Amazing

So I have yet to share anything about Jake's amazing Wish trip.  So here are a few pictures of the little man getting his wish....Surfing like Scooby Doo!  I want to add, both kids and even their old fart parents picked it up quite quickly.  The instructors even said several times..."we dont deserve to be paid, we did nothing for you guys!"  our kids are rock stars!

                                                                          Wishing

                                                                 "we're leaving....on a jet plane....

 

                                                                 now that's first class baby

                                                                Ahhhhh ocean!



Heading out to catch some waves

surfing on the first wave!

 

Rockin' Daytona

Hard day's work...sacked out

If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you dream it, you can become it.

William Arthur Ward

Epilepsy awareness month!

Welcome November! Although, you have already come on in with a whirlwind and are blowing through much quicker than I appreciate, I do love you.  I love the feel of Fall in the air.  The excitement as the school year is underway, the thoughts of Christmas right around the corner.  And the past couple of years, I love the opportunity to make people aware, as November is Epilepsy awareness month!

Never before have I cared or thought about the color purple.  I  even quite hated it.  I cringed as Addison would beg for purple shirts, shoes and clothes.  It had become her favorite color just before the damn beast made an appearance.  Foreshadowing? symbolism? maybe.....

Now I can't find enough purple to throw in my closet.  I even get my nails painted shades of purple.  Today, Veteran's day, I even resorted to literally running down another mom at the boy's school, as she was wearing a ribbon.  I thought the deep blue color was actually purple.  I stalked her throughout the halls and told her Jake's story, thinking she would have one to share as well....until I learned her "purple" ribbon was actually a blue one honoring the veterans.

I have found I love this month, as I have an excuse to tell stories of Epilepsy, share the facts, the horror's, the unknown and the misinterpreted.

I have said it before and will say it again...Jake was "given" this for a reason.  Right now I believe the reason is to educate and inform.  I know his case has already had a huge impact on many.  This is obvious , by the size of team "All 4 Jake" at the stroll.  One of my bestie's , Brandy, has also taken an amazing interest in the cause.  You know that she turned a buiding purple, but also has become a mentor for the Epilepsy foundation in Florida, and now is even organizing a stroll in St. Petersburg.  Starting from scratch, organizing a city wide stroll for epilepsy.....man that's mind blowing.  I don't know if that would have ever happened had we not almost lost our little boy to epilepsy.

Did you know?:

For many soldiers suffering traumatic brain injury on the battlefield, epilepsy will be a long-term consequence.

Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages – more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease combined. Almost 500 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed every day in the United States. Epilepsy affects 50,000,000 people worldwide.

It is estimated that up to 50,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. from status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and other seizure-related causes such as drowning and other accidents.



The severe epilepsy syndromes of childhood can cause developmental delay and brain damage, leading to a lifetime of dependency and continually accruing costs—both medical and societal.



In over thirty percent of patients, seizures cannot be controlled with treatment. Uncontrolled seizures may lead to brain damage and death. Many more have only partial control of their seizures.
 

Epilepsy in America is as common as breast cancer, and takes as many lives.
 
public and private funding for research lag far behind other neurological afflictions, at $35 a patient (compared, for instance, with $129 for Alzheimer's and $280 for multiple sclerosis)
 
These are just some of the facts I never knew about the disease "that's easily cured with a simple pill."
 
Today and everyday, we currently deal, not only with the lingering seizures, but almost more annoyingly the learning difficulties , ADHD, loss of motor skills and never ending anxiety caused by  the 100's of seizures a day for months on end that Jake has endured.  I was led to believe once the seizures wee gone or even improved..POOF...life is normal again...far from.
 
Although, I can swear up and down Epilepsy sucks, if Jake was given it to further educate one of you, I will take it.....if we have to.:-)
 
Become aware...It's not what you think.
 
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"



- Sydney J. Harris

Purple

It's November. One of the most important months of the year. It's Epilepsy Awareness month. All purple, all the time. Everything Epilepsy to anyone and everyone. Spread the word. Talk about it. To your co-worker. your child's teacher. your mom. your neighbor...anyone. JUST Talk about it. Learn about it. Speak up about it.

My BFF, Brandy lives in Tampa. They have a (yes "a")skyscraper downtown called the SunTrust Financial Center. It's a well-known building, for it is continually lit up, but showing it's ability to be ANY color of the rainbow. People ask why it's lit the certain color and then it snowballs from there and the city is soon aware. Well guess what color it is during this great month of November? That's right...it's PURPLE!! PURPLE for EPILEPSY. And it made the news...see the link below. Then ask yourself what are YOU doing to show your support for PURPLE?

