Time flies

It's been a little over a month since we've been home from the hospital. I can't believe how fast this month has gone. They say time flies when you're having fun. That is so very true. 

Things have been progressing quite nicely on the home front these days. Jackson has started sleeping longer stretches at night (which makes mommy and daddy very happy), he's had a "well" check from his pediatrician, and he's was dedicated at church on Sunday. He's doing very well. His lasix is almost gone. As soon as he finishes the bottle, he's off of it! By the end of the week, we'll be able to pick him up under his arms instead of the scooping we've been doing. His sternum will be healed. 

His pediatrician told me that his cardiologist is amazed at how well Jackson is doing. She's read all this through the notes that are sent to her from the cardiologist. We couldn't be more thrilled. She assured me that he is a "normal" baby who should be treated as "normal". I'm just not sure how to treat him like a "normal" baby. He's had open heart surgery!! But we're trying to do just that. The lasix and picking him up are the only two things holding him back from being "normal." 

There's a long running joke in my family. My mom was very sick when she was pregnant with me. She had toxemia. She labored for a whopping 39 hours before I arrived. We both ended up in coma's. The nurses commented to each other that we were both likely going to die. My grandmother overheard the nurses saying this and quickly reprimanded them. We both ended up doing just fine. So the long running joke is that "she almost died having me." It's true, but it has been pointed out to me my whole life. We always laugh about it. 

Jackson's pediatrician said that this would be his long running joke. I will (probably) remind him of the stress of this ordeal his whole life :)

As I was getting ready for his dedication yesterday, I thought back to the day he was born. I was so unbelievably nervous, as all mothers are. There were so many unknowns. We knew so much about his condition, but at the same time we knew so little. The fabulous team of doctors assured us that they would deal with anything he threw at them and that he was in great hands. They couldn't have been more right. I'm still in constant amazement that my little (big) man has been through everything he's been through and he's only 6 weeks old. 

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks. 

Jackson's Dedication at our church. 

The Schwieterman's 

Lucy loves holding her brother :) 

Thank you all for your prayers. We are so grateful for every single one of them. Please say a prayer for our friends and their soon to be little man. They are about to go through a difficult ordeal. They need your prayers. 

Happy Earth Day! 

Chicks Dig Scars!

It has been one month since Jackson's open heart surgery. We are in a constant state of amazement that it's already been a month and that we've been home almost 3 weeks now. 

He's up to a whopping 11 pounds now. His eating habits have increased. He's now taking anywhere from 4-6 ounces with each feeding, which explains why he's 11 pounds. He's completely outgrown all newborn clothing. He's in the 3 month clothing, probably headed to the 6 month clothing if he keeps up these eating habits! 

His sleeping habits are typical newborn. He continues waking through the night for feedings. Although he's had a few longer stretches of sleep, which is nice for mom and dad. I make Ted share the nightly feedings. I'll do one, then he'll do one, and then I'll do the last one. He's not very happy about that, but I believe in sharing the love! Jackson does a lot of cat-napping during the day. His longest naps are usually when we're out and about, which doesn't allow mom much time to nap. I'm trying to follow the doctor's advice of napping when he naps. 

Today was a follow-up with his cardiologist, Dr. Hirsch. Jackson had an EKG first and then we saw the doctor. His EKG was good. His cardiologist did find a slight, soft heart murmur. This could be just a newborn heart murmur that will go away with time or he could have this forever. Nonetheless, they will continue to watch and monitor him. They dropped the amount of lasix that he takes. That's the only medication that he's on. They dropped it from .5 to .25 for a month or until we run out of what we have. After that, no more lasix! He goes back to the cardiologist in August. After that, his appointments will start being spaced further and further out, until it becomes once a year. 

One of the other cardiologist's we saw today told us Jackson definitely needs a "chicks dig scars" onesie. I'm going to have to get his dad on making a few of them. They told us that his scar will likely fade and be barely visible as he gets older. Here is a more recent picture of his scar. It looks so good!! Much better than we thought it would. 

Dr. Hirsch assured us that he is a healthy newborn baby. And we should treat him that way. We don't need to wrap him in fine silks from China or put him in a bubble to keep him safe. He's a 5 week old baby. That's wonderful to hear, just difficult to act on. I want to wrap him in bubble wrap and keep everyone far away! I guess the realization that he's "normal" will come with time. 

Next up for Jackson is his circumcision. That will also be in August. They couldn't do it before we left Children's. I'm sure when he's older and reading this, he's going to love the fact that mom just threw that right out there. Oh well, what are moms for :) 

Thank you all so much for your continued support and prayers for Jackson and our family. We are so truly blessed. 

Some friends of ours are expecting a little boy in May and he also has some congenital heart defects. They are facing a situation similar to ours. We ask that you say a few prayers for them. This is not a easy struggle to go through. Every single prayer helps!! Here is a link to their blog if you're interested in following them. 

firsttimedadat45.blogspot.com/

Here is Jackson's 1 month picture

I think he loves his sister as much as she loves him :) 

And here's my new favorite of my little big Jack. 

Happy (almost) Friday!