Hello! I actually have a moment to tell you all what's been going on! I updated with three journal entries today and am going to go add some pictures too!

Since Saturday Jack has been pulling up to stand and CRUISING the furniture!!!!!!

It's amazing -- I can hardly believe my eyes!

Jack had PT this morning and she could hardly believe her eyes either. She feels Jack will be on his way to walking independently with no need for equipment (walker, etc.) in the future. She even talked about getting him a shoe insert for his left foot and keeping the DAFO for his right foot.

Someone pinch me -- I think I may be dreaming!!

Jack has never progressed this fast -- it's always taken months to pick up a new gross motor skill. I can't believe he put it all together so quickly. He can even get out of standing rather safely too!

Yesterday we had a WIC appointment and he pulled to stand and played with the other kids at one of those play tables with the wooden beads.

When we parked at the WIC office we had to park on the busy road and put money in the meter. At the red light there was a HUGE mac truck and Jack was in awe. I told him "WOW, look at that big truck Jack!" and he smiled and couldn't take his eyes away from it. After our appointment we went out to the car and he looked out into the street and said "Tuck." He remembered and was looking for the big truck and actually SAID the word! LOL, I am simply giddy!

I just had to share our amazing moments!

Wow -- what a week this has been! We had one or two appointments a day the ENTIRE week! I have never been so glad to see the weekend!

Jack had his EEG yesterday. First, it was torture for Jack. They wrapped him in a hospital sheet like a burrito and taped it tightly...it took the woman forever and a day to actually get the leads glued to Jack's head. Jason and I had to lay over Jack to keep him still for almost two hours. Jack screamed like I have never seen him scream before. He even bit his lip and was bleeding.. Jack did calm down but was still sobbing during the test. Jason said it must have felt like being abducted by aliens...such a strange environment -- not painful but plenty scary for Mr. Jack. I remember going through the same ordeal last year but Jack was much more aware of what was going on this year.

We met with his neuro right after. He said Jack's EEG looked much better this year. He said there's still slight activity but it's only here and there vs. constant like last year. He felt Tegretol was really good for Jack so we'll continue to keep him on it (he said for a few years in his opinion). I am grateful that the medication is working! We upped his dosage by 1 ml because Jack is almost 24 lbs (YAY!!!) and the levels we had taken on Monday were a little low. We'll go for labs in two weeks and then again in 6 weeks.

Now the unexpected and most exciting part of our visit with the neuro. The Dr. was asking me what Jack is doing gross motor wise and other areas. He was THRILLED to hear of Jack's progress since our last visit (4 months ago)...then the strangest, most beautiful statement came from the neuro. "He will walk." just like that. We didn't ask -- he just came out with it. Jason and I looked at each other like did we hear that just leave his mouth? Jason said "Wow, no one's ever said it as straight forward before" and the neuro went on to explain how Jack has the strength and ability and he feels it'll be soon (and not years like I was thinking). Jack was being very charming and engaging the neuro in "Jack speak" and we were explaining how Jack will mimic words or word approximations like if I ask him where his diapers are he'll repeat "per, per" or "pie per" the same with a bunch of other words. All of this happened in the span of a week....it's an exciting time for us right now. The neuro said he feels Jack will do well and it will come with time.

I can't tell you how scared I have been in the past few weeks. Jack was making progress but I had a lot of his therapists put doubts in my mind -- I won't go there now, as already Jack's proving them wrong! LOL. The last week or two was a virtual developmental explosion! I still can't believe it when I see Jack pulling up on everything, even using the walls and the front door.

We also discussed Botox with the neuro and he wrote a referral to a colleague of his that does botox injections. He felt now is the PERFECT time for botox. It'll probably be several weeks until we can get in for an appointment so in the meantime I would love to hear anything and EVERYTHING you know about botox!

Thanks for reading everyone -- I am so excited to share our great news. I will keep you posted on how Jack's doing!

Pictured is Jack pulling up to pet the puppy! (or as Jack says pa-pay) oh, and I don't know what's up with using his placemat under his legs...lol...he must have thought it would help.!

We had a great time at the beach. Jack did so many new things!

He LOVED the ocean and the sand. While playing in the sand he started digging and filling his dump truck and then would hand the digger to daddy!!! He did try to eat the sand once but he learned it's very yucky in the mouth!

Every day he ate breakfast overlooking the ocean -- and I have to wonder if he thought that was our new dining room!! LOL (hey ma, I love what you've done with the place!)

The boardwalk was another favorite. He loved the tram cars and the seagulls! We took him into an arcade and he sat right on top of the skiball lane and attempted to throw the balls to get points. Almost every day for lunch he ate a HUGE slice of pizza guess I'll be running for slices too! ha ha.

Jack was 'talking' so much too!!! Grandpa Bob was playing monster with Jack and would growl and Jack would growl back...soon after every time Jack would see Grandpa Bob he would growl at him! too cute!