Hi Everyone.  Sorry for the lapse in time since the last blog.  I've been enjoying the time at home with Brian and the boys and have gotten caught up in day to day living - yeah! 

Jacob has been good since the last hospitalization.  He still has a little residual cough that the doctors told us could last for some time.  Brian did catch a mild version of the virus too, but is doing ok now.  We've been having lots of fun taking in the last of the Fall beauty with lots of hikes and caches.  It's strange not taking the boys to preschool.  They miss it.  Just the other day we were in the car and Jacob said, "Mommy, I wish I could go to preschool.  I miss going there."  And then Justy pipes in, "Me too.  Are we still taking a break from that Mommy?"  Ugh. The preschool class has been wonderful though, sending e-mails and pictures.  Brian and I met with both of the boys' teachers last night for a conference. It was nice to hear how well they were doing and how much they are missed by the teachers and the other children.  I think it will be important and fun to set up some small playgroups for the boys to maintain some contact and also give them a chance to work on their social skills.  They're all about it as they ask every day to have a friend over. 

And the great news is we'll have an extra day at home to do some playgroups.  Two weeks ago Dr. Filipovich said we could cut back the photopheresis treatments from three times a week to two.  So our new routine is we leave early Wednesday morning and arrive in Cincy around noon for photo treatment and three other infusions.  We usually get out of the hospital around 8pm, just in time to get back to the hotel for bed.  Then we're back up at 6:00am to be back at the hospital for another photo treatment and to finish any infusions that didn't get done the day before.  Then we head back for home.  It's a grueling schedule for Jacob - lots of hours in the car and even more hours sitting in a hospital bed.  He continues to face his situation with joy and the occasional melt down. (but who could blame him?)  This week will be very interesting as Justy will be coming along to Cincinnati with us.  Both sets of grandparents are out of town and I've been wanting to take Justy so he can see what "Mommy and Jacob going to Cincy" is all about.  Also, all the nurses and doctors know about Justy and are excited to meet him.  Please say an extra prayer for us - this could be great fun or it could be something I will NEVER do again???

And I've saved the best for last...

We had the most AWESOME weekend ever and all thanks to Aunt Rebecca.  Last year when Jacob was in the hospital Aunt Rebecca made a promise that she would take Jacob to a Wiggles concert.  Well a few months ago Jacob reminded her of that promise and did she ever make good on it.  She found a Wiggles concert at State College in PA, flew home special from California and lined up all kinds of special treats for an absolutely spectacular evening.  When we arrived we drove the van to a special reserved parking lot.  Up above we could see the lines of folks waiting to get into the door.   We entered through a side door where we were greeted by a gentleman in a tuxedo that handed the envelope of tickets to Rebecca.  Seconds later we were escorted onto a "secret" back elevator that took us right to our private viewing booth.  It was huge and filled with chairs, we promtly stacked most all of the chairs to make room for our dance floor.  Moments after we arrived at our booth there was a knock on the door and who do you think should enter?  Oh, just CAPTAIN FEATHERSWORD!  The boys were so excited. (Aunt Rebecca - you ROCK!)  After he left Aunt Rebecca treated us to some good eats and then the concert started.  It was incredible and boys absolutely LOVED it.  We danced and sang our hearts out.  Then in the middle of the concert Captain Feathersword came out to the stage by himself and told everyone he had met a special friend, Jacob Brown, before the show and the huge spotlight was turned on our booth.  It was truly overwhelming and the boys haven't stopped talking about it.  So Aunt Rebecca...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  I'll try to post some pictures soon.

Thanks for checking in on us.