So far this Monday has been so wonderful! Praise and Glory to our Savior Jesus Christ for allowing me to see his face in Jackson's life! I have always know the importance of fervently seeking God and his wisdom and strength in everyday life. I have never before seen God so closly as I have since Jackson has arrived. I ask myself everyday what it is that I am suppose to get from this or learn. I have come to the conculsion that there was not a lesson for me, but another opportunity to draw from what I have learned in the past. A chance to use what God has set me up for. Not a test, just another day to praise God for the knowledge and abilties that he has given to us as mankind. His creation. This experience has made me remember what I know of God and what He will do for those who love him.
Jackson has done amazing thing thus far in his life and with the continued blessings from God I pray that Jackson will continue to be a living example of the Love that God, Jesus Christ has for each one of us.

anxiously awaiting tomorrow

Tomorrow Jackson will have what I hope is his last Cranial Ultrasound in North Carolina. I hope to speak with Beth Jackson, she is in charge of all the paper for Jackson's transfer. I have got so many butterflies in my tummy waiting for the moment they tell us when we are flying to Arizona. I have got most everything together and ready for that!

growing big

After nearly a week now since Jackson had his shunt put in, he is doing FABULOUS!! He is continuing to grow and eat. "Pinky" (the big egg that was on his head) is pretty much all the way gone now. He will always continue to have little bump from the VAD. And untill he gets bigger you will continue to be able to see the shunt in his head. The doctors and other staff seem to be working fervently on getting Jackson transferred to the hospital in Tuscon. It needs to be quick! Jackson is getting so close to being released. Praise Jesus!!

Wednesday update

Jackson is still trying to get off the ventalator from the surguery. He just wont wake enough to start breathing on his own. The blisters he has developed are slowly getting better. The one under his left arm is still pretty nasty. He doesnt seem to be in much pain. We are getting much closer to being transported to Arizona. The hospital staff plan on calling AZ on Friday again, to make sure they are going to have room for Jackson's arrival next week.

Shunt

Jackson surgery yesterday was a success. THe operation took less than 30minutes once they got started. Now anytime in the future if Jackson has to have a MRI for any reason he will have to see the Neuro Surgeon to fix his shunt. It wont be an operation it will just be some adjustin with a magnet. SO far he is revoring pretty well from it all.

All right, I admit it. I am the absoulute worst at keeping up with this blog! So, here is just a quick update... Jackson is up to 4pounds 8 ounces. He is back to eating from the bottle and he LOVES it! Tomorrow he goes in the operating room for the shunt. Here is a website that will explain the basics of what is going on http://www.divideclassic.org/Documents/ShuntInfo.htm
As soon as he recovers from that they will be transferring Jackson to the hospital in Tuscon.
So far it has been an amazing ride watching God work in so many ways. I am so thankful that God has given man the ability to learn and create the way that we are able. Please pray for Dr. Hefner and his surgical team and they work on Jackson.

doing well

Each day our little Jackson does better and better. Last night he wieghed 3 pounds 11 ounces. He was moved into the "big boy" bed. Its a bassinet instead of the incubator/isolete. The nurses said he did good through the night with it, that he was able to stay warm.
Jackson had lots of visitors last night to. He great grandma Ann came and saw him long with great aunt linda and grandpa Jeff came up last night to. And of course we cant forget Grandma Lori visited.
Pastor Terry and his wife came up today for a quick hello. They had not seen Jackson since the first week he was born. It was like when Uncle Danny came for a visit on Tuesday, he had not seen Jackson either in a long time. They were able to see a huge change in him.
The doctor moved Jackson's 30mls of food to 2hours now instead of the 2 and half. He is doing so wonderful with that. His head doctor came by today to look at his bump. He said a bunch of things, all pretty much good. He explained some things that they are seeing and some different possibilities of what they could be. Jackson will have his next ultrasound sometime on Monday. I always look forward to hearing the results from those.

Progessive Unit

Last Wednesday Jackson was moved from the NICU to the Progressive Unit. He is doing so wonderful. He has no IV's in his tiny body at all. The doctors are trying to take him off of the continuous feeding. Instead of getting 30 mls of food over a 3 hours period they are giving it to him over a 2 1/2 hour period. Eventually he will receive that during a short 30 minute period. At least that is what I think is suppose to happen. They have taken his feeding tube from his mouth and it is going in through his nose now. They are preparing him to start trying the bottle. Jackson is weighing in at 3 pounds 8ounces. They last time they measured his length he was 15 and half inches long. His head circumference is starting to enlarge. The swelling around the VAD is getting bigger. I hope that the doctors decided soon to go ahead and tap into the VAD to drain the fluid that is built up in his tiny little head. Each week when they do his cranial ultrasound they are seeing that the blood clot that is causing the fluid not to drain properly is showing signs of resolving. Justin will be leaving North Carolina in a few more days to start his journey to Texas to pick up Jez and Bailey then on to Arizona. Hopefully, if everything goes well, Jackson will be transferred out to Tuscon shortly after the 15th of this month.