We Love The Fall....

Yes, it's been too long since I've posted...

There is a lot to catch up on!

On August 18, 2009 our little miracle took his first independent steps. And since then he has been on the go everywhere! This new freedom has made him quite happy. And we are all so proud of Jay. This video was taken the next day. He's now zooming around like a crazy man.


Almost every evening Daddy walks around our street while Jay drives his little car. He's gotten so good at pushing that thing with his feet I'm actually nervous he's going to fly off. I definitely have a boy. He is in everything he's not supposed to be in and so curious. He's also learned how to open the cupboards despite the child proof latches. Hurricane Jay is here I tell ya!!

In September we took our annual trip to San Francisco to visit Joe's Grandparents. It was a lovely trip and we really enjoyed our time up there.




And then on October 9th, my sweet husband turned the big 4-0! So we had a surprise party for him and a wonderful night out.



Jay continues with his occupational therapy which has now been increased to two hours a week to help with the feedings. There has been great progress with his feeding but there is still a lot to work on. We are also in the middle of getting him in some kind of speech therapy. I think everything is there: he babbles, he mimics sounds, but he just needs a little help getting it all together.

Our little world changes daily but our little family has never been stronger. :)

OT Progress Report

Jay had a recent progress report in occupational therapy. He's met many of his goals and they have now set up a whole new list of goals for us to work on. When you are a preemie parent you savor every little victory. No matter how futile it may seem to others. We celebrate everything in our house. :)

Our biggest struggle would probably be the weight gain and feeding. This is something I could probably spend hours writing about. God knows I bore the few people who still listen to me. But it is frustrating. Jay is definitely underweight and eating time stresses me out!

Developmentally I'm so proud of him. He has reached so many milestones and continues to surprise me daily. Last weekend Jay touched grass for the first time (yes I am extremely over protective but if you heard what they have to say in the NICU you would be too.) He loved it! He played in it, pulled it, tried to eat it, and crawled and walked in it. He aslo touched sand and Daddy put him on the curvy slide which he loved!!


And a few days ago I was upstairs putting some clothes away. Joe was downstairs on the computer and Jay was playing. I came downstairs only to hear something splashing about in the bathroom. My childs hands were in the toilet!!! The toilet paper roll was all over the floor it was truly a mess! I wasn't laughing at the time but I am laughing now. Needless to say we keep that door shut all the time now.

Daddy's Day

I'm a little late posting Father's Day stuff but it's been crazy around here. I seriously don't know where the days go and here we are on the first day of July! The year is half over.

We had a wonderful Father's Day. We had Joe's family over (his Dad and brother and the nephews) Jay had a great time with his cousins and was wiped out by the end of the day. And my Dad came by and visited for a bit too.

Jay had his 18 month check up and his dreaded booster shots. Our pediatrician says Jay is doing fantasic and although he cried for about a half a minute after the shots he was all smiles once we left. We've started supplementing Jay's diet with Pediasure and in two weeks he's gained one pound. So I think this is helping already.

And the best news of the summer... Jay's doc said it was A OK for him to hit the pool this summer!!! In fact he said it will be good for his muscle strength and development. I am so looking forward to playing in the water with my little family.

Joe watching you transform into a parent has been so awesome. Sometimes I feel like my heart is going to explode when I watch you with Jay. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for our family. I hope you had a wonderful Father's Day and felt spoiled. :) And to my Daddy thank you for everything you do for me. (even the lectures) ;) There is no one in this world like you and I feel so lucky I got to be your daughter. I would not be who I am today without you.

18 Months Old

I seriously can not believe that our little boy has been in this world for 18 months. Everyone told me it would go fast and it is. I treasure every sweet preemie victory we have.

Jay never had separation anxiety. But recently, he's started crying when I leave him at the preschool. This is heartbreaking. But his teachers Ms. Dina and Ms. Dilini tell me that he gets over it very quickly. So that gives me some peace of mind. It still gives me guilt though.

