Tuesday, July 31, 2007

James is blossoming

James is just blossoming. He is repeating words, such as thank you, good boy, wow, uh oh, ca ca,water and rocko our dogs name, to name a few. Of course they don't come out exactly, but you can understand what it is he is trying to say and he is so articulate you can just see how he is trying to form the words, so cute.

He also understands so much, today he got all of his shoes out of his closet and they were all over in the living room the hall, so I went into his room and said OK let's clean up go get the shoes in the hall way and sure enough he comes with the shoes from the hall. Then I had one shoe in his room and the matching one was in the living room I said go get the one that matches this one and yes, he brought in the matching one and so on. Also he has gone pee pee in the toilet a few times just playing around with the idea he is not quite ready on that level yet but at least he is getting familiarized with the idea.

He can put shapes in to his shape sorter and we are learning colors, so far he does great with yellow and blue. We do colors with different toys and mm's, our NICU nurse Natalie gave us this idea and then he gets to eat the mm's! Then he is all hyped up on sugar. Maybe we will do this activity at Nats house, what do you think???

Anyways, just a few things, I have spent the last couple of days trying to get a new speech therapist. I stopped going to the place we were going because James kept getting sick, we did feeding therapy there as well, and even though James is not a big guy and does not eat a whole lot, I felt he was better off not going, thinking this is where he was getting sick. I still don't feel we need feeding therapy because he does eat a variety of foods it is just getting him to eat more than 4 bites!!! But if there is a speech therapist out there who does a combined speech/feeding that would be great. So far no one has any openings so we have been placed on a waiting list. So we shall see. Other than that everythings going pretty good. James is still 20lbs. and holding, but at least he is not loosing. Poor guy is going to be rear facing in his car seat until kindergarten!

I also have decided to look for a part time job in the evenings, my husband gets home at 3PM so I figured I could do something from 4PM to around 10Pm or so. Just to get me out and earn some mad money, I have been home for 2 years now and love it I do, I get a little bored and feel that James and I could use a break. But so far nothing. I thought the hours would be easy to find and there are jobs out there, but no one is ringing my phone. I work in the medical field so I have applied to hospitals and other facilities open all night or late. So wish me luck I have time no rush so hopefully I can find something to my liking.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

TAGGED AND I AM IT!!!

Well I will try! I don't think I know 8 people who blog to tag, hope that is OK. 8 facts about myself, HMMMMMMMMMM. Hope you don't get bored. I have to post the rules first.

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.

3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names

1.) I was born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and moved to Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 7. My parents wanted a change. They owned a restaurant back east which caught fire and they lost everything. So a change was in order, why the HOT Desert I will never understand.

2.) I met my husband at the age of 20, who had been my neighbor for 10 + years, we dated for 2 months, then moved in together. Seven years later we bought a house then three years later we got married. We wanted to make sure we were right for each other!!! Ha Ha.

3.) I am an only child, and both my parents and I were very close. I lost my father in April 2005 due to a ruptured colon and sepsis. He was in the hospital for 6 months before his passing.

4.) My dear mother, my best friend, was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in the middle of 2003, she battled the disease like a warrior but had to surrender in November 2005.

5.) I miss them everyday and thank them for the wonderful life they provided for me.

6.) My husband and I tried to start our family in August of 2004, we found out we had succeeded February 14th, 2005, Happy Valentines day, HONEY!

7.) My pregnancy was rocky from the start with many visits to the ER. Then 6/19/2005, yes father's day my water broke, I could not bare to tell my husband we needed to take another trip to the ER, So I waited most of the day. Thinking it was all right, I even had plans to see a movie with my mom. By 1pm I was having the FERN test which resulted in + amniotic fluid. Which then began my 2 week 3 day inpatient stay until 7/7/2005 @ 12:35am when my.......

8.) 1LB 6OZ miracle entered our lives. I was never so scared or upset in my entire life. The emotions of not knowing what lied ahead. But after 120 days which seemed like forever, our 7LB 6OZ baby boy joined our lives and taught us how precious life is and to live for the now!

Well there it is in a nut shell, 2005 was not my year, but I have grown stronger and give that much more. Tracy


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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Sleeping Beauty


So sometimes I look at him and just can't believe he is mine. And how amazing he his. He is maturing so rapidly and understands so much. Sometimes he does things that he shouldn't be doing but I watch for a minute because I am just so intrigued by how his mind works. I love this little guy so much I just can't get enough of him. Thank you James for choosing me to be your mommy, you have changed my life and give me so much joy.

