Jacob Matthew

New Home

2010-07-07T09:48:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone!! We've finally moved into our new house. However, we are also moving our blog address in preparation for the newest member of our family to arrive in October.

Please visit our new blog at:

http://beffafamily.blogspot.com

Thank you all for following us and for the support from our friends and family. We are excited to share pictures and stories as our 3 person family becomes 4.

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-05-31T20:43:00.004-05:00

This weekend was great. We had some laid-back days and some busy days which made it great too. We spent Saturday and Sunday with friends and Jacob was exhausted after playing hard. He is still recovering from pneumonia but is doing well.

On Monday we decided to go to the park for some fun and then to get some ice cream. It was Jacob's first time at Ted Drewes and I think we have another loyal follower in the family!!

Jacob and Daddy at the park

Getting ready to go down the slide

Jacob loves going down the slide.. honestly, he wasn't to into the rest of the park. The slide and playing in the mulch were definately the highlights for him.

Not quite sure if he liked the swing.. it only lasted about 2 minutes and he wanted out. He's been on a swing before but didn't seem into it this time

Jacob woke up in the middle of the night on 'dad's night' so Daddy was trying to rest his eyes. Too bad Jacob wasn't having it - he wanted to play with his Daddy.

Getting ready to enjoy Ted Drewes.. Jacob has no idea what he's about ready to eat!

Playing in the back of the car and lovin' the ice cream!

Close up of the little monster! If you could see his mouth it would show mommy, daddy and Nonna's ice cream. Little guy loved them all!

Doctors Appoitments

2010-05-24T20:54:00.002-05:00

So today was the big day...

Matt, Jacob, Nonna and I went to the OB today and found out we have another little stubborn one on our hands. Baby was face down in the breach position with the legs straight up by the head. We couldn't get many good views and baby wasn't budging at all! The tech couldn't get all of the anatomy so we'll be going back in about a month to see more.. she did see one important thing though... Baby Beffa #2 is a GIRL!!!

Yep, Jacob is going to have a baby sister in October. He has no idea what's about to hit him!

Jacob also went to the doctor today. He has had a cough for about 2 weeks now and even though it seemed to be better today I decided we better get him in to see Dr. Bob. Of course, in true Jacob style, he has pneumonia! Dr said the right lung was pretty bad and he didn't even need an x-ray to confirm. We are on medicine now so hopefully he will start to feel better soon.

The dr also diagnosed the blisters that Jacob has on his feet as a form of eczema. He will never grow out of it and open shoes are the only thing he can wear right now. We'll be pointing this out to the dermatologist at our next visit as well..

Hope this baby girl knows what she is getting into - The Beffa house is full of drama and she need not feel the need to create her own!!

The Zoo May 2010

2010-05-23T19:20:00.006-05:00

This past week Matt and I both took some time off work and we took Jacob to the St. Louis Zoo. We took him there last fall and he slept through the majority of the day. This time was much different and Jacob LOVED it.

He did think everything was either a 'kitty' or a 'dog'. The bigger animals (including the elephants) were dogs and the little ones were a kitty. The only thing that stumped him was the fish. The highlight of Jacob's day was definitely the carousel. He loved riding it and thought he was hot stuff riding up so high. He had so much fun he was exhausted when we left and fell asleep before we even got to the car.

Can't wait for our next trip!! Below are a few pics from our day!

Jacob petting the goats! He loved them and wanted to pet each one.

Jacob playing in the children's zoo.

Obviously Jacob didn't find it as fun to sit on the frog as I thought he would. Had to keep the pic though.

Family shot on the train at the zoo!

Jacob and mommy at the penguin house. As you can see he really liked it in there because the penguin's get so close. There is one swimming in the water in this picture and he got to touch them as they did their flips in the water.

Jacob and mommy on the carousel - definitely his favorite part!

Right before he fell asleep - this is right outside the zoo. By the time we walked to the history museum to get to the car he was out!

It was also mommy's b-day this weekend and Jacob helped mom open her presents. He did so much better than at Christmas or his Birthday. He's gonna be ready for this Christmas!

Jacob and great-grandma Bayerl reading books

Jacob and Nonna reading books

Enjoying a cupcake for mom's birthday! He ate it all - and then proceeded to throw it all up (on great-grandma Bayerl) a few minutes later.. YUMMY!

Reading books with Great-Grandpa Bayerl. As you can tell, reading is one of Jacob's favorite things to do.

Jacob's little personality..

2010-05-23T18:54:00.005-05:00

It's been a while since my last post and several people have asked when I would get updated pictures posted.. SORRY! Things have been crazy around here.

Jake had surgery in late April to clear out his tear ducts. Both ducts were clogged but now they seem to be doing better. He's growing quickly and getting quite the personality. He thinks he is very funny most of the time and laughs out loud at himself. He also loves to sing.. it's more of a la, la, la but he thinks he's cool. He also likes to dance .. even at commercials.

We have been trying to teach him where the baby is so now he thinks everyone has a baby in their tummy. He will gladly lift your shirt and say 'baby' to anyone who will let him. Not always a good thing!

Baby Beffa #2 is due to arrive sometime around Oct 11, 2010. Jacob will learn tomorrow (Monday) if he is going to have a baby sister or a baby brother. I'll be sure to post a quick update once we learn the sex. Also, our new house will be finished in early June and we close on June 11th... just in time for uncle Ryan to come visit from his base in Vegas :)

Here are some random posts of our little one and his BIG personality!!

Much to Dad's disappointment, Jacob shares mom's passion for nice things. Here he is at Grandma Beffa's house wearing her coach purse.

Jacob with his friend (and future wife) Reese. He was trying to take good care of her while she cried and give her all the toys that are by her chair. He also tried to give Reese her binkie - he definately wouldn't give up his own however.

Being silly while eating some bread - one of his favorite things!

Again being silly while having his shirt off!

Playing with blocks while ensuring he keeps his tape close by (on his wrist). He loves to wear this tape or painters tape like a bracelet - or more like an arm band.

1 second before the meltdown because mom wanted him to sit on the couch (instead of standing)..

And the meltdown begins...

And it's over a second later when he stands back up.. it's amazing how fast he can turn it off and on!

