Gifted Sleepers

I apologize for the delay in updates, turns out this parenting thing is a full time job.

Let me first say that the boys are in excellent health. Our little guys are getting stronger everyday and showing fewer signs of their prematurity. In addition, Shep's surgical recovery has been nothing short of amazing. Looking at him now, you would never know that only a few months ago he underwent open-heart surgery. Vicki and I could not be happier, and with the boys' major medical issues behind us, we have been able to relax a bit and just enjoy our time as new parents.

If your asking yourself about the title of this update. I will explain. No matter where we are (restaurants, grocery store, doctor's office) people are always asking us if we are getting any sleep. Now, I would like to think this question is not meant to imply that Vicki and I look like the walking dead, but rather to convey curiosity about the boys' sleeping habits. In response to this popular question, Vicki and I tell people that we are sleeping and its because over the past few weeks, both of our sons have become gifted sleepers.

I use the term gifted because I can think of no better adjective. I am sure every parent wants their child to be gifted intellectually, but at this early age it is difficult to ascertain the boys' mental prowess. They drool a lot and both make sounds that are remarkably similar to a velociraptor so its hard to tell whether or not we have the next Hawking and Einstein on our hands. However, if there was a Nobel Prize in sleep, our guys would be on their way to Sweden. Our little Laureates consistently sleep 10 to 12 hours a night.

Now, this was not always the case. When the boys first came home, our daily schedule reminded me of that episode of Seinfeld where Kramer attempts to live like Leonardo da Vinci, staying awake all day and only taking 20 min naps every three to four hours. Shep and Jack's rigorous feeding schedule coupled with their amazing ability to alternate their naps, made the first few months with the Britton Boys very da Vinci-esque. However, things changed when Shep went back into the hospital for his surgery. The rigorous feeding schedule was really for Shep's benefit and with him in the hospital there was no reason to keep Jack so structured. As we began to let Jack dictate his daily routine, he quickly began to log more hours of sleep at night. Within days, he was sleeping six to eight hours and it has continued to improve. Once Shep returned home, he quickly learned the ways of his brother and began enjoying longer and more restful nights.

So here we are, it's Monday night (5/31/10) and both boys were in bed and asleep by 8:00 pm. They will likely sleep until tomorrow morning around 7:00 am. Vic and I are very proud and appreciative of our little super sleepers. Of course, occasionally there are hiccups. Some days, Jack is not so much for the napping and will fight falling asleep with every ounce of his being. Other days, Shep wakes up so early it makes me think he is going to pursue a career in agriculture. Yet, more often than not, they boys get their ZZZs. And as you might have guessed, these earlier bed times and extended sleep schedules have been amazing for me and Vic. We can now do things like laundry, eat dinner before 10:00 pm and update the blog.

Thanks for keeping our family in your hearts. Have great nights and sleep fast!

-The Brittons

Kodak Picture Slideshow - Shep and Jack 5 to 7 months

A New Chapter

Let me start with an apology as it has been over a month since my last update. However, I have a good excuse - I've been parenting. I have come to realize that when you are parenting many things get added to the "to-do list," but very little on that list actually gets done. Aside from blogging I would say that opening mail (something Vicki and I weren't too good at to begin with) and doing adult laundry (this is mine and Vicki's laundry, not some x-rated wash) have been the biggest causalities. Though there have been some challenges to productivity, a great deal has happened over the last few weeks and I will attempt to give you the very brief recap.

I titled this entry "A New Chapter," because that is exactly what Shep and Jack have begun. Shepherd was released from the hospital on Sunday, February 7, 2010, after spending 28 days at Children's. Shep's release marked the beginning of what I like to call the Health and Happiness Era of the Britton Household. As I have said before, Shepherd received amazing care at Children's. Though his stay lasted much longer than we anticipated, the staff was extremely attentive and wonderfully patient as Shep made his way slowly down Recovery Road. Today, Shep is at home and thriving because of the attention and support he received from the staff at the hospital. Moreover, Vicki and I owe a special thanks to the Spurney family (Dr. Mr. is a pediatric cardiologist at Children's and Dr. Mrs. is an internist with Vicki at GW), who lent us their ears and expertise for an entire month. When you go through an experience like this, it is important to have a sounding-board and the Spurneys were always there to listen and offer their support. Whether it was talking about Shep's medical problems or just chatting about the joys of a long-term hospital stay, the Spurneys helped make a stressful month not just bearable, but at times hilarious and very enjoyable. We are incredibly grateful.

