Gavyn loves his baby brother!!!

Here are a few pictures I took yesterday and today to show how much Gavyn loves his brother!!

Joshua's 1st time in a swing-

Gavyn watching Joshua swing- he stood there forever, just watching him and singing to him. So Sweet!  

I caught a smile-ok well he was coming out of a smile :)

Gavyn has to watch us change every diaper, he doesn't want to miss out on anything Joshua does- even poop! This morning, I said 'oh no, Joshua has a poopy', and Gavyn goes, 'oh no, Gavyn has a poopy too.' LOL! It was so funny but he was just speaking the truth!

He moves this trash can around the room so he can see Joshua's every move.

Gavyn absolutely adores his little brother :)

Last night and this morning we dressed them in matching t-shirts- so I let Gavyn hold Joshua for the 1st time. He surprised me and did a really good job supporting him.

Big Kisses!

That's all for today, but I love taking pictures of the boys together, so I am sure there will be plenty more to come!! So Stay Tuned...

I'm Drained...

Poor Joshua :(
Well we are back at the hospital a lot lately and it is very, very draining!! As soon as I get my baby home and settled, I feel like we are having to battle to keep it!
Last Monday Joshua had blood tests done to check his bili level. When he left the hospital it was a little hi so they are watching it closely. The Doctor thinks that Joshua developed liver disease in the NICU because he was on Hyperal so long. If this is the true reason why he has liver problems then it would slowly go away on its own. For some reason though Joshua's bili is going up instead of down. And Monday's tests results verified this. So when we went to see the Specialist on Wed. he decided to start Joshua on a lot of different medicine, and run a bunch of more tests on him. So all day Wed. and pretty much all day Thur. we were back at the hospital having tests done. AGGGGG!!!!!! Talk about miserable!!
We have a lot more scheduled next week and then we go back to see the dr. for the reports the week after next. His Dr. is hoping the tests results will show us something so he won't have to go in and take a biopsy of the liver. Even though this is a minor surgery we are praying that Joshua will not have to have this done.
Another thing the doctor's have been worried about is he had only gained a couple of oz. in two weeks, and they were wanting him to have gained a couple oz. a day. So when we went back on Wednesday to get the news about his billi, we also received news that not only had he not gained weight this week, but he had lost all the weight he had gained since he left the hospital. Therefore, the Dr. is having us add Progestimill to his donor milk. I have already been VERY frustrated this past week with the nursing/pumping thing and trying to get my milk in. I mean it has been 15weeks and my milk is still not in!!!!!!! I am just so tired!!!!!!! Then, for the Dr. to tell me that we have to do both formula and the donor breast milk was the straw that broke the camels back.. I really went into 'depressed mode' about it. Why is everything so difficult!!! Please just keep me in your prayers because I am simply not ready to give up yet, and at the same time I am very exhausted!!
Although, we have a busy week at the hospital next week I hope it is a better week then this last one. I can't take another week like last week or I will have a mental breakdown! Seriously people!!!! I REALLY need a date night, so My Sweet Husband is taking me out tomorrow night for some fresh air! :) We have been advised by Joshua's doctors to keep him inside the home until RSV season is up, so we have done just that(other than the dr.apts and hospital visits), and I am starting to go MAD stuck in this house all the time!!!! Thank goodness I have Gavyn to make me laugh and keep me entertained and Joshua to keep me on toes and make my day's go by fast!!
Ok- Thanks for letting me VENT!

