Jack Update

It has been a hard couple days. Long, and stressful. I've gotten such nice comments and emails recently, and they really do help, thank you so much. It really means a lot to know so many people are thinking of the babies.

Yesterday morning we met with the surgeon who was doing Jack's surgery to close his PDA. She was so nice and explained everything to us, and made us feel much better about everything. After that we went and saw Jack- the minute we walked in his doctor said, do you want some good news? DO I? YES!! LOL

She said, Jack's neurology tests came back fine - his brain looked good, he's not having any seizures (thank god!) Then she said he was really alert and feisty and she felt that was very encouraging - he kept trying to pull his tube out and that's what they've been wanting him to do. Fight!!

When we went in to see him it was like he was a whole new baby, he was so ALERT and looking around and waving his arms. Look at him-




How sweet is he?? Don't you just want to hug him? I have to say, he looks like my side of the family. The girls are all PJ, but Jack is all me. We left feeling so much better, like it was a sign, like we finally had some hope.

They were going to send Katie home yesterday which would have sent me over the edge. When the nurse told Katie's doctor about Jack's surgery they said forget it - it's too much. So all the babies doctors got together and decided to hold Katie until Charlotte is ready to come home so they can stay together..... and it looks like Saturday!! BOTH girls will be home. Charlotte just needs to gain a teeny bit more weight, she was 3lbs 15oz today and they want her over 4lbs. Katie is still having some brady's but not as many - and she'll be on the monitor at home.

Today was Jack's surgery. It was a long, stressful day... when they wheeled him down to surgery they let us go with him, and then say goodbye. I leaned in and kissed him and told him "Mommy loves you! Be strong and I'll see you when you come out." It was hard. It was maybe the hardest moment so far, to say goodbye to him. I held onto his little blue rosary beads my uncle bought him from St. Patrick's and just asked the Blessed Mother to watch over him and be there when I can't.

And, he did great. He came out of it fine. When we got in to see him after the surgery he was actually awake already, looking around, waving his arms. The nurse couldn't believe it. She had to give him some more medicine to make him sleep. Hopefully he will continue to do well and heal and get better and then they can try again to take him off the vent.

He is such a strong boy. He amazes me. I swear, once he is off that vent and I can hold him all I want, I may never let him go. I will be following him to college and sleeping in his dorm. :)