June 27th, 2009
Hello Fans, Friends and Family,
This is my last post planned for this blog. I missed my self-imposed deadline for my 100th day, but I have a good excuse… well, no I don’t.  There has been so much going on in my life these last few weeks that there just isn’t enough time to blog about it.  On Friday, I had an EEG of my brain (basically they read my brain for irregularity) and if I understand the doctors correctly, my brain is about 99.8% normal (definitely better than Abby Normal!)
Here is my family

Here is my family

This is good news for me as I have now passed my lung doctor and my brain doctor inspections and I only have the heart doctor left (and there was never anything wrong with my heart so that one barely counts!)  This seems like just the right time to close down the blog.  I am healthy, fat (over 10 pounds) and I have an attitude.  My daddy has taught me two tricks so far, how to stick out my tounge and how to hold my poop until someone else is responsible.  My nanny Laura gets two poops every day so that Daddy doesn’t have to change me.  (I know where my bread is buttered.)

Laura and her sidekick Audrey have been taking me to new places on walks during the week.  This is great for me because I get so tired that I sleep all night long for my Mommy those nights.  Also, my brother Joey has been taking me to the pool with him, though I haven’t had enough guts to go in the water yet.  It has been 90 degrees or more in Chicago many days lately, so the pool is a great place for Joey to hang out.

I smiled for my mommy today, that made her pretty darn happy.  I am a very serious baby and smiles are special because I have learned to keep them in short supply (I am a smart baby too.)

I want to again thank you all (if you are still watching) for coming to my blog and keeping in touch during my tough first days of life.  I cannot express how helpful it was for my parents to know that there were so many people supporting me along the way.  I hope to see all of you on my life’s journey at some time or another.  I am off now to exciting new adventures, wish me well.

Jack out.

It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…

June 11th, 2009

Hello and thank you for your continued support of my blog.  Today it has been officially three months since I was abruptly yanked from my comfortable resting place inside my Mommy.  Sometimes I feel like the unfrozen caveman lawyer (if you are the right age to recall this reference, please explain it to me when I am older) in this strange and confusing world of yours.  So far my parents have restricted my diet to a very bland warm beverage presented to me six times each day.  Beggars cannot afford to be choosers (or so they say), but the repitition is boring me to tears.  Yes, that’s right, I said tears.  My eyes began leaking a couple weeks ago, as if the screaming wasn’t enough, I know!  I am still on the basic plan of eat, sleep and poop, but there are new things to learn about every day.  The pace is working well for me so far as I have grown to nearly 9 pounds (two MORE pounds of groove?).  In addition, I travelled recently to Ohio and Indiana, riding in cars is nice.  My brother Joey has been the best big brother one could imagine so far, he only hit me in the head with a toy car ONCE!

On a different subject, my uncle Devin tells me that it is hard work to be so stunningly good looking and that he has to be careful around mirrors.  I tell you this because I found a mirror today and WOW am I hott stuff or what!?!  It took me a while to understand why some gorgeous baby was mocking my every movement, but once my Daddy explained the physics of light and refraction to me it was all made very clear.  I look forward to more cool discoveries and I cannot wait to improve upon that silly theory of relativity over the next few years as I have now started my analysis on the properties of light.

I have also begun to notice how popular the name Jack is.  The list ranges from famous people to nursery rhymes to donkeys and I am excited to join this tremendous list (people such as Jack Nicholson, Jack Sprat, Jack Frost, Jack and Jill, Jack-o-lantern, the Jackalope, etc.)  Enough of that silliness.

My blog states that this is a tracking of my first 100 days of life.  Today is the 92nd day of my life.  I don’t want to exceed my mandate, so we will be winding down the blog over the next week or so.  I am very excited there are so many interesting things coming up soon that will take me to new places and meet new people.  My grandpa Burke is going to be coming for a short visit, I hope to see the beach for the first time, and hopefully in the near future, I will know the joy of sleeping for 6-8 hours at night!!!  As you know from following along these past few months, I am healthy now and growing bigger every day.  My doctor visits have been uneventful (the way I like them) and 100% positive.  My favorite doctor Dr. Gabriel Aljadeff claimed that my health was “as great as anyone can be”!  This man is my hero, this man saved my life.

To all of you that have been following along, I cannot thank you all enough for the support, the well wishes, the gifts and the kind words that were all sent my way during my short life so far.  I hope to meet all of you in time as I continue to grow stronger.  For now, it is nap time.  I’ll have a few more tidbits of baby wisdom and hopefully many more pictures in the next few days.  Bye-Bye.