The reason Vicki and I have been able to get through the last few months is because of the wonderful support system we have had surrounding us. From friends bringing us dinner, to grandparents traveling 1,100 miles to babysit, we couldn't have done it without the love and support of our friends and family. People say "it takes a village," and Vicki and I feel very fortunate that our village is populated with such generous and loving people. And just to put the last few months into context, here is a quick retrospective: 19 weeks of combined hospitalization (Shep 11 weeks, Jack 6 weeks, Vicki 2 weeks); 1 C-Section (Vicki); 2 NICU stays (Shep and Jack); 1 minor heart issue (Jack's PDA), 1 major heart issue (Shep's Double Outlet Right Ventricle and Stenosis), 1 Open Heart Surgery (Shep); 1 CICU stay (Shep), 1 lung collapsing multiple times (Shep); countless pediatrician and specialists visits; lots of echocardiograms, tests and blood work; and somewhere between $350,000 and $500,000 in medical bills (we are waiting for the final tally, but luckily I have really good insurance).

It has definitely been a crazy time, but through all the craziness two wonderfully happy and now healthy boys have emerged. Shep and Jack are having a wonderful time at home together and are growing by leaps-and-bounds.

Vicki and I have been busy too. In the month since Shep was released from the hospital Washington DC was blanketed with over two feet of snow (allowing Vicki and I to spend some excellent quality time with the boys), I started back to work and traveled to Wisconsin, Vicki celebrated her 30th Birthday, we have had all kinds of friends and visitors in from out of town, and Vicki went back to work.

These days, Vicki and I have big smiles on our faces. Though we are a bit tired, it is impossible not to smile when looking at the Britton Boys. Shep and Jack are starting a new chapter in their young lives and I can't wait to share the stories of their good health and happiness. The updates will keep coming and check out the pictures below. As always thanks for keeping us in your thoughts.

Kodak Picture Slideshow

Much love,

-The Brittons

Hey, are you going to eat that?

Shepherd's Log: Day 26.
At last update, Shep was driving straight and fast down Recovery Road. Unfortunately, our little underage driver got car-sick and took a couple of spins around Upchuck Circle ( I could go on with these road references for years).
Shepherd has continued his one step forward, one step back style of recovery. Shep's heart surgery was successful, but that led to his lung collapsing. Now, the lung is reinflated and his breathing is great, but he is having problems with feeding and digestion.
As I mentioned last time, Vicki and I were able to start bottle feeding and we were focused on improving Shep's suck / swallow / breathe coordination. Over the last week, Shep's coordination has improved, but the little guy has had difficulty keeping his food down (hence the trip around Upchuck Circle). The doctors are not sure if Shep's digestive issues are side-effects of his medications, withdrawal symptoms or the result of a stomach bug. The good news is that for the last two days, Shep has been able to keep everything down. He takes a little more from the bottle each day and also is getting food through a tube to ensure that he receives enough calories. Our goals remain the same. We are just trying to get Shep back to the feeding levels he was at before the surgery, and with his digestive system stabilized we will hopefully be able to accomplish that in just a few days (famous last words). It has been a trying couple of weeks, but Shep's spirits remain high (checkout the photos of our happy, strong guy below).
Not to be left out, it should be noted that Jack is thriving during his short stint as an only child. The Britton Boys truly balance each other out. Even though Shep has had some trouble eating, Jack has taken it upon himself to compensate and eat everything not nailed down in our apartment. Jack has been equally amazing through this ordeal and has been wonderfully low maintenance for Vic, me and everyone who has taken care of him.
Again, we couldn't do this without a little or a lotta help from our friends and family. Once again, thank you to everyone for your support.
-The Brittons

The Road to Recovery is Paved with Successes, Setbacks and Perspective.

