The Dogs & Kid Make Friends...

Today Jacob had a playdate with Justus, who is just 2 months older than him. One fun thing Justus showed him was that it's a lot of fun to ride in the back of the big dump truck (Justus has one just like Jacob's at his house). Jacob was a little shy about it when Justus was here, but once he left, he wanted in the truck! What's more fun than being pushed around in your dump truck? Your dogs pulling you!

Jacob and Friends

We've been pretty busy since our last post! You may notice in some of these new pictures that Jacob's hair is shorter - yep, he got his first U.S. haircut this past Wednesday - I took him to the salon that I go to. He did really well with the haircut part - I'm sure it didn't hurt that all the ladies in the salon were making over him, telling him how handsome he was!

On Valentine's Day, Jacob gave valentines to Mommy & Daddy! We also went that day to visit his daycare - we got to spend some time in his classroom and see all the kids he'll be together with. It's a really nice place - part of the church we go to.

He also went shoe-shopping on Saturday, getting his feet measured & sized right for some New Balance sneakers!

We've been out to eat with him twice - once to Culver's, once to Red Robin. Both times he ate hamburgers - no surprise there that he would like hamburgers being Chris's son!

Here are some things we're learning about Jacob:

1. He agrees with Daddy - everything tastes better with ketchup. (Won't touch zucchini without it)

2. The dogs would be fun to play with - on his terms.

3. Food is also fun to play with - on his hands, nose, face, sticking his tongue out with food on it still, spitting things out, "finger painting" with food on the table, you get the drift...

4. Toys & books are fun. What's more fun is to throw the toys or books. What's even better than that? Throwing them into the toilet, dog's water bowl, or the trash can!

5. He is getting more & more "expressive" - he's "talking" more & more, louder & louder - just can't understand anything still. He also gives hugs & kisses, blows kisses, gives high 5's, and is just starting to understand waving bye bye. He even kissed Rusty this morning through the crib rails.

6. He is getting around better, too - he is a much faster walker (not quite a run), he likes to walk backwards, pulling a toy or Mommy or Daddy, and he turns in circles, as in the Hokey Pokey "turning yourself around".

Here's some pictures from the past week or so they include a few with Braden, our friends Amy & Ben's little 2 1/2 year old son. We got together with them for dinner this past Sunday.

-Enjoy! Love, C&C&J

Jacob makes some funny faces around lunchtime

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Jacob's Rough Day - First Dr. Appt

Yesterday was Jacob's first appointment with the pediatrician, which we had set up before we left for Russia. We had met and talked with the dr. before leaving as well, so the goal of the appt. was a "well child" visit to get him checked out from head to toe. But, since Jacob had still been battling his cold, we were anxious to have him looked over for that reason, as well.

Overall, the doc had very good things to say about Jacob's health - he had grown an inch and gained a pound since the Moscow dr visit (not sure how accurate that is...) He is well on the charts for his height; his weight & head circumference are on the charts, but towards the low end of the range. Neither the doc or us were too concerned, though - with continued love, attention, and food, we'll get his body & brain fattened up!

The bad news was about his cold - turns out he had an ear infection, and his breathing sounded weezy. (of course, by then, with all the doc's poking & prodding, Jacob was crying a bit...) So, the nurse came to give him a breathing treatment; although it helped, she was concerned given his past history of pneumonia. So, we headed over to the hospital for a chest X-ray. Also, while we were there, we had blood drawn for the myriad of tests that will be done - some just routine stuff, plus others unique for internationally adopted kids. So, a lot of blood was needed, and evidently, according to the first 2 phlebotomists, he has very small veins. He was poked once in each arm, with not even enough blood to fill one of the many tubes. So, they called in an "expert" to try one last time - a third poke! Luckily, this gal was better and was able to get all the blood needed in one try. Poor Jacob, though - he screamed the entire time!

We took him home to sleep, while I ran out to fill his antibiotic Rx, as well as medicine for at-home breathing treatments, for which I also had to buy a nebulizer at a medical supply store. (Thank goodness for health insurance, huh?) Also had to get some ear wax removal drops, because evidently he has some crusty ears! The dr office called back to say that the X-ray showed an area of possible pneumonia, but that the antibiotic for the ear infection will take care of both.

So, we now have a twice daily routine of antibiotics & ear wax drops, and a 4x daily routine with the breathing treatment. I wish I could say he likes the treatments better at home than that first one at the doctor's office but... good thing there are two of us at home right now, because it takes a dedicated person to hold him down! They do seem to be helping, though.

Today, he's in pretty good spirits - still doesn't like the nebulizer, but has more of his old appetite back, so we'll continue to "feed the cold". We'll post updates later in the week on how he's doing - we go back to the dr on Friday. Love, C&C&J

Pics from the weekend

Here's some pics of Jacobs weekend with the Family.

There are some pics of Jacob with the Tender Teddy, that Cheryl, Ethan and Joe sent, and also one of him riding the rocket that aunt Laura got him. and also The sabaka's wearing the hat that Laura got him

Family Introduction Weekend

(From Jacob):

Gosh, it sure is quiet at my house now! (uh, except for those 2 noisy sabakas who hover below my booster chair, lick my hands and bark at me!) I had a great weekend meeting my 2 babushkas, dyehdushkas from St. Louis, & tyoh tyah & dyah dyah, except it would have been even better if I had been feeling better! (thanks mommy & daddy for giving me your colds!) Thursday G'ma & G'pa Mueller came to visit, and brought me balloons & piggy cookies, a new outfit, and a toy phone I love that plays all sorts of music & noises. We played together all day Friday, and G'ma even made us a tasty dinner, then late Friday night, G'ma & G'pa Wolters came! (except, they were the ones who brought those darn sabakas!) Saturday I really wasn't feeling very good - there was snot everywhere, and I kept coughing, too. People kept chasing me with tissues to wipe my nose, but then my nose started to get sore! Saturday my Aunt Laura & Uncle Matt came from Chicago to meet me. Then Aunt Laura & G'ma Wolters went out shopping for me, getting me some medicine for my stuffy nose, and some tennis shoes that light up when I walk! (I thought G'ma was going to keep them for herself, though, she liked them so much!). This time, G'ma Wolters made a tasty dinner for us all. Today I was feeling maybe a little better - not as much coughing, but I got mommy & daddy back by making them sick again. The G'mas & G'pas left to go back home to St. Louis, then I threw up on daddy after not having much of an appetite for lunch. (guess I wasn't feeling as good as I thought). One thing is for sure, I have some really nice family who love me lots - they brought me lots of nice things and sure were fun to play with! I hope they come back to visit again soon - I promise not to be so snotty!

Love, Jacob

P.S. Mommy & daddy didn't get many pictures of me with my G'mas, G'pas, Aunt or Uncle - could my family please send some pictures to mommy & daddy so they can post them on the blog for everyone to see?