And the rollercoaster continues....

Life was going so well with a newborn. Too well in fact. He was the perfect baby. Sleeping great. Eating great. Only fussing when you changed his diaper......and then the roller coaster of life took a downward plunge again.

Jackson started to seriously do some spitting up the beginning of the last week. So, last Friday I took him to the doctor for reflux....or what I thought was reflux. This is where our roller coaster started barrelling downhill at a neck breaking speed.

While at the doctor, they palpated his abdomen to make sure it was soft and to check for bowel sounds (sorry if that is too much info). It was then that the doctor's face turned pale and she instructed me not to move Jackson while she went to get help. I was slightly confused. Jackson was crying, but he was laying flat on his back....which any reflux survivor knows in a no-no. The doctor came in with another doctor who started pressing on Jackson's lower abdomen. Words like emergency surgery and should we go a head and call Children's were passed around. Needless to say, I was in a panic. A panic without cell access to call Wade.

Long story short, Jackson was diagnosed with a left hernia. Meaning he has a hole in is abdomen sac that should have closed in utero. Due to this hole, his intestines can slip out of his abdomen into his scrotum. If his intestines aren't able to retract on their own (which they were failing to do at the doctor) he would need emergency surgery to prevent the intestine from twisting, cutting of the blood supply and ultimately killing that part of his intestine.

Seriously, I went in for a routine...well routine in our lives....reflux check only to find out that my 3 week old needs surgery.

What we didn't know was that the roller coaster hadn't fully hit the bottom of the hill yet. On Saturday night, as we were getting ready to go out for dinner, Jackson started screaming. I am talking turning purple and blue screaming. Can't catch your breath screaming. After a call to the peds office, it was off to the ER for us. All of us. All 5 of us. Great fun.

After the intestine was out for 1 1/2 hours the ER doctor was able to finally physically push the intestine back into place. In her words, it slurped back.

Maddie and Sam were great troopers. They were confined to a small ER room on an empty stomach way past bedtime and did great. We were finally able to get them dinner at 9pm at night. They earned that Happy Meal!

So, my little baby boy is having surgery on Thursday morning. He will have his abdomen cut open so that the hole can be sewed up. We know he has a left hernia and the doctors are suspicious that he has one on the right as well. We will have to spend Thursday night in the hospital and barring any problems will come home on Friday.

We trust that God's hand is on Jackson just as it was through the placenta bleed, blood clots, and blood thinners. Jackson is a fighter and we are confident that he will make it through this is flying colors as well.

Maybe, just maybe our roller coaster ride will end after this surgery!

Jackson: The first two weeks

It's hard to believe that Jackson is now over 2 weeks old. No matter how I try and hold on to time, it is flying by. He has grown and changed so much just in 2 weeks. He lost down to 7lbs 5oz, but had gained it all back plus to 8lbs 9oz at his 2 week check up. He also grew a full inch in two weeks.

After we learned of the placenta bleed, I promised myself that IF we made it to the end of this pregnancy I would cherish each and every moment. I wouldn't stress over the house not being picked up, I wouldn't get upset over losing sleep. I find myself following through with this for the most part. However, there have a been a few teary eyed middle of the night feedings from this tired mama of 3.

I can't complain. Jackson is a GREAT baby. Of course after my little lady who screamed non stop for months and months on end and my spitty uppy refluxy boy....we are due a laid back baby. Jackson cries when he is getting his diaper changed or has a dirty diaper. He occasionally cries when he is hungry, but I have to wake him up to eat most of the time. He is starting to have longer and more alert wake times.

All of my children are precious to me, but Jackson will forever hold a special place....not only will he be my last and my baby.....but he is my fighter that stayed with me regardless of the placenta bleed and through the blood clots and the daily injections of blood thinners. He is also my baby that came after a loss. It makes having him all that much more special.

Maddie and Sam are adjusting really well. Sam has been in time out a few more times than normal, but other than that they are doing really well. They both love to kiss on Jackson and hold him. Maddie is a wonderful helper and will wipe spit up and put the paci back in for me. It is really neat to watch them come into their roles of older siblings. Maddie was so little (not quite 2) when Sam was born and really didn't understand. This time around she thinks that Jackson is the neatest Bitty Baby ever!

Here are some pictures from our last 2 weeks!!!

Jackson Gibbs

Jackson Gibbs was born on March 5th at 3pm. He weighed in at 7lbs and 15 oz and was 21 inches long. So far he has been a great baby and is loved on all the time by his big sister, Maddie and his big brother, Sam.

We are so blessed to have this rough journey finally behind us and to have a healthy baby boy to add to our family. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers!