The support of family and friends is truly appreciated

We are greatly appreciative of all of the family support that we have received from our family and friends.

My mother was on the scene the day after Jac was born and was immensely helpful in getting us through the next two weeks - as I was in the hospital in Boulder and Jac was in the hospital in Denver for the first 4 days of his life. She drove me around, ran errands and purchased the essentials that we had not yet purchased. The emotional support that she provided in those early days is invaluable. Having a baby in the NICU is a rough way to start out as a parent and my mother was as usual rock solid and reasonable and helped keep me steady, especially in the first rough days when Jac was in Denver and I was in Boulder and I had not yet been allowed to touch him.

My brother came a few short days after Jac was born. It was wonderful to have him there even though I was in the hospital and didn't get to spend too much time with him. I hope that Matt and Ali and the girls will come visit once Jac is out of the hospital. We would love for the cousins to meet!

My father came just as my brother was leaving - they passed in the airport. It was wonderful to have him - to have my parents around to support us and Jac as we navigated our way through the complexities of the NICU. He and my mother and Joseph made some headway in organizing the house which was a major feat given its state when they got there.

My sister came shortly thereafter and has been here ever since. She and my Mom were taking care of us together for a week and then my Mother went home and Alexis has stayed! She left us for the weekends to fend for ourselves while she went to San Francisco and Detroit. She has been a rock through this. Comforting me in hard times at the hospital (when Jac was getting his PICC line in I think I would have collapsed had she not been holding me), running errands, driving me everywhere, hanging out in the hospital, building furniture after running all over the Denver area to purchase it, helping us plan out furniture and just generally being the best sister that we could have asked for. When Joseph and I got married we adopted each others families and Joseph feels a very strong thankfulness that he expresses every night as we lay exhausted and realizing that things would not be as good as they are without Alexis. I hope that we will have the chance to return the favor (hopefully for Alexis the situation will be less trying) - at Alexis' wedding next year which we are so looking forward to.

I would also like to mention our friends Leslie and Bob and Cyndi and Dave. Leslie visited me in the hospital in Boulder when I was alone and Cyndi drove me to the Children's Hospital in Denver when Alexis was out of town (I am still on meds so I am not allowed to drive!). We look forward to many opportunities to spend time with all of them after Jac is out of the hospital and we begin our lives as parents out in the real world.

We also appreciate all of the kind words in emails and comments we have received. Please keep them coming as we do read them even if we don't respond and they help to keep us buoyed in the tough times.