Happy New Year!

Happy New Year friends and family! We hope you all have a great 2009!

Below are pictures taken from a while back... Since Jacob couldn't leave the house, my family came over and we had hot pot! Yummy!
Digging in...if you've never had any, you are missing out big time!
The only grandchild missing is Jacob...he's hibernating in the room upstairs!
In this picture from left to right, Erin Kay, Isabel, Rengsey, Eli Jacob, and Jason

Aunt Laurie (left) and Aunt Linda (right) visited and delivered some presents for Jacob since he couldn't join the family on Christmas day! They also brought me some delicious lunch and washed my dishes and more...wish they could come over more often! =p

Aunt Linda with the little monster...

Christmas day: visiting our family in the NICU

From left to right: Amy, Dr. Hipolito, Sharon, Respiratory Person, Luis, Christine, Marcia, and Tita

This is when we first got there...they were so excited! Look at Nurse Tita...hehe

Nurse Christine with the Minnie Mouse ears (huge fan of Disney) and Nurse Sharon

After tummy time...

"Hello, anyone there?"...I thought it was so cute so I decided to move his hand up to his ears and he didn't like it...

Aunt Stephanie is so stylish...she loves buying Jacob these cute lil stuff...

The shirt should say, "FIRST in command!"

As Jo would put it, "Hot Mama's" luncheon...=)

From left to right: Me, Jo, Mariana, and Nay (Sokimna is taking the picture)

My high school buddies, Mariana and Nay

It was so much fun getting together and talking about high school...we had so many laughs!

Sokimna and Jo...

It's awesome to see how much we've all grown since 1999! Our class reunion is coming up in June...it's going to be lots of fun.

I haven't been able to update the blog as frequently as I used to...the little man is keeping me on my toes. Jacob loves to be held and refuses to be put down. If he is successfully tucked into bed, he quickly notices when we leave his presence...therefore, it has been hard to get certain things done. Let's just say, things are put on hold for the moment. Our lives revolve around him and I've been told that it's going to be that way for a while...=) Nonetheless, this year has brought us much happiness, uncertainty, heartache, stress, success, you name it...but most of all, it brought Jacob into our lives...a precious child who has yet to teach us so much about life.

Jeremiah has been sick since Thursday night and hasn't recovered fully so I've been on mommy duty 24/7 the last few days and it has been very exhausting, overwhelming, and stressful. I realized how much I needed Jeremiah and how much he contributes. I truly and desperately need him. The last few days have taught me not to take things for granted...especially my husband! =)

Jacob is doing very well. In the next few days, he will transition to formula for all of his feedings. We have used up my breastmilk reserve to meet his feeding demands and my pumping has not been successful. With that, we will still try to give him whatever I can pump...when I get to pump...to give him antibodies especially during this flu season. Other than that, he appears to be healthy and growing! We don't really worry about his apneas and bradycardias anymore...those worries diminished a while ago...We're confident that he has outgrown those problems. We've been able to sleep more and not be on the crazy "24 hour" watch like when we brought him home the first few weeks! His reflux is still something we are helping him with. He's still on reglan and pepcid. His last projectile vommiting was a few days ago...he probably threw up 40-60 mLs...about 2 ounces. (He takes about 120-150 mLs; 4-5 oz. during feeding now...I know...he's a big boy!) With all that milk, he also has gas pains. We tried to ease his gas pains with Mylicon, but his pediatrician gave us other alternatives to help relieve those pains. He hasn't gotten sick yet and we are hoping and praying that he doesn't! His next RSV shot is next Tuesday for the month of January. Jacob also gets little therapy sessions with me in increments of 10-15 minutes a few times a day to help with his vision, hearing, and motor skills. He likes it most of the time...He also likes being read to and loves to look at the illustrations...which is awesome. This might sound crazy, but I'm fascinated with the idea of teaching him how to read right now...you know, decode words...associate words with actions and meaning...I'm going to give it a try...sign language is part of that too. We'll see how that works...

Well, I've been lucky to sit here, typing with one hand, updating everyone with what's going on...all the while with Jacob sleeping peacefully on my lap. =)

We hope you all have a great new year!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Gosh, we are just so excited and happy to spend this special Christmas with Jacob! We started the day with a grand breakfast that Jeremiah made, while Jacob enjoyed his rich breastmilk! Jacob had his daily morning bath and then got dressed up to open Christmas gifts! Jacob received A LOT of clothes...cute and adorable clothes (grinning)...and tons of toys to stimulate his vision, hearing, etc. My favorite was the boppy tummy time below that his dad got for him. We've yet to open Aunt Stephanie's activity mat full of colors, toys, and music! We have lots to keep him busy! Jacob is growing so fast. As a matter of fact, I've had to put away a lot of his clothes in storage because he can't fit into them anymore...many of which he has never worn. =(

The spirit of Christmas was so strong today. We were reminded of the true meaning of Christmas when Jeremiah surprised us with a beautiful picture of Christ and a little boy painted by Greg Olsen...a book with his drawings...and a few primary song CD's. We are so grateful for this season to reflect on the blessing we are able to enjoy because of Christ...

