Daddy and James walking to the car.

Daddy telling James he loves him and will be back soon.

A great BIG hug, neither one wanted to let go.

James and Jacob just chillin'

A statue of Jesus in the Dome

Mommy's Update

Can you believe I haven't written in a month? Daddy BA always writes to everyone and he's back home in TN. I miss him soooooo much and wish our family could be back together soon. I know James misses him too. He just breaks down and cries so hard when daddy leaves and it breaks my heart. I hold him in my arms and we watch daddy's car drive away until we can't see him anymore. Then we go back in the home and I hold him a little longer until he stops crying we say a prayer and then we do something that's distracting. As for Jacob, he knows daddy had to go to work, but he hasn't reacted like James, yet. Thank goodness, I don't know how much my heart can handle. So far so good, your prayers are working. I meet so many people here and I get to share our story with them and they always say "I would have never guessed that you are going through this difficult time, you have such a wonderful spirit." I always tell them I couldn't look or be this way if I didn't have God with me and everyone praying. I don't quite know what they are seeing, because when I look in the mirror I see dark circles and nappy hair.

Jacob keeps me very busy when I am at his bedside. I have tried many times to sit down at the computer and add new pictures, but he is right there saying "Mama" "Maaaaamaaaaa" the whole time. And of course he comes first :) He is doing so well. The nurses and doctors absolutely love him because he smiles and blows them kisses. Now what lady wouldn't want that. And the men, they love to get his high fives. Jacob has learned to say "Kiki" for nurse Karen, "Ashshe" for nurse Ashley, "doe" for go, "pay" for play, he has said purple, stop, potty, and so many others. He helps all the nurses out with the medical supplies they have to use on him. I'm so glad to see he still wants to learn. I heard some children regress when they go through something like this. The one thing he does hate, is taking his medicine by mouth.

I wish I could keep writing and tell you more, but it's 11:00pm and I need to get up to the house. Too bad I can't get Internet there or you would be getting tons of pictures.

With much love,

Mommy CA

On the Road...On the mend

Jacob continues to improve a little with each day that passes. Thank you again for your continued prayers. He has begun eating more solid foods again and his playful personality is also coming back. The doctors have reduced his pain meds as well, another sign of gradual improvement and healing. He, Mommy and Daddy BA played ball today. Jacob would toss a small football back and forth with each of us. He definitely has a good arm (he must have gotten that from his Mommy's side of the family - we have a couple of former collegiate football players on that side of our family). Jacob is still in the Intermediate Care Unit and will probably stay there for a while longer (perhaps a week or so, but we don't know for sure at this point). The nurses are taking good care of him here and he seems to have a good time with them as well. He managed to grab a bag of baby wipes tonight and pull each one out and toss it on the floor. I guess that football we had earlier in the day was now out of reach and so the wipes were the next best thing.

Please continue to pray for our whole family. Daddy BA will be driving back to Chattanooga tomorrow (Monday), so please pray for safety while driving. Please pray for Mommy as she looks after Jacob and also tries to spend some time with James. Please pray for Melanie (Gran), Aunt Ro Ro and Uncle Ron as they help take care of James. We are so very thankful that the Lord has brought us to a town where we have family that is close by.

What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.

Daddy BA

On the move - an update

After two nights in the PICU, Jacob has moved back into more familiar territory. He is back on the same floor where he has been for the past few weeks, but instead of being in a room, he is in the Intermediate Care Unit. Here there are always at least three nurses in the room (he shares the room with five other patients). He has been recovering well and the doctors and nurses seem to have his pain meds working properly. Please continue to pray for his recovery, especially for continued healing around the pin sites from the prior surgery and that he might not have any bladder spasms. These spasms often occur during the healing process and are, from what we understand, quite painful.

On a separate note, Jacob's brother James went to preschool today with his cousin Ronnie and seemed to have a good time. We are grateful to the folks at Uncle Ron and Aunt RoRo's church for allowing James to attend twice a week. Also, we were glad to have a couple of friends from Chattanooga stop by on their way to PA for a couple of nights. It was good to see some familiar faces.

Through the One to whom all praise is due,

Daddy BA

Destination - PICU

Jacob is now safely settled in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. He is sleeping well and the pain meds seem to be doing what they are supposed to. He will probably stay here for about a day, depending on the level of pain medication needed to keep him comfortable. Thanks again to everyone out there who prayed for Jacob today. We rejoice that the surgery was a success. We ask for your continued prayers as he begins the recovery process.

Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Daddy BA

Almost Finished!

Dr. Gearhart just came in to let us know that they are almost finished. They are stitching him up now and we expect to see him in about 10 minutes. Dr. G said that everything went extremely well and that he is satisfied with the results. He will be in the recovery room for an hour or so and then head to the PICU for a day or so before heading to the Intermediate Care Unit.

Through Him, who sustains us,

Daddy BA

Another update

Dr. Gearhart (the Urologist) came out for a minute to let us know that Dr. Sponseller was getting ready to begin his part in the surgery and that they found a benign (thankfully) tumor in his bladder that will be sent to the lab for analysis. Please pray that he will not sustain any nerve damage while the pelvic plate is being inserted (using screws). Also pray that the remaining steps in the surgery will go as planned.

Daddy BA