Merry Christmas Everyone!

Here is a little video from the portraits I took of the kids this Christmas.

Jacob update 11-10-09

Sorry for neglecting my little Jacob blog. Jacob is doing much much better. We finally got the seizures under control after adding a new seizure med, Banzal. He has responded fabulously to it and the seizures are mostly gone! Praise God!
We are so thankful that Jacob has finally been approved for the Medicaid Waiver Program and has started receiving services and supplies!!!! After being on a waiting list for 6 years we have finally been approved!!
We went yesterday to get Jacob fitted for a new feeding chair, the Special Tomato. I am so excited about this chair. Check it out on www.adaptivemall.com. It is awesome and will be such a help during mealtimes.
We also were fitted for a potty chair. Yes, that is the technical term. He is doing great in his at school and now we will be able to continue striving towards potty training at home.
Also great news is that we are able to get Jacob the new Sleep Safer Bed. It will be so good for him to be in this bed to keep him safe from harm.
Therapies will hopefully begin soon and we are now receiving diapers and wipes at no charge! Imagine we have spent 9 years in diapers...I wonder how much that would add up to be? 4-5 diapers a day for 9 years....hmmm...EXPENSIVE! We feel very blessed that we are now able to have some assistance.
Thanks for all of you prayer warriors out there...you are awesome!!
Bye for now,
Elizabeth

Jacob's first week of school

Jacob had a great first week back to school. He went right in to his class and headed straight to his favorite beanbag to curl up in. It was like he never left!
Jacob's seizures have started back up again and are getting more frequent and pronounced. We visited the neurologist yesterday and he turned up the amps of his VNS and upped one of his medications. Hopefully, the seizures will subside soon.
Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers!
Elizabeth

Mexican Caribbean Vacation

All went well in Mexico...thanks for your prayers! The whole family had a fabulous time enjoying the pools, the ocean, the buffet and the endless ice cream bar! Jacob did very well on the airplane, slept well (wearing him out during the day certainly helped) and ate very well from the all you can eat buffets. He certainly enjoyed the ice cream after every meal (as did the rest of the family). He loved floating around the pool in his little ring and really enjoyed the wave pool and lazy river. It was a much needed family bonding experience that we will all cherish for a lifetime!

Trip to Playa del Carmen

I would like to request some serious prayers as we take all 3 boys to Mexico for a family vacation. It will be the first time we have ever flown anywhere together. And the first time the boys have been out of the country. Pray that no one gets sick and that Jacob sleeps well in the hotel environment. We are very excited to all be able to go but do have reservations that Jacob will adapt well to the new situation.
I will post some photos and let everyone know how it went when we return.
Thanks!

Jacob Today June 2nd

Jacob is feeling much much better and is back to his happy self! Thanks for your prayers but keep on prayin' 'cause he is still having seizures but they have decreased a little. YEA!

Over his sickness

Poor Jacob has been super sick for the past 10 days. His fever spiked up to 104 and just wouldn't go away. Went to the doctor and he found nothing. That was Friday May 22. Couldn't stop the fever and now he added the big D, a rash on his face and lots of congestion, etc. to the mix. Went back to the doctor on Tuesday and found out he had STREP. Not strep throat, no Jacob can not do anything normal. The strep was on his face and in his sinuses! Then Mommy, Jackson and Joshua were tested positive for Strep. Only Daddy and Boo the cat escaped the misery. Luckily we caught it soon for the other 2 boys and they didn't suffer too much.

Jacob is still a little "snotty" and of course, the fever has increased his seizures.

Keep him in your prayers that the seizures decrease and that he kicks this sickness 100%!

Thanks!

Long Overdue Update

These are all of the diapers we received at Jacob's Birthday Party!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!This is Jacob at the Special Olympics Sensory Area. He enjoyed his trip! Mommy and the three boys on Easter after our Easter Egg Hunt!

Check out his cool new orange shoes.

Jacob's seizures had mostly stopped by the beginning of April. Under the direction of the Neurologist, we started weaning him off of one of his seizure meds. Unfortunately, 2 days later his seizures began again. Now, several weeks later, the seizures are still around (about 5-10 minutes apart). We went back on the med we were trying to go off of but so far no success.
For the past 4 days, Jacob has been sick with a fever from 99.5-104. That seemed to bring on even more seizures and he has been feeling so rotten that he has pretty much done nothing but sleep. Poor guy!
Please keep him in your prayers as we continue to find balance with these meds.

