Monday, October 25, 2010

Playing, Food, Weather, Story Time

This week I managed to take lots of pictures and had a really really hard time narrowing them down. I will warn you now, there are 33 pics in this post. Enjoy!!!!

There were only two things this week on our calendar that we don't always do. Nathan had his appointment with Dr. Colon (cardiologist) which we haven't had to see in 6 months. He cut his Captopril from 3 doses of 1 ml to 2 doses of 1 ml. He said the Aortic arch had corrected itself, but there were still other issues. So we will go back again in 6 months. The other thing on our calendar was his monthly round of bloodwork. It still continues to be "normal" for Nathan. In other words, it hasn't changed much in a year, but if you saw the numbers you would know he is a very sick little boy with the biggest thing still being kidney function is still at 25%.

We appreciate your continued prayers. We are seeing more and more of an attachment with Jacen to Nathan all the time. We are now realizing that not only will the future be hard on us, but Jacen now realizes Nathan is his Bubba. Each day that he is with us is such a blessing, but as each day goes by we all become more attached. So we would appreciate prayers for how to deal with loss and explaining the situation to Jacen if/when the time comes.

Nathan and I had just done his exercises, so his ball and book were both close by. When I laid him on tummy time, the pillow was under his arms. He scooted his way forward. I have no idea how he got the ball where it is in these pictures, but I thought it was amazing and precious!!!!! In the second, I think he is trying to eat the ball or his hand.


Jacen received some musical instruments from Grandpa and MiMi. I was trying to show him how to use the drum stick on the drum. You can tell by the pics that he tried that, but his hand won out :)


Nathan wasn't happy, so Jacen decided to be a loving brother and pat him to make him feel better!!!


Jacen got to eat a cinnamon roll for the first time this week. We are also working on him biting things instead of us tearing everything up. He loved the cinnamon roll, and he takes HUGE bites :)


Nathan was sitting on the little couch and in a very good mood. He was making all sorts of noises and facial expressions. Jacen decided to join him. He loves to find belly buttons :)


Jacen is amazed by Nathan's toy that sings and projects an image :)


On our walk this week, we stopped to look at the animals that are a few blocks away. Jacen enjoyed pointing to them while I told him what they were and what sound they make.


We had some bad weather this week. After one storm this week, we saw this beautiful double rainbow.


The other produced hail.


Nathan relaxing in his swing with his braces on his feet and his gloves on his hands.


I put Nathan in the Bumbo to practice sitting. Jacen came along while I was reading books to Nathan and wanted to sit in the Bumbo like Bubba. He is too big for it, but he has now wanted to get in the Bumbo or put stuff in the it the rest of the week.


Another day this week, Jacen wanted to read to his dog Scout like Mommy reads to Nathan and him.


Jacen and I spent Wednesday morning at the playground by our house. We did the normal climbing and sliding, but he liked some new things this week. He was interested in the rocks and the toy that digs in the dirt. He of course couldn't really make it move much, but the other kids that were at the playground were playing with that toy so he had to try.


Daddy was trying to teach Jacen to give Nathan goodnight sugars (kisses) before going to bed :)


Playing blocks with Jacen is quite interesting. I stack the blocks, and then instead of knocking them down, he takes them off one by one. He will usually put them behind him. Today he decided that it would be fun to take them off one by one and put them back in the block wagon.


Jacen helped me "bake" cookies this week. I bought some break and bake cookies, and he helped me put them on the pan :)

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Therapy, Legos, and Pumpkin Patch

We had a little slower week this week. We still had our normal two chiropractor appointments and ECI. We spent lots of time at home playing and doing Nathan's therapy exercises. We also took walks a few mornings. I didn't seem to take many pictures this week except for Friday when Jacen and I met the other moms and children from our Sunday School class for play group. We went to the Pumpkin Patch and then to a park to paint the pumpkins. Jacen did so much better this time. I took over 70 pictures just on Friday. Oops!

Nathan

Aunt Laci sent us some Onesies where she added these neat holes in them for Nathan's G tube.

Nathan doing Bumbo Time. We haven't done this in a while. He did pretty good!

Jacen playing with Legos.

Patches on Nathan's tummy time stuff :)

Pumpkin Patch

Wow! It is hard to get a group of kids to look at you and all smile at the same time.

He was very interested in the stems on the pumpkins.

Attempt at a group shot :)

Painting pumpkins or in Jacen's case the table :)

We need to practice with painting. He was confused as to which side of the brush to use. Oops!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Busy Week!!!!!

Jacen and I ran errands and had play dates on Wednesday and Friday morning. We went to a park with Elizabeth, Avery, and Briley on Wednesday. On Friday, we went to the Luft's house to play. Kyle has started coming home on the way to church on Wednesdays to get Jacen, so he can go too.

We had Nathan's two chiropractor visits and ECI. Nathan also had his eye appointment on Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Cockings did confirm what we had suspected, that Nathan is blind.

Today we went to the Pumpkin Patch. We tried and tried to take family pics, but Jacen was not too sure about the corn stalks. Nathan just got really mad. We did get a few of Jacen and the big pumpkins. We will hopefully try again soon!!!!

We took a few stroller rides this week when it was still cold in the mornings!!!
The boys were all bundled up!

Jacen climbing!

Jacen looking so grown up and ready to go to church!

Nathan can still MOVE when he gets mad!!!

Laura and Holly came to visit on Thursday.  Nathan got really comfortable and fell asleep!

Doesn't he look so handsome in clothes!

Park

Our fearless climber!

I love his face :)

Jacen at the Pumpkin Patch

Jacen decided to drum on the pumpkin. Gotcha see what it sounds like!!!!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Tummy Time, Legacy Play Village, and Hair Cuts

Nathan continues to love tummy time. He continues to surprise us with how well he can hold his head up.


Nathan sat in the chair while Jacen played outside.

Jacen and I spent our Wednesday morning playing at Legacy. He loved swinging, sliding, and crawling/walking everywhere!!! He didn't want to leave. We visited Daddy and went grocery shopping on Friday morning. The Wednesday morning and Friday morning nursing care for Nathan are great times for Jacen and I to spend time together.


We took the boys to get their hair cut for the first time on Thursday. Their hair still isn't very long, but there were really long pieces and it was very uneven. So my hair stylist Megan cut their hair for us.