Memorial Day 2010

Last year, we spent a cloudy Memorial Day in the RCNIC at Cincinnati Children's Hospital along with Tom's parents (also, it was the day before Jaime was extubated). We did enjoy a wonderful cook-out that weekend at Bev's house with a few other CDH Families, but we weren't home to enjoy the holiday and annual parade with our hometown friends and family. We were soooooo glad to be able to attend Wickliffe's Annual Memorial Day parade with the Smith's and other friends of ours! (We missed that so much last year!) Jaime had a BLAST at his first parade...he even ate a sucker that was thrown to him from the paraders. After the parade, we took a walk to the Fire Station where our friend Tony gave all of the kids Firefighter hats and tours of the station. It started off a BEAUTIFUL....HOT....day! Shortly after the parade, the storms rolled in. We were due at my brother's house mid-afternoon. Fortunately, we went there between two storms. We had a DELICIOUS dinner over there with Scott's family and my parents! Thanks Scott and Jess! After dinner the kids played outside on the slip-n-slide! We all had a really nice time...and we got home literally minutes before the next ban of storms came through. It was awesome to be home celebrating the holiday as a family of FOUR this year!

An update on Jaime...we continue to work on feeds. He's so interested in food, he's just has no desire to swallow it. He chewed a french fry, then started to gag...I had to scoop it out. Then he actually wanted another one! NO! I'm not into playing that game. Here's what doesn't make sense....the other night, we cooked out and ate outside...Jaime ate his infamous baked beans! That evening, we made smores, Jaime at TWO WHOLE graham crackers! Then, he was back to wanting nothing. Today, he ate Jello...and not just a little bit...two tablespoons of it. He also ate a few blueberries....peeled and seeded, of course! It's just all so weird and random.
As for gross motor...he continues to climb, stand, dance, table-walk..etc, but won't walk. When the therapists do walk him, he's either on his toes or collapses his knees. The talk of braces came up again...we'll see when and if that pans out. As for fine motor skills...Jaime is making good progress. He's reached skills up to a 12 mos. old, but not the 12 mos. old skills. Also, he has started to curl his index finger in when he crawls...a definite "no-no." He still has sensory issues, but is starting to tolerate a few more things....touch, smell, taste...
His speech, although slightly delayed, is pretty impressive! He's says all sorts of things and is signing much more, too. He always lets you know what he wants! :)
As for sleeping, I'd love to say that it's much better, but it's not. I can say that it's slightly better, though. He's waking up only 2 to 3 times a night, now, with most nights being just twice a night. He still is awful at sleeping during the day, though, Tom and I are starting to just put him down for a nap (or at least "rest time") after lunch everyday. Sometimes he'll nap, sometimes not.
As for appointments...Jaime continues to have his home therapy and nurse visits 4 to 5 times a week. (The therapists come 3-4 times and the nurses come 1-2 times a week). We have and ENT appointment on Thurs. and several others to schedule as follow-ups from his hospital stay.
Overall he's doing well...and everyday he becomes cuter and naughtier, but we love him just the same! :)
Here's a slide show of our Memorial Day at HOME this year! From the parade with our friends to dinner at my brother, Scott's house! Enjoy! If you'd like to vies the pics slower or bigger, feel free to click on a picture and it will take you to the Picasa photo webiste. Oh and be sure to click on "Jared's World" to view pictures of his first Field Day at school today! :)