After a relaxing weekend with Susie's parents, it's almost time for our grand opening!
My in-laws, Dee and Brad, were in town for the weekend. We hadn't seen them since December at Christmas so it was a well overdue visit. We had a great time sharing Jack with them and they seemed to love staring at him, playing with him, laughing with him, and even his newfound high pitched scream. It was nice to get some pictures and memories with someone outside of my family for a change. They both love Jack very much and it was great to watch them show it in person. I know Jack had fun with them too.
Moving on, September 5th is opening day for The Homework Club. The carpet is in, the books and supplies are in, but everything is laying on the floor as there is no furniture, decorations, curtains, etc. So, we will have our hands full for the next week trying to prepare in what looks like will be our first hurricane of the season.
If you don't hear from us or we seem like we've dropped off the face of the earth as many of you already think we have; you know where we'll be.
New Homework Club website address if your interested: www.raskinhomeworkclub.com
Monday, August 28, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Conner--You are truly missed
A very good friend of mine gave me some very bad news yesterday. He informed me that he and his wife had lost their baby boy, Conner. He died the day after delivery due to severe complications.
I have never been in that position before but, as a parent, I know it must be among the most difficult things anyone could ever deal with.
Conner had great parents that he only got to know for a few moments. He died in his fathers arms who I know loved him very much.
Conner you may have only been alive for short time but you are truly missed. We are thinking of you and your family.
I have never been in that position before but, as a parent, I know it must be among the most difficult things anyone could ever deal with.
Conner had great parents that he only got to know for a few moments. He died in his fathers arms who I know loved him very much.
Conner you may have only been alive for short time but you are truly missed. We are thinking of you and your family.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Slowly but surely...
Yesterday, Jack turned 11 months. According to his mother he had a great day, all day long. He ate big people food, played, napped well and did great right up until going to bed.
I went to the grocery store for an hour, came back, and said to Susie, "Today seemed almost too good to be true". She agreed and we both sort of moved on. I thought to myself, I bet he wakes up in the middle of the night just to remind us who's boss.
Fast forward to 12am. Jack wakes up screaming. We both wake up assuming that it's 6am and time to get up. Simultaneously we look at the clocks and notice, it's midnight! Susie goes to change the diaper and I headed downstairs to make a bottle. Jack proceeds to eat the entire bottle and then it's back to the crib where he falls asleep immediately.
I then lay in the bed for the next hour and a half...then I wake again to Jack whining in the crib at about 5:30am. I head to his room thinking, need more sleepy. I throw some toys in and turn his musical bird projector on and head back to bed. I have every intention of getting back up for good in 15 minutes. Somewhere in there I fall back asleep and, get this, so does Jack!
Later, while getting ready to leave for work, Jack wakes up at 7:15! Your still in charge Jack, but we're taking over! Slowly but surely...
Birthday invites to be sent out this weekend...clear your calendars 9/16 in the afternoon...baby party in St.Cloud.
I went to the grocery store for an hour, came back, and said to Susie, "Today seemed almost too good to be true". She agreed and we both sort of moved on. I thought to myself, I bet he wakes up in the middle of the night just to remind us who's boss.
Fast forward to 12am. Jack wakes up screaming. We both wake up assuming that it's 6am and time to get up. Simultaneously we look at the clocks and notice, it's midnight! Susie goes to change the diaper and I headed downstairs to make a bottle. Jack proceeds to eat the entire bottle and then it's back to the crib where he falls asleep immediately.
I then lay in the bed for the next hour and a half...then I wake again to Jack whining in the crib at about 5:30am. I head to his room thinking, need more sleepy. I throw some toys in and turn his musical bird projector on and head back to bed. I have every intention of getting back up for good in 15 minutes. Somewhere in there I fall back asleep and, get this, so does Jack!
Later, while getting ready to leave for work, Jack wakes up at 7:15! Your still in charge Jack, but we're taking over! Slowly but surely...
Birthday invites to be sent out this weekend...clear your calendars 9/16 in the afternoon...baby party in St.Cloud.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Roadtrip and College
Jack went to college on Saturday. We stopped by my alma mater while on our way to a baby shower in the Tampa area. I told Jack not to go to a state school as they are just degree manufacturing machines but he just ignored me. He said he would go where he wants...as long as he goes to college, I guess I'm fine with that.