Easter 2010

2010-04-09T08:33:00.005-05:00

Easter seemed to sneak up on us this year but the Easter Bunny certainly didn't forget Jacob.

We had a busy day planned and started with Jacob playing with the toys the bunny brought to Nonna's house.

Jacob got golf clubs, a basket ball net, a cozy coupe (from Nonna) and a basket full of small goodies. Funny how when the Easter Bunny is pressed for time he ends up buying more than he originally intended :)

Jacob thinking about pulling those golf clubs out and using them as weapons.. the thought turned into reality shortly after. Look at that crazy hair too!

Jacob with his first slinky.. he loves it.. and it was $1!

Trying to get into the cozy coupe for the first time.. doesn't quite have it down in this picture.

Finally figured out how to get in..

Now he has it!! Look at those feet up on the dash! Already chillin'

Next stop was Uncle Tim's and Aunt DeAnna's for brunch and an egg hunt with the Beffa clan.

I normally try not to put pictures of other kids (due to possible parent's concerns) in Jake's blog but this one is too cute. Jacob watching the dog with his cousin.

Hanging out with Grandpa Beffa

Taking after Daddy! Lovin' soccer!

Last stop was Grandpa & Grandma Bayerl's house for late lunch/dinner and an egg hunt.

Grandpa Bayerl hid Jake's eggs really good.. but he found this one in the flowers!

Not sure why but I love this pic..

Taking a walk with Grandma Bayerl and cousin's before heading home.

Jacob has a great time playing with cousin's all day and enjoying two Easter egg hunts. Thanks to our all family for a great day.

Spring Fling

2010-04-09T07:24:00.006-05:00

We are very lucky to participate in Parents as Teachers and absolutely love our parent educator, Kristen. We are very sad that once we move into the new house we will lose her and can only hope that Francis Howell has just as wonderful educators!

Parents as Teacher's offers many programs throughout the year, one of which is Spring Fling. They had lots of activities and toys for Jacob to play with and an Easter Bunny to visit. Below are some pictures from his visit this year.

Jacob LOVED the pool full of balls. He threw a huge fit when we had to leave to see the Easter Bunny! I'm thinking of making one of our own if it keeps him occupied this summer.

Surprisingly Jacob liked the Easter Bunny - he did keep calling it a 'kitty' though. He kept saying "kitty soft"... we have 3 cats now that we live with Nonna and Jake thinks everything is a kitty.

After we played and saw the bunny we took a long walk around the park. Jacob and Daddy were taking a walk and Jake kept turning around to make sure I was coming.. very cute!

He loved the flowers

And loved running around free.. he is such a cutie!

Then he started getting too close to the water.. it was near bed time anyway so we took it as a sign it was time to go home! He would have walked right in the water if I wouldn't have stopped him.

Hats on Day

2010-03-09T20:18:00.002-06:00

This week is a very important week for our family. It kicks off Hats on Day to benefit Friends of Kids with Cancer. (http://www.friendsofkids.com/hats-on-day.html)

Hats On Day was founded in 1995 by four sixth-graders at Henry School in St. Louis. They began the fundraiser when their friend and classmate, Kevin Beffa, was diagnosed with a type of childhood cancer called Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Kevin had been a bright, happy child with a passion for soccer. When he got sick, he had to miss school and lost all his hair from the treatments. Also in need of a bone marrow transplant, Hats On Day was planned to support Kevin during his battle with cancer. However, just days before the event, Kevin passed away.

Kevin is Matt's Brother and Jacob's Uncle. While we remember Kevin everyday, Hats on Day allows us to connect with him in a special way and gives us the opportunity to teach our children, who never met Kevin, about their uncle. This year is the 15th anniversary of Kevin's death and the 15th anniversary of the first Hats on Day.

Please take time to put on your hat for 'Kids with Cancer' this month and raise awareness of childhood cancer and the impacts it has on their lives and the lives of their families. Matt, Jacob and I are also participating in Walk With a Friend (http://www.friendsofkids.com/walk-with-a-friend.html) on April 24th in memory of Kevin. If you are interested in walking with us, please let me or Matt know.

Below are pictures of Jacob having fun with his hat in support of Uncle Kevin!

First Real Haircut

2010-03-09T20:12:00.002-06:00

Jacob got his first real haircut last week at The Hairy Elephant. I've been cutting it for some time on my own but it was finally time for a real haircut. The final straw was when his uncle joked that it would fit into a ponytail. So there we were getting his first haircut! Jacob did great. At first he wasn't so sure but a few toys and Elmo TV later he was doing great. And much to Nonna's happiness he didn't come back shaved like my brother did when my grandpa took him for his first barber trip. Enjoy the pics!

Exciting News!

2010-03-07T20:26:00.002-06:00

Wanted to take a quick minute to share our exciting news that Jacob is going to be a big brother in October!! Yep, that's right - Baby Beffa #2 is on the way.

Jake doesn't even know what's about to hit him. He's loving living with Nonna - maybe a bit too much as he seems to be in the clingy stage. No one can leave the room or a complete meltdown is sure to follow.

We've all had some sickness or another going around the last week so I haven't had a chance to take many pictures so those will have to wait until next post. We've also been busy trying to get everyone well and finalizing the details on our new construction house. Hopefully they will be breaking ground shortly!

Hope everyone is doing well and I'll be sure to post some pictures next post.. Hopefully by then this horrible morning sickness that lasts all day will have passed as well!

Home Sweet Home.. For Now

2010-02-24T15:02:00.009-06:00

Hi everyone! I've finally found my camera cords to download some recent pics. So the move is over now and it was not fun at all. We have way too much stuff (and I think our friends would agree). It's amazing how fast it all accumulates. We are currently living at my moms until we decide where we are moving. Most likely we will be moving into a new construction house in Cottleville but are still working out some details. I'm pretty sure Nonna loves Jacob staying here but Matt and I may be a different story :) We are looking very forward to a new house that we will be in for a VERY long time. I think we are all done with this moving thing.

Jacob has adjusted very well and is also now off formula for the most part. He still has a night bottle but only until we finish this can of formula. He's been relatively well lately with a running 3 weeks without dr appointments! Below are some recent pics - Enjoy!

Getting so big!

One of his favorite things to do - spread the newspaper all over the house!

Jacob's idea of helping to pack.. YUM!

