Friday, December 11, 2009

Dear Jimmie- Happy 10 Month Birthday

Dear Jimmie,

Happy 10 month birthday!

This is you right after you were born.

This is you at 1 month.

This is you at 2 months.

This is you at 3 months.

This is you at 4 months.

This is you at 5 months.

This is you at 6 months.


This is you at 7 months.


This is you at 8 months.


This you at 9 months.


And this is you today!


Look at how you have grown next to your Rottweiler Puppy!























Look how you've grown in your father's hands!




















This month:

You have gained 14 ounces. You are 13lbs 1oz!

You have gained 1 inch in length! You are 27 inches long!

Your head circumference has increased by 3/4 of an inch. It is 17 inches around.

Your mommy is still following the "less aggressive tube weaning plan". You are doing so good eating solids, but you still do not drink well. The St. Luke's OT thinks you should get a g-tube and Dr. H. agrees. We are sad it has to come to that, but also hopeful that getting the NG out of your nose and throat will help you with your drinking. Your first appointment with the surgeon about the g-tube is coming up soon, Dec. 15th.

Your mommy is still on a VERY restricted diet right now to help with your food allergies and a probable over growth of yeast. She has stuck to it. She has amazing will power- your momma! I am in awe of her dedication to do everything to help you.

Physically you are doing great, above and beyond your developmental age of a little over 6 months. You started sitting unsupported last month. You are now pushing up on your hands and knees and rocking back and forth!

Your mommy put you in a laundry basket a couple of days ago to try to contain you for a few seconds and you pulled up using the side of the basket to standing!!! That's crazy- your mommy was shocked and delighted.

You have 107 followers on your blog! (1 more than last time).

Your Faithfulness Video Montage has been viewed 6026 times. That's 629 views this month!

Your "Jimmie's Wonderful World" montage has been viewed 676 times! That's 25 times this month.

Your blog has been viewed 6,336 times this month for a total of 64,269 hits! You have a lot of very cool people who love to check on your progress Jimmie.

This month you celebrated your first Thanksgiving.

Grandma Kathy suggested you chew on a turkey leg just like you daddy did on his first thanksgiving. Then we posted your daddy's pictures after yours!











It's so crazy cool to see how much you look like your daddy did!

After Thanksgiving you and your mommy and daddy moved back home. It has been good! Your mommy even put your NG tube back in all by herself the other day. Your mommy and daddy are working to be more independent and get by taking care of you more on their own.

You have had a harder time this month with your puking. For a few weeks it was pretty bad. Right now you are doing pretty good. Maybe 1 or 2 big gushers a day . . . sometimes you'll go a few days with hardly any gushers. We are praying really hard for you to not puke gushers at ALL!

You got your first Christmas tree this month Jimmie!



All you were interested in was the tractor.


Like father like son . . .


Words cannot express how precious and cute you are!




This month we have all experienced some mixed emotions Jimmie. Each of us coming to terms with the likelihood of you having the g-tube procedure. Your mommy has fought so hard to avoid that for you. But it is becoming clear that it is what you need. You have tried so hard Jimmie you really have. This has just overwhelmed you psychologically. You have been through a lot and you have associated a lot of pain with drinking liquid. It's almost as if everything you have been through since you were born has found an object/action in your psyche to blame and that would be drinking . . . We are hopeful that this g-tube will be your friend. That it will clear the way for some healing physically as well as psychologically.

To look at you now and remember you the night you were born makes me weep. You were so small I could not even see you in the doctors hands as he handed you to the NICU team. The doctor was holding some sort of towel and you were laying on that in his hands. I could not see you Jimmie, but I could hear you. I will never forget the little sounds you were making then. You were not expected to to make a noise, you were not expected to breathe on your own, but you did. You were born fighting! You are a champion Jimmie. You are blessed with such a strong fighting will. I am so proud of you Jimmie and I'm always touched by your bright and shining spirit when I'm with you.

I love you more than words could ever say- my sweet Jimmie Jim Jim,
Your Auntie Amber

4 comments:

  1. Beautiful touching post - as always! Happy 10 Birthday big boy!

    Love and prayers,

    misha and fam

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  2. Can't believe how big he is getting! What a cutie-patootie-pie. :)

    I know that you guys didn't want a G-tube for Jimmie. I've been praying for you guys and that Jimmie wouldn't need the tube. If/when he does get it I will pray that it is just what Jimmie needs to grow and thrive and that the transition is easy for Rachel and Justin. I know it can be overwhelming and I am here to talk. If you do not still have my phone number please send me an e-mail and I'll send it. (I hate to leave my phone number on the internet).

    Hang in there - what a BIG BOY!! :)

    Kara

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  3. Happy 10-month birthday, Jimmie!! We all love you!!

    Love,
    Adrian, Janelle, and Kids

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  4. If it takes a G tube to make you grow and thrive I hope it is the best answer for you. It is always harder on Mom & Dad than on the little one. It will not be a lifetime just stepping stones to get you to your destination. You are so cute, so strong I hope this will make you feel free little man. Happy early birthday to your daddy...Dec 14th...don't forget to do something special for him on his day.
    I am praying for all of you and especially for Grandma & Grandpa Gravitt.

    Kathy Barnes

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