You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

I know it's been a while since my last post. It hasn't been for lack of effort on my part. This post has been in the "editing" stage for over a month, but life happens and my parentals aren't always available to help a brotha' out. Things have been pretty tame around here the past few weeks with the most exciting event being my 15 month vaccinations, woo hoo!! I'm standing on my own for short spurts and I walk around the furniture like a trapeze artist. I hear "NO" and "Get away from that" on an all too regular basis. I go for a developmental analysis on Friday afternoon. Basically they're going to check my speech and motor skills. it's something almost all preemies have to deal with on some level. This will give us a clear picture on where I am compared to a full-term baby my age.

I am getting my first experience with the Alabama heat and humidity. Last year at this time I was stuck in the cool and comfy NICU. I'm also learning the world is much bigger than our house and my family/friends. After a year of being confined to the crib my folks are getting me out and about a lot these days. Speaking of the NICU, we went to the yearly reunion last month. It was great seeing all the people who took such fantastic care of me my first 105 days in this world. They all remarked about how cute I am, duh, and how big I have gotten. There were a ton of families there and we had fun getting reacquainted with the people who were a big part of our lives not so long ago.

I took my first road trip a few weeks back. We went to visit family in Oxford MS and a family reunion in Amory. I got to meet a ton of new people and hang in the pool with my Dad and some cousins. It was really cool. I love the water and can't wait to go swiming again, real soon. One night the adults went out for dinner and the rest of us hung out in the backyard. I had a blast rolling around in the cool grass and relaxing under a star lit sky. Of course I've been to the ALDI (grocery store), ACE, several restaurants, the homes of family and friends, church, the zoo (I really like animals), and the usual places people frequent. I usually spend the whole time just looking at everything.

Below are a lot of video clips of different stuff and I've added some pictures to the albums. Forgive the poor quality on some, they were shot using my folks' cell phones. Hopefully, I'll not have to deal with anymore labor issues and it won't be so long between updates. JSR, out.

A Pilgrim Song

I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won’t let you stumble,
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life!
Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep.
God’s your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.
Psalm 121 (The Message)

It's been a few days since my last post. We've had some Internet issues in our neighborhood the last couple of weeks which caused all of us to have limited to no service. So, let me catch everybody up on the latest. A couple of weekends ago we got together with some really good friends, the St. Johns, after church on Sunday. They've been good friends with my folks for almost nine years and have a ton of funny stories about the time they've spent together. We met for lunch and then went back to their place to sit out all the Tornado Warnings, LOL.

On Mother's Day weekend we went down to Meme and Pop's for the day on Friday. It was a good day and we ate really well, as usual. Pop grilled us some steaks and sausages, they were really good. My Pop is an excellent griller! Dad was preaching on Sunday so we stayed close to home and had our own family Mommies' Day fun. It was really low key and relaxing.

Last Tuesday we went out to Dale's Southern Grill, one of my folks' favorite restaurants. We were meeting one of my Dad's seminary profs, Dr. Smith, for dinner. He was my Dad's homiletics/preaching instructor at Beeson. Dr. Smith is my Dad's favorite preacher and we had a great time eating, talking, and laughing. Well, they did a lot of talking while I did a lot of eating. It was great to finally meet him. I especially liked playing with his beard.

The past few weeks had been pretty low key until this past Saturday when I took my first trip to the ER. Mommy and I were getting ready to go meet Dad and the Phillips at their house for supper when I had a little accident. I'm all good, but we thought it best that I get checked out. Preemies can be more susceptible to broken bones than full term babies. So, there's the possibility that a normal spill could cause more harm to a preemie than a full term baby. This was my first "event" so we wanted to make sure everything was OK. Daddy says we just road tested everything for the future, LOL.