Were Home with Joshua!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life can't get much better than this.... :)
As most of you know, we got to bring little Joshua home on Thursday night last week and it has just been amazing having him apart of our family at home! I feel absolutely blessed to have 2 awesome little boys, and a husband that takes on 90% of the load!I have the 3 most Wonderful Men in my life- I feel like the luckiest woman in the World!!! Life couldn't get more beautiful- if it can I can't imagine it!
I am really having a BALL with two kiddos, now I will admit that I had no idea how interesting it would be to have a newborn and a 2 year old! I didn't say hard, I said interesting. I think it has been pretty easy for the most part and such a JOY to have him finally home!! Gavyn absolutely LOVES and ADORES his baby brother!! Gavyn used to get up in the mornings and come and give us hugs and kisses and would say 'Good morning!' Now the only one that gets hugs, kisses, and a 'Good morning' is his little brother Joshua. As soon as he wakes up he rushes in to Joshua's room and says 'Good morning Brother, I love you!' It is the cutest, most sweetest thing EVER!!! And throughout the day Gavyn has to check on his brother and will just watch him for a few minutes to make sure he is ok. He will let us know if the baby cries and tells us to fix it. It is absolutely precious beyond words watching Gavyn love his brother!! I never in a million years imagined him taking to this so well, but he is doing better than I ever thought he would. He is the BEST BIG BROTHER, and they are so lucky to have each other!!!
We were so lucky to have such a good baby with Gavyn, I didn't think we would get lucky twice, but Joshua is the BEST baby! He doesn't sleep at night too much, but he will lay in his bed all night long and not make a peep unless he is hungry. Which right now I am having to wake up twice in the night to eat because the dr.'s have him on such a strict schedule!!!
Speaking of Dr.'s I took him in for his check-up on Monday and he weighs 7lbs 1oz and is 19 ¾ in. long!! Pretty good for a 3 month old preemie who has been starved most of his life! We do have to take him back on Monday because they have to watch his weight closely and weigh him every week. Also Joshua has a low thyroid and a high Billy ribbon, so he has to have blood work done to make sure those are getting better! We will see all of the specialist the week after next, and hopefully they all have good things to say! Other than that, he is doing GREAT!! Still trying to pump like crazy and Supplemental feed to get my milk in. We are all adjusting well and having THE TIME OF OUR LIVES with our little family!
Michael has really pitched in and helped me more with this one then he did with Gavyn. He comes straight home from work and takes both his boys the rest of the evening. It really gives me a nice break, although, most of the time all I want to do is hang out with them but at least if I need to have a break I get it.


Here is my origional email post with pictures!

Life can't get much better than this.... :)

As most of you know, we got to bring little Joshua home on Thursday night last week and it has just been amazing having him apart of our family at home! I feel absolutely blessed to have 2 awesome little boys, and a husband that takes on 90% of the load!I have the 3 most Wonderful Men in my life- I feel like the luckiest woman in the World!!! Life couldn't get more beautiful- if it can I can't imagine it!

I am really having a BALL with two kiddos, now I will admit that I had no idea how interesting it would be to have a newborn and a 2 year old! I didn't say hard, I said interesting. I think it has been pretty easy for the most part and such a JOY to have him finally home!! Gavyn absolutely LOVES and ADORES his baby brother!! Gavyn used to get up in the mornings and come and give us hugs and kisses and would say 'Good morning!' Now the only one that gets hugs, kisses, and a 'Good morning' is his little brother Joshua. As soon as he wakes up he rushes in to Joshua's room and says 'Good morning Brother, I love you!' It is the cutest, most sweetest thing EVER!!! And throughout the day Gavyn has to check on his brother and will just watch him for a few minutes to make sure he is ok. He will let us know if the baby cries and tells us to fix it. It is absolutely precious beyond words watching Gavyn love his brother!! I never in a million years imagined him taking to this so well, but he is doing better than I ever thought he would. He is the BEST BIG BROTHER, and they are so lucky to have each other!!!

We were so lucky to have such a good baby with Gavyn, I didn't think we would get lucky twice, but Joshua is the BEST baby! He doesn't sleep at night too much, but he will lay in his bed all night long and not make a peep unless he is hungry. Which right now I am having to wake up twice in the night to eat because the dr.'s have him on such a strict schedule!!!

