Family Update!

Hi everyone! If you see Jason today wish him a happy 29th birthday!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY, WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Daddy and Jack at Bob Evan's

Daddy Changing Morgan

Mommy feeding Morgan

Thankfully Jason took another day off from work yesterday. I am so, so, so grateful for that! I am still in A LOT of pain on occasion...I need to take pain meds on a more regular basis instead of when I start to feel bad. Also I know I need to rest -- but as we know from before having a babe in the NICU makes it tough. There's no place I'd rather be than with my children.

We went to visit Morgan while my mom took Jack to school...only to get a phone call saying that Jack didn't have nursing coverage! I burst into tears while holding Morgan. I think I startled her nurse...(oops) Jason offered to go get Jack while I stayed with Morgan -- but I wanted to talk to Jack's teacher and of course see my little man so I left too.

When we got to school his teacher met us in the hallway -- Grandma was in the classroom with Jack and daddy was watching Jack through the window. Miss L. said there was a little girl at school who was diagnosed with an MRSA skin infection and she though we should know right away because I have an open incision and of course because of Morgan in the NICU. I broke into tears for the second time in an hour...I made Jack's teacher tear up too! NOT my intention!! I thanked her for the information and told her we would call the NICU right away and see how to handle the situation. One good thing (and to think everything happens for a reason) Jack had been sick and out of school almost a week and yesterday when he returned the little girl with the MRSA infection was NOT in school...so his contact risk was as low as it could be...which is exactly what the NICU said when we called. THANK GOD.

Meanwhile Jack was working with the PT and when they opened the door he was walking with forearm crutches (with help) towards me!!!!!!!! His face was priceless! He LOVES them! He went all the way down the hall with help!!! How amazing!!! I immediately went into PT mommy mode and excitedly asked if they had any extra crutches that we could borrow...we went back to the gross motor room and YES -- she found some for us!!!!! I can't tell you how awesome he looks with them. I had always heard crutches were hard to learn and you have to have very good balance and motor planning to use them...something that comes with age and practice. I can't believe how great he did on his first try. OH AND GET THIS...HE DIDN'T HAVE HIS BRACES ON!!!!!!!!!!!! Grandma isn't too familiar with putting his braces on and since he was still sleeping when we left I told her just to use his regular sneakers for today. The PT said she was amazed at how well he did and we should try this on occasion without braces to help build strength.

When we got home I wanted to call the nursing agency and demand better knowledge of when Jack will not have coverage. I asked Jason to call because of my weepiness...I didn't want to cry over the phone. As we were walking in Jason realized he could not find his wallet. We looked EVERYWHERE. No where to be found. I was starting to feel nauseous from pain and Jack was crying, and I missed my baby girl...a low point in the day. We called all of the credit card companies and our bank and reported the lost wallet. Now Jason is without ID, or means to buy anything! We share most of our credit cards so that means mine were cancelled too. I gave Jason the only card I have and I'll use our bank card...(we never carry cash anymore). So now he has to get a new driver's license and stop by the bank in all of his free time. UGH.

I HAD to get back to see Morgan so after Jack has his afternoon snack we went right back to the NICU. We haven't let Jack back to see Morgan because we know how important it is to keep the little babies healthy. So daddy went back first and Jack and I hung out in the Ronald McDonald Family Waiting Room. We spent countless hours in that room when Jack was little. It's so strange and familiar to be back there again. Only this time we know Morgan will be okay...there is no life support or neurosurgery...no question of future outcomes or mortality rates...just a "feeder and grower" a term I was so jealous of when Jack was in the NICU!

Morgan is doing great. Her only remaining issue is bottle feeding. She's been nippling some, but not drinking a whole lot through the bottle. Although when she does, her suck/swallow/breathe reflex is great...she just tires quickly and we give her the rest through the tube. We are still looking at next week for homecoming!!!!! Please cheer Miss Morgan on -- and she'll be home soon.

We stopped at Bob Evan's for dinner because Jack kept telling us he was hungry!! I forgot you can order breakfast there all day so that's what Jack and I did! He ate like a horse and we had a nice time as a little family...and it makes me anxious to have Morgan home and a part of our little family too.

When we got home on our kitchen table sat a perfect pink cake with tiny little confetti...in our refrigerator there was a huge lasagna, salad and bread sticks as well as a big chicken pie and broccoli salad...Steph and her family have provided us with dinner for the next week! Again, I teared up but because I was happy this time. I am so grateful to have my friends and family. Not just in bad times, but good times too. To my friends - I love you and you mean the world to me! To my family - I am so grateful to have a wonderful family and to have married into such a great family as well. We are surrounded by the most amazing people and I am so glad my kids will know this kind of love and support. Thank you all so much.