We had a lot of fun with our little family, but the highlight of today was when we visited the NICU for the first time as a family. It felt so great seeing our NICU family once again after leaving the NICU when Jacob was discharged. Jacob delivered some angel pins for his nurses to let them know how much he appreciated the unconditional love they gave him during his stay there for 77 days! They are an amazing group of people and we can't thank them enough for what they have given to our family...a very special and healthy baby! (pictures will be posted tomorrow, so come back and check it out!)

Oh my gosh...aren't those shoes absolutely adorable?
Resting after using his neck muscles while on his tummy...
Before opening gifts...

Getting dressed to open gifts...(thanks Great Auntie Mary for my 1st Xmas outfit and blanket!)

Realizing Santa left some goodies...

OH look at those fun toys!!

The other hat was irritating him, so we changed it...

He didn't like the change...so we took it off...for a while...=)

The painting of Christ is soooo beautiful!

Some of Jacob's gifts...

All is done...he's ready to eat again...

Not quite...a few more snapshots

Couldn't leave until we played with Gracie for a few seconds...thanks Grandma for Gracie's presents! She doesn't spoil Jacob alone with gifts galore, but she does with Gracie too! =)

A picture from his tummy time mat

More family pictures and a narrative will be added to the post below tomorrow...

Fun pictures of Jacob

Jacob has kept us really busy lately! He likes to stay up for long periods of time during the day now. Other than that, we are enjoying the holidays and can't wait for Santa to visit Jacob!

We know everyone loves looking at pictures, so we posted quite a few below. Enjoy!

He is so much like his dad...both do NOT like taking pictures!

Dressed up for the nurse...gotta love the sweater!

Fixated on the mobile on top...I had to distract him because he was mad about me putting on that outfit on him...hehee

The nurse testing his neck muscles to see if he can lift it up...sure enough he lifted and moved it side to side following a mirror she held up...he is incredible!

A nurse from Mountain Valley Regional came to do an assessment on Jacob today. She was stunned at how much strength he had and how chunky he was for a 26 weeker! I was so proud of Jacob.

From the assessment...we learned that he is now 10.2 lbs. and 20 inches long. He passed his vision and hearing assessment and fell into the 1-2 month for his developmental range such as gross motor, cognitive, self-help, health, language & comunication, fine motor, social & emotional, vision, and hearing. He's right where he should be since he is about 1 month adjusted age (almost 4 months chronological age). Jacob will also be seen for 5 hours a month through the early start program. In 6 months, they'll do another assessment and determine how much therapy he'll need. I really like this program...I learned quite a bit about positioning him when he's upset and how to stimulate his brain and motor skills. I'm really excited to learn more from them!

This morning, I worked with Jacob on some massaging techniques and motor skills. He liked it a lot...so did I. I love the bonding time and watching his expressions as so many things were so strange to him. I just absolutely love being a mom. To me, it's a sacred duty. When I look at Jacob everyday, I have so much love to give...it's immeasureable. He's the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I feel so fortunate and blessed to have him as part of my eternal family. I definitely have a different outlook on "trials" in life...it's an opportunity for me to learn and grow...to witness the hands of the Lord in time of need through sincere prayer and obedience. Through trials, in particular, this time in my life, I have grown closer to my husband, my son, my family, and my Father in Heaven. It's truly a blessing.

Grandma is here!!

Jacob had an appointment to see the opthamologist today so grandma, grandpa, and E-Ca came to help. It was so nice to see them! Grandma caved and let us open the christmas gifts! See below...
Not knowing what we're doing yet...
Still doesn't know...

Now he knows...

...and doesn't like it! =p

Jacob's eye appt. went very well. His eyes are developing well and we don't have to see Dr. Zanoni for another year! She said the next appt. would be able to tell us if he will need glasses if he is nearsighted, but not to worry!

Thank you everyone for your advice on the breastmilk...I'm trying and I won't give up. I've been drinking more liquid and resting more often...if Jacob allows it. (I only had 2o minutes of sleep two days ago...that was brutal.) I was also able to buy the soothies. Again, thanks for everything!!! Love you all! *muah*