Jackson the ninja!
Look mom, I'm sitting up all by myself!
Chubby Cheeks!
Well we made it through surgery! We arrived at the surgery center at 6:30am Tuesday morning and he went in at 7:30am. They did an exam on him and he weighed almost 12 pounds already! We had to take all of his clothes off and put him in a surgical gown with booties. The anesthesiologist came in and explained that he would be getting a caudal which is a general anesthetic low in the back. It would last for a while so he shouldn't feel any pain afterwards. I tried to hold it together but when they said "Ok, give your hugs and kisses" and they took him from me I lost it. We went to eat breakfast, which I couldn't even eat and then went to sit in the waiting room. The procedure lasted just under an hour. Dr. Rogers called us in the waiting room to tell us that everything went well and that he was stable. We then were taken to the recovery room were his nurse was holding him. Of course he was still passed out and the nurses were all over him. One of the nurses said "Can I hold him just a little longer?" and I said if you want to fight me for him! :-) We were in recovery for about an hour and I got to nurse him which was great because he was starving!!! The last time he got to eat was 2:30 that morning and then Pedialyte at 4:30am which he hated! We were then moved to his room where we were told we would be getting a roomate. He was doing great, not even skipping a feeding and staying right on his schedule. They did give him some Tylenol since he was a little fussy. By the time his last feeding came around at about 6:30pm we got a roomate. The hospital had this stupid policy about only one parent being able to stay the night in the room. the other parent had to sleep in a seperate room down the hall on a cot. Needless to say Scott wasn't going anywhere! There was only one recliner that pulled out into a bed and then there was the floor. We took turns sleeping on the floor. The night went well. Jackson only got up once to feed at about 3:30am. It didn't even mess with his night routine! I was so proud of him. So now we are home safe and sound. He was a little upset this morning so I gave him some more Tylenol. We are so thankful to have that behind us! Thanks to everyone who called to check on him! Thanks for all your prayers!
Love,
Steph
Well, we went to see the pediatric surgeon yesterday morning. Dr. Rogers was very nice and Jackson seemed to like him too! Maybe because his eyebrows looked like they were alive! :-) He informed us that he had two hydroceles on either side of his scrotum and that he would need to repair both sides. (usually when there is a hernia on one side there is mostly likely one on the other.) So, his surgery is scheduled for Tuesday March 6th. Most likely early morning. Since he is so young they have decided to keep him overnight just to watch his vitals. We're not looking forward to this but we know it has to be done to prevent any future problems.
I was very impressed with the nursing staff since UVA is a large teaching hospital (not the hospital he was born at) and you tend to be just another patient to them. The nurses were very attentive and comforting to him which made me more comfortable.
Oh, one more thing. They did another exam on Jackson and he weighed 11 lbs and 22 in long. Just two days prior at his regular doctor appointment he weighed 10 pounds on the nose! We couldn't believe he gained a pound in two days! I had noticed him eating a lot more often than he normally does but I guess he was going through a growth spurt. The nurses asked if I was breastfeeding and said this happens with breastfed babies. I can understand mistaking a couple of ounces since they usually gain an ounce a day but a whole pound? And in two days!!!!!
Please keep little Jackie (as uncle Nic would say) in your prayers. I'm sure I will be a wreck until he is safe at home. I know it is a common procedure but it is nevertheless....surgery. We'll keep everyone posted as to his recovery.
Love,
Steph
Well we made it to 2 months and we're still alive!!! Jackson is doing so well. We got him on a routine and he has only been getting up one time during the night to feed for the past two weeks! A girlfriend of mine told me to get this book called Baby Wise and it's all about putting them on a routine to get them to sleep through the night. Literally the day I started this routine he has been sleeping so well and not being so cranky during the day!
We have his 2 month shots Monday which I am not looking forward to! Poor baby has to get 4 shots! It will probably hurt me more than it will hurt him! :-( We also have our appointment with the pediatric surgeon this Thursday. We should find out more when they want to schedule his surgery.
Jackson is starting to stand up (with help of course!). He loves to stand up on Scott's stomach and push up with his legs. Maybe he'll skip crawling and go straight to walking! His head is getting stronger too. He loves his bath time. He actually splashed around playing with a rubber ducky the other day!
He also is now fitting into his tennis shoes! I posted a pic of them. Too cute!
Well that's all for now.
Steph
Well we had the sonogram on Tuesday and it turns out Jackson will have to have surgery to repair his hernia. He has an inguinal hernia which is: Inguinal hernias: The muscles and ligaments in the groin area do not come together completely also allowing the sac holding the intestines to poke through. Some babies (especially premature ones) are born with this. In addition, adolescents particularly males may acquire these. This type of hernia generally does not close on its own.
On the sonogram when Jackson would cry you could see part of the bowel poke through into his scrotum. The doctor said that it has not yet incarcerated into the scrotum so they want to close the valves prior to this happening. This is not painful for him so that is good to hear. His pediatrician referred us to a pediatric surgeon who we have an appointment to see on February 15th at 8:45am. Hopefully they will do the surgery soon before it actually gets worse. We'll keep everyone posted as when the surgery will be. Please keep little Jackson in your prayers that everything goes smoothly. He doesn't seem to know anything is wrong and he is gaining weight and working those lungs!
On a lighter note he is doing much better during the night. Last night he only got up once!!!!! Whoo hoo!!!
Well, we decided to schedule an appointment with Jackson's pediatrician last week. He had been very fussy after feedings and spitting up a lot. We didn't know if it could be reflux, colic or something else. He would cry a lot and nothing seemed to help him calm down. The doctor checked him out and said he was fine that it was just colic. Colice peaks at about 6 weeks of age so lucky for us it's almost over. Literally the following day he was fine!!!! No more crying and hardly any spit up! Dr. Nolte did look at his "supposed" hernia again and is sending him for an ultrasound this Tuesday. We should find out the results either late Tuesday or Wednesday. If it is indeed a hernia surgery will have to be scheduled but they informed us this is a simple procedure that would only be outpatient. Hopefully it is nothing so please keep him in your prayers. On a lighter note he is gaining like a champ! He weighed almost 9 pounds at the doctor's office! They were amazed by how much he is gaining so quickly! They asked if I had 'magic' breastmilk! :-)
Other than that we're doing good. We took him out again this past weekend and he did so great. Sleeping the whole time!
Well, we'll keep everyone informed of his ultrasound.
Have a great Monday!
Steph
I have to brag on my little man. He slept so great last night!!!! He got up at 12:15am and then not again until 5am!!!! I was so proud of him!!! It seems when he sleeps well during the day he does so at night as well.
His feedings are also starting to space out more. He no longer goes every 1 to 1 1/2 hours. He is now feeding every 3 or 4 hours which is great for me!
It also snowed today! Our first snow of the season. How it snowed in Texas before Virginia is beyond me!
Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Steph
Hey everyone! Sorry it's taken so long to put up another blog. Someone has kept us very busy!!! We've been doing great. TIRED but great. Jackson has been busy gaining weight. He is eating well. At his last doctor's appointment he weighed almost 8 lbs!
We've also been out on the town with him. We went to the mall last weekend and he did so well! He didn't cry once! It's amazing how many people come up to you when you're carrying around an infant.
Our nights are getting a little better. He picks and chooses what nights he wants to sleep longer. One night I'll get up at 11pm, 2am, 4am and then the next night it is 1am and 4am! Crazy! Hopefully he'll get on some sort of schedule soon. I think my body has already gotten use to the fact that it will be a while before I get some real rest!
I've posted a few pics. Enjoy!
Steph
