Jackson's First Few Days in the NICU

Jackson was not quite ready to join the world when he was born! Being a Pittsburgh baby, we figured he just had to be here in time to watch the Steelers win the Super Bowl that weekend! Shortly after his birth, he was taked down to the NICU for futher observation due to breathing trouble. While holding him after his birth, he began making a sighing sound. We thought it was so cute, but the doctors were alarmed by it and decided he should be checked out. We were told he would probably only need to be there for 24-48 hours, which seemed like forever to me! I wanted him in my room, bonding with me and Nolan, taking pictures, Showing him off to the family via Skype...but, of course, I wanted a healthy baby first and foremost.

Several long hours later, we were finally allowed to visit our baby in the NICU. He was so beautiful, despite all the tubes and wires everywhere. We were not able to hold him that night, but we were able to touch him through the holes in the isolette. He had an IV in his tiny hand, a tube down his throat, a breathing tube, and heart/breathing monitors. It was hard to see our little guy in that condition, but knew it was for the best. The video below is of Jackson, just a few hours old.

The next morning, we were informed that Jackson needed 7 days of treatment for his breathing, so we wouldn't be taking him home with us. I never imagined I would be leaving the hospital without my baby! We got to hold him that day for short periods of time. Once he was able to eat from a bottle, we learned to feed him, which was quite a challenge since he did not yet have his rooting, sucking reflex and had a tube going down his throat. It took a long time for him to drink his bottle. We also learned to change his diapers through the holes in the Isolette...very tricky! We also discovered, after a good hair-washing, that our red-headed baby was actually blonde!

Most mothers are anxious to leave the hospital, I, on the other hand, was dreading it! I was so hormonal and emotional anyway, I really had no idea how I would react when that time came. I was discharged early in the afternoon and we spent the rest of the day with Jackson. Our childbirth class, which we were only half-way through, met that night just downstairs from the NICU. We decided to show up and see if anyone noticed that I wasn't pregnant anymore. It happened to be the night of the hospital tour (could have used that!) so we sat in the classroom and waited for everyone to return from the tour. I joked about having the tour early, and taking the crash-course in childbirth and everyone figured it out. We shared our story and passed around pictures of Jackson. It was fun to see everyone in our class and say goodbye. We stayed with Jackson until after midnight. It took forever to work up enough strength to leave him there, but finally I tearfully kissed him goodnight, and Nolan listened to me cry the whole way home. This would become routine!

Jackson's Arrival

Our sweet little guy decided to join us a little early! He was born on January 27th, 2009, 5 weeks before his due date! We had almost nothing ready for him! I had just quit my job and had not been feeling well. After a trip to the ER and a couple stress tests later, I was assured that everything was fine and nothing was changing. I knew that couldn't be right, as I could hardly walk around the grocery store and was having so much pain! Sure enough, the morning after my doctor appointment Jackson was well on his way as we were frantically on our way to the hospital! Never have I been more scared! I was so excited, yet extremely worried about our baby being born too soon. We couldn't have asked for a better hospital to have Jackson! Magee Women's is one of the best in the country and it eased my mind knowing that we had a whole team of top-notch doctors in the room waiting to check him out immediately after birth. I was informed that babies born at 35 weeks sometimes act like term babies and go home with their parents with no issues, while some show symptoms of their prematurity. At 4:19pm Jackson Dan was here, weighing in at a healthy 6lbs, 6oz and 20" long. Despite his healthy size, he decided to act like a preemie, having breathing problems at first. After only holding my little guy for a few short minutes, he was taken to the NICU to begin his treatment. We were told he would only be there for a day or two. It was disappointing, as I had always pictured him being born and us getting to spend time with him in my hospital room, bonding with him. I had very mixed emotions. It felt like Jackson was a stranger and I wanted to badly to see and hold him. I was worried that being separtated from him would prevent me from loving him as much as I should. I worried that he wouldn't know who I was. I knew, however, that he needed a little help and I was happy that the NICU doctors and nurses were going to make him better.

What a sweet little blessing!!!

This is the first picture ever taken of Jackson.

Jackson getting checked out by the doctors.

My first picture with my first baby!

Our first kiss!

He first saw the world through only one eye!