Visit this link to see it on Tampa's local news!

looking back...

As I was sitting here reflecting how fortunate we are to receive such an amazing gift from Make a wish and telling mysef how much we don't deserve it, I happened to find some pictures from "back when."

I remember when we started this wishing process, we were told initially that epilepsy doesn't qualify.  Apparently there were others who disagreed.  They thought Jake's type and severity certainly did qualify.  "They", I think was mainly Dr. H. I am not for sure, even to this day, how Jake actually ended up qualifying, but i still remember that call telling us that Jake would be getting a wish. 

The voice on the other end said something about Jake's disability being dramatically life  threatening.  I specifically remember not hearing what was being told to me by Make a Wish, but worrying that I could not get a call in the neuro fast enough.  life threatening?! 

Throughout all this, I think I have had blinders on , as to the severity of Jake's condition.  I think the "mommy mode" took over and I didn't actually grasp what was happening to my son.

Wow, what a road we have traveled.

These are just a few of the physical beatings the beast has given him.  Unfortunately the Damn thing has also done quite a number on the inside as well.  However just like he fought through the physical pain and scars, he is climbing mountains cognitively as well.  For almost 9 months, this little man was basically in a "walking coma."  He barely had intelligible speech, drooled and could barely hold his head up on his own.

Now there is nothing this guy won't try.
He's one brave boy, that Jake.  Certainly my hero!

Wishing...

Almost a year and a half ago Jake was granted a wish by the wonderful people at Make Wish.
Soon Jake's wish will be coming to fruition!

Jake wished to go "surfing like Scooby Doo!" and his wish will be coming true!
Not only will Jake be surfing, but also swimming with dolphins, visting Sea World, and attending a Luau.
We are super excited to get the festivities underway.

Make a Wish has just been amazing to us!

Our experience with make and Wish and Jake's wish givers has not been just about "the wish."

They have allowed us to see a Dallas Cowboys game, build Gingerbread houses, attend Ink parties, get involved in photo opportunities, and most of all gain new friends and some amazing heros and role models for Addison and Jake.

The kids dearly love everyone involved in Jake's wishing experience, but his wish givers truly hold a special place in their hearts.

Kristin and Christine have just been amazing to us.

They have certainly gone up and way beyond anything and everything we could have imagined when first starting this wishing journey. From Christmas cookie parties , visiting to welcome Cooper, bithday ice cream parties, over flowing presents to the most loving hugs and kisses,

these ladies hold a very special place in our hearts. They are surely two amazing ambassadors for such an awesome foundation.

(Jake in the "wishing room" making his wish)

Remember today, for it is the beginning of always. Today marks the start of a brave new future filled with all your dreams can hold. Think truly to the future and make those dreams come true.”

moments like these

Moments like these want me to cry my eyes out, scoop up my babies and squeeze them so hard it hurts.  Moments like these make me thank the Lord for what I have. 
Moments like these make me want to kick the ever living heck out of the freakin' beast!

last night as I nonchalantly, or even more so, annoyingly told Jake to go to bed and assured him I'd check on him in a minute, knowing one minute actually meant 10 or maybe even 20.

Matt and Addison were at soccer, Coop was already fast asleep.

I was "busy" doing something mundane,  probably washing bottles and getting ready for the same revolving door , that is our day.

When I finally got the chance, I turned on the hall light, so I could peer into Jake and Coop's room,without waking either of them, lay with Jake a minute, get back to my "business", all without disturbing their slumber.

As I peer in, Jake is sitting in his bed.
 His head is bowed.
His hands pointed at his chin.

I asked "What are you doing Buddy?"
He responded, "just asking God to take my seizures away."

My heart instantly broke into a million pieces.  Our little man was begging to make his life normal.  Jake has never really said he knows when he has seizures, but last night proved to me....he knows....he knows how his life has been changed.

As I sit down to type this entry and maybe even brag about how kind the beast has been to us lately by not showing his ugly face for a while, I hear it.

 I hear that God awful gasp and then the bed rocking and convulsing over the monitor.

This however, is not the "usual" 5-10 second seizure.
This one is a good 30 second doozy.
This one  makes me scatter and find a magnet and even the Diastat, that we have not had to use in so very  long.
This is one, in which his postitical is a good 1-2 minutes. 

This is one I have not seen in a long time.

