Prebble Family Tales

Gareth is getting so big and continues to make slow but sure progress in all areas. He now weighs 25 pounds and is 32 inches long! Gareth has 16 teeth already. Most of them just slid in with little difficulty. We got a special highchair/stroller for Gareth so that he can sit up and play and to make it easier to travel around with him. He enjoys sitting up in his chair and he continues to work on sitting by himself (our record is about 10 seconds now!) We also got a stander for Gareth so that he can work on weight bearing. He has a blast in his stander, and now wants to try to stand all of the time! He can’t exactly do it by himself yet, but he’s getting stronger. Gareth is doing great on his belly-he can push himself up onto his elbows and wiggles around. He’d love to crawl, but he hasn’t quite figured out how to lift his huge belly! <%popup(20030329-tiger.jpg|640|529|Tiger Chair)%> | <%popup(20030329-PT.jpg|530|573|Trying out the Stander in Physical Therapy)%> | <%popup(20030329-stander.jpg|640|491|Playing the Piano )%> | <%popup(20030329-Grandma Anne.jpg|640|432|Grandma Anne, Keegan, and Gareth)%>

Merry Christmas! It was so nice to be home this Christmas!! On Christmas Eve we visited Berkeys and then traveled to Grandma Jackson’s house. On Christmas morning we all woke up early (Travis was ready to open presents at 6 am!) and tore through our gifts during the horrible snow storm. Since we were stuck at home, we decided to take Gareth’s new sled for a spin in the snow. You would’ve thought we were torturing him–he screamed the entire time! Later in the day we were rescued by Pop Pop, so we got to celebrate Christmas with Nana, Pop Pop, Aunt Brianna and Grandma Jackson. We had Christmas with Pappy Berkey, Uncle Adam, and Stephanie later in the week. <%popup(20030329-santa.jpg|640|601|Santa)%> | <%popup(20030329-family.jpg|325|490|Our Family)%> | <%popup(20030329-Christmas mom.jpg|640|527|Christmas Morning (take note--he loves the sled here!))%> | <%popup(20030329-sledding.jpg|640|497|Sledding–not so happy here!)%

I can’t believe it’s been a year already since Gareth made his grand entrance into the world! We celebrated his first birthday three times (no, Gareth isn’t spoiled!)–once on his actual birthday, once with the Berkey family (a Teletubbies party), and once with the Fausts, Jacksons, Prebbles, and friends (a Clifford party.) Travis decided that Gareth’s birthday was the time to introduce his son to Star Wars–he got a Millenium Falcon set and a Star Wars pop-up book. I’m sure this is only the beginning! <%popup(20030329-bday morning.jpg|640|425|Birthday Morning)%> | <%popup(20030329-tubby cake.jpg|640|387|Cake #1)%> | <%popup(20030329-pappy and taylor.jpg|325|496|Pappy, Gareth, and Taylor)%> | <%popup(20030329-grandma b.jpg|640|548|Grandma Berkey watches Gareth opening gifts)%> | <%popup(20030329-cake2.jpg|640|342|Cake #2)%> | <%popup(20030329-gifts.jpg|640|488|Opening Gifts)%> | <%popup(20030329-messy.jpg|640|648|Messy )%> | <%popup(20030329-tired.jpg|640|375|Worn out from all that celebrating!)%>

What a wacky Halloween! We carved pumpkins, bought an adorable costume and were all set to go trick-or-treating…then it snowed! Snow on Halloween!! We lost power for almost three days, so we stayed with Grandma Jackson. Because life was crazy, we didn’t get a chance to take Gareth out on Halloween, but we dressed him up anyway. In November, the weather continued to be bitter cold. Gareth hated the cold and snow and protested loudly each time we put on his heavy coat and hat.

WHEW! Gareth grew in leaps and bounds this month! He passed the 20lb. mark and outgrew everything! We bought him an exersaucer so he could start working on standing. Boy did he love to turn and bounce in that thing! Other highlights from this month include: having Gareth’s trach “upsized” as he grew too big for his other, and taking Gareth off of his seizure medication. CT scans and EEGs done over the late summer months showed no signs of seizure activity. These tests also showed that Gareth’s brain, although still “bruised” from his birth, is growing at a slow, steady rate. It was great to get such positive news! <%popup(20030329-shades2.jpg|640|526|Shades)%> | <%popup(20030329-dragon.jpg|640|543|Sir Gareth wrestles the Dragon! )%> | <%popup(20030329-exersaucer.jpg|640|541|Exersaucer)%> | <%popup(20030329-Gram W.jpg|640|480|Cuddling Gram Wykoff)%>