At home our little monkey is all over the place! If it's in his reach expect it to come down. We had to block the XBox 360 because Jay loves to turn it off right in the middle of Daddy's online Call of Duty Game. Some people think I taught Jay to do that but I didn't :)

I had a great b'day. My Dad and Laurina watched Jay for the first time overnight. This was the first time I'd ever left him anywhere overnight without us. I honestly had no fears as my angel child sleeps peacefully through the night. And just as I thought he would, he did. We had a wonderful night out with out friends with no clock watching which was a nice change of pace for us. The next day was the Tustin Chili Cook Off. We went to this for the first time last year and it was pretty fun and kid friendly so we decided to go again. This time with Joe's brother Dan and his kids. Although we really didn't have much chili it was a great day. And Jay got to experience the Rolling Stones. (well the cover band at least) ;)


Mommy and Daddy's night out

Jay's cool sunglasses

My Heart Y

Black Friday

I know this blog is mainly about our family. But this is something near and dear to my heart as anyone close to me would know. I really don't have much to say as I am truly disgusted with the Sri Lankan government. If you are reading this I hope you will take the time to pray for the 1000's and 1000's of Tamil people who have lost their lives in this ongoing war. I hope that you will pray for my people who have been displaced and now have nowhere to call home. I was there for Black Friday in July 1983 (a day I will never forget..ingrained into my brain forever)
and today another Black Friday I mourn the loss of my people with the rest of the Tamils around the world, as the Sri Lankan Government celebrates the genocide of the Tamil people.
I honor the Tigers who fought so hard for freedom and I know have not given up hope. You have given me a reason to be proud to call myself a Sri Lankan Tamil. Thank you.








“The struggle for political independence is the demand of Tamil people, ... The question whether we accept the hegemony of the Sri Lankan government has not arisen.”
Velupillai Prabhakaran- Leader and Hero

Mother's Day 2009

Personally, I used to dread this day and would normally wander the malls or something only to see mothers and their kids celebrating a day I didn't have anyone to celebrate with. But my beautiful boy has given this day a whole new meaning and I can't tell you how wonderful it is.

Joe and Jay spoiled me on Mother's Day and my Dad and Laurina were nice enough to watch Jay in the evening so the Joe and I could get out on our own for a bit. Eating in a restaurant with the little man is not as easy as it used to be because if he's not eating or taking a bottle he wants to be on the go. And if you think he's going to sit still in a high chair, you are so wrong. ;)

Jay is now holding on to things and cruising all over. He has really made us proud. I make all his food now and that seems to be going really well. And he's handling the regular milk just fine.

Today we had a visit with Dr. Nankin, Jay's pediatric opthamologist and he told us we don't need to come back for one year!! As of now the surgeries he had when he first came home have healed well and the doctor does not feel he needs anything extra right now (ie glasses, treatment etc)



MOTHER AND SON

My son
I am here
I cannot protect you
From the world.

My son
I am here
I can only love you
No matter what

My son
I am here
My love unconditional
On this you can rely

My son
I am here
To guide and to teach you
And now you must fly

My son
I am here
Life can be difficult
I hear your cry

My son
I am here
Changes are painful
Never forget who you are

My son
I am here
Maintain the faith
In yourself and in God

My son
I am here
Self acceptance is yours
Do not fear

My son
I am here

Rose Falcone
September 8, 1959 / Brooklyn, New York

Help!

I was in the kitchen last week when I heard Jay squaking in the living room. It wasn't a cry or anything like that. This was a different sound. Turns out our little man had pulled himself to a standing position and didn't know what to do. He was stuck and was calling out for one of us to come help him. :)

And so goes the progress in the Schmetzer house. Jay is doing fantastic. This week we said goodbye to the formula and hello to regular milk. Jay's first real milk was Horizon Organic milk. And he seems to be liking it just fine. He also get's Yo Baby Organic Yogurt and he absolutely loves this stuff.

He's still having a few issues with swallowing anything chunky as far as solids go so I puree his food still. From what I understand this is a common preemie problem and something we will work on. Right now all that matters to me is he is getting what he needs to grow and be strong and healthy.