Damn you beast! Just when I think you may be tired of picking on my kid, as he is fighting and doing his damnedest to kick your ass, you come and show your ugly self once again.

Damn you!

"It is at moments like these that I know my what my purpose is in life. I am here to love you, to hold you in my arms, to protect you. I am here to learn from you and to receive your love in return.I am here because there is no other place to be."
~Nicholas Sparks

9-11

Every year on Jake's anniversary of being taken off in an ambulance(twice), we take cookies and muffins to the fire station.  I say every year, but I guess this is only the 2nd year.:-)

This year we didn't actually make it on his anniversary.  We had great intentions, but never actually made.  So we decided what better time to acknowledge these heroes than on the anniversary of September 11th.

I hesitate calling our community helpers heroes, as this is their job.  This is what they signed up to do.  They signed up to beat down fiery walls in the middle of the night and to cut cars open to save a civilian inside.  They signed up dive into frigid waters to rescue a drowning child.  This is what their job is.

This is what their job is.... but they are truly heroes in my eyes. 

These community helpers giving an iv of rescue meds to a seizing boy in Plano.

These men and women stopping a heart attack  victim from becoming a fatality in San Angelo.

These heroes climbing stairs  and doing all they can to save the lives of thousands in New York while risking their own, every step of the way thinking of the loved ones the could be leaving all alone at home.

Regardless of where they are and what they have done, It is certain they have changed a life in their path.  For this they are heroes to me.

Here are some pictures of this years visit to Plano Fire Station #4 on September 11th, 2010.

He is a fireman.

He puts it all on the line when the bell rings.
A fireman is at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of men.
He is a man who saves lives because he has seen too much death.
He is a gentle man because he has seen the awesome power of violence out of control.
He is responsive to a child's laughter because his arms have held too many small bodies that will never laugh again.
He is a man who appreciates the simple pleasures of life - hot coffee held in numb, unbending fingers - a warm bed for bone and muscle compelled beyond feeling - the camaraderie of brave men - the divine peace and selfless service of a job well done in the name of all men.
He doesn't wear buttons or wave flags or shout obscenities.
When he marches, it is to honor a fallen comrade.
He doesn't preach the brotherhood of man.

He lives it.

M.I.S.S

For about a year now some of my bff's and I have been discussing doing a bible study together. Since we don't live near each other this has proven to be quite difficult. We have tried to get it going on email, but "life" happens and the hectic days of being a moms took over, so unfortunately it never really came to fruition.

However, my friend Leslie, has now set up an awesome blog.

The blog is a place for us to not only vent and discuss what we have read and what the reading means to us, but to also, and most importantly, a place to learn how to come closer to the Lord during these fast moving times.

I am particularly excited, as trying to cope with a special needs child, realizing what that means to our family, and adjusting to this situation has proven to be quite difficult.

It has certainly opened our eyes to the fact that life is certainly nothing we should take for granted and that we should always live each moment to its fullest.

However, sometimes, to balance living this way and "everyday life", that is....school, work, soccer, husband traveling, normal parental duties and especially those that go along with caring for Jake, has proven to be quite difficult.

If you are a mom, wife, sister, or friend come learn with us how to juggle all that goes along with being the best of each.

This is your invitation to come on over and learn with us!

Leslie has set up a reading schedule that is not at all rigorous.

Stop by and join us...we would love to have you!

M.I.S.S.- Moms searching for inspiration, spirituality and support


"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way
he came to their village where a woman name Martha opened her home to him
She had a sister called Mary
who sat at his feet listening to what he said" Luke 10:38

Week of firsts

Twas the night before school...

 

So many "Firsts" have happened the past couple weeks.  It has been very exciting, anxious and tiring around the Peter's household.

Let's start with the most obvious first....The first day of school!!

Addison started her first day of 1st grade!

Jake started his first day of Kindergarten! and..

Sweet Coop started his first day of school too!

(There are a couple other firsts I will post in a couple days)

The anxiety building up to these HUGE milestones has been tremendous!
Last year as Addison entered the big world of public school as a kindergartner was admittedly tough.  However, this year as a 1st grader the fear, anxiety and overwhelming feeling of time passing too quickly hit me like  a load of bricks.  What a huge difference a year makes.

My little princess went from not being  able to read a year ago, to now digesting chapter books, such as Ramona and Beezus, on a regular basis, to winning soccer championships that qualify her to play at Disney World, to being the sassiest of teens, who will argue, with logic ,at the littlest of things.