HEY!!! I still have things to say!

June 4th, 2009

Are you all still out there??? I have an update. So I have been cruising along eating and growing these last few weeks. Yesterday was my follow up appointment with the Pulmonologist. Mommy and Daddy seemed pretty excited and nervous. Especially when they couldn’t find the right floor the doctor was on at the hospital.  It was odd to be back at my old stomping grounds, Lutheran Hospital.  Anyway, the news you have been waiting for………….I am great!!!! O2 saturation normal and lungs sound awesome. As far as the lung doctor is concerned, I am healthy. He really can’t explain it but to say that there should not be any recurrence of cysts in my lungs or any problems in the future.  Cases like mine are fairly rare and they don’t have a lot of information to give. I also get to work my way off of the medicine that was keeping my acid levels normal. One less medicine for mom and dad to give me!!!! Oh ya, and I weigh 8 pounds 8 ounces now.  They are impressed with my weight gain.

 Every time we meet with a doctor it seems like they all tell my parents I am a very lucky boy. I knew I was going to make it. I guess the rest of the world was worried. Anyway, check back June 22nd. That’s when I see the neurologist.

Love, Jack

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2 months old!

May 13th, 2009

I had my two month check up today. I officially weigh 6 pounds 11 ounces and am 19 3/4 inches long.  Mommy says that I was suppose to be born this weekend! I am doing really well.  For the first two years of my life, I will tend to be 2 months behind with milestones. For example, I may not roll over till 6 months instead of 4, but that is to be expected. I am on target for my prematurity.  The doctor was nice and everything but the nurse stuck me twice in my legs. I made sure she knew my displeasure.

In a couple weeks I start to see some of the specialists. I will be sure to update you. -Jack

Spring time…finally.

May 4th, 2009

I was just enjoying a lazy Spring day when I realized I hadn’t written you all in a while. I’ve been having fun at home. Basically I eat and sleep all day. Had a great time with My Aunt Laura this weekend. She’s pretty cool. Said I could go home with her on the plane but Mommy wouldn’t let me.  Been going on walks lately. It’s pretty neat to see the outside world. My big brother Joey is enjoying it too. Check out the picture of him. He’s already in training to be a major league pitcher. I’m still working on growing. Mommy says I need to beef up some more so I will sleep through the night. She looks awfully tired! Talk to you all later/ -Jack

I only have a minute!

April 27th, 2009

It’s a lot harder for me to sneak away to the computer and talk to you all now that I am home. In the nursery I just waited for the nurse to tend to another baby. At home, some one is always watching me!

I am doing great. Had an eye doctor appointment and everything looked good. I have immature blood vessels in the eyes. It is because I am premature but the doctor expects those to develop just fine.  My big brother got a little upset today when I was in HIS stroller. Mommy told him he was a big boy now and had to walk. He seemed to get over it when he was allowed to help push the stroller.

Well, back to sleeping. Talk to you later. – Jack

Home sweet home.

April 23rd, 2009

This home thing isn’t so bad. I like to sleep a lot. I’ve been eating more and more. Have to pack on the pounds. I was 5 pounds 8 ounces when I left the hopital for home. Today I went and saw the pediatrician. I gained 4 ounces in two days of being home! Must be the good home cooking.  As far as my general health goes, I am doing great…just small for my age.  The doctor checked my temperature. I don’t like that process!!!! I’ll have to wait for my follow up appointments with the lung and brain specialists for updates on my CCAM and seizure.

Big brother Joey is doing well too. He likes to hold my hand. Talk to you later. – Jack

There is no place like home.

April 21st, 2009

It’s official, I get to go home today. Mommy and Daddy are picking me up later this afternoon.  They are running around signing papers, getting my medicines and getting ready at home.  Got to go. Lots to do. Check back later. I will keep posting about my progress.  – Jack

Weight Watchers.

April 20th, 2009

Just wanted to give you all a quick update. I gained weight this morning. If I gain weight tonight, I will go home tomorrow. Can’t talk for long. Must not burn too much energy. Please check back for an update tomorrow, hopefully from my new home! -Jack

Won the battle…

April 19th, 2009

but still fighting the war.  My feeding tube has remained out so far. Check out my mug shot. The doctor says if I continue to eat and gain weight, I might go home on Tuesday. I want to caution my readers though. Things seem to change so quickly when you are a premature baby. I could throw a tantrum again and be back on the feeding tube. But for the first time there is an end date thrown out there for my stay in hospitals. Have to go. There is much to do in preparation for my possible leave.  – Jack

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