JodySimmer.com

Here is Jacy in her new Big Girl Highchair! Her new favorite thing to do is hold her own spoon as it goes into her mouth. She has such a good grip on it that it is hard to get it out if her hand to refill it with another bite! She also likes to sneak her hand down to the side and let Jake lick the food off of her fingers-Jake loves that part!

November 18, 2005 Hello everyone! We just wanted to give an update on Jacy’s last appointment with Dr. Manwaring, her neurosurgeon. First the big news.. she is up to 16 POUNDS!!! On Tuesday Jay took Jacy in for another MRI scan. (I didn’t get to go to this one because I was home with the flu! =) Jacy wasn’t real thrilled about it and cried the whole time. (I am glad that I missed that part!) We met with Dr. Manwaring on Wednesday to review the scan together. Jacy’s head circumference is at 45 ¼ cm which puts her in the 95th percentile. She was in the 50th percentile only a couple of months ago, so this was a significant increase. The MRI scan also showed that the ventricles (1 & 2) in her brain have also increased in size quite a bit. Because of this he is concerned about the long-term effects of her condition. The Dr. has indicated that Jacy is a good candidate for a procedure called a Third Ventriculostomy. This is the surgical creation of a channel between the third ven...

Jayden is the sweet little boy that was in the crib next to Jacy in the NICU. He has seizures, and they still aren't sure what is causing them. I am so thankful that Jacy was assigned to the bed next to him so that we could get to know him and his mom, Brandy. We quickly became good friends and were able to support and encourage each other. Jacy and Jayden were inseparable...really! We made sure that if Jayden was ever moved to a different bed, Jacy was to be moved to the bed next to him, and vice versa. We made a great team! Since going home Jayden has been fitted with a helmet to correct the shape of his head. He wears the helmet 23 hours a day. Isn't he so cute in it!!! HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO JAYDEN. Sorry that we are missing your party tomorrow buddy!

Little Kirstyn was born on May 31st. Her Spina Bifida repair was done in utero, just days before Jacy was born. Since Kirstyn's mom was sent to the family house to finish out the pregnancy I got to spend a lot of time with her. Kirstyn's mom and Grandma came to visit Jacy a lot, but we left for home before we got to meet Kirstyn in person. So far Kirstyn does not need shunts. She does wear corrective shoes to help straighten out her little feet. From what I hear she is the absolute joy of her 4 brothers and sisters, not to mention her parents!

This is Faith. She was selected to have the Spina Bifida repair surgery performed after she was born, rather than in utero. She was born on May 2 and I believe that the surgery was performed the next day. She does have a shunt, and has just recently had a shunt revision because it became partially blocked. Her recovery is going very well! Titus had fetal surgery in February and was born on May 4th. We got to see him the day before we left for home. Titus did get a shunt in a couple of months ago, and is doing great!

These are the other Mommy's that were involved in the fetal survery program around the same time as me. From left to right: Cristy (Faith's mom), Valerie (Titus's mom), and Kristin (Kirstyn's mom). Kristin and her mom Janice had the room 2 doors down from me in the Koret family house. It was so nice to have them there. They were so supportive and took very good care of me!

We hope that everyone had a very happy and safe Halloween! We had a great time Halloween night! We went to my brother Justin's house and sat around his driveway with family and friends while we handed out candy to all the kids. Jacy made a VERY CUTE cow and her Cowboy (Grandpa Zeke) took her Trick-Or-Treating with her Cousins Connor (A Storm Trooper), Rylee (Dorothy from Wizard of Oz) and Tatum (A Cowgirl). They had a great time. Even Jake got into the Halloween spirit with his Knife through the head costume! =) Love, Jody