This first grade transition has been sooo much harder than kinder.

On top of this huge leap, we obviously have Mr. Jake making a big leap into the real world as a kindergartner as well.

Jake has been in special ed receiving occupational therapy services in the school and some speech and ot services outside of school, because of the trauma incurred by the damn beast!  So we were/are very concerned about this move into school.  It is because of this he worked his booty off at a good friend and great teacher's house this summer.  he worked with Ms. Kim 2 days a week on kinder readiness to help prepare for his big journey.  She was amazing and he learned so much from her!  He was very sad to learn on the first day of school that ms. Kim was not going to be his teacher all year long. 

On top of this confusion,  a couple evenings before we had visited Jake's old school, which is Addison's current school.  She had supply school night and the much anticipated class rosters were posted. 

As we were at their school we had to swing by Jake's old classroom. 

Much to our surprise, not only was his beloved teacher there , but also her two helpers. 

All three whom Jake is dearly in love with. Ms. Keavagh he even calls his bride!

So you can only imagine how confusing seeing all these great friends a few days prior and then going to school and not recognizing any familiar faces was for him.

We helped ease him into this "strange place" by assuring him that Cooper would only be a couple classrooms away and he had to take care of him.

 

The irony of "strange" is that his "new" school isn't really so new.  This is where Addison and Jake went to daycare.  The same school Jake was attending when he had his first seizure.  he didn't have  it at school...that we know of...but walking through those halls for the first time was creepy none the less.

The teachers and staff there are ever so loving! They all ran and gave Jake huge hugs and kisses upon his arrival.  They asked a million times where and how Addi is doing.  Genuinely kind, caring, people of the Lord.

Honestly, the day was probably a million times harder on us than the little ones, but it still did not help me from being an emotional wreck.  I counted the minutes until that 3:30 bell rang and I could run to get my twerps!

The day was made as I picked up each kiddo and they all had the BIGGEST smiles on their faces!

Jake jabber jawed nonstop about his amazing adventures and good friends, Addison strutted her stuff as only a BIG 1st grader could do, and sweet Mini Coop cooed and giggled the whole way home.

Be still me heart is all I could think that first night...be still my heart

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.”

Embarressed

I am so embarrassed that it is so long between posts.  I keep telling myself I will get better and then I go to look at the date of the last post and it is weeks not days!

Therefore, I will post this evening, however, it will be short and boring.:-)

We went to the neurologist today.  I so look forward to these trips. I am not sure why, but I literally count the days between appointments.  The visits usually take all of 15 minutes, which are far less than the hour car ride  there and back.

Today was a good day.

Last night we put Jake to bed and within 20 minutes he was already seizing.  That sucks!  Even spookier, is when you watch him on the "night cam" on the video monitor, the seizures are much more disturbing than in person.  His eyes are wide open and glow like some demon child.  Then there is the delay.  Uggh it weirds me out even to recall the way it looks.

However, even having seizures last night so soon upon falling asleep.  Jake has been doing much better.

Dr. H noted it, as have a few friends that don't see Jake all the time.  The have stated that his gait is much more steady and his speech is much improved.  I don't always notice these " little things" as he is my shadow throughout the day.

Dr. H said that this improvement is most certainly because the seizures are diminishing in number and in length! YEAH!!

So although seizures suck, I am so very happy to be seeing fewer and fewer of them.

Lately the biggest "Jake dilemma" is his excessive talking and question asking!! The child never quits!! We ask him "Jake do you ever stop talking?" and his response is "yeah, not so much?"

Although, the nonstop verbage is QUIT annoying, I remind myself of the many months when he was barely verbal.  And when he did talk you could barley make out what he was speaking, as his words were so jumbled with nonsense, drooling and slur.

So, as the non stop drilling of questions continues I try to remember these times and be thankful for the  thousands of :
"Mom, why, how, what's....?"

For this annoyance I am so very thankful!

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.”

I've come to realize...

that seizures suck.  They have completely consumed my life, even when I don't really realize it.

As I was listening and watching Jake on the video monitor today, as he took a nap, it hit me.  This crap is NOT normal.

 He seizes, I watch.

Jake seizes at least once a night and at least once during the day.  Yea! that's good news, right?

Well, in whose mind?  I have totally and completely come to think that this is 100% normal of a 5 year old kid.  I think I have even convinced myself that most , if not all kids, suffer from seizures. 

