2 weeks old

Jackson turned 2 weeks old on Tuesday. It feels like he has been here for much longer though. He continues to make steady progress and there have already been talks of moving him to the Infant Unit because he doesn't need constant care. I am trying to not get my hopes up and get impatient but that is just one step closer to home. Plus it is a semi-private room that we are allowed to sleep in if we want, and it has a TV! Plus there is not a nurse with him 24 hours a day. They just come and go as they need. More privacy for us all.

Jackson is still eating his 5 mL every 3 hours and loving them. These feedings by mouth are not for calories but just for digestion practice right now. He eats a measly 2 ounces per day, which most newborns eat per feeding. But the good news is that he has FINALLY put on a little weight. At about a week old a nurse told us he'd put on a few ounces but come to find out her conversion between grams and ounces was a little off! He actually lost quite a bit of weight at first. Not unexpected though. We figure the 30 cm of bowel they cut out took some weight off, plus newborns always lose weight anyways. He was up to 6 lbs 6 oz last night. He's so tiny. I know that is average for some babies but not an Etherington baby. At two weeks old Carter was already a plump baby.

I have the worst luck ever and got strep throat (again) this week so I've missed 2 days of seeing my baby. (I've had my tonsils out 2 times already but keep getting strep. I will be heading to the ENT soon to see what other options there are) It's been hard having to stay away but I know it's best for Jackson. Neil has been great though and going in for the feedings and staying and snuggling Jax since I can't. I get to go back tomorrow though and I plan to stay most of the day to make up for lost time. Neil is such a good daddy to him and even took time off work to make sure he could be there for him.

After polishing off his morsel of a meal, Jax gave a nice burp and promptly fell asleep on Daddy's shoulder. He is an Etherington after all!

They are doing a dye study tomorrow where they inject dye into his bowels to see if there has been any growth there. We are excited to see the results. The surgeon is hoping to be able to insert a bigger tube in to one of his ostomies if there has been enough growth. Another important step in going home. I'm not saying we're coming home anytime soon, but these are all steps in the right direction.

Here is Carter making a wish at the fountain at Primarys. He wished for "Brother to get bigger and come home." We make that wish every day! His wish was partially granted though yesterday because Jackson finally POOPED! We have waited 2 weeks for this big achievement and were thrilled when it finally happened. Poop, although gross, is very necessary to stay healthy! So we keep praying for Poop. And keeping with the theme, since he is an Etherington, he shouldn't have much of a problem!

Uncle Steve finally got to meet Jackson. Jackson is very grateful for all his visitors and family members who love him.