Sorry I'm a little late on this update, we had a pretty eventful Easter and we're all still trying to get back on our feet.  JT was scheduled to be in Cincinnati the Tuesday and Wednesday after Easter, but we had to cancel and ended up going the following week.

Here's the saga...During the wee hours of the night on Good Friday Justy woke up vomitting all over his bed.  We were up all night with him.  The following morning I ran my first ever half marathon as Brian stayed home and cared for poor dry heaving Justy.  As soon as I got home our pediatrician called to say Justy should go the the ER to be evaluated and get fluids.  He didn't cry a bit when he got his IV started and couldn't wait tto get home to tell JT that he was brave just like him.  After the fluids and anti-nausea medicine Justy perked right up and they sent us home.  The next morning we headed over to Brian's parent's house in Cook Forest (about 2 hours ...

Great news out of Cincinnati!!!!! 

Every six months or so the docs order immune functioning studies to see how JT’s immune system is coming along.  During our last visit to Cincy we found out from our nurse practitioner that JT’s s ...

JT and I have traveled through snow, sleet, wind, and pouring down rain on our treks to Cincinnati.  We had never cancelled an appointment at the hospital due to weather conditions, that is, until two weeks ago.  I was all packed and ready to head out when Brian called and asked if I had checked the weather report .  I said "no", I never do.  As far as I'm concerned my job is to get my son to Cincinnati every two weeks for treatments.  Then Brian said, "have you thought about cancelling?"  I had never considered this.  It tooks just a few moments for the weather channel to pull up and Brian's words to sink in.  Within seconds I was on the phone with JT's nurse practitioner.  She was very supportive and thought that JT would be ok waiting a week for treatment.

Soooo the following week JT and headed out to Cincy.  We made it there just fine, but the ...

Hi everyone - Jodi back again.  I so appreciated Brian writing the long overdue blog message.  He has such an amazing gift with words and writing.  He captured so clearly, in one blog, a picture of our family these days and where my heart is also.  I get so caught up in the day to day details of our family that I truly appreciate his ability to step back and pull the big picture together for me.

Our "new normal" continued this week with a two day trip to Cincy for photopheresis treatments, but for the first time since we began these regular trips, I felt something very different and very freeing.  I felt like the Cincinnati trip was just another thing in our schedule this week.   For so many years now these trips and JT's medical care have seemed to me to dominate our lives.  After reading Brian's blog I was freed up to a ...

Friends...Brian checking in...I don't pretend to know what happened to the website temporarily, but we're back in business thanks to the kind and skilled help of the wizards behind the cure4treebeard curtain.  Thank you very much Andres and Rorik - you guys are awesome.

Life here is very good.  We've been watching the leaves turn, watching the Steelers, watching the boys thrive at school, keeping our eyes open to the miracles of this season.  The boys both got their regular flu shots this weekend thanks to the kindness and professionalism of Dr. Hefner's office (thanks Melanie!)  We've been out and about enjoying the season - been on a few geocaches, chased a few wild turkeys.  The trampoline has been a real hit now that it's not too hot to be out for longer periods - the boys like to mix it up out there, and they like me to come on in as the "ninja master" and put them through some "ninja training."& ...

Just a quick note tonight from Brian - Jodi and JT are home again, home again after photopheresis treatments Monday and Tuesday.  JT's on a hefty oral antibiotic and though the doctors aren't exactly certain what these skin infections are all about, we have a presciption if it happens again so that we can hopefully avoid another weekend in Cincinnati.  He is thrilled to be back at school, back sleeping in his own bed, and back together as a family.  We had Grandma and Grandpa Brown and Nana over for dinner tonight, and it was really a nice way to celebrate October 1.  Tomorrow is the high school's Homecoming and Saturday is Homecoming for GCC, so I anticipate some parades on tap this weekend.  Life is good.  Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers - it's such a relief to have Jodi and JT back and the infection stopped. 

JT and I are still in the hospital in Cincy, but basically we're just hanging out until so he can get his regularly scheduled photopheresis treatments on Monday and Tuesday mornings.  JT's blood culture remains negative, his CBC is normal and he's clinically still feeling great.  He is still receiving two IV antibiotics, just to be on the safe side. 

This trip has been a little confusing to me.  I got the call to hurry up and get JT to Cincy and then when we got here they just started antibiotics.  I wondered why we couldn't have just done that in Grove City.  Anyway, after talking with the docs and nurses yesterday I understood better the ...

JT has absolutely been LOVING Kindergarten.  It's been so good to see.  He comes running out of the school everday shouting, "Mommy, look in my backpack at what I did today!"  He just seems to love learning new things and is soaking it all up like a sponge.  He's also making some friends.  I am so happy for him in this arena - it's been long in coming.  Overall my little boy is growing up right before my eyes.  What a blessing - I remember when he was a baby and we didn't buy clothes in the next size bigger because we were afraid he might not live to make it to that size and now look at him.  From the deepest parts of a momma's heart - thank you Jesus!

On the medical front, JT and I are currently staying in room 534 at Cincinnati Children's hospital.  A couple of days ago a little black spot showed up on JT's lip and one on his hand.  After our las ...

Today was JT's 3rd day of Kindergarten.  He absolutely LOVES it!  They are learning all about catepillars and butterflies this week and it's fun each day when he comes home and tells us all about what he's learned.  Sometimes it's still hard to believe that he's in Kindergarten.  How far God has brought this boy!

Today the School Nurse called me at home and it sure scared me.  It ended up being no big deal, but still, just gettting that call is not something I want.  I think we'll have a bit of a learning curve as the two school nurses, JT's teacher, the secretary and principal all get to know him.  I had a chance to meet both nurses today and talk more in depth about JT.  It's hard though, because as soon as I tell them that somethings not a big deal to tell me, it may end up being so.  So we tried to set up some parameters about when to notify me.  Everyone in the school and entire district ...