I probably should have started this about 4 months ago when Jack was born but I was so completely overwhelmed with everything that was happening it just wasn't the right time. So...I decided that now is the right time.
Here's a recap of what happened in 2009...
Nothing too exciting for Jan or Feb.
**March we made the big decision to put our house on the market and build a house in Zionsville. We went with Estridge because they have a program where they purchase your house if it doesn't sell by the time the new one is built. It was a ton of fun to pick out stuff for this house, we had a better idea as to what we wanted to upgrade and what we wanted in a house this time as to what we wanted with our old house. At the end of March we went to Mexico (my first time out of the U.S!!!) It was great, we went with Steve, Marianne(my sis and bro-in-law) and Doug, Michelle(Steve's bro and sis-in-law) - we all enjoyed sun and fun at the all inclusive resort. Our house SOLD while we were gone...so once we returned to Indy we started the process of finding a place to live until the new house was finished. We decided to move in with Dustin's parents for the summer.
**May...we found out I was pregnant!
**June/July - nothing too eventful...first trimester tiredness and headed to Baltimore for Dustin's work.
**August - closed on the new house - August 7...we were thrilled to move in!! We had the ultrasound and found out we were having a BOY at the end of the month!!
**September - really pretty uneventful...little did we know what October had in store
**October - the month started off pretty uneventful...I was doing fine with the pregnancy, no worries at any of my doctor's appointments, some ankle swelling but nothing too exciting, so I thought. The 18th completely changed everything...I was at work and had pretty much swelled up like a balloon - all over swelling- face, hands, legs, arms, etc. Thankfully, I work at a hospital and one of my co-workers recognized the swelling as a major problem and took my blood pressure...it was through the roof! I was admitted to the women's hospital immediately for severe pre-ecclampsia. Of course, we were scared because the baby wasn't due until January but it looked like he was going to make an appearance VERY early. Dustin and I spent our 4th anniversary (October 22, 2009) in the hospital awaiting our little boy's arrival...unsure as to when he arrive because my blood pressure was staying high. The next day, October 23, 2009, at 1:15 our little man was born, weighing in at 1lb 10oz and 12.5 inches long...a special little boy entered the world. He was sent straight to the NICU and because of the amount of medication I was on, I did not get to see him until the next day. Once I was able to see him, we promptly decided on a name - Jack Thomas Albright.
Pretty much the next 14 and a half weeks of our lives were spent travelling between work, home, and the NICU.
Here's a recap of what happened in 2009...
Nothing too exciting for Jan or Feb.
**March we made the big decision to put our house on the market and build a house in Zionsville. We went with Estridge because they have a program where they purchase your house if it doesn't sell by the time the new one is built. It was a ton of fun to pick out stuff for this house, we had a better idea as to what we wanted to upgrade and what we wanted in a house this time as to what we wanted with our old house. At the end of March we went to Mexico (my first time out of the U.S!!!) It was great, we went with Steve, Marianne(my sis and bro-in-law) and Doug, Michelle(Steve's bro and sis-in-law) - we all enjoyed sun and fun at the all inclusive resort. Our house SOLD while we were gone...so once we returned to Indy we started the process of finding a place to live until the new house was finished. We decided to move in with Dustin's parents for the summer.
**May...we found out I was pregnant!
**June/July - nothing too eventful...first trimester tiredness and headed to Baltimore for Dustin's work.
**August - closed on the new house - August 7...we were thrilled to move in!! We had the ultrasound and found out we were having a BOY at the end of the month!!
**September - really pretty uneventful...little did we know what October had in store
**October - the month started off pretty uneventful...I was doing fine with the pregnancy, no worries at any of my doctor's appointments, some ankle swelling but nothing too exciting, so I thought. The 18th completely changed everything...I was at work and had pretty much swelled up like a balloon - all over swelling- face, hands, legs, arms, etc. Thankfully, I work at a hospital and one of my co-workers recognized the swelling as a major problem and took my blood pressure...it was through the roof! I was admitted to the women's hospital immediately for severe pre-ecclampsia. Of course, we were scared because the baby wasn't due until January but it looked like he was going to make an appearance VERY early. Dustin and I spent our 4th anniversary (October 22, 2009) in the hospital awaiting our little boy's arrival...unsure as to when he arrive because my blood pressure was staying high. The next day, October 23, 2009, at 1:15 our little man was born, weighing in at 1lb 10oz and 12.5 inches long...a special little boy entered the world. He was sent straight to the NICU and because of the amount of medication I was on, I did not get to see him until the next day. Once I was able to see him, we promptly decided on a name - Jack Thomas Albright.
Pretty much the next 14 and a half weeks of our lives were spent travelling between work, home, and the NICU.
Ventilation - Jack was on the vent for 3 weeks 3 days...we got to kangaroo hold him during this time, he had 2 heart echos, 2 head ultrasounds (no brain bleeds!!) started and continued feedings through OG tube. He grew daily and gained at least a pound during this time.
!
CPAP - Nov. 16 they transferred Jack from the vent to CPAP. He did great during the transfer and did fine on CPAP for about 4 weeks until he decided he didn't like it anymore.
Nasal Cannula - mid-December they switched Jack to the nasal cannula and he's been on that ever since. Many times you'll find it in his mouth rather than his nose but it's doing something for him!
We spent 103 days in the NICU and Jack finally came home on Feb. 3, 2010...during that course of time we never once had to stop any of Jack's feedings for any reason. He loved his food (I've been pumping the entire time) and is still doing a great job with his bottles. We had a course of vent, CPAP, nasal cannula - Jack was diagnosed with BPD - bronchopulmonary dysplagia- a lung disease that affects these little ones. Outside of the lung issues, he's a nosey, sweet, loud little one. He's been through more than any of us could ever imagine and fought the entire time. There's definitely a strong personality in him!
We had the most wonderful group of primary nurses who cared greatly for Jack. We absolutely loved all of them!!
As you can tell, the end of 2009 was a little crazy and that was as brief as I could get it. I've decided to start a blog to keep everyone up to date on the craziness of life as it is in our house which has been taken over by this wonderful little miracle baby
CPAP - Nov. 16 they transferred Jack from the vent to CPAP. He did great during the transfer and did fine on CPAP for about 4 weeks until he decided he didn't like it anymore.
Nasal Cannula - mid-December they switched Jack to the nasal cannula and he's been on that ever since. Many times you'll find it in his mouth rather than his nose but it's doing something for him!
We spent 103 days in the NICU and Jack finally came home on Feb. 3, 2010...during that course of time we never once had to stop any of Jack's feedings for any reason. He loved his food (I've been pumping the entire time) and is still doing a great job with his bottles. We had a course of vent, CPAP, nasal cannula - Jack was diagnosed with BPD - bronchopulmonary dysplagia- a lung disease that affects these little ones. Outside of the lung issues, he's a nosey, sweet, loud little one. He's been through more than any of us could ever imagine and fought the entire time. There's definitely a strong personality in him!
We had the most wonderful group of primary nurses who cared greatly for Jack. We absolutely loved all of them!!
As you can tell, the end of 2009 was a little crazy and that was as brief as I could get it. I've decided to start a blog to keep everyone up to date on the craziness of life as it is in our house which has been taken over by this wonderful little miracle baby
It was so great to see you guys. I love that little Jack. CASH DANGER!!!! Can't wait to see you again.
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