Final Caring Bridge Post

This is it! This will be my final post on Jacob's CaringBridg

e website. Our new blog is up and running and you can check it out at http://thelittlechickenwing.blogspot.com

This will be more of a family blog and is to keep you updated on the current events of the Stewart Family so feel free to subscribe to the updates or just check it out whenever you feel like it if you don't want to receive e-mail updates.

Thank you again to all of you for your support, prayers and encouragement during our time of need. I've been thinking a lot lately about the day Jacob was born. Instead of the sheer excitement most parents experience during the birth of their child, Ian and I were terrified, anxious and nervous wrecks. It was great to come here not only to update you all on Jacob, but to have a place to write it all down and get some things off my chest.

I am excited that this journal will be a book and that someday, God Willing, when Jacob takes his first steps, climbs the bus to Kindergarten and heads off to his Junior Prom that I will have these memories to look back on and remember how so many people were there for us when we needed it the most.

Please feel free to leave any final comments in the Guestbook because they will be published in the hardcover book! Thank you again and I hope to see many of you over on our new blog.

Moving to Blogger!

One year ago tomorrow Ian and I found out we were expecting our first child. What a difference a year makes! Jacob will be 7 months old on Thursday and I can't believe that a little over 3 short months ago he was still in the hospital. It seems like so long ago which I am sure is a good thing. We are so happy to have him home and thriving and October has been a great month.

Jacob had a pediatricia

n appointment this morning (his 6 month well visit even though it is about a month late). He had his 6 month vaccinations and a flu shot so he was not a happy camper! His weight was 12 lbs 4 oz which surprised me because I was sure he'd be bigger than that, but he is right on his growth curve and his doctor was thrilled. He is 22 3/4 inches and his head circumference was 16.5. He still has a huge head, but his body is growing into it now so he looks more proportioned and his face isn't as full now that his body is catching up. We discussed his RSV shot and unfortunately the insurance company has to approve the application and they are taking their sweet time with this. There is no way he'll be denied based on his extremely low birth weight and gestational age so hopefully we will have this taken care of by 11/5. The doctor said one of her patients has just been admitted to Children's in Boston with RSV so it concerns her that the season has started so early and she doesn't have a good feeling about this Winter in general. Let's hope Jacob can steer clear of this!

Jacob is finally starting to hold his head up and as soon as he can sit in his feeding chair the doctor has cleared us to start solids. We were going to wait until 6 months adjusted instead of the recommended 4, but Jacob is having some "irregularity" of his bowels and even after stopping his iron vitamins and switching to Fluoride vitamins it is not getting any better. We have been cleared to skip right over cereal and start prunes! I'm sure Jacob will love them. ;)

He continues meeting with Early Intervention once a month and we are currently working on his rolling. She is very happy with his progress and he remains on target for his adjusted age. He is a very happy baby and constantly smiling. Last time Carrie (our EI specialist) was here she told Jacob jokingly, "We need to work on your social skills!".

We took our first road trip this month out to Ohio and stopped in Pennsylvania on the way home. The foliage was beautiful and the scenery amazing as well. It really is a beautiful drive and we went during the best time of the year. The drive was a challenge with an infant, but we learned many valuable lessons that can be applied toward future road trips. All in all, we had a great time and we would like to thank everyone in PA for their hospitality during our stay. It was also great to visit with so many in Ohio. Our trip seemed way too short!

In conclusion, we have decided to start a Stewart Family Blog and close down the CaringBridge website. This website has been great, but the purpose of CaringBridge is to update friends and family during times of critical illness and since Jacob doesn't fall into that category anymore we are going to switch over to a Blog hosted by Google. It is not up and running yet, but I will post an update as soon as it is. If you wish to receive future updates on Jacob you can subscribe to his blog. You should stop receiving CaringBridge updates after my last post which should be sometime in the next few weeks. The great thing about this website is that we have the option of having Jacob's website printed into a hardcover book as a keepsake. All of my journal entries, pictures and all of your treasured comments in the Guestbook will be printed and bound. It will be a wonderful keepsake for Jacob (as well as Ian and myself) of his journey over the past 7 months.

Thank you so much for your continued support, prayers, emails, cards, etc. and be sure to check out Jacob's new pictures. I'm sure most of you have seen them by now. In the default picture, on the welcome page, Jacob is modeling his new Winter hat which was a steal at $0.94!!! Stay tuned for updates on our blog and hope everyone is enjoying Fall!