Outside!

So we're thankful for the break in the weather (rain, lower temps) and have spent a little more time outside lately. We still have to keep Nathanael out of the sun, but if he can stay shaded in the stroller (or inside, while we listen on his new monitor!) then we're okay. :)

The other day before the rain started Jamison "helped" Brad water the lawn, and discovered what fun it is to outrun the sprinkler!















Another day we played outside (while Nathanael took a nap inside) and Jamison found a new friend...a grasshopper! It was so cute to see him catch it, but despite his best attempts to be gentle, the poor, helpless creature wound up with two broken legs. We did finally put him in a jar to take inside, and we fed him grass, and gave him fresh air, but he didn't last the night. I think the broken legs would not have helped him much in his natural habitat.














The third day shown here is of our first walk with both boys in the new stroller! (Or at least this is the first one I can remember!) I figured out that I was pushing over 50 lbs worth of kids (32 + 19.5) and 15-20 lbs of stroller for 45 minutes - quit a workout! The good thing was that Nathanael conked out after about 10 minutes, so Jamison and I could look for birds, talk about trees, and enjoy the time together.

Two weeks! (by Bree)

One of my parents' favorite movies is "Money Pit", a silly 80's flick starring Tom Hanks and Shelly Long about a couple whose relationship barely survives their purchase and remodeling of a poorly-built but beautiful house. Whenever they ask the builders, who seem like shady guys, how long the project is going to take the answer is the same: "Two weeks!" Well, of course, the project drags on for months, and when it's done, it seems that so is their relationship. But the builder reminds them that no matter how much work they had to do on the house, the foundation was good, and that made everything else worthwhile, and in the end they get married, having worked through their conflicts.

So, why am I rambling about this? If I had written this post when the thought crossed my mind the other day, it would have been two weeks until Brad and Jamison's arrival here in Cincinnati, so the phrase, "Two weeks, two weeks..." keeps coming to mind. Of course, the lesson about a solid foundation is also encouraging, as we are reminded that Jesus is our foundation, and that He cannot be moved. At this point I hope that nothing sets back their departure plans, but barring any illnesses we should all be together in LESS than two weeks. YAY! That will bring to a close this chapter of our journey that will have lasted for 3 1/2 months.

I think that one thing that kept me going during those long days in November and early December was the hope that Brad and Jamison would visit us for Christmas, and then the hope that they would visit us in January, and then February. Even though the date of their visit became a moving target, it was good for me to have started this journey not knowing how long this separation would be. But now we're at less than two weeks, and we are all so excited to get back together! When I told Jamison on the phone the other day that he and Daddy were going to come to Ohio to stay with Nathanael and I, and we would all go home together, his response was something like, "Just like the zebra in Madagascar! He left home and his friends went to get him, and they all went home together!" I was sure that Brad or Joyce had made that connection for him when they'd watched the movie a week or two earlier, but after talking with them I realized that the analogy was all his own...I was so proud! He has also started asking for hugs via skype, so I know he's missing me too, and when we finally all see each other next Saturday there will be lots of hugs and plenty of tears.

Please continue to pray for us. Nathanael is doing really well, but we have not been able to decrease his tube-feedings as I had hoped we could, since the tapering of his steriods has adversely affected his appetite. Pray that he would eat well, that he would be well-hydrated, that he would nap and sleep well, and that he would continue to show no signs of Graft vs. Host disease. Pray also for his continued protection from viruses and bacteria, especially with the addition of his big brother to our household. (Kids can manage to find germs anywhere, and generally present the greatest risk to their immuno-compromised siblings.) We also want to be sure that we teach Jamison to wash his hands without creating an OCD-like pattern. We need to find some balance in all of this. :)

Going "Home"! (by Bree)

We're out of the hospital! In fact, we've been "home" (at our rental place in Cincinnati) for almost a week now, and have been so busy taking care of Nathanael that I haven't taken time to update this page. Of course, I've also taken a little time to sleep, eat, and rest a little. :) It has been great to have a live-in support-system/housekeeper/cook/baby-holder. Since I was on my own with the little guy for 5 weeks in the hospital (don't get me wrong, the staff was great, and many of them helped me out by staying with Nathanael while I ate a meal in the kitchen just down the hall) I have enjoyed the change to a situation with a 2 to 1 caregiver to baby ratio!

Our days are busy: we give 2 medications by IV twice a day (and that process takes about 90 minutes total), four medications twice daily through his NJ (feeding) tube, three more meds three times daily through his NJ tube, and two meds orally (mouthwashes, given on little sponges in his mouth - wish I could catch those facial expressions on camera!). Oh, and we also give him about 24 oz of milk over 12 hours each night through his NJ tube (that means getting up once or twice overnight to add milk to the feeding bag). Did I mention that in between we need to wash syringes for his oral meds, clean pumping supplies and milk storage bottles, do laundry, dishes, cook, eat and sleep? No wonder I need a helper!

Of course we do find time each day to play with Nathanael, and he is a delightful little boy. He is starting to "talk" a little more, he loves to sit up (supported), grab toys, and watch things and people. When we go to the hospital (2-3 days/week) the nurses love to see him. He seems interested in everything around him, and in most ways is growing, healthy, and thriving. The doctors are very pleased with his progress.

Here are a few recent pictures: going home from the hospital, posing for a picture at home with Santa (Uncle Jeff), who came in from Columbus for the afternoon/evening to help us move. It was great to have help with all the stuff we had accumulated in our room. It was also really nice just to order carry-out Chinese for dinner - we ate while Nathanael slept in his car seat. My parents arrived later that night while the visiting nurse was here, and both of them spent the weekend with us. We decided that we didn't want my dad to leave, as we had dubbed him the best baby-soother around - every time he held Nathanael sleep came quickly...sometimes for both of them!

In other good news, Nathanael has remembered how to eat! He is now nursing half a dozen times a day, and doing well! Of course, we continue to feed him milk through his NJ tube, but have reduced his tube-feeding time from 24 hours two weeks ago, down to 16 hours last week, to 12 hours now...yea! Thanks for your prayers! :)

We still miss Brad and Jamison like crazy, and try to talk with them by phone or skype every day, but so far things are going fairly well. God's goodness has been so clearly demonstrated to us in many ways: gifts, letters, packages, prayers, phone calls, good lab reports, strength through tiring days, etc.

We do love to hear from you, and enjoy knowing what is going on in your lives as well. I am thankful that even from a distance we are able to share - even in some small way - this leg of the journey together. Just think of us when you hug your loved ones, and remember to be thankful for them even when they drive you crazy...it's good to have them close enough to hug! I look forward to having that problem again!

Our other good news is that we've had two birthdays and an engagement in our family this week! Joyce's birthday is today (Happy Birthday Nana Joyce!), and Jeff celebrated his birthday on Monday by asking Julie to marry him! We had all been waiting and wondering when this day would come, so we're very excited, and hope to be together to celebrate their wedding day sometime in the next year or so. :)