Update from the Momma

Dear Friends,

I have finally gotten another chance to get home for just a short while (shaving those armpits and all). :D

JJ has amazed all the doctors with his growth. Of course the doctor who diagnosed him knew that once his stomach was bypassed he would grow.

JJ now has speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy and behavior/developmental therapy. WHEW! They are all amazed at how well JJ is doing considering how small he is! They are amazed and GLAD that I taught him sign language (he now has 12 words he can sign and is able to sign complete sentences). He is "cruising" - walking from place to place but still holding onto things. They have a LOT of hope because of all that I had done with him previously at home, that once he gets enough nutrition in his body that he will be walking and RUNNING on his own.

The stay in the hospital though is about to get tough. We have been there so long that JJ is now starting to seem depressed. He is also not sleeping at all during the night, and hardly at all during the day. He toss and turns. No sleep for JJ means no sleep for Momma. I am SO THANKFUL to my friends and church who have brought meals, made phone calls and even visits. JJ and I really perk up during those visits!

It is also about to get tough because they are about to introduce the foods that JJ has been throwing up (which I assumed he might be allergic to) back into his diet. His blood allergy test came back and he is not allergic to as many foods as previously thought. So now, while in the hospital, they are going to be introducing those foods he threw up, but is not allergic to, to figure out WHY he is throwing them up. No Momma likes to see their little baby throw up. PLEASE pray the doctors get a QUICK answer and if it truly is harmful to his body, that they stop. Even though the allergy test said he was not allergic, he may still be intolerant.

This Thursday/Friday they are going to stop doing the feeding tube 24/7 and just do the tube at night. During the day he will be eating and drinking as he would at home. IF HE DOES WELL WITH THAT, then we can come home. PLEASE continue to pray. He needs to do well.

It really is a scary thought to think that all this time (from 4 months on - he is now 17 months) that we could have lost him. He could have died from starvation or from choking on the rumination. I am so thankful to God that he is still with us. I know that God must have a VERY special plan for JJ and am so thankful that we found out about this now rather than later. God is so very VERY good.

Thank you to ALL of you for your prayers. I have read all the comments (though I do not have time to respond personally). Also, if you know the phone number to the house, the message has changed with a way to get in contact with us.

Thank you again for your prayers. And thank to my WONDERFUL DH for keeping you updated and for posting the picture. I am truly blessed beyond measure!