Well, that pretty much gets you up on the good, the bad, and the ugly of the past few weeks. If we still have an Internet connection I'll post again in a few days. Blessings, JSR out.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Psalm 33:1 (NIV)

This past week has been pretty good for me. Since the weather has been warmer Dad and I have been venturing outside a lot during the day. My folks got me a pair of shades, which I found really irritating until I got in the sunshine. Pop spent the night with us last Friday. Meme had some family thing she was going to in Ashville. So, Pop decided to spent some time with us. On Friday he, Dad, and myself went out for lunch. We went during an off time and there was virtually no one in the joint. I ate some Grouper and I've decided I prefer Catfish. On Saturday we hung around the house in the morning til Meme got there. Once she arrived we went to a local park for a picnic. So, it's been a fun and uneventful week. I'm getting out more and more, but my folks are easing me into things. I don't have much experience with crowds and they tend to get on my nerves. I hear this is also true for many adults, LOL. On thing of note is I'm cutting four new teeth. So far I've been handling things without too much fuss. I think that catches you up with the latest. Before I go I wanted to give you guys an idea of just how many meds I was on. Below are two charts detailing the what and when of the daily medicines I was taking. Thankfully, I'm not taking any meds and am doing just fine. God is good! I've also included a recent video clip. You'll have to hold your head funny to view half of it. It was shot while Daddy and me were goofing around.
JSR, out.

The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

The past few days have been really low key. I've been doing normal baby stuff like sleeping, playing, eating, and what naturally follows eating, LOL. I decided that since I didn't have much to say that this post would contain videos taken since my last post. Some are short (only a few seconds) and some are longer, but I hope you enjoy them just the same.
Blesings, JSR out.

This first group was taken by my friend, Bessie. My Dad had to be away for the entire day and she was gracious enough to watch me.

This group of clips are recent vids of Mom and me playing.

What Comes Around Goes Around

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose
thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always,
for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (New Living Translation)

Sorry I'm a little late on the weekly update. I was a sick little puppy late Sunday and Monday and just didn't feel like posting. Sunday night I started runnig a fever and that continued until I went to bed Monday night. But this morning I woke up fever free and feeling a lot more like me, PRAISE! Still not 100%, but feeling much better.

The whole thing started late last week when Mommy got sick. I caught what she had and now I've passed it on to my Dad, LOL. He started feeling all "blah" last night and woke up this morning with a sore throat and coughing. (I can hear him hacking up a lung in the other room.) This is normal for any family and some may thnk "big deal." Well, as a preemie there is always the possibility of a small cold really hanging in there and becoming someting serious. So far I'm getting over it with the normal meds (Motrin/Tylenol) and stuff. So, my ability to deal with a cold, like any other baby, is good news, PRAISE! What comes around goes around... but you can't keep a good little man down.

The weekend wasn't all bad though. On Sunday, before I started running hot, I got to meet some cousins (R-L: Brian, Logan, Morgan, and Leigh Ann) from North AL. They were passing through and we met them for dinner at a Cracker Barrell. (BTW the food was really good, LOL.) One great thing about me making progress is I get to meet family and friends who have been praying for me. Well, that's about it for now. I hope everyone has a great week. Oh, one thing I almost forogt. I have started bathing in the BIG tub and below is a G rated video of my first big boy bath.
Blessings, JSR out.

Weight Watchers and Stairs

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6, New American Bible (NAB)

The past week has flown by so fast that I didn't realize it's been over a week since my last post. I've been a busy boy.

Over the last week or so my appetite has really been on the upswing and I'm sleepy more than not. Sure signs of a growth spurt. My folks aren't "freaks" about my weight gains so we'll wait until my next visit with the Doc to see how much I've gained. I won't venture a guess, but my folks have recently commented on how much heavier I seem to be.

I'm having more contact with people now and am able to get outdoors more. I like being outside, except for having the sun in my face, LOL. I think we are going to go to church as a family some time real soon. That will be really cool.

One really cool thing that's happening is my Dad is letting me play on the stairs. We started at the bottom step and he let me crawl around and try to climb to the next step. I'm still a little unsure about the whole deal, but he's always right there and lets me go at my own pace. At the end of this post there's a clip of my first experience with the stairs. Admittedly there's not a lot to see, but my Dad thought Aunt Twyla would like to see it so I included it.

I don't have any medical visits coming up (PRAISE!!) so it'll be the same ol' same ol' for a few days, which is a good thing. I'll be sure to get some video the next time I play outside. I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Blessings, JSR out.

A Week of Ups & Downs

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB)

Greetings from da' crib. Well, this past week has been a little odd for me. I've been grumpy more days than not and haven't slept well. We are adjusting my schedule in hopes of correcting the problem. My appetite is good. I'm eating all my food and drinking every drop from my bottles and I play like usual, but something's up. Lord willing, we'll get it figured out.