Loved playing in the boxes

He carries around any towel/blanket that he can get his hands on

Last picture of the old house

Last trip at the old house for Jacob - where did all the stuff go? This is in our newly finished basement that we never really got to enjoy (sorry Matt).

Carrying around his 'weapon' still looking for all the furniture

All our stuff at my mom house - this is the living room - can't you tell?

This is the dining room - the single garage is filled up too. Seriously where does all this stuff come from?

Craziness Continues

2010-02-09T20:31:00.002-06:00

Things have been super crazy and calmer at the same time. Jacob seems to be doing better illness wise. He certainly has his ups and downs still. I would love to say that we haven't been to the dr recently but that's not the case. We did make it 1 week but it was more that we refused to take him in rather than him being well. He also went to the dr last Saturday for what we all (including the nurse in the family) swore was the start of another abscess. The dr on call had no idea what it was but said he was 'kinda confident' it wasn't an abscess. To say the least we didn't leave there feeling warm and fuzzy. The spot on his arm did go down over the next few days so I guess he was semi-right.

Jake ventured out on Super Bowl Sunday for a few hours to play with friends. He, of course, quickly came down with a cold and cough shortly after. Poor guy just can't catch a break!

Our only truly exciting news is that OUR HOUSE SOLD!! We are super excited to be moving but it's happening pretty quickly. We are moving on Saturday into my mom's house. Yep, you heard it right - I'm moving back home. Jacob is doing to love to live with Nonna and her goal is that he never wants to leave. Matt and I are still trying to make a final decision between new construction (where we've already written a contingent contract) and buying an existing house. Obviously, neither will happen in the next 4 days so we'll be leaving with my mom in the meantime.

I'll get some pictures up quickly - once I find my camera cord in the countless boxes it could be in! Hope everyone is doing well... if you're bored this Saturday we have a box calling your name :)

Happy 1st Birthday

2010-01-18T14:24:00.004-06:00

Can you believe it's been a year since Jake was born? We definitely can not! Jacob celebrated his first birthday on the 16th and we had a small party for him. We had a lot to celebrate this year but we kept it small for Jake's immune system. So far it seems to have held up pretty good even though it was an exciting day filled with family and friends. Here are some pictures from the party!

Birthday Boy with his Nonna

Cupcakes made my mom and dad

Jacob's Birthday cake! My first experience with cake baking a decorating. I think it turned out okay. The theme of the party was Jungle Fun!!

Looking at pictures from the day Jacob was born with Nonna and Great Grandpa Bayerl

Family Picture - Jake, Mom and Dad

Jacob with his godparents - Nicki and Brian
Jacob's hoping that baby girl in Nicki's belly comes out soon so he has a new friend!

So excited to have a farm set!

Opening presents with a little help from cousins!

Really wanting the #1 cupcake!

Not quite sure what to do next.. mom usually doesn't let me make a mess

Figured it out quickly.. enough mess for mom

We had a great party and we want to thank everyone for their support, prayers and generosity over the past year. We are hoping that Jacob's second year is much healthier but we couldn't have asked for a better little boy. We are so grateful to have so many people in his life that love him as much as we do. Bring on good health for year #2!!

New Years Weekend & Sickness Update

2010-01-02T21:36:00.004-06:00

Jacob has been sick off and on since early December. He went to the doctor the Tuesday before Christmas for a bad cough and runny nose but the doctor diagnosed a virus. He still wasn't feeling well on Christmas Day and we thought that maybe all the excitement of Christmas wore him out. However, when he wasn't feeling well and the cough had gotten worse the Monday following Christmas we took him back to the doctor.

Unfortunately the doctor appointment resulted in a trip to the hospital for chest x-rays and blood work. We knew the results weren't good when the doctor called about 45 minutes after we left the hospital. Jake has pneumonia in both lungs and his white blood count was elevated. We were put on the strongest antibiotics to hopefully avoid the hospital. So far it is going okay but he still seems to still have something viral going on.
We've also been officially told Jake can not be exposed to public places or crowds. We were pretty much already doing these things but as precautionary steps only. Now they are doctors orders.
We are hoping for a much healthier 2010 for our little guy.
Since we are officially home bound we had great friends visit on New Years Day. Here are some pictures of Jake playing with his friends.

Nicki (Jacob's Godmother) and Daniel

Jacob pushing Daniel on the Pooh Ride-On

Jacob with Lauren and Little Matt (as opposed to Big Matt - Jacob's Daddy)

Jacob and Matt (A Mizzou boy after my heart)

Thanks to our great friends who stopped by to provide some welcomed distraction to our day stuck in the house. Thanks Brian, Nicki, Daniel and soon-to-be born baby girl Warren who came over for lunch. And thanks to Tom, Lauren and Matt for coming over for dinner!!

Chistmas Eve and Day 09

2010-01-02T21:02:00.005-06:00

We received the okay from the doctor to take Jacob out for one day to celebrate the holidays. We've done a pretty good job keeping him isolated to the house but decided we would seize the opportunity and go out on Christmas Eve.

We spend Christmas Eve with the Bayerl Family. Jacob got a really cute Winnie the Pooh ride-on that he absolutely loves. We also went to his Grandma and Grandpa Beffa's house where we saw lots of family from out of town.

Jacob and me reading books from Great G&G Bayerl

Jacob and Great Grandpa Bayerl playing with the Hallmark singing holiday toys
Jacob Playing with his Pooh Ride On - It was a little warm so we lost the shirt (I promise we came with one)

Since we couldn't go anywhere on Christmas we decided to have Christmas dinner for our parents and close family. I even made my first ham - not as difficult as I thought. However, Jacob really needs to get well asap so I can stop this homemaking stuff.

Christmas Morning.. Got so many toys not sure which to play with first!

After Christmas.. So happy

It's amazing what a difference a year makes. Last year I was very pregnant with Jacob. This year we had a great Christmas seeing it through his eyes for the first time. He loved to open his presents and had a great time with friends and family during the holiday. We can't wait until next year!!

Beffa Christmas 2009

2010-01-02T20:43:00.006-06:00

We started celebrating the holidays a few weeks early with the Beffa Family Christmas. Jake had a great time playing with all his cousins, aunts & uncles, and grandparents. Jacob was the 12th grandchild on the Beffa side with #13 born in August. Needless to say he has lot of cousins to play with and enjoys the holidays with them!