I used to run to Jake's room when  I heard that dreaded gasp of air, as if it's his last breath, and then the sound  of the bed vibrating , as his little body convulsed uncontrollably.  Now, I simply watch the monitor and count to see how long the damn thing lasts.  Sometimes, though, I just listen and count until the noises, snorting, heavy breathing and smacking end.

I have come to realize that this is NOT normal! and for today, I am going to sulk and say it's not fair.

Seizures suck!

I hate the way I can remember every sound, facial gesture, and movement of that dreaded day , August 1st, when I saw Jake's first "big" seizure. 

I hate:

The sight of his lips turning blue and me trying to breath life back into them.

The words the 911 operator was telling me to try and help my baby boy.

The fact that I had one phone to my ear with the 911 operator and one phone on the other ear trying to explain to Matt what was going on , as he was hundreds of miles away.

The sounds of whirling ambulance, fire truck and police car sirens and realizing they were coming to our house.  (Addison still can not stand the sight of emergency response vechilcles or sirens, even though she was not awake, she connects them to that dreadful day)

I can still so vividly remember all the fire and policemen storming in our house, not worried about breaking or dirtying something with their big  and massive gear.

The way they rushed to Jake's side as he still seized, gave him oxygen and poked him trying to get a line started.

To this day I have always said that that first seizure was 12 minutes, however I have come to realize, it was at 12 minutes when the Emergency response team actually showed up.  Jake seized all the way to the hospital.

After the team entered the house, the policewoman told me to grab my purse, I am at a loss as to what actually transpired next.  I do remember me asking the emt's, as I exited the vehicle and Jake's seizing finally stopped, and as they pulled his gurney out, if the sirens were on?

why in the hell would I ask that? and that is basically the response i got from the young men saving my son.  they looked at me as if I was off my rocker, which I probably was.  they then assured me they were on, as were the sirens police cars that followed.

From that moment on, I don't remember much.  I don't remember much of the past 2 years for that matter.  I think we have all been in survival mode.  I have "loosened" up a bit, as Jake has improved soo much, and for this I praise the Lord.

But, I have come to realize that this is not normal. 

the way I stare at baby Cooper  and can't relax as his eyes roll back into his head as he enters baby slumber, the way all babies do, is not normal.

the way my heart skips a couple beats every time his arms twitch from baby reflexes, is not normal.

the way i hold my breath , as he stretches his precious baby arms to stiffness and I wait for them to relax, is not normal.

Today, I have come to realize, that this feeling of cinder blocks sitting on my chest day after day is such a burden.  I am ready to lose this fear and anxiety and finally Kick this Beasts ass, because it is not normal.

I have never strived to be "just normal," but these days this is exactly what I pray for...to be normal.

It has been just about 2 years since the day I noted his first seizure, a twitch that sent a smoothie flying through the air of Costco..  I certainly did not think we would still be  battling this beast 24 months later.

Epilepsy is an easy cure, give the kid a pill and everything will be fine.

I have come to realize that nothing is as easy as it seems.

Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve

breaking child labor laws?

With three children, or even without three children for that matter, I could always use help with the housework.

The kids helped me quite a bit today. :-)

The good thing is they think working like this is a HUGE treat, or "reward" if you will.    Being able to spray cleaning products, does not seem like cleaning to a 5 and 6 year old.  It s waaay different than me asking them to clean their room or put their clothes away.

I have a lot on my mind, especially with the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.  A lot of feelings and thoughts that I can't quite get together yet.  Mostly about the anxiety and the different aspects of Epilepsy that no one really realizes.  No one, including people that have been battling this beast with us.  the things that seem so small , or not even part of epilepsy, but in reality , would not even be relevant in our lives, if the beast would not have ever entered it.

So with that being said, I promise to update, hopefully every day this week.  I have been avoiding the blog, as I have not known how to deal with what I am actually feeling inside.  Well, that, and the fact that I have still been dealing with a 102 fever.  mommies are NOT supposed to be sick...there is simply no time for a mommy to be sick.  She has too much to do!

Here is a pick of Sweet "Mini Coop" at 3 weeks old.  He now stays awake for a couple hours in the morning and a couple hours in the late afternoon.  this is huge, as we honestly thought something was wrong with the kid, as he slept soooo much!  it's been 5 years since we were parents to a newborn, we are relearning everything....well, at least I am.

Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it. ~Mark Twain

summer blues

I used to love summer.

the sun, lounging in the pool, long days, and pretty flowers.

lately, though, summer is just a big ball of stress.

A couple of Jake's major seizure triggers are heat and lack of sleep.

so in trying to prevent seizures, We try very hard for him to get enough rest and stay cool.

