Thursday, June 20, 2013

Summer Fun

I haven't updated since Jacob's year mark.  We have been very busy playing hard.  We have several years of catching up on living life free of isolation and we are enjoying every minute of it.  It is such a blessing each day to wake up with my family under one roof, to watch my boys playing, and yes, even to break up their sibling quarrels.  We have been able to enjoy Disneyland and even splurged on annual passports.  We have celebrated birthdays, our anniversary, Father's Day, and more all without the fear of germs (at least not to the same degree as we used to).

Now onto Jacob's health update: All of Jacob's lab work from May looked fantastic!  His igg level is now in the solid normal range, meaning that his immune function is normal for the first time in his life.  He has received many of his immunizations, although he has to wait a full two years post transplant to receive MMR because it is a live virus.  We also have to continue to use plenty of sunscreen because of his increased risk of skin cancer.  He continues with speech and occupational therapy, and when he starts kindergarten in August he will be getting pretty much every therapy the school district offers, as well as resource support in the classroom.  Those are small things compared to the the huge trials he has overcome.  We can live with those things.  He is truly an incredible child.  With everything he's been through, he is so happy and loves people.  We are so blessed to have him in our family and now to have him cured of CGD is such a miracle!  It's strange to think of someone else's bone marrow functioning in his body, keeping him healthy, and I am eternally grateful for the generosity of his donor.  We have not been able to meet her, but maybe for whatever reason, she wanted to stay anonymous, and we respect that.  We still love her and won't be able to thank her enough in our lifetimes.  I just hope that someday we will be able to pay it forward by having someone in our family be the match for someone else needing a transplant.

Now onto the photos!


Matching outfits :)


The boys love being at the same school.


The best Mother's Day a mom could ask for.


Ethan earned the highest reading score in the whole 1st grade!


Father and Sons Campout with Grandpa (Jacob's First!)


Preschool Graduation


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Craze


Jacob's First Time Bowling



Playing at the Park


Cosmic Miniature Golf




Disney, Disney, Disney!


Make-a-Wish Night at the Zoo


Celebrating our 9th Anniversary in Big Bear


One of our many visits to the library


Jacob's 5th Birthday Swim Party!


Ethan earned the Belt of the Week at karate!


My mom & me at the shooting range


Our nephew Colin's 2nd Birthday Party


A happy Father's Day, me with my dad


The boys and me out boating with my parents

That pretty much gets us caught up!  Wishing you all a happy, safe summer!