We had a great summer! Gareth loved being outside. We went for lots of walks and tried to stay cool. Gareth continued to receive physical therapy and occupational therapy once a month. He worked on pushing up on his belly, sitting, and increasing his muscle tone. We also continued to work on eating–Gareth liked tasting different flavors and loved freeze pops. Freeze pops came in handy during the summer months when Gareth’s first four teeth worked their way in. <%popup(20030329-Geek in Training.jpg|640|461|Geek in Training Shirt)%> | <%popup(20030329-Grass.jpg|401|600|Rolling in the Grass)%> | <%popup(20030329-Ball.jpg|640|568|Bouncing on the Ball)%> | <%popup(20030329-Earful.jpg|640|430|Giving Mommy an Earful)%> | <%popup(20030329-hiking.jpg|548|480|Hiking at Shaver's Creek)%> | <%popup(20030329-merry.jpg|640|520|Not really enjoying his first Merry-go-Round ride)%> | <%popup(20030329-green beans.jpg|500|547|Yummy...Green Beans)%> | <%popup(20030329-Adam.jpg|400|413|Uncle Adam and Stephanie)%>| <%popup(20030329-Pop Pop.jpg|640|480|Pop Pop)%> | <%popup(20030329-Nana.jpg|640|385|Nana, Aunt Brianna, and Gareth)%>

Gareth enjoyed his first Easter! He got a basket of books, pacifiers, and pajamas from the Easter Bunny. He got a wagon, lots of toys, and clothes from everyone. Much to Daddy’s dismay, Uncle Shaun gave Gareth a football which Gareth loves! So much for keeping all sports things away! The highlight of Easter was watching Gareth and his cousin Keegan get to know each other. Another big event from this month was our visit to Gareth’s ENT at Geisinger. Gareth had ear tubes placed to control fluid; as soon as the tubes were placed Gareth’s hearing was fantastic! Now he loves to listen to all sounds around him. <%popup(20030329-easter basket.jpg|640|549|Easter Basket )%> | <%popup(20030329-Velveteen Rabbit.jpg|640|363|Velveteen Rabbit)%> | <%popup(20030329-Loads of presents.jpg|640|419|Load of Gifts)%> | <%popup(20030329-Keegan.jpg|640|492|Hanging out with Keegan)%>

For the first months of Gareth’s life we got used to life at home with nurses, doctor appointments, and lots of visitors! Gareth was re-hospitalized in February with RSV and for a pyloroplasty (to repair a tight muscle in his stomach.) It was so nice to finally settle in and enjoy family life at home.:) <%popup(20030329-hula baby.jpg|640|356|Hula Baby)%> | <%popup(20030329-bouncer.jpg|400|565|Bouncing)%> | <%popup(20030329-swinging.jpg|630|721|Swinging)%> | <%popup(20030329-lion outfit.jpg|640|591|Adorable Outfit)%> | <%popup(20030329-Computing.jpg|640|408|Starting Young)%>

Gareth was born 12/3/01. During labor, Gareth’s cord prolapsed, so he was without oxygen for a short time. He was life flighted to the NICU in Danville and we stayed there until January 8, 2002. While in the hospital, Gareth underwent surgeries to place a g-tube for eating and a trach to help manage his drool/secretions. Because of Gareth’s birth trauma, he has developmental delays in all areas. He started receiving services to help make progress in all of these areas shortly after arriving home. <%popup(20030329-first days.jpg|640|480|First Days)%> | <%popup(20030329-bundle.jpg|640|480|Cute bundle)%> | <%popup(20030329-awake.jpg|640|480|Eyes Open! )%> | <%popup(20030329-first xmas.jpg|640|480|First Christmas)%> | <%popup(20030329-Daddy and Gareth.jpg|640|480|Daddy and Gareth)%> | <%popup(20030329-1st day Home!.jpg|640|480|First Day Home)%>

This is Gareth’s fabulously elaborate nursery. It was painted by our wonderful friend Kelly Poese with some help from our other great friend Michelle Richards. I got to do some work, too–they let me paint some rocks! <%popup(20030329-Dragon.jpg|640|426|Dragon)%> | <%popup(20030329-jester.jpg|325|707|Jester and Wizard)%> | <%popup(20030329-knight.jpg|325|691|Knight)%> | <%popup(20030329-poem.jpg|640|618|Poem)%> | <%popup(20030329-toybox.jpg|640|329|The Toybox Trav made for Gareth--runes burned into top)%> | <%popup(20030329-windows.jpg|640|327|Windows)%>