Home

Photo Gallery

Archives

Enter your email address if you'd like to be notified when this site is updated.

Overdue Update -- November 10, 2003

I can't believe this year is almost over. I apologize for taking so long with an update, but things have been very busy around here. So here's a quick update:

Jackson has started preschool. He's attending the public preschool just a couple blocks away. He goes 3 mornings a week and really enjoys it.

David has started a new job right here in Ladera Ranch. Still computer stuff.

And Sam... Sam is nearing 11 months! He's been a very busy little baby. We have an occupational and physical therapist come out to our house once per week each. Most the time Sam enjoys the activities, unless they start cutting into his naptime. We were also just approved to receive visits from the Blind Children's Learning Center a few times per month. Even though Sam is not completely blind, he does have some visual impairment. We *suspect* that Sam has something called cortical blindness (still may be too early to test for this). Again, the term "blindness" is misleading since most people with this impairment do have some vision. The good thing about cortical blindness is that it can improve and Sam's vision has definitely improved greatly since birth. But it's important that we work with him to help him strengthen the vision that he does have.

The physical therapy has been helping Sam gain more strength and flexibility. He can hold his head up while laying on his tummy and he is reaching for objects with his hands now. When he achieves one of these "goals" we cheer for him and he gets the biggest grin on his face.

Currently we're working on getting Sam's "blue baby" or breath holding spells under control. We've been working with a doctor with a SIDS research institute out in Texas (via phone) and she's ordered tests that are giving us a clearer picture of what's going on with Sam's breathing. It's possible that there are some medications that may help. But, as we discovered when we first began this journey, there are a lot of hoops to jump through before you can get to any real answers.

We know we still have a very long road ahead of us but we're traveling it with a very sweet little baby.

Oh, and check out some of the new photos - well they're old by now, but new to the site :-)

Posted by Mindy at 10:47 PM | Comments (1)
if i didn't know better

had i not crested each wave of labor to your glorious
emergence
had i not been there for your debut
i would have thought you were dropped from heaven
your body damaged in the fall
but your spirit whole — big, beautiful and pure

never imagining my love to be so complete and selfless
not expecting my fierce desire to make your little body able
and perfect
or my fear to change anything
lest my meddling somehow diminish your beauty

You have captivated me
my sweet, imperfect angel

-Mindy