his therapies every week. Physical, Occupational, Speech, Vision and Developmental therapies. Currently, he has Speech through ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) and I found out last week they want to discontinue seeing him since he is "eating" so well. Well, that is great, but he is not really talking like he should be? It is strange how some of the services are set up. ECI typically sees your child until the age of 3. One would assume a speech therapist would also cover language, but not in this case. She actually has been working with him on speech and word association this whole time. So, I am now looking into private therapy for speech as well. I am glad though, because we were only getting speech 2 times a month, and now we can maybe get it once a week.

Jack is still not crawling or walking. He is heading that way! He does a "half crawl" where he starts it then rolls out of it or goes to stand up. He can make it across the room so fast. He still wants to stand all the time. He is really into the DVD and cable box, speakers, anything he should not be in. He loves to pull up on our entertainment center and press all the buttons and pull the speakers. I do tell him no, but honestly I am excited he is FINALLY doing all these things...so it's hard for me to tell him no. ;-)

Jackson is really strong and fast. He definitely does not know his own strength. When around him, you have to watch some of his movements because you can easily get hurt. I actually got a bloody nose the other day when he flew back into my nose on our bed. I guess this is payback, because when I was a baby, I kicked my sister, Maggie, in the nose and she still has the lovely hump to this day. The day before, he stood up into my bottom lip and that was bruised as well. He is the sweetest, roughest boy I know!

Above are pictures of Jackson at therapy with another swing he has graduated to. This is a platform swing that he holds onto and balances himself. The therapist also spins it in circles and he tracks us with his vision. He loves it!

The other pictures are of him in his AFOs and "pantless." He would not let me put his pants back on after a diaper change. He was so determined to get to his star.

We are having so much fun with Jackson! It is amazing to see what God has done and continues to do in Jackson's life. All thanks to Him!

Fun with Cousins

We had a lot of family fun this past week. My older sister, Maggie, her husband Kyle, and their kids, Kirsten and Mason, came to Houston for Kirsten's birthday. We had a great time together. Jack went to the zoo with Mason and went bowling, shopping and out to eat with Kirsten. (he didn't actually bowl, but was in attendance.) Quite action packed for the day and a half they were here! The top pic is Jackson with Kirsten and Mason. Then Kirsten and Jack playing at the bowling alley. He adores Kirsten!

Then yesterday, my younger sister, Molly, my brother-in-law Dave and their baby girl Emma, came down from St. Louis for Spring Break. Molly and Dave had a dedication ceremony for Emma by my Uncle Allen who is a pastor in Luling, which is our hometown. It was so sweet! She is such a cutie. She is now almost 5 months! Jack was quite the character in church. He now has a new way of moving across the floor (which he did for the 1st time in the back of my Uncle's church.) He lays on his back and scoots backwards on his back and bottom with his legs. The funny part, was when his cousin, Chloe, (who is 14 months) walks over and lays next to him and starts doing it too. I wish I had my video camera. He now has carpet burns on the back of his neck from this new maneuver.

The next pictures are with Chloe, who is my cousin, Sally's daughter. She was really funny with Jackson. When we were at my grandmother's Jackson worked so hard to get to his ball, then Chloe comes over and takes it from him. He through a little fit and then looked over at her with his sad eyes for taking his ball. He got it back, but it was pretty cute! She is 9 months younger than Jackson and he is 2 feet taller! Sally and I were just like Jack and Chloe at this same age. She was always so little and I was always so tall.

The 4th picture down is my beautiful, chubby legged niece, Emma. She is so adorable. We loved seeing her yesterday. It was so neat to see her taking everything in. She also loved Jackson's ball which is in the picture with her. I wish we lived closer to see Emma more!