Jacob and his cousin Lydia with Grandma Beffa

Jacob playing with his cousin Ella

Jacob playing with Grandpa Beffa

Now playing with Aunt Terri

Jacob in his new sled from Uncle Andy and Aunt Sandy in Texas.

Matt with Lydia

2009-12-19T09:31:00.002-06:00

So I've seriously been slacking on the updates and I apologize. It seems that so much has happened since the last post but when I try to sum it up it remains the same.. Jacob has had a rough few months. He just can't seem to kick the sickness. Matt and I came to the depressing conclusion last week that he has been to the doctor at least once (most of the time twice) a week since Sept 21st.

Since the last post he has experienced fevers, vomiting, cough, running nose and a rash. We have seen specialists on top of our pediatrician. The fevers, vomiting, runny nose and cough seem to be some type of virus that is hanging on. The dermatologist confirmed Jacob has three skin conditions. Eczema which I self-diagnosed a long time ago, dermatitis which was causing the rash, and another really long word that basically means pimples that are highly susceptible to a staph infection (no kidding!). We now have daily bleach-like soaks and special creams and lotions to avoid another abscess situation.

Poor little guy is a real trooper and most of the time you would never know he is sick. We have been very careful about where we let him go and who he is exposed to but it doesn't seem to be slowing the sick germs down. We are praying for a much healthier 2010!! Here's a few pictures of the times Jake did get to venture out!

Thanksgiving at Nonna's with Daddy and Great Grandpa Bayerl

Just a cute picture .. at home though. We got a new camera so this was a test shot. Gotta say I LOVE the new camera!

Uncle Ryan got to come home for 10 days!! This was his first night in town and Jacob was very excited, as you can tell!! Ryan is now stationed in Las Vegas at Nellis Air Force Base and we look forward to seeing him soon.

Since Uncle Ryan was in town Santa came early to the Close family so we could all celebrate together. Jacob got a wagon and LOVES it!! He would ride in circles all day if someone was willing to pull him.

Jacob crawling around like crazy.. He is taking up to 10 steps at a time now and is getting pretty darn good. Watch out!!

Jacob saw Santa in a nontraditional way this year. We were hesitant to take him to the malls or out to some of the outdoor events we were invited to because of his health. However, we happened to be grabbing a quick dinner at a Mexican restaurant by our house with Aunt Terri and Santa was there. We seized the opportunity and here is Jacob's first Santa picture - at least we will never forget where we were!

We are getting excited about Christmas next week. This year more than ever we are thankful for our friends, family and our health. Most of the time Jacob hasn't been able to go to our normal babysitter and we have relied on help from friends and family. We are so grateful for every one's help, support and prayers. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Sickness Update

2009-11-22T20:52:00.005-06:00

Hi everyone,

Just a quick post to give everyone an update on Jacob. He is doing 1000% better. We had a rough start to the week but it finished much better. Jacob was having trouble keeping down food and medicine for the better part of the week so on Thursday the dr finally changed medicines. This one seems to be going a lot better - gotta love grape flavored medicine.

He's starting to act just like the old Jake. He does get tired easily and is taking several naps (some really long) during the day. We could get used to this.

We even ventured outside on Sunday, this was the first time he had been out of the house since leaving the hospital, to get pictures taken. We still need to be very careful with germs and what he is exposed to but we also need to slowly expose him to germs as well. He still will not be able to go to the babysitter for a few more weeks.

Please continue to pray that his immune system slowly builds back up and we don't catch any sickness in the next few weeks.

Family Shot

Not quite sure about these blocks.. or the pictures for that matter.

All smiles now

Not sure why they had a log there but we went with it

Such a cutie.. wouldn't even know that less than a week ago he was so sick.

Doctors and Diagnosis

2009-11-17T21:28:00.007-06:00

Now for the bad part of November. We've all been through a lot in the past few days. Here's a summary of what has happened with our little one since last Friday.

On Thursday night Jacob started acting really crabby. We assumed it was teething since he wasn't running a fever. He moaned and cried off and on all night. Matt started getting him dressed at 7:15am and noticed a large mass on his stomach. He called me at work and I quickly called the doctors office. The doctor wanted to see him immediately thinking he had a hernia.

When Matt got to our pediatrician he immediately found out it was much more serious. Jacob has an abscess in his abdominal wall that needed emergency surgery. Matt and Jacob were sent directly to St. John's Children's hospital. Our pediatrician called and let them know we were on our way and alerted the surgeon. I met them there.

The emergency department (ED) doctor decided to drain the abscess in the room to culture the fluid. Jacob was screaming in pain and it was very difficult to get the IV in. They also drew blood. We quickly learned his white blood cell count was four times what it should be. We were admitted and the surgeon came for the consult. The surgeon did not feel that the surgery could be done on Friday because the ED drained too much fluid and the surgery would be too difficult. We would have to wait for the next day.

Picture from the ED

Overnight the abscess got larger and the infection spread. When our Pediatrician came in the next morning learned the infection was septic and had spread to the blood, this was the worst case scenario from the night before. The surgeon came up around 10am and we were set for surgery in 20 minutes. At around 11am they cut two small holes in Jacob's abdomen about 1 inch apart and inserted a drain that would stay in.

Saturday we also learned the infection was strep and staph. We got back to our room after surgery and got the first dose of the very powerful antibiotic to fight the infection in the blood. Jacob had an allergic reaction to it (called red man's syndrome) and after a bit of drama the nurses got that under control. He would need to be pre-medicated before receiving it going forward. We had also been on morphine because the pain was so high but Jacob started itching so bad his eyes were swelling so we quit that and moved to Tylenol with codeine. They also confirmed he had cellulites (very painful) around the abscess.

This was immediately before the surgery. Pain meds were obviously not working.

After pain meds started working

The next day we learned the original cultures had been contaminated and we would have to wait one more day to determine if the 'best-guess' antibiotics were the right ones. This was Sunday and we had what we were calling a 'chill-out' day. We had lots of visitors and appreciated every one's support and prayers so much!! At this point, something was working because Jacob was much more comfortable. He was even smiling. At this point, mom and dad could breath again.

