July 6th Photos of Jaxson

Fourth of July

Yesterday was Jaxson's due date. I went to visit him in the afternoon...just to hold him. He slept the whole time...I couldn't take my eyes off him. He didn't know it was his due date or that it was Independence Day or that I was really sad that he wasn't coming home. But when I held him none of that mattered to me anymore. I just thanked God that he is here and that I CAN hold him and that he will be coming home sometime soon.

Jeff and I went to see the fireworks in Buda last night. I got sad seeing all those families for some reason. I just want my family together so we can start spoiling our child and laughing at the funny things he does and feeding him and bathing him and watching him grow all the time....instead of a couple of hours at a time.

We had a setback this week past. Jaxson had been nippling at every feeding but started to show signs of fatigue and reflux later in the week. He was sleeping through feedings, fussing when trying to latch on and spitting up. So, finally they put him back on Prilosec after letting him suffer for a week. I'm a little angry about that. I feel so horrible that I didn't realize what was going on and say something...but I'm really upset that the doctor didn't take care of him earlier. So, they put the tube back into his nose so they could go back to 2 nipple feeds, then a tube feed...etc. He needed a break.

Yesterday, they changed him back to all nipple feeds. Now that he's on prilosec for the reflux, he seems to be doing better. I proud of him anyway...he's doing the best he can for a little guy (Who's not so little anymore!!).

He weighed 8 pounds yesterday! When i saw him, i swear i could tell. His hands, feet, head, and legs seem so huge compared to the micro-size he was when we first began in April. It's a trip to think I would have given birth to an 8 pound baby yesterday. I have mixed feelings about that.

Anyway, we don't have a coming home date just yet. Again, it all depends on Jaxson and how well he tolerates his feedings. He's almost there. He's almost here! Jeff and I are just staying a little numbed. Every so often, one of us will just blurt out "I want my baby!" The thing that bothers us most now is that it's past his due date and we would have him home in a day or so if he had been term. So, it's getting tougher to deal with the situation. We have joked about breaking him out of baby jail. We've wondered what the hospital would do if we just told them we are taking him home!

I am going to see him this evening for a feeding a bath time. I can't wait to see my huge baby!!

Here are a couple of pics from yesterday. Like I said he slept the whole time, so they are not the best shots. He also scratched his little face with his fingernail. Those things are sharp!

Measurements from last night:

Weight 8 lbs. 3 oz. (Up 9 ounces in the last week and up 5 pounds 8 ounces from birth)
Length 19.7" (Up 6.3 inches since birth)
He's doing well with feeds so far. They are giving him the lowest dose of prilosec as possible...so if we need to go up from there, we can. But so far it seems to be working fine.

Please cross your fingers say a little prayer that he has a great week and can come home this weekend!

As always, much love.

Sheree & Jeff & Jaxson

More Recent Pictures of Jaxson....by the way Blogspot..this new picture format SUCKS!!

Recent Pictures of Jaxson

Moving Up.....Again!

Jaxson is doing great. He weighs 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was moved to yet another bay for babies who require even less attention by the staff. I like it better, more space...more quiet.

He looks and feels like a term newborn baby. He's almost the size I was when I was born!

He is completely off breathing assistance and doing great. He still has a bit of Apnea, but the doctors say that he'll still have it until he's 40 weeks. Sometimes babies do go home on monitors....and Jaxson might, but his episodes are so few and far between, I don't think he will.

The only thing left now is feeding. For the past 2 weeks the nurses have been increasing his nipple feeds. He has been doing well with nipple, gavage, nipple, gavage.....As of tomorrow, he'll be increased to nipple, nipple, gavage (tube feed). He is fed every three hours, so that's 6 nipple feedings and two gavage. He's just got to prove that he can still gain weight. I figure he'll be about ready by his due date....maybe a little past. We'll just have to see how he does.

Once he is feeding solely on nipple, and can still gain weight, he can come home. It takes a lot out of the little ones to nipple feed, especially breastfeeding because they have to work hard to get the milk. So, building stamina plays a big role in his success.

We have everything ready for him to come home, I think.....scary!!

I will be trying co-sleeping for sure for myself and for him. I'll be too paranoid to leave him in another room anyway. Plus, it will be easier for feeding every 2-3 hours.

I feel kind of fortunate on that front because when I get to bring my baby home, I will already know so much. I already know how to change diapers, swaddle, feed, burp, his stress cues and he is already on a schedule....which he'll put us on when he gets here....so, hey, there's another ray to the brightside! I think it will be a whole lot less stressful for us....and we deserve it after all of this!!!

He fits in all his newborn clothes....and I'm thinking he'll outgrow them before he gets home. The kid is going to be 8 lbs before he even comes home, I think. He'll be in 3 month clothes in no time!!! CRAZY!!

I think if I had given birth to him on his due date, July 4th, I would have had to get a C-Section. The kid is going to be big!

Jaxson is 38.4 weeks gestation, and 84 days old. So, his adjusted age is now -12 days old corrected age. I would still be pregnant for 12 more days!!!!!

So, he was born 96 days early. Wild. I mean, that I can do that math. Ha!

On a side note, I know how much everyone wants to see Jaxson once he gets to come home! I want everyone to meet him too! BUT, we are going to have to wait to introduce him to everyone for a while. I'm not sure exactly how long it will be, but I'm guessing about a month. His primary neonatal doctor has been clear that we need to get him adjusted to the home before introducing him to a lot of folks. This makes us sad, but it's what we have to do for Jaxson.

The first week will be Jeff and I all alone with him. Jeff is taking off and we want to get adjusted to having a baby in the house so we can figure everything out...because in the end, it will just be the two of us taking care of him....Then, we'll have our immediate family, grandparents and Uncle Mikey....

I promise, as soon as Jaxson is given the green light for visitors, we'll be so excited to get him introduced to all of you! We can't wait for that day!!! YAY! We are almost there!!!! He's going to have more love than he'll know what to do with! And he deserves it!!!

Enjoy the pictures!!!!!

Love Love,

JEFF & SHEREE + JAXSON

Our Shower in Brownwood

Here are some pictures from the baby shower my good friends from back home threw for me on Saturday.


Ann, Ashli, Ronda, Michele, Farrell:

Thanks again for the beautiful shower. The food was great, the flowers were pretty, the cakes were delicious, the gifts were thoughtful!

...but the best thing about it were all the wonderful people who helped celebrate Jaxson's life with us! Thanks to you all. It meant so much to us!

I want to also thank dear sweet Amanda Jackson Borens who has been come back into my life like a ray of sunshine and who, even through her own tribulations of late, managed to be there in spirit....and sending the adorable bee hive hat for Jaxson didn't hurt either!

I have to say, one of my favorite things about the shower were the kids. Abbi, Ava, Dylan, Cora and Major: Thanks for making me laugh! Sweet sweet kiddos!!

Also, we lost a friend that day...Henry, you were a good dog. I really really liked you a lot. I'm very sad you are gone.

I will follow up with a post about Jaxson.