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Cheering on the Steelers to victory on Sunday!

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My three boys

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Exhausted after our 2hr pediatrician appt! Give us ten minutes, and both Mom and Dad will be wearing the same expression!

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Homeword bound!

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Look who's coming home tomorrow??!? :)

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Cannula and NG tube free!! The NG tube was back later but it was nice to see his whole sweet face!

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Back with Daddy again!

Seeing the decorated tree for the first time!

newest pictures of our tony! :)

Chillin w mama, in real clothes after his 3rd bottle of the day!

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Wearing his first whole outfit!

mommy time, 11.13.09

Look at this sweet face!

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cute little video of tony's bath 11-12-09

Perspective

Tony's vest next to his big brother's shoe

tony enters his "third trimester" :)

Quick update:
Weight: 3 lbs, 5 oz - YAY!!!
Highlight of the day - OFF THE VENTILATOR and back to the CPAP and doing wonderfully :)

Check out these cute pictures of the sweet little man on his 4-week birthday...

3 weeks old today!!

a few more pics, from mom's camera this time...

Tony week 2

So the latest update on Tony is that he is doing well. His chest X-ray came back and his lungs look normal for his age, so still preemie lungs but still a positive. His echo came back showing his PDA is closing, down from 2.5 mm to 0.85 mm. That is a very good sign. This morning he was taken off the CPAP machine and put back on the high-flow nasal cannula since his blood gases were doing really well. His bilirubin is back down so he is out from under the lights again. He is tolerating his feedings better and better. The next steps are to continue to tolerate his feedings, his breathing to continue as well as it has (no apnea episodes), and of course to keep him from getting an infection.

Here he is with his CPAP mask on. Looks uncomfortable.

This photo is also for his Papa.

RACK!

Here he is back on the nasal cannula, slouching like he has been doing it for years.

Latest on Tony

So to give everyone the latest update on Tony...He has been switched to the CPAP machine to help his lungs expand fully and work better. A chest X-ray today to see if that the CPAP is helping that we will find out on Monday. He was given a medication to close his PDA which an echo was performed today to determine if it worked which we will find out on Monday. An ultrasound of his head on Monday to determine if the medicine to close his PDA caused any bleeding in his head. He is back under a small bili light since his bilirubin levels are back up which could be because his bowels haven't been moving well until today. He had a blood transfusion Thursday evening because he wasn't making enough blood to compensate for the blood the nurses have been taking for testing. His blood cultures so far are negative for growth meaning that he has no infection yet. I was able to hold him for a while tonight and I loved it!

Quick update. Tony still has PDA along with a slight heart murmur but the doctors aren't worried about it and it isn't slowing Tony down at all. His head ultrasound came back with no bleeds which is awesome. Ali was able to hold him skin on skin and she loved it. He sacked out pretty fast on her. We are so thankful for the prayers and support from our extended family and friends. The response has been overwhelming. Here are a few more pictures to whet your appetites.

I think this is such a cute picture.

Here he is holding Ali's finger for reference.

I slid my wedding ring onto his wrist to show exactly how small he is.

Here is little man all snuggled up.

Anthony Baker Gibbons

So time for another update on little Tony. We found out the results of his echocardiogram. He has patent ductus arteriosus, which is a little spot between his aorta and his pulmonary artery which is open. This is normal for developing babies but allows deoxygenated and oxygenated blood to mix. This could cause problems with digestion and other things but is should close itself soon. If it doesn't then the doctors can give him something to help it along. He has been doing really well otherwise. His bilirubin count was high, so they put him under the Bili lights to help decrease it. The count is going down but not far enough for him to be removed from the lights. Yesterday he had two smears in his diaper (which is the smallest diaper I have ever seen) which is a good sign. He is also tolerating his feedings better. I finally was able to hold him yesterday and it was wonderful but also scary. He really is tiny and very fragile. But he snuggled into my arms and I was so proud to be holding him. We also took my wedding ring and slid it over his hand. It really shows how small he is because the ring is twice the size of his little wrist. His head ultrasound was scheduled for yesterday and we are waiting for the results on that. I just called for an update and the Bili lights have been turned off since his level is back to normal. His oxygen supply through the nasal cannula has been decreased as well. The nurses increased his feeding from 1 cc every 3 hours to 2 cc every 3 hours but that might not last long since his bowels aren't moving really well yet. We are planning on going this afternoon to help or watch his first sponge bath. Mom is recovering well but exhausted. Grandma Waters and Aunt Nini are taking care of errands and Mark. It has really been nice to be home although it would be better with Tony here too. The nurses have said that there will be setbacks in his progress but he seems to be motoring along with no thought of staying there longer than he has to. Here are some pictures to let everyone know how he is doing.

Here is Mommy holding Tony for the first time.

Daddy holding him for the first time.

Tony being moved back into the incubator after being held.

Tony getting ready for his beauty sleep under the Bili lights while sucking his pacifier.

Tony's little diaper for reference.

The Newest Addition to the Gibbons Family

So, a lot has happened in the last few days. Ali went for an unscheduled visit to the OB because she was feeling a little crampy and overall not well. When we got there the nurse practitioner did an exam and told the assistant nurse to bring in the doctor. The doctor came in and to make a long story short and not give too much information, Ali had to be rushed to the JCMC in an ambulance. She had to have an emergency C-section. So at 1:08 pm on Oct. 9, 2009 our second son, Anthony, was born 14 weeks premature. He weighed 2 lbs 7 oz and was 14.25 in long. He is incredibly tiny. He is staying in the NICU for a couple months mostlikely. Here are a few pictures of the little (and I mean little) man.

When the doctor said Ali had to go to the hospital and the baby would be born soon, I couldn't believe it. I called one of our best friends here and asked her to watch Mark. I never would have thought I would just pass Mark off without a second thought to rush to the hospital so worried about my wife and next child. I was a nervous wreck waiting in the hallway for Ali to be prepped for surgery. I was able to be with her through it all. I was able to see the doctor take Tony (that's what we will be calling him) out. He was so small. It was amazing. And as of about 18 hours of life, Tony is off the ventilator and has a high-pressure nasal cannula. His nurse said that he doesn't think that he is 14 weeks early. He was ready to come out. So now we have to figure everything out about his stay in the NICU, but we are so happy to have him out and safe. Thanks to everyone for their prayers.

mark's first haircut

we cut mark's hair for the first time this past sunday morning. poor little guy needed it! he was a trooper. he loves having his hair combed and *helping* us comb his hair so he was excited once he realized there was no need to freak out.

i didn't think i'd be able to tell so much except for the fact that the mullet is gone, but we trimmed a little over the ears and a teeny bit in the front and he looks so much like a little boy!! :)

take a look at this sweet little man...