The trip to Tampa was experimental as it was the longest time Jack has spent in the car. He was great all day. In fact, I felt like we should do something special for him. That is until the trip back home. Baby screaming on I-4 after a day in the heat, with heaps of driving, and baby showering, is a true test in patience. Let's put it this way, the next day I felt like I was injured. My body hurt and I felt like laying in the bed all day which of course did not happen. Jack's grade for road tripping, a resounding B+...sorry Jack...would have been an A but that scream has already made me a little bit looney tunes and you just about freaked me out when it sounded like you threw up in your carseat from screaming so much. Not a good sound when you can't see your baby!
Next test, Miami. Within the next month hopefully. If you pray, we will need your prayers, if you don't we will need your money.
The trip to Tampa was experimental as it was the longest time Jack has spent in the car. He was great all day. In fact, I felt like we should do something special for him. That is until the trip back home. Baby screaming on I-4 after a day in the heat, with heaps of driving, and baby showering, is a true test in patience. Let's put it this way, the next day I felt like I was injured. My body hurt and I felt like laying in the bed all day which of course did not happen. Jack's grade for road tripping, a resounding B+...sorry Jack...would have been an A but that scream has already made me a little bit looney tunes and you just about freaked me out when it sounded like you threw up in your carseat from screaming so much. Not a good sound when you can't see your baby!
Next test, Miami. Within the next month hopefully. If you pray, we will need your prayers, if you don't we will need your money.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
No More MRI's For 6 months
Yesterday, Jack had his 3rd visit to the neurosurgeon, Dr. Trumble. Susie met me there, Jack in tow at about 3pm, as I arrived from work. Jack was very good while waiting, talking to all the kids with large or oddly shaped heads like himself. It was a meeting of the mysterious minds if you will.
By 4pm we were done with the appointment with good news. Trumble informed us that there was no change in the status of the cyst or fluid accumulation. Therefore, the plan is to follow up in 6 months to check on it again.
The appointment went well overall. Although, it was very hard to look at images, Trumble shows us the films from the MRI's each time and reviews what we are seeing, of Jack's so-called abnormal brain. Basically, when looking at it, it appears that part of the parietal hemisphere is missing. In fact, it is likely simply misshapen. It has either grown around a fluid filled sac (the cyst) or there is no cyst at all and the brain is just oddly shaped. According to Trumble, we may never know. The only way we would know is if there is a change in the way the brain looks or they actually operate and open the skull which will only happen if there are changes in the size of the cyst or shape of the brain.
So, the monster eludes us once again. It's hard to see something in your baby's head that isn't "normal". It's hard not to know what this actually holds for his future. In the end, however, it's great to know he's doing so well now. Hopefully, we never know why or what is in there.
Dr. Trumble, by the way, is the best. He always appears to have time for us despite a full waiting room. He's very attentive and sensitive to our situation, despite having done brain surgery earlier in the day that may have saved someone's life. He sends us a copy of his case note via e-mail after each visit allowing us to keep a record of what he has told us and what is in Jack's patient record. Also, each of the rooms in his practice has a theme (Batman Room, Dora The Explorer Room, Finding Nemo Waiting Room, etc.). Jack loves the themes.
Thanks Trumble, for making this more than crappy experience a great deal better than it would be and probably is for many others!
By 4pm we were done with the appointment with good news. Trumble informed us that there was no change in the status of the cyst or fluid accumulation. Therefore, the plan is to follow up in 6 months to check on it again.
The appointment went well overall. Although, it was very hard to look at images, Trumble shows us the films from the MRI's each time and reviews what we are seeing, of Jack's so-called abnormal brain. Basically, when looking at it, it appears that part of the parietal hemisphere is missing. In fact, it is likely simply misshapen. It has either grown around a fluid filled sac (the cyst) or there is no cyst at all and the brain is just oddly shaped. According to Trumble, we may never know. The only way we would know is if there is a change in the way the brain looks or they actually operate and open the skull which will only happen if there are changes in the size of the cyst or shape of the brain.
So, the monster eludes us once again. It's hard to see something in your baby's head that isn't "normal". It's hard not to know what this actually holds for his future. In the end, however, it's great to know he's doing so well now. Hopefully, we never know why or what is in there.
Dr. Trumble, by the way, is the best. He always appears to have time for us despite a full waiting room. He's very attentive and sensitive to our situation, despite having done brain surgery earlier in the day that may have saved someone's life. He sends us a copy of his case note via e-mail after each visit allowing us to keep a record of what he has told us and what is in Jack's patient record. Also, each of the rooms in his practice has a theme (Batman Room, Dora The Explorer Room, Finding Nemo Waiting Room, etc.). Jack loves the themes.
Thanks Trumble, for making this more than crappy experience a great deal better than it would be and probably is for many others!
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