Lucas James Stisher: One Year Ago...

With each passing day, I didn't lose hope. I fought to have more. --Amy Tan

It was one year ago today, after 156 days in the NICU, we brought Lucas home. August 30 seems like more of a special day than his birthday to me, with memories of excitement and pure joy. As I went through some of our old videos to create the one that is linked here, it brought it all back as if it was yesterday… it was surreal and is indescribable to explain what it felt like to go get him that day, and to stare at him finally sitting in our living room. It will always be a day to celebrate for us. Check out the video of his day of discharge, it is something I’ve wanted to put together for a long time. Homecoming Video

This year on August 30, we spent the weekend at the beach in Charleston, SC with Bran’s family. We rented a very cool beach house with Bran’s parents, Seth and Mary Ann, and spent time with Mary Ann’s family (thanks Mary Ann for arranging all of it)! It was a lot of fun to get away with everyone and relax a little on the beach. This was Lucas’ first trip to the beach. Not sure if he was a fan of the water, out of about 25 pictures, I don't think there is a single smile... but no doubt next year will be more fun for him! We celebrated Madalyn turning five (along with Seth's and Saundra's which are the same day in August). Madalyn's little brother, Landon, is due any day, she was a very good little babysitter with Lucas! Bran and I are so excited that Lucas will have a cousin his age to grow up with!

I have to say that we’ve had a very exciting week, it is as if Lucas turned a corner and we've seen a lot of new “firsts”. Following the clapping, he’s now clearly making the “ba-ba” and "da-da" sound, and is working on “ma-ma”. This is something I am asked every other week by his vision teacher if he is saying yet, and I always have to say "no, not yet" (she also helps with language development exercises). Its so cute, he started a couple days ago, and now it is constant. This morning I woke up to his chattering in the crib, “u-bab-bab-bab-bab” as he was practicing this new fun sound. At the risk of sounding repetitive… these little steps are VERY big! I can't wait to see our previously negative neurologist in December, and surprise her again with all the things he's doing that she didn't think he would! He also rolled back to belly for the first time unassisted this week, and he drops a toy immediately on cue to the words "give me" EVERY single time (the kids get a kick out of this one, asking him to do it over and over again). We've been working on that one for a few months, and now he's doing it without any physical cues. He is also starting to look for a toy when he drops it (he would only feel for it before this past week--vision and motor were not connecting). He’s also learned to shake his head no on verbal cue when I say "no, no, no" (as he laughs). I know what you’re thinking, why the heck would I want to teach him that?! Can’t help it, he started shaking his head when he doesn't want to anymore to eat, and its just so cute now to see him do it on command and understand what I’m saying... AND that he is seeing me do it and repeating it! I’m sure it won’t be so cute one day, but right now it is melts me when he looks at me with a big grin and shakes his head to mimick "no-no-no!"

Some of this progress is his brain developing, but I really feel like we’ve made a big jump lately because his vision is getting so much better. His hand-eye coordination is improving every day (something that has been very delayed, so he’s just now trying to get the hang of it). There’s nothing more rewarding now than watching him try to grab whatever appears in front of him that we might be holding… like a menu, food, a paper towel, or whatever seems enticing to him in our hands. A month ago, he could care less about what was in front of him. His vision teacher told me this week that her favorite day is coming to see Lucas, that no matter what kind of day/week she is having, he always makes her feel better… because watching his great progress, but also because of his pleasant, sweet nature, and constant smiling. He seems to have that effect on people.

So cognitively and socially, he’s doing well, we just need to work harder on catching up his motor skills. We got another positioning chair this week from PT, I really like this one, he has to work a little harder to sit up which will strengthen his torso, but he also sits at a great height with a tray to really see what he’s doing. He looks like a little student, you'll see some pics of it with a new set I'm about ready to post from last week.

What a great day of happy memories! This weekend has been a reminder of how lucky we are and grateful for the year we've had with him, and for all the little miracles along the way.

Last Year: Homecoming Day - 8.30.07