One year later

Jakob at ONE

- 22 lbs 9 oz, 30 in long, 18.5 in head size (pretty much average for everything)
- does not walk but climbs on everything including your face
- gets mad if you try to get him to walk with only one or no hands being held but if distracted he can stand unaided for awhile
- eats fruit, dairy, carbs, and meat but veggies are still a work in process
- understands lots of what we say and has learned lots of 'tricks'
- actually cuddles now to watch videos with me (I LOVE this!  It melts my heart.)
- takes one big nap after lunch (this took lots of work but was needed)
- seems to almost always be laughing and smiling
- enjoys lots of people and parties a lot!
- very curious about animals and other babies but is shy for at the least the first 20 minutes in playgroups
- dances to music even if it's just me or Paul singing
- still drinks breastmilk a few times a day
- babbles back when you ask him a question
- shakes his head no, sometimes it's because he's tired, sometimes he means no, and sometimes just because
- crawls around with something in his mouth most of the time but never a pacifier (he doesnt care for one)
- wipes the table with his bib and the floor with anything cloth
- feeds himself with a fork (sometimes prefers a fork to hands) and has almost mastered the spoon

Jakob is such a joy and is the perfect fit for our family!  We love him so much.

And I made Swiss Älplermagronen the other day and it was delicious!!

Jakob's First Christmas and Birthday!

So I guess I need to play catch up... Little dude had a checkup right before we left for the states and everything looked great!  We were very relieved even though I still caught myself over analyzing his emotions/actions for a couple weeks.  I can't read anything more about the disease or else I start worrying for his future too much.  He's such a strong boy and we pray to never see any effects of this!

Christmas vacation was wonderful!  We arrived a few days before Christmas and was over jet lag within a couple nights.  Jakob sat with Santa and actually smiled for the camera!  For a minute or two he was extremely interested in Santa's beard but finally decided it was ok.  I did so much shopping that looking back on things... I was a tad bit ridiculous.  But I got some great finds and had 7 pounds to spare on our way back (out of 140)!  Now I just have to go through all our clothes to make room.  Jakob loved all of the attention.  Christmas gave him some practice opening gifts for his birthday.  While we all weren't looking he even reached in one of his bags (by chance) and pulled out his gift and starting playing with it.  So cute!  But he did pull off wrapping paper and even was somewhat interested in what was inside.  I think it was a success.  We had an intimate gathering for his birthday party where he devoured his own carrot cake cupcake.  First he would just scoop up the icing but then Paul shoved his hand into it and then Jakob decided it was definitely edible.  :)  That night we went to El Jalisco's where they sang happy birthday to him and he was extremely intrigued but not near as happy as when everyone sang to him at his party.  We even went to Albany to visit Paul's family and then made it to the Tallahassee Museum on our last day where Jakob wore his new sunglasses (for 3 minutes) and really enjoyed seeing the animals.

We've been back for almost 2 weeks and it's so nice but we miss everyone already.  There is just SO much more action when we're in the states- sometimes that's good but sometimes it's nice to get away from the hussle and bussle.  Last week Jakob got his 1 yr shots and that was pretty uneventful.  Besides me realizing how easy everything is here.  I was 5 min late to our appt at 8:30.  We were seen after a few min, talked about the information he received from Jakob's hospital stay, talked about new stuff, Jakob was checked out, got 2 shots and we chatted a bit more (all not rushed even though I still forget things that I want to ask!).  Then we met with the secretary who was trained to take and test blood.  We waited for a few min in the waiting room for the results and then made our next appointment and were home by 9:10... using public transport and walking.  I just love it.  This was all after getting the hospital bill where we owe less than 3% of the cost.  I am in shock.  All this to say, Switzerland has grown on me and I am so thankful to be getting this experience with a child.  It has been a surprise to me to be in love with so many things here.

Yesterday, Jakob came down with a 103 fever and was feeling very tired.  I think we're over the hump now and he's getting better.  He's not really showing any other symptoms so we're just watching him.  Paul got some hand-me-down skis today and is really excited to get some boots and go skiing!  Im glad he's excited about it.  I really wish I liked skiing.  I think when Jakob is older I will really enjoy sledding with him.  :)

Well, hopefully I'll be able to do one more post before we go BACK to the states!  Ha!  Our downstairs neighbors are going to hate us when Jakob is screaming again through the night in a month and a half.  But I just have to come back for Carli's wedding!  Im so excited for her and really excited to see some special people!  But I am nervous since it will just be me traveling with a kid who can NOT sit still...  This may be my last time in awhile I can see everyone... plane tickets are just getting too expensive to be going back all the time- especially when little dude turns 2.  I hope but am not too sure about Labor day this year... :(  Especially since my brother is also getting married!!  In China!  Oh, geez.  I feel old.  But his wedding is at the end of July and we will go to support him.  It will be a great experience and I can't believe it is actually happening.  Here's a slideshow from our trip because I take waaaaay too many pictures!