Shep's recovery has taken a bit longer than we and his doctors originally anticipated. The good news is that Shep is now driving straight on Recovery Road, but over the past few weeks he took a couple of detours down Collapsed Lung Lane (I will explain this highway system below).
When Shep was first admitted to the hospital Vicki and I were informed that he would likely be home in just over a week. We have now been in the hospital for 17 days and we still have a few more days ahead of us. These last two weeks have been incredibly challenging, but Shepherd has been amazing throughout this entire process and continues to impress and inspire his parents.
First and most importantly, Shep's surgery was a success! After two weeks of constantly monitoring Shep's vital signs and performing an echocardiogram to monitor the flow of blood through his heart, Shep's doctors are very pleased with the results of his surgery. There is still a little residual leakage around the patch in Shep's heart, but this condition is common in these types of procedures and the doctors are confident that these little holes will close or get smaller as Shep's heart grows. So with Shep's heart in good shape you may be asking yourself, "why have they been in the hospital so long?" The answer to that question is - Shep's lungs.
During the surgery and in the days following, Shepherd was on a ventilator to help him breathe. About four days after the surgery Shep's doctors tried to take him off the ventilator. Initially, Shep did well, keeping his vitals within acceptable levels and breathing regularly. However, after about 12 hours of breathing on his own, Shep's vitals began to deteriorate and his breathing became labored. The doctors ordered a chest x-ray to get a better look at Shep's lungs and quickly realized that his right lung had collapsed. In his weakened state Shep was unable to reinflate the lung on his own and he had to be placed back on the ventilator. We are not exactly sure why Shep's lung collapsed, but it is not uncommon for babies to have trouble coming off of a ventilator. After his initial attempt, Shep's lung collapsed two more times before he was finally able to reinflate his lung himself and breathe on his own. Hence, his detour down Collapsed Lung Lane.
And so here we are. Shep reinflated his lung and has been off the ventilator for four days! Since Shep has been doing so well he was moved out of the CICU and onto the regular hospital floor. His vitals and breathing continue to improve and we were able to begin bottle feeding. Of course, feeding is all about coordination and right now Shep's suck / swallow / breath is about as coordinated as Charles Barkley's golf swing (if you don't get this reference YouTube it and your welcome). But we are working on getting Shep's swing back. Just like in the NICU, we are back to focusing on feeding and growth. Once we get Shep back to the levels he was at before being admitted to the hospital we can go home. So there are 99 bottles of formula on the wall and we are taking one down and passing it to Shep.

Before I go, I wanted to touch briefly on the perspective we have gained over these past few weeks. There is no doubt that Shepherd's road has been rockier than most. But with that being said, time in a children's hospital offers a parent a unique opportunity to put things into perspective. During Shep's stay in the hospital we have met some wonderful people and heard some amazing stories. It is easy to get discouraged when your 15 week old child has spent more than 10 weeks of their life in a hospital, but when you meet a two year old who is on her sixth hospitalization or a newborn who is undergoing his second major surgical procedure you are reminded that their are roads far rockier than your own. It also helps to have wonderfully supportive people around you. From the amazing grandmothers who have put their lives on hold to come up and take care of Jack, to the other families in the CICU and the incredible doctors, nurses and staff at Children's, the level of support and compassion we have received is difficult to put into words. Vicki and I are so proud of our son and forever grateful to those around us.

Driving straight and fast on the road,

-The Brittons

Surgical Success!! Bring on the tubes, wires and lines.

Remember that scene in the Matrix where Keanu Reeves takes the "red pill" and wakes up in the real world. After waking up, he finds himself in a little pod connected to all kinds of tubes and wires. That scene basically begins to paint the picture of Shepherd's current state; however, Shep has way (or as Keanu would say waaaaaay) more tubes, wires and lines attached to him. But please don't worry about our little guy. All the tubes and lines are standard procedure for someone recovering from heart surgery.

After getting Shep to the hospital at 6:00 am and getting him all checked in, the anesthesiologists took Shep into pre-op around 7:45 am yesterday morning. What's interesting about surgery in the digital age is that when Vicki and I checked Shep into the hospital we were issued a pager that would receive surgical text updates to help keep us informed. Now, I know what you are thinking, how helpful can "OMG, Shep is like totally cute and doing so good :-)" or "LMAO, Shep just farted" be to a parent. Fortunately, the texts we received were far more no-nonsense and medically oriented. Vicki and I received messages letting us know when the first incision was made (8:55), when he was placed on the heart and lung bypass machine (9:35) and when he was taken off of it (approx 11:15). Despite their lack of sugarcoating, I am a big fan of the text message system. One thing I have come to realize over the past few months is that when your child is having any type of medical exam or procedure performed on them, silence is excruciating. Though the messages are brief and delivered via pager, the texts help break up the four plus hours of deafening silence. However, if the hospital asks us for feedback, I will be sure to tell them that a "ur kid is 2 cute," thrown in every once and a while couldn't hurt.