This was Sunday.. there was a LOT of wagon rides while we were in the hospital. It was the only thing that stopped the crabbiness and screaming. Jacob LOVED riding in the wagon. The floor we were on was pretty small so we went around in circles .. over and over!

More Sunday pictures... starting to feel better. Standing on his own! The day before he wouldn't even sit up on his own. Very sad :(

Feeling better still.. visiting with Grandma Beffa

Overnight, Jacob decided he wanted to go home and created yet again more drama by ripping out his IV. The nurses didn't fall for it and he got a new one at 2:30 in the morning in the opposite hand. Nice try little one!! We are really starting to wonder what he's going to be like as a toddler - or worse a teenager!

On Monday the drs came in and confirmed that the infection was also MRSA. It's an infection that is highly resistant to some antibiotics. At this point we had a sign put on our door saying we were in isolation and gloves and gowns must be worn.

However, we also got good news that the 'best-guess' medicines were the right ones. The pediatrician wanted us out of the hospital as soon as possible because of the risk of respiratory infection. Jacob's immune system certainly could not handle anything more. The surgeon came and removed the drains. There was a few conditions of our release (both mine and the doctors). Before we could even go home Jacob had to keep down a bottle (my condition). He hadn't been eating well. As of 4pm on Monday he had kept down 1 bottle so we were going home. We also had to be on antibiotics at home and we will have daily dr visits (drs conditions).

Monday - Jacob with Nonna before isolation playing in the play room.

Last wagon ride before going home.. looking better still. This ride was in our room bc we were in isolation by this point. Amazing how that works.. okay to be in the hall one minute - the next you are confined to your room but nothing has really changed.

The story doesn't end there.. We got home and Jacob proceeded to throw up the bottle he had at the hospital and his first dose of antibiotic. He went to bed and slept well but woke up with a dry diaper.

Today he took his first bottle and dose of antibiotic fine. We went to the doctor this morning and they think that he has C-diff. It's a virus that he possibly picked up in the hospital - it proved the doctor's point about leaving the hospital asap. We are waiting on the test results before knowing anything else. However, he did throw up the rest of the doses of antibiotic throughout the day.

We definitely know he's not feeling well - he's just not our little Jake. It's very sad to see your little one in pain and going through all he has gone through in the last 5 days. He sure is a tough little boy.

We can't say enough about the wonderful doctors and nurses that cared for Jacob while he was in the hospital. We truly had the best care. Our , pediatrician Dr. Bob (Hoffman) is the best. He was highly recommended to us but you never know how great they are until you go through something like this. If there is a lesson to take away I would say be sure your dr goes to the hospital and doesn't leave you in the hands of the hospital doctor. I'm sure they are highly qualified but nothing is better than knowing the face that walks in at 5:30 am to give orders and who you will see post-hospital.

We appreciate all the prayers, visits, phone calls, balloons, toys and everything else everyone has done for us. Please keep the prayers coming we have a long way to go!!

Parties, Milk Shakes and Goats

2009-11-17T21:17:00.003-06:00

November started off great. We had Jacob's friend Daniel's first birthday.

Happy Birthday Daniel!!
The boys had a great time riding in the wagon Daniel got for his birthday.. little did we know we would have much more opportunities for wagon riding very soon.

We also took at trip to Crown Candy and the zoo. Jacob wasn't a big fan of the zoo. He was awake for about 5 minutes while we visited the goats and then he was asleep the rest of the time. He did like the chocolate milk shake at Crown Candy.

Jacob getting ready to eat his milk shake!

The only time Jake was awake at the zoo- he couldn't have cared less about the goats. I guess he's still too young. Better luck next year!

2009-11-01T13:38:00.004-06:00

Happy Halloween!!

Jacob and Daddy before getting ready. Jacob was super excited and happy!!

Ready to go Trick or Treating.. Jacob was a monkey. Very fitting since he wants to climb everything!!

Our first 'trick or treater' was Jacob's friend Daniel... or should I say Elmo. The boys had a good time playing and even shared their treats!

When Elmo left we were off to Great Grandpa & Grandma Bayerl's. Jacob got his first cookies with sprinkles. He was immediately convinced they were good stuff!

Next we were off to Grandma and Grandpa Beffa's. In all the Halloween excitement we forgot to get a picture with Grandma and Grandpa... but Aunt Terri dressed back up in her Octomom costume for us. Look at all those babies!!

Off to Nonna's. By this time we were bribing him with yogurt bites. It had already been a long day but we got more places to go..

Last stop, to see Jacob's cousins Lydia (flower) and Ella (princess). Such cute little girls!

Another picture of Monkey Boy!

Look at that tail! He did great in his costume and kept it on pretty much all day.. even in the car seat. I was shocked at how little the hood bothered him.

Family Picture

Also, we wanted to let everyone know that Jacob's surgery last Tuesday for tubes went great and there were no complications. He still had a bad ear infection when they went in but they cleaned it out while they were in there. Hopefully this will end the ear infections!!

One more update.. Jacob went to the dr this month for this 9 month checkup. He is developing right on track (aka speed crawling, climbing and getting into every cabinet, drawer and light socket that he can). He is currently in the 50% percentile for weight and 75% for height. Next dr apt is in 3 months.. when he's 1 year old. How crazy is it that he's going to be 1?!?!

Pumpkins and Ears

2009-10-24T10:12:00.004-05:00

A quick post to get pictures of the pumpkin patch out there and give an update on Jacob's ears.

We went to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago and Jacob had a great time. We did get the car stuck there because of the constant Missouri rains but somehow Matt managed to get it out. You can only imagine the conversation in the car when I kept pressing the gas!! Poor Jacob!!

Now for the ears.. As many of you know Jacob has had constant ear infections for over 8 weeks now. We are scheduled for surgery this coming Tuesday. He will be getting tubes in his ears. A minor surgery but we are hoping that it makes a HUGE difference in his constant illnesses. He hasn't slept through the night in weeks and now has a bad cold. We are hoping that he gets better by Tuesday and they will still do the surgery. I'll keep everyone updated!! And please pray for surgery on Tuesday!!

Next post will be Halloween pictures.. hopefully Jacob will keep his costume on long enough to take pictures!!

Uncle Ryan's Graduation

2009-10-09T20:31:00.008-05:00

Jacob had a lot of 'firsts' the past week. His first vacation (which involved a 14 hour car ride), his first hockey game, his first military experience and the list goes on.