Hello and Bye Bye 'lello!

Thanksgiving- For the most part it was a huge success!  It was a little stressful a few days before because I could not find my specific pumpkin anymore in the grocery but luckily the Wednesday market near our place saved the pie.  Paul woke up early to get a last few ingredients plus two 6.5kg turkeys we ordered (that was as big as they could come).  Unfortunately, they were frozen- this was not the case for Christmas last year so we were surprised but it worked out just fine.  I made sweet potato casserole, one of the turkeys, gravy, and a pumpkin pie.  A friend hosted and cooked the other turkey and we had one huge table with about 25 of us.  It was so great!  We had all the major foods and more and I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving with friends.  The only ify part was little dude...

Thanksgiving morning I had to wake Jakob up at 9am because we really needed to start our day.  He was a little sluggish but still took his normal morning feed.  As he was finishing, a volcano of milk erupted from his tiny mouth.  I had never seen anything like it.  Jakob never vomits.  He didnt have a fever and was a little fussy and looked kinda tan.  That day he didnt have an appetite for solids, had a tiny amount of blood in his urine, and was very sleepy but still was happy hanging out with everyone.  Needless to say, by the end of the evening he threw up a little bit of saliva and we were worried.  He had finally started looking really yellow- skin and eyes.  The next day we went to the pediatrician and he sent us straight to the children's hospital.  After tons of needles, blood taking, and crying (baby chub makes finding veins very difficult) that night we were told they suspected Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.  From what I understand, a toxin (linked to E Coli) gets platelets to start clotting which makes openings smaller which rips up red blood cells as they try to pass through.  The broken red blood cells leak bilirubin causing jaundice and the clogging makes capillaries bust forming red pin pricks on the skin.  Red blood cell and platelet counts can drop dangerously low and I believe this (along with trying to clean out the toxin) is what can make the damage to the kidneys so massive- damage that can lead to dialysis and sometimes transplants.  The range of devestation this disease can cause is huge.  And in a huge understatement, we were incredibly scared for our little dude.  There is no medicine, no antibotics that help because if you attack the toxins they break apart and spread worse.  We just had to wait.

Jakob stayed in ICU for observation that night.  We were told things can get bad fast.  I slept in a mommy room for a few hours and was back with him bright and early.  Saturday his red blood cells were so low he needed packed red blood cells (fyi- we now realize first hand the importance of giving blood and will be making more of an effort from now on).  Jakob was extremely sleepy with very little energy and no appetite but was still flirting with all the nurses.  He had a small allergic reaction to the blood and got a steriod shot to stop its progess and that afternoon he was stable enough to be moved to the dialysis floor in our own room where I could sleep too.  We then realized we were in isolation- basically no leaving the room except to get food.  They were worried he still could be contagious but Sunday the top doctor was called in to look at Jakob's case and see if we could be taken off isolation and we passed!  Horray for the first step!  Each day he had blood taken, some days had a new test (ultrasound of his organs, echo cardiogram which he fell asleep during, eye exam), and eventually his platelets and kidney levels returned to normal without dialysis (thank God!).  He was on an iv most of the time because fluids help flush everything and there is no way (even on his best day) that he takes in a liter of fluids!

By Friday we met with the doctor for an overview of our case and we were headed home!  Everything was back to normal except his red blood cell count which was about 75%.  We were told it could take weeks to months to normalize.  Unfortunately, this disease will be following him hopefully only until he's an adult.  So nephrology appointments will happen next week, in a month, maybe 3 months later, and then probably every year til he's an adult.  When he's older the kidneys will grow and work harder and sometimes problems will appear.  We are optimistic though!

SO!  That was a crazy week.  We really didnt think going to the pediatrician would lead to a week in the hospital but we are so thankful for the Kinderspital!  It was amazing, the nurses loved Jakob so much (he flirted back and had his favorites!), and we really couldn't have asked for a better experience during a terrible time.  Great friends stopping by to keep us sane and bring us food made us feel a lot better too.  And now we are back to normal.  Thankfully.  Jakob eats a ton, sleeps great, talks alot, and is on the move.  We love him so much and love his fighter mentality!

And in 2 weeks we are off the states!  Christmas, time with family and friends, and a certain 1 year old birthday party!  Could not be more excited!  Now to start Christmas shopping...  Oh and these are our Christmas cookies we made with friends (plus my fudge that's not pictured).  :)  And our view from the hospital room.