Thankful!!!!

I have so much to be thankful for this year. I am first thankful for my Lord that has given me the three most amazing gifts which is my salvation, my wife and my son. As all of you know, this year, have been a journey for our family. I truly believe that we could not have gone through this journey without our Lord and our family. We would like to thank all of our family and friends for your love, support, wisdom and just taking time to lend a listening ear. We understand that everyday is a blessing from our Lord and plan to make to most of every minute we are given. Thank you Mollie for teaching me to love and for always taking up for me. Thank you JB for making me a kid again as well as given me a smile everyday. I count myself very blessed to have all that has been given to me and plan to take care of and cherish every moment that is to come. God you alone have provided it all and for that I am extremly GREATFUL!!!!! God bless and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!! Michael

The world of the Jackson household

JB and Uncle Barry


J.B. and cousin Kim

MiMi and her boys

J.B. and Parker

The Clemson boys

J.B. and Uncle Paul

September has been a big month for the Jackson family. I have been settling into my role as being a mother and working at the same time. It has been quite a challenge, but I am glad to be back at work. JB has been adjusting to getting up each weekday morning and settling into somewhat of a routine. Michael is off on Mondays so they have a daddy/son day getting things done around the house. Tuesday through Friday he spends the day with my mom who is keeping him for us. This has been a huge blessing as we have had our struggles with our precious son. JB is up to 11.5 pounds and is 24.5 inches long. He is changing almost every day. Our latest discovery is our smile and our feet. We are entertained daily as he has learned that if he moves his feet, the objects on the bouncer or rocker will move and make noise. God is so good as he continues to show us his joy through our child. JB is sleeping through the night which we never suspected to happen this early. We know we better count our lucky stars for that!!

During Labor day weekend, we were able to see Uncle Paul, Aunt Kellie, and cousin Parker for the first time. This was a real treat as we were able to be together and see how they were adjusting to a little one as well. Parker is five weeks younger than JB. Parker is so precious and makes me proud to know that my little brother is a daddy. We also were able to see my cousin Jonathan, his sweet wife Lori with baby girl #3 on the way, and their two daughters Hannah and Madeline. On Sunday night, the whole family got together to for dinner at Aunt Ruth Ann's house.

Michael and I are so blessed and amazed by how parenting changes your whole perspective. God had changed our minds and hearts in the last 12 weeks of parenting. We are very excited to see where he is going to take us with many more adventures. Please continue to pray for JB. We thought that the sodium issue might be somewhat resolving but this week proved different. His sodium is back down, and we are on to see a nephrologist as soon as we can get an appointment. J.B. is continuing to grow however in spite of this issue. I have taken many biology classes but it has hit home that one minor issue can affect the whole body. Here are some pics of our precious son, Parker, and family.

Being a DAD

On July 1st of this year my life changed forever. I became a Dad. This is something that I have wanted to be for a long time. The first thing that came to my mind is that "OH MY GOODNESS I AM THE SPIRITUAL LEADER AND PORTECTOR OF THIS LITTLE MAN". It really hit home that I have to totally provided for my wife and little buddy. Then God reminded me that I will not go through this alone. I was quickly reminded of the song by Philips, Creig, and Dean that says "I want to be more like you because he wants to be like me." Lord, allow my son to see you in every area of my life at all times and to be geniune in all areas of my spiritual walk. I know that my little buddy is truly a blessing and miracle from God and I will cherish him forever. So being a Dad is wonderful and exhausting but so worth every minute of no sleep and poopy diapers. I would not change my life for anything in this world for my life is so full and blessed. Thank you Lord again for my wife and son and for your wonderful grace. I can't wait for the next one!!!!! Michael

One Month Old

Wow! One month ago, I was giving birth to our very first child. July has been a month of mixed emotions for Michael and I both. We have experienced one of the neatest journeys through the birth of our son, but we have leaned more on our amazing God together than in the last three years of our marriage through the mysterious wonder of our son's condition. F.R.O.G.- thanks to the NICU respiratory therapist who gave us a frog and encouraged us one late night at NICU. However, J.B. continues to do well. He is still sleeping through the night except at 2:30 A.M. for his middle of the night feed. We are amazed at his many sleeping positions, noises that we hear him make, and how he continues to put down the 23% salt solution to keep his electrolytes balanced. J.B. and I have three more weeks together before I go back to work so I am very grateful for that. Tomorrow, we go to the specialist once more. We are praying that J.B. has gained a considerable amount of weight which is crucial, his electrolyte levels are continuing to improve, and that maybe some of the blood work which they have done is back. Many ask when Michael and I are out, "Where is the baby?" Well, J.B. stays close to home still but hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will get out a little more. As soon as my dear cousin Kim shows me how to put shutterfly pictures on here, I will have plenty of pictures for you to see. He is a handsome little man!!

Life at the Jackson household

If you looked at Michael and I before July 1st and told us that our life would change, we would have knodded and smiled at you. Can I tell you now that we really know what you mean? We have been truly blessed and had a wonderful time with our blessing from God. Michael took Wednesday to Wednesday off after we brought J.B. home from the hospital. This was truly a blessing as we had three doctors appointments to go to, two of them being in Greenville. With questions still to be answered, J.B. is continuing to grow and do very well each and every day. Suprisingly and we may be eating our words, HE IS SLEEPING AT NIGHT!! Michael actually has to wake him up to give him his bottle and medicine. Please do not tell us not to wake a sleeping baby because our beloved son is a special case. Ha! JB has enjoyed visits with Mimi and Poppi, Nana and Papa, Uncle Barry, Aunt Ruth Ann, cousins Matthew, Kim, Philip, and Braewyn, and other special friends. We are still keeping him in until we get an answer of some sort from the doctor. They are still baffled by what our son has exactly. However, we are just trusting in the Lord to continue to do a good work in our son. If we were to explain what exactly is wrong, most of you would give us a deer in head light stares. We are just simply telling everyone that he has a adrenal gland (the orange looking gland that sits above your kidney) problem which causes him to loose salt. He is continuing to take the salt solution in his bottle three times a day and steroid twice a day. Thanks so much for our friends and continued support through phone calls and prayer. We are truly blessed to have family and friends that surround us. God is good, all the time!!!

He is Home!!!

Praise the Lord!! We brought J.B. home on Tuesday afternoon. The doctors felt comfortable sending him home as he has to continue being on the medications. Yesterday, we took him to Dr. Amrhein (pediatric endocrinologist) yesterday. He is also puzzled with everything in his lab work and electrolytes. He feels that there is some adrenal gland insufficiency of some sort but not sure what. They are doing more blood work and sending it off to a top endocrinology lab in the country. JB's numbers are looking better. Just continue to pray that they can get to the bottom of the matter and that he will continue to improve as he is daily. My favorite saying even in the midst of all is "God is good, all the time!! All the time, God is good!!" We are so greatful for all the prayers and phone calls. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by wonderful friends and family. Updates to come later. Sorry if they are a couple of days late!!

Update on J.B. 3

Greetings!! Everyone. Michael and I were able to get some news on our son. The doctor this weekend ordered an ultrasound of his head and adrenal glands. J.B. has gotten better at taking his medicine. Who would want to drink salted breast milk? So for the news.... Dr. Wood, the fourth neonatologist who has been over him told us today that he feels that J.B.'s electrolyte issues are due to bleeding on his right adrenal gland. Dr. Wood feels that this is something that will take care of itself and will continue to be treated until the bleeding has ceased. This is better news as the other condition would be life long and medicine would have to be given for the rest of his life. Dr. Wood also said that his left adrenal gland was normal, and that with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, both adrenal glands would be enlarged. We are not out of the woods yet; however, J.B.'s blood work is beginning to look more normal. As soon as he is discharged from the hospital, we will follow up with the pediatric endocrinologist within a couple of days. Please continue to pray for our little guy. He is a fighter and a gift from God that is indescribable to us!! We are so blessed to serve a wonderful God who continues to show his faithfulness every day!!! Promise, more pics to come soon.