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From the Doctor: Below this is Jacob's Baby Journal starting September the 11th, 2003. I decided to track things using an on-line journal. I never thought the journal would become more then a couple lines, but as you can see it became a lot more.

Journal Entry 12 February 23rd - Day 13 in the NICU It's been 13 days since Jacob was born and things are progressing well for Jacob Thomas. He has had no major set backs to speak of. He was all wires and tubes the first week or so, but they have been removing dependencies almost everyday. He is now into an open crib, out of the isolate they had him in to maintain his temperature. Today is his first try at eating all his meals without the use of a feeding tube. Each time they try something new, they warn us that if he doesn't handle it, he will need to go back a step until he can adjust. Like I said above he has not yet have to set back. So we will hope for the best. Check out the Baby Pictures Page Here Journal Entry 11 February 11th - IT'S A BOY!!! Journal Entry 10 February 10th: Week 32 Day 0 Yeah same as below. No changes that we are aware of. It's now been 9 weeks in the hospital. Journal Entry 9 February 1st: Week 30 Day 5 We're still here!! Ultrasound this week estimated the baby weight at 3 pounds 1 ounce. Jenny is still in good shape mentally and physically.. It's been 8 weeks in the hospital tomorrow. The baby is going to really start gaining weight soon. At this stage, the baby will still have to go into intensive care, but the time the baby will have to stay in there has greatly diminished. We get to hear the baby's heartbeat every morning and evening and it never gets old. Journal Entry 8 January 23rd: Week 29 Day 3 Hey everybody, yes we are still in the hospital! This Tuesday is the 7th week to the day since her operation and based on information we have the baby will be here soon! We have made it so far since the beginning of our hospital journey on December 8th. The baby should be in good shape, but it will have to stay in the intensive care for quite some time. Although the experts are saying things are much better, it's very difficult to not be nervous about this whole situation. Check out the Ultrasound Pictures from January 14th Journal Entry 7 January 14th: Week 28 Day 1 It was decided that Jenny needs to stay in the hospital at least for a few more weeks. An utrasound done today shows the baby at around 2 pounds 3 ounces. From what I have read, this weight is on the high end of a baby at this week. So for the baby's safety we will be staying at Vaster Brothers Hospital for at least another two weeks. Journal Entry 6 January 14th Ultrasound Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 Picture 4 Journal Entry 5 January 7th: Week 27 day 1 The doctor has just informed Jenny that if everything remains the same, she can be released as early as Monday, January 12th. We are crossing our fingers. Things like this can easily change with any change in her condition. I have to begin lugging everything back to the apartment. Journal Entry 4 December 30th: Week 26 Begins Jenny has now been in the hospital, bed bound, since December 8th!! We had an ultra-sound yesterday and everything looks good, the baby weighs approximately 800 grams, which is around a pound and three quarters. From what they say this is a normal weight for a baby at 26 weeks. Sorry no new pictures this time, but I'm sure we can get another at the next ultra-sound in two weeks. Jenny will be reassessed at 28 weeks, which means she could go home that week, but it's kind of out of our hands. More to come, when there is more news! Journal Entry 3 December 8th Week 23 Visit: There were complications found in her ultra sound. Thank god we had gotten special permission to get this ultra sound otherwise we would have never known. Jenny had 2 emergency operations by December 9th. Jenny and the baby are doing good now. Jenny will be staying in Vasser Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY until mid-January 2004 at the earliest. She will be in bed for the rest of her pregnancy regardless of whether she gets out of the hospital in January or not. The baby has a good heart rate and is very active. Check out the ultra sound picture below!!!

Ultrasound Picture from December 8th visit

Journal Entry 2 October 13th Visit: Everything is good. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat.

Journal Entry 1 September 11th Ultrasound

The white nubs in the center are the arms. Looks like a bencher. The nubs on the left are legs.

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