the momma view

Look at me I am getting sooo big. This is the view mom gets of me everyday. Today we are getting ready for my second shower/party. Can't wait. While mom was getting ready, this is what dad and I did. check it out. Macy hung out with us too.

Have a great weekend.

6# 11 oz and climbing

Well we went to Riley yesterday and talked to Jackson's surgeon, his renal specialist, his orthopedic specialist and saw his developmental pediatrician. Although he is not ready for a bottle yet, they have upped his calorie intake which has made my baby grow, like a weed. WEll and he got some more blood on Saturday. We spent the weekend at Elkhart general. He was awefully pale as you can see in the above picture.

So the combination has him up to 6 pounds and 11 ounces. He is into some of his newborn clothes, of course they are too big and his preemie clothes are too small, but we will get there especially with this increase in calories. Both Adrian and I are ok having a big baby keep the calories a comin'.

We also found out we don't head to Riley for another month and his blood draws have decreased to once a week. He will also be getting a hormone shot given by mom and dad to help him produce more blood on his own, helping his kidney's out. Yippppppeeeee!!!!!! Then when we go back we will be planning his next surgery, because he will be close to 8 pounds hopefully. all the docs agreed he is one strong little boy. So we will keep on fighting and growing for now.

One month pictures and low red blood cells

Well mom took some one month pictures the other day...these are the ones before we had to change his tube...so yippee we got some pictures without the tube. Yesterday we got some very low numbers back from his bloodwork that tested his hemoglobin levels. It was explained to us that babies don't replenish their own blood until between 1 1/2-2 months old, which is right where Jackson is, but due to his low kidney function this process is slowed down as well. The kidney's are the organ that signals the bone marrow that the body is low and needs to produce more. we had known this and were prepared to start shots next week but I guess this all might be moved up.. The thought of giving my child a shot is not a positive one, but I guess we continue to do what we have to and I will get over my fear. we also have an appointment today with the pediatrician to determine whether or not he need a transfusion to get his numbers up. we will see. I gotta go to get to that appointment.

have a great day!!

we were welcomed home by the above, when we opened the garage. It was really cool, brought tears to my eyes. That is hard to do after spending a month at Riley you would think all my tears were gone.

My mom came to visit the Tuesday after we got home and stayed until this past tuesday. It was wonderful having her here. We did a little photo shoot while she was here too. It was fun to sort of get to have one month pictures. Here are some of the best.

Where's Jackson? it is like Where's waldo among stuffed animals.

Well it is great to be home and sort of getting into a schedule. It has been wonderful having all the help, but also great to be by ourselves during the day, we do a few things then Jackson eats adn we take a nap. Then we do some more and Jackson eats and we take a nap. This is all in preparation to our all night escapade. I think he already nows how to manipulate mom....if I hold him he is fine but then minute i put him down...he starts to fuss, which then keeps me up and neither of us get any sleep. About the time he has a good night and sleeps, I think we are adjusted and we have a night like last night when neither of us sleep at all. We are getting the hang of it, it is just taking time.

HERE I COME!!!!

I am finally coming home to meet you all. The doctors have ok'd me to come home. We have discharge tomorrow. Yipee. I can't tell you how excited my parents are to come home. All though they haven't used to word "home" I really do know what they are talking about.

Will see you real soon!!

Baby Jackson's progress

Most of you I know are checking Jackson's caringbridge website but just in case you haven't. I thought I would let people know that Jack is coming home. Unless something major changes in the next 72 hours we are coming home on Monday. I have to say that I am both excited and extemely nervous all at the same time. I enjoy having the specialists just a door away and round the clock nurses that immediately answer you annoying questions as well as take care of your baby when you need to do something important like pump or eat. What will I do without them. I will say I will not miss the monitors beeping every two seconds and all the other babies crying. I love it when Jackson crys, but other babies bother me.

Can't wait to see you all when We come home. check out the new pics on the website.

Thank you all for your prayers and support