Aiden & Jackson: HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TO US!!

My how things change in a year! Can you believe it is the boys' birthday today? I can't. Christie can't. No one can. It is been quite a while since my last blog entry. Most of the updates these days are via photos and videos on Facebook. Going forward that is what we will continue to do. So, please friend us on Facebook if you would like to see the boys.

To re-count October 5, 2010, visit the Day 1 blog entry in the Blog Archive at the top of the page to the right.

First I think a health update is in order for both boys, followed immediately by a report on milestone progression. Actually, let's do it in 'bio' format.

Health Update:

Both Aiden and Jackson went to the eye doctor in August and received a perfect bill of health. Because of their Retinopathy of Prematurity, they will not have peripheral vision, but there was also concern that by one year they would need glasses. No glasses needed, and no return to the eye doctor until age three! Also, Aiden and Jackson have both been on medication for their hypertension, but after a visit to the cardiologist last week, the meds have been discontinued and the next visit isn't for one year! So, at this point, we are only doing 'well' visits to the pediatrician. Aiden and Jackson continue to receive physical therapy weekly at our house and occupational therapy monthly at the house. Jackson is crawling around everywhere and Aiden is being stubborn with his crawling. They both eat whatever you put in front of them, thanks to their mom! Christie has done a phenomenal job at finding the most healthy foods and combinations for them. They are the best eaters.

Aiden (aka "A")

Aiden was born at 10:24pm on October 5, 2010 vaginally while mom was receiving her spinal. He weighed in at 1lb 11oz and was immediately intubated and rushed to the NICU. Aiden was diagnosed with a Grade II bi-lateral intraventricular hemmorage (aka brain bleed). My PDA (heart valve) was not closed, so they gave him indicin three times before it decided to close itself. If it hadn't, he would have needed surgery. In the first days of his life, Aiden had numerous IVs, needles, blood draws, and transfusions, oh, and a PICC line. During his 118 days in the NICU, he had countless blood transfusions and was exposed to two donors. Without them he would not have survived. Aiden was on the ventilator for over seven weeks before being transitioned to CPAP. On several occasions Aiden had exhibited signs of infection resulting in several courses of antibiotics, chest xrays, and several gray hairs to mom and dad. Like nearly all preemies, Aiden developed ROP (retinopathy of prematurity), and at the end of November, had laser surgery on his eyes to prevent the disease from progressing. If left untreated, ROP results in retinal detachment, and ultimately blindness. Aiden recovered well from the surgery and we were cautioned that the surgery would eliminate any peripheral vision in both eyes. Scary. I am still convinced today that the steroids that Aiden was given to prevent swelling post surgery helped him get off of the ventilator. During the months of December and January, Aiden continued to grow, develop, and mature and began taking a bottle instead of through his feeding (ET) tube. Finally, on January 31, 2011 Aiden was discharged from the NICU weighing in at 8lbs!

Likes: When I was in the womb, I very much enjoyed kicking my brother. In the NICU I liked to pop the bird (yes give the finger) to one of my nurses. Right now I love to "bully" my brother by taking away his toys, and binki. Yes, I take the binki right out of his mouth and put it in mine! I also love to cuddle with my mom and dad. I like to watch my Sadie dog fetch her toys.

Pictures below from Aiden's first couple of days of life:

Jackson:

Jackson Thomas was born at 10:34pm on October 5, 2010 via cesarean section, weighing 1lb 10oz. Jackson was immediately intubated and taken to the NICU. Like his brother, Jackson had numerous IVs, needles, and blood transfusions. He was also exposed to two blood donors during his time in the NICU. Jackson was intubated for just under 5 weeks. At 3 weeks, one of his lungs collapsed and so he was placed on an oscillating ventilator to give slow, shallow puffs of air to his lungs. Also like his brother, Jackson was given two doses of indicin to close the PDA valve in his heart. Throughout his NICU stay Jackson seemed to gain weight quicker than his brother, and start taking mom's milk sooner and was more tolerant of it. He also seemed to retain much more fluid on several occasions than his brother. Jackson was also diagnosed with ROP and needed to have laser surgery. Jackson's surgery was at 35 weeks I believe, so he was a few weeks older than his brother when Aiden had it. It seemed like the surgery was a bigger deal for Jackson than for his brother, and I would assume that has to do with his age. From my perspective, the day that I hated the most with Jackson was watching him being prepped for his ROP surgery. I watched from the doorway as they tried to intubate him, as he screamed and kicked and cried. It was awful. I had to walk away. That was literally the only thing I could not watch. It may have been because of how old and big he was by that time. I also think he knew what was happening. I was scared more than he was. Unlike Aiden, Jackson did not seem to have many infection scares. I don't think there was single time when he was placed on antibiotics. After Jackson's ROP surgery, it seemed like the time went by much slower. The last two months of their four month stay was mainly focused on eating, taking a bottle, growing, and breathing on their own. I remember the day I walked in and Jackson was no longer on oxygen or a monitor to read his pulse ox. I nearly fell over and kept asking the nurses if it was ok that he didn't have the monitor on. Fast forward to one year later, and we have Aiden who pulls the blanket over his face while he sleeps. Craziness. Jackson was discharged from the hospital weighing 8lbs 8oz on January 31, 2011.

Likes: I like food :) I love my momma and dada, and anyone else that I know. I am the shy one, my brother is the outgoing one. I love to crawl everywhere and chase my Sadie dog around the family room and kitchen. I love to scream when I want something. I like when mommy reads books to me before bed, and I absolutely love to cuddle with anyone.

Below: Pictures of Jackson's first few days of life.