I am now taking NO MEDS! PRAISE!! This is a big deal for preemies. Once you reach the point of no drops, enhalers, or shots you're well on your way. It won't be long until I can go out in public with almost no restrictions. Well, there will be the usual steps anyone with a one year old would take, but nothing out of the ordinary. That means I will finally get to attend church with my folks. This will be HUGE because I will finally get to meet a bunch of people who have been praying for me. I'm really looking forward to it! Also, it will mean my folks will get to be together in worship. It has been a really long time since my folks attended church together. Most of the time they go in shifts, which they both hate, but gladly do for me.

Everything is moving along at a normal pace and I am making steayd progress. I'm pulling up on everything and I prefer standing to lying down. Another ting I've started is chasing our cat, Annie, around the house. She'll let me get close, but not too close, LOL. Although she was a little slow on the getaway one time and I got a hold of her. Man, those cats can move when you catch them by surprise, LOL.

Well, that pretty much catches you up on the latest. I'll check back in a few days.
Blessings, JSR out.

Last Synagis Shots!!

Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit' yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'
James 4:13-15 (ESV)

Today is a GREAT day as it's last time I'll get Synagis shots this year. HUGE PRAISE!! I'll miss seeing Mrs. Kim, but I won't miss getting those shots. She listened to my lungs and stuff and gave me a big thumbs up. Dad asked her about next year, just looking ahead, and she said there was no guarantee that I would need them. It all depends on how I progress between now and Sept/Oct. Hopefully I won't need them! That's going to be a consistent prayer request around our house.

This past last week has been pretty good for me. I now have two teeth rising up through my gums. The other day I bit my thumb, like I always do, but this time I left a bite mark. It was a slight shock, but it does explain why my folks have been more reluctant to let me gnaw on their fingers, LOL. Another change that occurred was my Dad had to extend my Exersaucer to it's highest setting. It won't be long until I'll be able to climb out of it without any help. I wonder what they'll use to keep hemmed in once that happens? LOL.

Everything is progressing at normal pace. I'm taking fewer and fewer meds and going to the Dr. less and less. I'm in the low side of the normal range for my size and age, which is to be expected for preemies. However, my docs are pleased with my progress and say everything looks normal, PRAISE! The big thing now is how much I close the gap in the areas of speech and motor skills. This will be a point of emphasis for some time to come, but it's the same with most all preemies. We do have some catching up to do.

That pretty much catches you up with the latest. Pray for continued health and future progress. I'll post again in a few days, til then...Blessings, JSR out.

A Trio of Firsts

But it is good for me to draw near unto God:
I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge,
That I may tell of all thy works.
Psalm 73:28 (ASV)

Friday morning I went for my first yearly doctor's exam. Everything checked out good to go. My growth progress is within an acceptable range, which means I'm growing at a normal rate for a preemie, PRAISE! During the visit I had the pleasure of receiving my first year vacinations, ALL 4 OF THEM! Needless to say I was not a happy camper and I let everyone know it. Also, I've had a Jekyl and Hyde personality due to the shots making me feel blah. On another note, I've cut my first tooth. You can't see it all that well, but my folks say you can feel when I bite down on your finger, LOL.

This morning I woke up to my first snow. Mommy and Daddy took me out for a SHORT photo op. It was cold, a little windy, and damp. So, we didn't stay out long because it's still RSV season for little guys like me. It was cool to be outside even if it was only for a few minutes. Below is a short unedited video clip of me sitting in my Bumbo.

There have been a ton of pictures added to the web albums and there will be more added very soon. I'll post again later this week, til then...JSR out!

Here's another clip from later in the day after the sun came out and the snow began to melt. In this clip I touch the snow and my Daddy lets me taste it. I liked it!

First Birthday Party!!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1 (NIV)

This past Saturday I had my first b'day party and I had a blast!! My birthday was on Wednesday, but my folks thought it would be better for everybody if we celebrated on Saturday. I'm not real big on crowds so we limited it to family and the people who keep me when Mommy and Daddy have to get stuff done. We had Meme and Pop, Uncle David and his friend Lauren, the Phillips, and the Corn's over for lunch. Sadly, Grandpa Hal couldn't make it nor could Aunt Twyla and Uncle E. We missed them very much and hope to see them real soon, but I understand sometimes life doesn't let you do all you want to. A little lesson I learned from spending 105 days in the NICU.