Last week my brother, Ryan, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. It was truly an amazing experience and one that we will remember for a long time. Jacob was excited to see uncle Ryan as you can see from the pictures below.

We spent 5 days in San Antonio and saw a lot of the town and military base (a first for all of us). But most importantly, we got to spend a lot of time with Ryan. He is currently stationed at Lackland for another 8-10 weeks for additional training. After that he's hoping to go overseas. We are very proud of him!! See below for lots of pictures from our trip!!

Our first glimpse of Ryan. The first family activity is the airman run. Ryan is the one in the front with glasses. You do not get to see your airman before or after this event.. literally they just run past you.

Second family activity is the coin ceremony. This is where the airmen receive their coin and technically graduate. It's hard to see but this is actually Ryan receiving his coin.

The funny thing about both pictures above is we had no idea where Ryan was. It was total luck that I happened to take both pictures at the perfect time. After going back and looking through the pictures we were able to pick him out (after about 20 times of looking at the pictures).

After the coin ceremony, we finally got to see Uncle Ryan. Here is Jacob seeing him for the first time in 9 weeks. Before Ryan left, Jacob and him were real buddies and spent a lot of time together.

My mom, Jacob's Nonna and Ryan.

The following day was the official graduation parade ceremony. It was freezing outside. Here's Jacob waiting in the car for it to begin.

Uncle Ryan in his bunk. Look how tight that bed is made... you really could bounce a quarter on it! (His is the lower bed)

Uncle Ryan and Jacob with planes.
All of us at dinner.. Me, Ryan, Nonna, Matt, Grandpa & Grandma Bayerl.

Jacob at the same table in his high chair.. it was a little lower than the rest of the table. Poor guy!

All of us at dinner again. Me, Jacob, Nonna, Uncle Jeff, Matt, Ryan and Grandpa Bayerl. This is at the pizza parlor on base.

Uncle Ryan and Jacob

Me and Ryan

Jacob at his first hockey game. This didn't last long but he was out!! The minor league hockey team offered special discount to the graduates and their family. Plus, if Ryan went to the game he got to stay off base later in the evening and spend more time with family and friends. Not sure any of us really watched the game.

Having fun with Uncle Ryan

Bye Bye Uncle Ryan.. See you at Christmas!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-09-12T17:27:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone! I can not believe that Jacob will be 8 months old in 4 days. It seems very unreal! Jacob is busy, busy, busy... he is everywhere!! I honestly don't know if there is anywhere he can't get once he has his mind set he wants to get there (as I type this he is trying to get into the kitchen through a wall).

He is also really close to crawling but right now does more of a shuffle . Looks nothing like the Beffa shuffle Dad does when he dances!! Jake pretty much rolls everywhere he wants to get to right now. He can also sit himself up now (he has to really want something bad to do this though). He can also pull himself up on his play table... and as we learned last night, he can also pull himself up in his crib. He also loves to walk if you hold his hands. I am afraid that once he figures out how to walk on his own we are in big trouble.

Matt and I have been working a lot so we haven't had the opportunity to do too much the past few weeks/weekends. However, we did make it to the park and some pictures from that trip and a few others are below.

Our next big event will be driving 16 hours to San Antonio at the end of the month to see Uncle Ryan's graduation from the US Air Force. We have heard from him several times and write letters back and forth a few times each week (of course we include lots of pictures of Jake). We are getting really excited to see Uncle Ryan in less than 3 weeks... not so excited for the very long car ride with an 8 month old!

Hope everyone is doing well.. here are some recent pictures.

Happy Playing on the floor! Such a ham he stops whatever he's doing when he sees the camera and smiles :)

Showing off!!
Showing off some more! He's always busy doing something!

After he pulled himself up .. not a great quality picture (I hear a new camera calling my name)!

This is how he sleeps at night.. butt as far up in the air as possible.

Nonna gave him Daddy's toy... the remote! He wasn't letting go of it for anything!

At the park... swinging with Dad.

At first he wasn't sure about the swing but really started to like it by the end.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

2009-08-23T21:01:00.005-05:00

Things are getting a little crazier here. Matt and I are both busy at work and we have finally decided to pull the trigger and try to move. We will be listing our house in a few weeks (after the very long list of to-do's are done) so if you know of anyone interested in a great house in north O'Fallon send them my way.

Jacob has finally mastered the art of rolling over. He goes and goes until he gets where he wants to go. We are still waiting for teeth though.

We are also loving his sleep schedule right now. He goes to sleep around 8pm and is sleeping until 7am or later. He is also getting better about naps during the day (it's only taken 7 months).

Jacob also lost his reign of the youngest Beffa grandchild this month. He has a new baby cousin (#13 on the Beffa side), Lydia Sophia. We are so excited for Todd and Katie!

Hope everyone is doing well.. here's some recent pics

Jacob with Nonna and Uncle Ryan. Ryan left in early August for Basic Training in the Air Force and we are counting the days until October when we are all going to San Antonio for his graduation!

Jacob chillin' at Pi, getting ready to have fabulous pizza!

Jacob with Daddy at his first Rascals game... he wasn't too interested in the game.

Favorite game in the bath - wash rags on the head!!

Such a big boy!!

6-Month Update

2009-08-05T21:50:00.005-05:00

Jacob turned 6-Months old on July 16th. He is doing lots of new things!! He likes baby food a lot, especially bananas, and hates green beans. He is sitting up now and is quickly becoming an expert with only a few falls. He is also becoming much more interactive with his toys and loves picking them up and throwing them down again.

He still doesn't roll over very often but can definitely do it. Occasionally, we find him on his tummy in his crib and we promptly turn him over when we discover it! Just another reason to lie awake at night!

He went to the dr and he is in the 50% for weight and 90%-95% for height. He also got another round of shots this time and did great because the doctor elected to skip the Pertussis shot.

Overall, he is doing great and growing so quickly it's truly amazing!! Below are his 6-month pictures.

'Staycation' 2009

2009-08-05T21:16:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago Miss Kim was on vacation so we decided to take a 'staycation' in St. Louis and experience some of the things we don't get to do often. Mom stayed home all week and dad was able to join us on Thursday and Friday.

