Saturday, June 7, 2008

5 Months Old

Where has the time gone?! Oh wait... I know EXACTLY where the time has gone. NICU to home, dirty diapers and spit up, tube feeding (still doing that, by the way) to new bottles (tried every one ever made), train rides and car trips (CHLA), surgery to recovery, acid reflux and ear infections... our lives have been very full since Jackson entered this world. Yet, in all of its glory, he is our son and we love him to pieces.

Jackson is healing really well from his lip surgery. He looks better every day. We are very happy that this season is coming to end. His recovery has been a long, grueling process.

We have also started sensory integration therapy and we believe in it! Having been born 6 weeks early, Jackson is very sensitive and very easily over-stimulated. This makes it hard to take him anywhere! New places, faces, sounds and smells throw him off. We're making progress slowly but surely. With our new brushing program, Jackson is able to relax a bit more, and enjoy his surroundings. This makes life much more bearable for us, as we enjoy being out and about, especially now that summer's here.

This past week Jackson has done a 180. We feel like we have a new kid. He smiles more, LOVES his new swing (our sanity at the moment), sleeps 7 hours a night (at least for the past few nights), and has found his voice! Oh yes, he has definitely found his voice. I personally think he takes after his Dad - the kid has lungs! It's actually quite funny.

I'll leave you with a few recent pics of Jackson, now weighing in at 13 lbs. 15 oz. and measuring 25 inches. For now he's pretty long and narrow - we'll see what genes he ends up with!







9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is great the read the wonderful progress Jackson is making. He is so precious and we can't wait to see him again.

We love you guys!
The Askins

Anonymous said...

Should have previewed my comment before posting - oh well - still not quite awake at this point. Can't believe Jackson is sleeping 7 hours. Can he give Sinjin a few tips?

skylana said...

yay! i'm glad things are getting better and all.. he looks super cute... and i think exactly like both of you... his eyes are halle and his smile is daniel... precious baby.

skylana said...

hey guys, i got that comment about the everyone songs, but then i accidentally deleted the email saying what your email was... so just email me a link to them...

ibloomblaum@hotmail.com

thanks!

Eli, Mandy & Ava Stewart said...

hey, The Lord brings your family to my heart quite often and I pray fervently for ya'll ( i live in texas:) It looks like your little guy is healing great! The Lord's Grace is so sufficient......
Love,
Mandy Stewart

Davenports said...

hi guys...i (sarah) just have to say that our very brief experience of having hayvn in the NICU has given us such a deep respect for you guys (not that we didn't have it before, but it's certainly gotten lots stronger)...having experienced only the slightest glimpse of what you have all had to endure, just gives us such a heart for you as parents...not to mention our awe at jackson. what an amazing little fighter you have there! we love you guys and continue to pray for you all...
s, j & h

THE WHITTINGTONS said...

thank you all for your kind words. we, too, are so happy at jackson's progress. has made life so much more bearable.

monique, sean, sinjin and baby! we miss you. maybe next time you are in town we could hang out and see what kind of rubbing off jackson can do on sinjin. :)

i'd have to agree with you, skylana, that he has my eyes... lucky boy! ;) as far as the everyone stuff, i'll make sure daniel gets that to you.

mandy, thanks for your sweet words. your lil ava is absolutely adorable!

sarah, we can't wait to meet hayvn! (did you know jackson has a dimple above his bottom as well?) the nicu is one of the hardest things any parent has to endure, i think. we are sorry that had to be part of your experience, but we are so happy he is doing well. love to you all.

Sarah said...

it's great to hear that he is healing well!! i've been praying for u guys. :)
btw he is absolutely adorable!! :)
love u guys!

Excellent Parent said...

oh he is sweet! I like him!