The party started with the adults eating chili while I took a nap in preparation for my BIG afternoon. I don't know exactly how long I slept, but when I awoke it was game on. We went to the sun room where there were all these boxes with really colorful stuff on them and fancy bags. I sat in the floor with my folks and one by one someone passed a box or a bag to us. I got a ton of cool stuff!! There were extra toys for my exersaucer, a basketball goal that I can dunk on, clothes, a "Pat the Bunny" book, a Bead Maze, picture books, and lots of other cool baby toys. I can't remember them all right off, but cut me some slack after all I'm only one years old. Almost all my toys were learning toys, that's a big deal to my parents.

However, there were two gifts that were especially nice. One was an old toy of my Dad's that Meme and Pop reworked. It's a rocking horse from when he was my age. It was broken and stored in their attic, but Pop got it down and they fixed it up as good as new. It's really cool!! The second is a toy box my Pop made for me in his shop. It's so nice and it looks really good in my room. It even has my name carved in the side of it. Mommy says that's a gift I'll want to keep for my whole life. (Both toys are pictured above.)

After presents we went into the kitchen where Mommy stripped me down to my diaper so I could really enjoy my cake and ice cream. Mommy baked the cake and one of her friends, Mrs. Branyon, came by to guide her through decorating it. She's an "expert" at decorating cakes and this was my Mommy's first. It's in the shape of a rocking horse. Pretty cool. Believe me it taste's better than it looks. They did a great job! Check out the "First Birthday Party" pictures on the right side bar to see just how much I enjoyed my cake and ice cream. Well, that's pretty much the cliff notes version of my First Birthday Party. It was a blast, but to get a full picture of the day just go to the pictures gallery in the slide show when you have the time.
Later, JSR.

Below is a short video clip of me playing in my new toy box.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 117 (ESV)

It's hard to believe that a year has gone by since I made my grand entrance into the world. I was a bit ahead of schedule (15 weeks, ya think!), but I guess that's the way God wanted it. After spending 105 days in the NICU @ Brookwood Medical Center (BMC) I finally got to go home. The days in the NICU seemed so long whereas my days @ home are fleeting. I guess time does fly when you're having fun. A lot has changed since 6/3/2008.

I now weigh over 16 pounds compared to 6 pounds when I was discharged from BMC. I've graduated from straight all natural milk to a milk and formula mix. I started eating solid or somewhat solid food a few months back. My Mommy makes my food, which is cool. I eat a lot of pears, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans/peas, broccoli, and apple sauce. BTW I love me some apple sauce. I can't remember how long I am. All I know is I'm tall enough to get into places I don't need to be. Well, that' what my folks tell me all the time, "Jonathan, you don't need to be in there."

The first winter can be tough on preemies, but God has been gracious and I've only had a couple of colds. Ironically, I got both colds from visiting the doctor to get a shot that "prevents" preemies from getting colds, go figure. Anyway, after the second cold my folks called some people about me getting those shots at home. Now, I have a nurse, a nice lady named Kim, who comes by once a month to administer the shots. I haven't had more than the occasional sniffle since.

My days are pretty much full of me playing, sleeping, eating, and filling diapers. I guess you could say I'm a happy baby. I mean, I don't sit around laughing my head off (Daddy tickling me doesn't count), but I do enjoy myself. I have some really cool toys and books. My best toy is a little red mirror. It makes me mad sometimes when it doesn't do what I want it to, but I always return to it. My favorite book is also red (I guess my favorite color is red.) and it's entitled All Gone. Incidentally, it's a little odd that I like this book so much because it has such a sad ending. In the end all the cereal, cookies, ice cream, and juice are all gone. Life must be full of contradictions.

About the only time I have a meltdown is when I'm really hungry, really tired or sick. Well, I'm not very fond of the twice a day breathing treatments. A lot of preemies take these treatments in the winter to help them avoid getting sick and/or breathing problems. My folks try to make them easier by singing to me, but they're still a drag.

We'll, that pretty much catches you up on me. It's been a full year and it has flown by incredibly fast. God has been faithful and I know he will continue to be. He's brought me through so much in my first year that I'd have to be crazy to start doubting him now.

I'll post again real soon, probably early next week, but for now...
JSR out.

Below are some video clips from the past few months, enjoy!