Speaking of Dr.'s I took him in for his check-up on Monday and he weighs 7lbs 1oz and is 19 ¾ in. long!! Pretty good for a 3 month old preemie who has been starved most of his life! We do have to take him back on Monday because they have to watch his weight closely and weigh him every week. Also Joshua has a low thyroid and a high Billy ribbon, so he has to have blood work done to make sure those are getting better! We will see all of the specialist the week after next, and hopefully they all have good things to say! Other than that, he is doing GREAT!! Still trying to pump like crazy and Supplemental feed to get my milk in. We are all adjusting well and having THE TIME OF OUR LIVES with our little family!

Michael has really pitched in and helped me more with this one then he did with Gavyn. He comes straight home from work and takes both his boys the rest of the evening. It really gives me a nice break, although, most of the time all I want to do is hang out with them but at least if I need to have a break I get it.

Here are some pics of his 1^st couple of days at home! Enjoy!!

This was taken when we roomed in at the hospital.

Gavyn is so interested in Joshua's hands and feet!

1st time in a car seat :)

As soon as we got home we introduced him to his bed, and he absolutely LOVES it!

We really couldn't keep Gavyn away from him for the 1st 24 hours! It was so cute!!

1st night at home :)

We gave him his 1st real bath, and he hated it!! Screamed until we had him bundled up again :) But this is a pic of is his BEAUTIFUL curls!

 

This was taken yesterday :)

I take the boys on a walk every day since it is my only way to get out of the house right now! Thank God they both LOVE WALKS!

We layed him on the floor last night and he rolled over for the 1st time! I think he scared himself because he started screaming afterward and wouldn't do it again :) so cute!

There is plenty more to come but I will cut this blog short- it is long enough! :)

Thank you for your prayers that brought us home!!! You will never know how much they meant to our hearts!! Thank You!

Oh and here are some interesting before/after photos of Joshua!

1st time we met Joshua!

3mo later & Finally Home!

Happy HAPPY New Years Everyone!!!!

HOMECOMING!!!!!!!!!!!!
TODAY IS 12 WEEKS THAT JOSHUA HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL AND WE GOT THE MOST EXCITING NEWS!!!!!!
JOSHUA IS DOING GREAT!!!!!!!! HE IS ON FULL FEEDS AND THEY PULLED THE CENTRAL LINE OUT OF HIS HEART YESTERDAY, SO NO MORE TUBES!!!!!
THE DOCTOR SAID YESTERDAY THAT THERE IS NO REASON FOR JOSHUA TO STILL BE THERE, SO WE ARE ROOMING IN TONIGHT AND WILL GET TO TAKE HIM HOME TOMORROW OR FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SO STINKING EXCITED I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12 WEEKS SEEMED LIKE A YEAR TO US, AND WE CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS REALLY TIME TO TAKE OUR BABY HOME!!!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS, THAT SINCE HE HAS HAD SO MANY COMPLICATIONS WITH HIS GUT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO SEND HIM HOME ON DONOR BREAST MILK UNTIL MY MILK COMES IN. THIS IS A HUGE ANSWER TO PRAYER BECAUSE THEY HAVE ONLY DONE THIS A COUPLE OTHER TIMES. IT IS $60.00 A DAY FOR THE DONOR MILK, BUT WE REALLY FEEL LIKE IT IS THE BEST THING FOR JOSHUA, AND HAVE SUCH A PEACE THAT GOD WILL PROVIDE FOR US. JUST LIKE WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST FOR JOSHUA, HOW MUCH MORE WOULD GOD WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST FOR HIS CHILDREN!!! HE IS SUCH A GOOD GOD!!!!!! WE SERVE SUCH A MIGHTY, POWERFUL GOD WHO CAN PERFORM MIRACLES EVERY DAY!!! SO I PRAY THIS YEAR THAT YOU GET YOUR MIRACLE!!!!!!!! JUST KEEP ASKING THE FATHER FOR IT, HE LOVES TO GIVE TO HIS LITTLE CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
I WILL POST SOME PICTURES TONIGHT WHEN I AM AT THE HOSPITAL WITH NOTHING TO DO BUT NURSE!!! OH, AND PLEASE PRAY THAT GOES WELL- HE HAS TO NURSE GOOD EVERY FEEDING BEFORE THEY LET US GO HOME :)
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!