Toronto, Ontario, Canada, November 11, 2012~

This is Beth Rosenblatt writing.  I hope this finds you all well.

As for us, we have our good days as well as our bad days.  Some days we do quite well for ourselves, and then, on others, it is all I can do to keep from crying, or at least, pull my hair out.

Today was a good day.  (So far.)  Jacob did not have any episodes of vomiting or choking; for that, I thank the good Lord G-d.  I pray that continues.  (Our son has Canavan disease, which is a fatal inherited disorder quite common in people of Eastern European [Jewish] extraction.  Doctors didn't think he would live to be four; well, he turned four a few months back and he is still going strong, which has been a huge answer to all of our prayers.)

Jacob woke up in a good mood: he lay in his bed, chirping as he always does to greet the morning, whenever he feels well.  To hear his happy noises is like music to our ears.  There is no sweeter sound than the coos or singsong chirpy noises that Jacob makes.  This is how we know he is doing well.  When he isn't, Jacob either cries, whimpers, or lies in his bed, silent as a stone, his skin pale and soaked with sweat or flushed with fever.  Today his color was good and his eyes were bright.  We were very pleased.

We went to temple yesterday; it was a good service.  After we got through at temple, we went out to eat; we went to Finnegan's, which is a popular Irish restaurant here in the centre of town.  It was crowded, but we didn't seem to mind; we got there early enough to where we didn't have to really wait all that long for a table. 

Then we came home; I got the children ready for bed and Rachel (our six-and-a-half year-old daughter, was a big help in getting her little brother's feeding pump ready and hooking him up for the night.  She then kissed him and sang a lullaby and tucked Jacob in.  She is a very good big sister.  We were very proud of her.

She ought to get a lot of practice in because we are expecting our third child.  Yes, I am pregnant.  Two months, or eight weeks, along.  I am elated, but at the same time, I am also scared.  I have the faulty gene that resulted in our second chid getting Canavan's, but I am hopeful that Child #3 won't get it.  I pray he (or she) doesn't, but if she does, then we know what to expect, for what we have gone through already with Jacob.

As you can imagine, Rachel is thrilled at being a big sister.  Jacob couldn't care less.  All he cares about is our tending to his every need and making sure that he stays as healthy as possible. 

Jacob has had several good months free of illness or hospitalizations.  We got his flu shots up to date; we also got his pneumonia vaccine taken care of.  We can't afford to have Jacob getting sick: he is just so fragile it isn't funny.  That is why we dread winter.  We do love the holidays (Thanksgiving, Armistice Day, and especially Chaunukah as well as the other high Jewish holidays), but it is a bad time for sickness and with Jacob's health already being so comprimised, we can't afford yet another hospital stay.

We don't know what the future will bring, other than the fact that there will be another little Rosenblatt child to join the ranks.  We will do all we can to ensure that this pregnancy goes without a hitch and make sure that the baby I am carrying inside of me stays healthy.  Just keep us in your prayers; we would all greatly appreciate it!  Thank you in advance!

Sorry to run off like this, but I am going to go to the grocery store while Herschel entertains Rachel and Jacob.  That way, I can get some needed food; we are starting to run low and they are predicting snow tonight: 1-4".  I want to get to the store (and back home) again before the roads get too treacherous.  Take care and may Yeshua bless you always!

~Love, Beth Rosenblatt.  :)