Jack is doing well! We've had a busy few weeks with appointments and it's been so COLD I hate to leave the house. Jack is now crawling faster and faster as well as trying his hardest to pull to stand. He tries to use his upper body without bringing his legs along...we have to remind him that his legs are there to help him! After a few tries (and me supporting him under his butt) it clicks and he finally gets up! He looks so proud when he does it. He can take steps with two hands held and needs less support as the weeks go on. Jack was fitted for DAFOs (dynamic ankle foot orthotics) this morning. They are plastic braces that go right below his knee. Jack wasn’t sure what to make of the casting. They sat him on a table with me sitting next to him and put both legs in plaster casts to create a mold. They cut them off and are sending them away to get his DAFOs made. I am looking forward to getting them because I believe it will make all the difference in his standing, cruising and eventually walking!

Jack has remained seizure free since being put on Tegretol late this summer. He adjusted well to his meds and now knows the drill each morning and evening! We had a check up with his neurosurgeon in December and he only wants to see him back in 9 months time instead of our usual 6 months.

Jack doesn't have any words yet except mama, dada, and baba (for bottle) he has a few signs but isn't consistent with them although just yesterday he constantly made the sign for ‘more’ when he wanted more Goldfish crackers. He understands very much of what we say and I am waiting for what goes in to finally come out! He can follow simple requests like brush hair, pet puppy, where's daddy?, get your sock, etc. One really exciting accomplishment is doing pattycake upon request (WITH BOTH HANDS!!!) For the longest time Jack would completely ignore his right hand but as the weeks go by he uses it more and more. Over Christmas we learned that he can rip paper with two hands. It's so great to see him using both hands together!

He's eating all kinds of table foods -- basically everything we eat. I am so proud of his progress in this area. Even though he eats well and eats high calorie foods he is not growing as well as his pediatrician would like. We went to his ped for a weight and growth check and he weighed in at 20 lbs, 12 oz and 33 inches tall. He is declining slightly on his own growth curve so the ped referred us to the feeding clinic. Our appointment is this coming Tuesday. Please send all the positive thoughts you can for that appointment!