Jacob is feeling 100% better now and as you can tell from the pictures - he was better during our 'staycation' and is having a lot of fun.

Below is Jacob loving his food now! He is having fruits and veggies and loves almost anything but hates green beans... surprise, surprise! It must run in the family! We took Jacob to the St. Charles Riverfront, ate lunch and walked on by the river. Below are pictures from our day.

Our big adventure for Tuesday was going to Columbia MO and eating at Booche's. We went with Great Grandpa and Grandma Bayerl and Uncle Ryan. We had a GREAT time!!
Jacob and Uncle Ryan

Mom and Jacob at Booche's

Grandpa on the way home... sleeping just like Jacob with one exception.. Jacob shares his candy!

On Thursday we went downtown to the City Gardens. It was nice that some of the Arches from the All Star Game were still up (and for sale if anyone is interested). Pictures below...

Only family shot.. thanks to the random lady who offered!

Jacob enjoyed dipping his feet in the water - not that you can tell from his face!

He loved playing with dad and the fountains!

After the City Gardens we wanted to play in the water. Since Jacob has been sick he hadn't had a chance to go to the pool yet... so pool bound we were. This was his first time and he really liked it.. although I couldn't put him down and the water was FREEZING!

During all our fun time we had to take time out to go see the GI specialist for Jacob's reflux. He was put on medicine that we are trying for 60 days and then we have to go back to the dr. If it doesn't work they are going to try a medicine that is not FDA approved in little ones... obviously we are avoiding that step if at all possible. He is doing better at not holding is breathe while it happens so we are making some progress.

We also spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa Beffa. Below is a picture of Jacob playing with Grandpa!

Summer 2009

2009-07-15T19:07:00.014-05:00

A quick post to get some new pictures out there and give everyone an update on how Jacob is feeling. A lot of you have e-mailed or called and we appreciate it very much!

Jacob recently got solid food for the first time. Don't tell Dr. Hanson it was a few weeks before he was 6 months old. This was the first and last time we gave it a shot. We are going to try again now that he is 6 months (well one day shy). As you can see from the pictures - he was excited at first and then decided it wasn't really all that great!

He's loving to stand up!

And play outside!

And play with his ExerSaucer! He loves that the entire cow fits in his mouth.

Jacob and Nonna at his first trip to Zestos! Don't worry no Chili Dogs for him!

Here's where the fun begins (not really). Jacob started to feel sick 3 weeks ago. We went to the doctor and were diagnosed with a virus that was causing a rash. He has fought it off-and-on since then and this past Sunday he started to feel really bad. He was running a very high fever (104+) and couldn't keep anything down. Long story short we ended up at the hospital. After many tests that came back perfectly normal, we have an unofficial diagnosis of a "super virus" coupled with an ear infection and high fevers. He's a little better now but we went through a few sleepless nights (still struggling to get a full nights sleep). He finally broke his high fevers today and was able to keep down 2 small bottles. We're hoping he is turning the corner and we're headed to wellness. As an additional note, in the midst of all the tests the past week we did get a confirmation he has reflux (not a huge surprise to mom and dad) and we'll be seeing a specialist for that next week. For now it's one thing at a time!

Below are a few pictures of our little guy trying to get well!

(Just as a side note, I do wash his clothes - the short sleeved sleeper works well with IVs and is comfortable when you are sick).

Jacob and Nonna waiting for the dr to come make him better!

Jacob and mom waiting to get the okay to go home! Before it was all over he had IV's in both arms.. but was a real trooper!

Jacob and Daddy at the hospital trying to rest while watching the Home Run Derby!
(we're not sure which one is the patient)

Back at home getting some TLC from Daddy (this was taken today). This is pretty much the amont of energy he has had over the past week ... and I'm talking about Jacob not Daddy.
Jacob spent the afternoon getting TLC from Uncle Ryan too (also today)
Thank you all for your prayers and support. This small experience with doctors and hospitals makes us realize how blessed we are to have a normally happy and healthy little boy.

Komen Walk & Rolling Over

2009-06-17T19:59:00.005-05:00

Just a quick post so that I can get some recent pictures posted. Several people have asked for pictures from our most recent charity walk, the 11th Annual Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure. For those of you not in Saint Louis, it had over 66,000 participants and broke a record. Our next walk is in July and is the MLB All-Star walk. Jacob, Nonna and I walked with our friends Nicki and Daniel.

Here are a few pictures:

Before the walk began - Daniel and Jacob all ready to go!

A picture during the walk. Those are all people up the hill towards the arch!

At the end of the walk - Daniel and Jacob exhausted after riding along for 5k!!

Me and Jacob at the end of the 5k - Mom is tired too!

The other big news is that Jacob has rolled over for the first time. He was one day shy of 5 months... although no one has actually seen it yet. He was playing on the floor on his back when I ran into the kitchen to put dinner in the oven. I came back about 2 minutes later and he was on his stomach. I'm using this as my excuse not to cook anymore!

This is as close to rolling over as we've seen. For the record, this is him laying on his back going to his stomach - he's so close!! Notice the thumb in his mouth (that's his new favorite thing)!

Such a happy little guy . . . most of the time!!

4 Months Old

2009-05-31T18:56:00.011-05:00

Jacob in his Harley PJ's

Wow has time flown by!! I think I say that on each post but it's true now more than ever. I'm back at work and Jacob goes to Miss Kim's everyday. He loves it there and gets lots of attention!

Jacob had his 4 month checkup on May 21st. He is in the 75th percentile for height and only 25th for weight. We're pushing the bottles right now to get his weight up. I don't quite understand how he can only be 25th percentile - he never turns down food!! We did have one victory as this round of shots went much better than the shots he received when he was 2 months old. I'm praying the reaction to Pertussis is behind us.

He is starting to grasp for things and will pull himself up if you hold his hands. He hasn't tried to roll over yet but it's definitely coming soon! He does know the difference between when the person holding him is sitting or standing. It's absolutely hilarious to watch him scream when you sit and stop instantly when you stand. It's too hard not to just laugh at him. Can we say SPOILED?!?!?

Jacob had a very important day on May 24th. He was baptised, and those that were there know, in a very long ceremony. He was actually dipped in the baptismal fountain and did very well with the water.