Love from your mommy.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Just some miscellaneous pictures

Well it seems I have figured out how to down load pictures from my digital.

My husband plays guitar so James has really taken to playing on his. He has an acoustic and electric kids guitar and puts on quite the show. He also plays/BANGS on his drums and symbols like a pro, and then stands up throws his drum sticks to the "crowd" throws his arms up tries to say TA DA and bows, which of course I showed him how to do the bowing that is. He is cheap entertainment. He cracks us and our friends up every time.

I guess my husband is on to something if we start him early enough you never know maybe a rock star, lets hope his instrument of choice will not be the drums!!!PLEASE



James' birthday cake made by my sister-in-law
I chose Jay Jay the Jet plane because James
really is into this character but I could not buy
anything but on EBay. So she did the cake because
that to I could not order. But she did magnificent!
A bakery could not have done as well. And the filling
was key lime, Yummy! Thanks Maria. James eating cake
is on our video camera. I have no clue how to get that on here!






James being a tiger on his tiger!



James and daddy playing guitar
James' first lesson
James on his quad





James on his drums from his birthday
James eating snack and watching T.V.


More T.V. Uh Oh does he watch to much T.V.
However they are mostly educational notice
the pointing!


Another guitar lesson
More T.V. (At least he is into music too!)




James just being cute, he also got in trouble
for getting up on that bench.


My favorite thing to do, sleep and cuddle
my baby.

Friday, July 13, 2007

The struggles of preemie motherhood

Well where to begin! James has been declining so rapidly in the eating world. He has not had much in the solid food category for about a week. When I put food in front of him he gags. I know I am no chef but there is more to it then bad cooking.

I am just so upset, We go to our GI 7/23 who keeps stating the possible need for a feeding tube. But until they get his reflux and such under control I do not feel that is the answer.

They have tested him for every disease and syndrome known to man kind. As well as a bone age study and so far luckily everything has returned negative. I just don't know what to do. They have him on 3 different medicines, Nexium for reflux, Reglan to speed up the stomach mobility and Periactin to increase his appetite (which I see not helping). Our baby's our supposed to pure and innocent and we have to pump them with all of these chemicals (medicines)

James is such a wonderful little boy always happy, and I am so fortunate at how well and how far he has come. So much so that if we did not have this eating issues and weight gain you probably would never no that he was born at 25 weeks.

We also went to the eye doctor again and of course his eyes are still the same, he has Amblyopia and Anisometropia due to stage 3 ROP. He of course does not wear his glasses which is a another struggle everyday, I am not as strict on this although I need to be, but I feel I have to pick my battles, medicines are a challenge now once I catch him I pray that he keeps it down.

Any ways thanks for listening and I hope I did not bore you, this is however great therapy. I know I am not the best writer, But hopefully you stay tuned and give me all the advice you can.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

NEUROLOGY OR BUST!

So yesterday we went to our 6 month Neurology visit. I dislike these appointments because of there charts and expectations. Just when you think your 25 week preemie is making such strides they rain on your parade. Here is how some of it went.

James' weight = a 9 month old (20lbs. 1.5 oz)
His height measures in @ a 12 month old (33 inches)
His Alberta infant motor scale since his language skills are still average of a10 month old puts him @ a level of a 19 months old but in actuality his fine and gross motor skills are @ a 21 1/2 month old.

See what I mean throw away the charts, my son was born @ 25 weeks was not expected to survive let alone weighed 1lb 6oz. I think he has come a long way. Then they always contradict themselves by saying that each child develops in there own way!

Any way I am done ranting, thanks for listening.

On the happier side of life, James had a wonderful birthday party, thanks to all my family and friends for sharing this day with us. He received so many toys I think we will have to by the house next door and James can just stay here. He is taking over, my living room now looks like a few isles from toys r us.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Happy 4th of July

Well today was good. James ate pretty well for him. We had to put him on Miralax to help with some recent constipation issues he just started having.

I think it may be due to the new drinks he is now on they are very high in calories and fat plus protein. And of course he does not eat enough fruits or vegetables to help him out.

I have placed a call to our GI to see about maybe giving him some fiber, like Metamucil or similar. Let me know of anything if you struggle with this as well.

We spent the 4th with my brother-in -law and his family. We went swimming and had a barbecue. We live in Arizona so it was a hot one today for sure 116 degrees no kidding! But our winters are worth the heat. Tracy

Sunday, July 1, 2007

FOOTBALL

James caught a football today for the very first time. He was palying with daddy and caught it about three times with no FUMBLES!!!! Yeah coordination not an issue.