Pray for Jacob on the 27th!

We are praying for you, Jacob :)

Easter On the Porch

Update on Jacob!

I have great news....Jacob's seizures have really decreased. In fact it has been days since I have even seen one! We are very happy and so is he. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!
We are planning on decreasing his seizure meds beginning in May. We will meet with the neurologist on April 27 and see what he says. Please keep all of us in your prayers that God may guide us to make the best decisions for Jacob.
I will keep you up to date!
Elizabeth

I continue to pray that Jacob is doing well with his new implant. I praise God that he has blessed others with Jacob's life. He is an inspiration to us all.

Jacob's 9th Birthday!

Believe it or not, Jacob will be 9 on March 27th. Thought everyone might enjoy seeing his birthday invitation, if you haven't already seen one.

Thinking of Jacob

Lord,

I pray that you keep Jacob safe during all the changes his body is going through. I am thankful for your blessings, and for the things that you have done through Jacob's sweet life.

Update 2-25-09

I just received this from Elizabeth.


Jacob recovered well from his VNS implant. The surgeon said he would see us back in 7 years (when the battery runs out). We are now in the process of having the device "turned up" about every two weeks by the neurologist. It is pretty amazing, we go in for about 10 minutes and with a device that looks like an iphone, the doctor punches in some numbers and that is it.

If it is possible, Jacob has gotten even happier since the VNS was implanted. He is always happy and smiling and is such a joy to be around. So far we have not seen any change in his seizure activity but we were warned that we may not see much change for 3-6 months.

Please keep Jacob in your prayers over the next few months as the doctor works with the "dosage".

Thanks to Everyone!

Elizabeth

Thank you all for your prayers. I know Elizabeth and Trey appreciate it, and I know Jacob needs them.

Lord, I pray that You would make this transition smooth for Jacob and grant him peace and happiness.

Still Praying!

Jacob..

I thought of you all day... We are still praying for you:)

Lots of love,
Loryn

Jacob's Surgery

Jacob got through his surgery with flying colors! Thanks for all of your prayers. We were a little unsure when they gave him the "margarita" meds and he started standing on the bed. I guess it did not have the effect they were looking for, but once they got him sedated, it all went well. One hour later, we hung out with him in the recovery room (that is only iodine on his skin) until he woke up. About a half an hour later he woke up and drank some juice and we got the ok to take him home. He has been asleep the whole day except to have a little chicken noodle soup and pudding. He will be having the device turned on on Wednesday morning.
The incisions are small and should heal quickly. Now we wait to see if the VNS works for Jacob. So don't stop the prayers, for we still need them everyday.
Thank you!
Elizabeth and Trey

Prayers to you, sweet Jacob

Jacob,

May God be with you and your family through all the new things that are being introduced in your life.
I love you and am thinking of you all the time.

Thank you Sandy for the scripture you shared - it is so appropriate.

"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Psalm 50:15

Please Pray for Jacob

This is an email from Jacob's Mom to me. Everyone, please continue to pray.

We visited the pediatric surgeon today and all agreed that having the VNS implant is the best option for Jacob right now. He had been seizure free for multiple weeks but they have started again. We have also discovered that his sudden outbursts of laughter for no apparent reason may also be seizures. As crazy as that sounds, there is such a thing as "laughing epilepsy" and it looks as though Jacob now also has that rare type of seizure. The little guy couldn't get any more unique!

We set up the outpatient surgery for Monday Feb 2 at 10am. It is less than two weeks away! We were surprised to get in so quickly but are happy that we are having it done before his seizures worsen any more.

The neurologist is hoping that after a few months on the VNS Therapy, he will be able to wean him off of some of his meds. We are all praying for the VNS to be an answer to seizure control.

Please say some prayers for little Jacob on Monday, Feb 2 as he will never understand what is going on and may be a little scared. He will recover for a few days at home and then he should be good as new. I will keep everyone updated through the blog.

Update and new Article

Jacob's Mom informed me that Jacob is doing much better! Thank you, Lord for protecting him!

Also, this is a link that describes his disorder. It was published in a parenting magazine.

Click here to view article

Happy New Year, Jacob!

I know that God has a plan for you, and that this year will be filled with joy. I pray that He keeps you safe in his arms and guides your family through the whole year.

Loryn