It kind of seems unfair to me, as summer vacation is a kids dream.  Jake and Addison would like nothing more than to swim all day long, come in to eat dinner and then swim some more.

As much as I, a sun worshipper, would love to adhere to this schedule, it has proven to be awful for Jake.  While we try to set limits for Jake, Addison is also effected.

Looking for things to keep them busy on these long summer days in the Texas heat, has proven to be quite a challenge.

Jake has been slowly recovering and regaining seizure freedom from the mistake of missed meds two weeks ago.

However, yesterday we tested the limits for Father's Day.

The kids swam all morning with my dad.   They came in for lunch and a short nap and then hit the pool again with Matt for several more hours.

We put Jake to bed fairly early, as we recognized the business of his day.  However, within 30 minutes of him falling into a slumber he had 2 tc's.

Uggghhh, it is so difficult to balance what the kids needs and wants are.

On top of brainstorming ways to keep the twerps busy, I have found myself dealing with a 101-102 fever the past couple days.  I am sure this doesn't make their days any more fun, as all I have wanted to do is feed the baby and then rest on the couch.

I have happened to find an awesome snow cone shack that certainly helps to cool us off on these hot days, and even found shrinky dinks to help occupy their time in an air conditioned atmosphere. 

But lets face it, as fun as these new adventures may be, they only last a short time and are certainly not as fun as wasting away the long days of summer outside.

Fathers day

(Jake is barking like a seal)

The kids present to Matt...it was framed in a horizontal, 3 window, black frame.

and finally, this is how the kiddos wrapped up the day.  Addison rocking and reading to her little brother.

 

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

He's here!

As of 5:12 pm, Tuesday, 6/8/2010, there is  a brand new addition to the Peters' family.  And he coudln't be cuter.  We are so blessed by our lil' guy.  Addison and Jake are just smitten and can not wait for us to join them at the house!

Of course, nothing can be "easy" for us, so the day was quite interesting.

It started at about 4:00am with Jake having a 20 second nocturnal tc.  I was appalled, as this was longer seizure than I have recently come accustomed to.  Jake also lost control of his bladder.  He has not done that in numerous months.  Obviously, I was quite baffled and disturbed and threw any more sleep out the door.

That seizure was followed by another one about 30 minutes later...and then another one soon there after.

After about 6 seizures and loss of bladder control 2 more times, between 4 and 6:00am., we finally just woke him up.

This, as expected, put an end to those nasty things.

In between seizures , I, of course, started brainstorming, "what had changed", to make this particular night a "break through" night.  I 't didn't take long for me to realize, that in all the excitement of getting ready for the early departure to the hospital, we had forgotten to give Jake his night time meds.

So around 4:45, I quickly made thee decision to pull the trigger and give him one of the missed drugs and then wait a couple hours to give him his "regular" dose of the rest of the medications.

Although it was terrible to see such early morning happenings and they couldn't have happened on a worse day, iIwas glad that there was a reason for the madness.

Matt and I departed for the hospital at about 7:00, after we got Jake settled with his Granny.

Upon arriving at the hospital, we were "checked in" and Dr. Garner broke my water at about 8:00 and started Pitocin around 8:10.  He took wagers on how quickly this lil guy would make his entrance.

His, the dr.s', the specialist, and the experienced professional, was by 12:00.

We toke his word for it and were releived that by 12:30 we would surely have another sweet addition.

Well, 12 came and went, as did, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00.

It turns this third child of ours was quite stubborn.

Although I was progressing, his head was turned at such an angle that he wouldn't move down the birth canal.

After many position changes and acrobatics on my part, at around 5:10 it was go time.

Can you tell I am excited?

Everyone was shoved out of the room and by 5:12 our lil man was here!

Cooper Austin Peters

7lbs 1 oz

19.25 inches

blessed our lives at 5:12 on Tuesday, June 8, 2010.

All it took was one easy push!

He is just a doll and we are so very blessed.

The kids awaiting that first peek

I can not wait to share  pictures with you all, however, because my computer is still in the "shop" the and computer I am currently working from is very much a downgrade, I can not access pictures and upload them .

Once I am able to though, this page will be exploding with photos of our little miracle!

As for Big brother Jake, he is caught up on his regular medications and is doing much better.  He did have a couple seizures last night, however they were far less intense and much shorter than those of the night before.  Hopefully tonight will bring no seizures at all.

“Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened? A miracle. You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything.”