Visitors!

Hello to everyone.

How much difference a week makes! Xavier had another pediatrician visit on Monday. He weighed in a 4 pounds, 8.6 ounces. He looks so different from last week, notably bigger. His cranial sutures are coming together. The soft spot on the back of his head has nearly closed. The bones on top of his head are growing thicker and making the soft spot there very noticeable where once you felt it, but strained to see it.

He is eating more, but sleeping less after his meals. He likes to lay and look around, or "sit" resting his back against one's tummy and look around.

Speaking of sleeping, we are all doing better at it. We seem to improve every night just a little more. Xavier has twice slept through his (early morning) feeding times and we (meaning Rebecca) have had to wake him. Both Rebecca and I don't have an issue with his sleeping through his 4:00 AM feeding; he is still eating his full amount for the day.

Xavier has a physical therapist coming to meet with him. Since his delivery weight was under 1200 grams, he qualifies for a program that will help him develop physically and speech-wise should he need the help for the next three years. It's "free" to us and the therapist comes to the home.

Xavier has had several visitors this past week. The first made a "play date" with Xavier (through his parents) some weeks back. She wanted to come down and meet Xavier when we brought him home. We spent a few hours with her and Xavier got to meet one of the people who has prayed for him all these months.

Xavier also got to meet the woman who introduced Rebecca and me, Margaret. She and her two daughters (my "nieces" who have always known me as "Uncle Mike") came down Sunday to meet Xavier. They three were all recovering from some respiratory issue and had to wear masks, but that didn't daunt them! Near the end of their visit, Margaret looked at us and with a mimed plea, asked to hold little Xavier. It was a precious moment, at least to us. Margaret and the girls took some impressive photographs, including our newest family photo.

Yesterday, Xavier met two more people to stopped by to pay Rebecca a visit. We may need to get more chairs if this pace keeps up.

Our God reigns! Thank you for your prayers.

A wonderful Family photo. Taken in Xavier's nursery. I think this was taken by Xavier's "cousin" Emmelia, thus the towering and sturdy look of the family.

Xavier's "cousins" fawn over him.

"Aunt Margaret" holds Xavier. She was overcoming a sniffle, so she wore a mask to protect her "nephew."

Dad holds his son; unknown to him, he was ambushed by the paparazzi. Actually, Margaret has a wonderful eye and knows her camera; she took Rebecca and my engagement photos.

This is such a great picture of Rebecca, one almost misses seeing Xavier.

It appears Xavier is pondering something profound. "Should I have regular formula or chocolate formula?"

"What's up with all this attention?" Xavier may be thinking, or else he's working on a burp.