Jacob in his 'gown'. Dad doesn't like calling it a dress. It is the same gown I wore all those years ago at my baptism!

Jacob being dipped (one of three times). He didn't cry at all!

Mom, Dad, Jacob and godparents, Nicki and Brian

We are looking forward to the summer months when we can continue our walks outside and enjoy time friends and family.

All Smiles!

2009-05-10T19:36:00.027-05:00

Jacob is doing great and growing by leaps and bounds. He weighs around 13 lbs now. He is a very happy baby and rarely is fussy. The only time he gets fussy is when he is really tired or hungry. He is all smiles most of the time and is very content just playing by himself but he really loves if you talk to him!

He has had a cold for about 3 weeks and we recently found out he has double ear infections. He is on medicine and is already feeling better. We are hoping that the pain from the ear infections is why he hasn't been sleeping through the night - yep, we're getting up at 4am again!

Jacob has graduated to facing forward in his stroller when we go on walks. He loves being able to see everything around him. He is a very nosey little boy and loves all the attention he gets!! These pictures are from the first walk facing forward and this smile lasted the entire walk!!

Jacob and Daddy have been hanging out a lot!! Matt is already teaching Jacob how to walk. He is a very strong little boy but I'm thinking crawling will definitely come first!!

We have been practicing 'tummy time' and Jacob is getting very strong when pulling himself up. He gets up on all fours and gets very frustrated when he realized he has to move one of his arms forward to go anywhere!! Here are pictures before and after the frustration!

We celebrated Mother's Day at Nonna's house with a great dinner!! Great-Grandpa & Great-Grandma Bayerl were there too. Below are some pictures ...

Three Generations - Great-Grandpa, Uncle Ryan and Jacob

Four Generations - Great-Grandma, Nonna, Me and Jacob

Here are some random pics...

Fallen asleep in the morning before even getting dressed!

Nonna thought it was too cold outside so she covered his ears but he ended up looking like a nun!

Jacob's First Metal

2009-04-26T19:21:00.014-05:00

Jacob recently spent a few days with Nonna and Uncle Ryan while Matt and I went to Vegas for a long weekend before I went back to work. We went with good friends and had a great time but were very excited to get back and see our little boy! When we saw him it seemed as though he had grown so much in just a few days.

Jacob won his first metal by crossing the finish line at the Friends of Kids with Cancer charity walk on Saturday, April 25th. He enjoyed seeing the firetrucks and bear that was at the event to celebrate the day! Nonna and Uncle Ryan also walked with us.

As you can tell Jacob is VERY excited about his first metal!!

Me and Nonna (my mom)

Matt & Uncle Ryan

He has really started to suck his fingers.. not just the thumb but anything that he an get into his mouth. He prefers at least 2 fingers at a time!!

Because of the nice weather Jacob is now able to be outside more and we're looking forward to more days of fresh air and good naps!! He has started going to the babysitter and does really well at Miss Kim's house. He loves playing with the other kids and we've finally started to follow a routine (somewhat). One thing we need to improve on is sleeping through the nights... he has started waking up again around 4am!! Hopefully next time I post we'll have broken that habit!!

Easter Fun

2009-04-14T14:25:00.016-05:00

The last few weeks have been very busy for us. Jacob has started to sleep through the night most of the time (we still have the occasional bottle at 3am). He really loves the swing, the bouncer chair and laying under his play mat. He can keep himself very content for a long time but when it's time to eat - he lets us all know it!!

Jacob got his 3 month pictures taken on Good Friday and did very well. We even managed to get in a few smiles! Nonna gave him a huskers shirt to show off his Nebraska spirit (Dad is cringing)!!

Jacob saw the Easter Bunny with his friend Daniel but he was a little tired! We celebrated Easter with the Beffa family a week early and Jacob enjoyed spending time with his cousins! Easter with my family was on Easter Sunday and Jacob received a basket full of eggs from the Easter bunny (thanks to Dad who found the eggs).

Jacob on Easter with all the grandkids/great-grandkids (and Grandma & Grandpa) in the Bayerl family!

Jacob also started going to the babysitter this week. It's been hard on mom but doesn't seem to have had much of an impact on Jacob. Of course, I know that it will get easier with time but I can't believe how fast the past 13 weeks have gone. I go back to work next week so that will be another adjustment for all of us.

Here's a few more recent pics...

He woke up with a little mowhawk!

This is the only way he will sleep in his crib during the day.. in his bouncer in the crib!

Looking very grown-up :(

Quick Catch-Up

2009-03-21T21:35:00.009-05:00

I'm a little late starting this blog but have decided to dive into the blogging world so our friends and family can keep up with our little one. Jacob was born on January 16, 2009. Jacob let us know he had a strong personality from the very beginning. He came out upside down and causing quite a stir in the delivery room due to his fluctuating heart rate. He scored a 'perfect 10' on his apgar score and his Nonna (Grandma Close) has been talking about it ever since.

Just a few minutes old

Just a few days old!

Jacob likes to be out and about, just like his mom. He has been to file taxes and open a bank account where he took out his first loan from mom and dad. He has also been to almost every mall in St. Louis (courtesy of Mom's shopping habit). He enjoys spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Beffa, Nonna, all his aunts and uncles, cousins and friends too!! He has even spent the night at Nonna's house a few times when mom and dad need to catch up on some sleep. Dad's first trip by himself with Jacob was to guys night - at Buffalo Wild Wings. He went to the Dog Prairie Tavern for a fish fry and sat directly in front of the jukebox and slept through the whole thing!

Jacob is growing up quickly. He can hold his head up very well and smiles a lot. He had his 8 week visit to the doctor on March 17th. He is in the 90th percentile for height and 50 percentile for weight. He also got 4 shots and had an allergic reaction to the Pertussis which made for a very long day! He woke up the next day feeling perfectly fine though!! Jacob is mover and a shaker - constantly moving his arms and legs and stretching out his little body. We titled the blog jumping Jacob for obvious reasons - he even moves and talks the entire time he sleeps.. which makes it hard to tell when he's really awake in the morning.

Here are a few of our favorite shots of his life so far.. 9 weeks in the making!

2 weeks old - ready to go to the dr

7 weeks old

St. Patty's Day

8 weeks and counting!

Sooo Happy

Thinking about crawling??