Once we received the final message letting us know that Shep was off the bypass machine, we were taken to a room to meet with Dr. Jonas. This meeting actually takes place before Shep is out of surgery as other members of the surgical team are tasked with finishing the basic maintenance and closing the chest. During our meeting Dr. Jonas informed us that Shep's cardiac anatomy was more complex than he originally anticipated. Even though Shepherd had multiple echocardiograms, there is really no substitute for seeing the heart in person. Shep's complex anatomy forced Dr. Jonas to alter his surgical plan and make adjustments in the OR. However, in the end, it appears the surgery was completed successfully (we will know for sure in a day or two when we can do a follow up echo). Dr. Jonas was able to patch the hole, correctly route the blood and shave off the excess muscle. The complexity of his cardiac anatomy, which made for a technically difficult surgery, has served to reinforce our decision to switch to Dr. Jonas. Though it is possible Shep would have been fine no matter who did the surgery, there is a chance that a less experienced surgeon wouldn't have been able to perform the correction given Shep's unique anatomy.

Now, with the surgery behind us, our attention turns to recovery. Vicki and I were finally able to see Shep around 3:00pm yesterday. Our little guy is in a cardiac intensive care unit, which is a specialized unit of the hospital with just 13 beds. The level of attention patients receive in this area of the hospital is nothing short of amazing. Shep is followed by a team of CICU doctors, the cardiothoracic surgery team, his own cardiologist, and his own nurse 24/7. At first glance, this level of care may seem like overkill, but Shep's condition changes by the minute. At this critical stage Shepherd requires constant attention, his breathing, blood and chemical levels are being checked around the clock and his medications are adjusted continuously throughout the day. This attention to detail and level of care is all done in an attempt to strike a delicate balance in his heartbeat, blood pressure and respiratory rate. And as of right now, that balance is being struck. Shep's blood pressure remains strong, his heart rate continues to fall and with each passing hour he breathes more on his own.

Like any surgery, the first 24 hours are the most critical and we are now past the 24 hour mark. Shep is a rockstar and he improves with each passing minute. We will have more news to report after the next echocardiogram, but in the meantime, he is doing wonderfully. Thank you to all for your thoughts, prayers, positive vibes, good feelings, positive energies, loving sentiments and Zen. Shep thanks you too!

PS Since this isn't a terribly happy subject matter I am including a slideshow of the boys Christmas portraits to help brighten everyone's day. The Title is Christmas is Exhausting...Enjoy!

Love,

-The Brittons

Shep's Surgery is Scheduled for Monday, 1/11/10

The day is finally upon us. When Vicki and I first found out about Shep's heart condition we were told that his surgery would not take place until he was four to six months of age. However, on Monday, Shep will be just shy of three months old. Let me explain the reasons why we pushed up the date of his surgery. First, and most importantly, we did not push up the date for medical reasons. Shep continues to do well and could have easily waited the four to six months that was originally approximated. We made the decision because of a unique opportunity that arose.

Vicki and I were lucky enough to get on the schedule of one of the best pediatric cardiothorasic surgeons in the country. Dr. Richard Jonas, is the gentleman who will be fixing Shep on Monday. As a result of this change in surgical teams, Shepherd will no longer have his surgery performed at Fairfax Hospital where he was born, but instead will have it performed at Children's Hospital in D.C. As I have stated before, the care we have received at Fairfax has been amazing and the surgical team had a great reputation. However, Dr. Jonas is the best and we would be remiss if we did not utilize his expertise.

The change of surgeons leads us to our second reason for being able to push up the date -Shep's progress. Shepherd has done an amazing job both in the NICU and here at home. Since he has grown so quickly and is eating well, there is really no reason to wait. Dr. Jonas operates on babies far smaller than Shep and by operating now we can begin the recovery process that much sooner. Often it is the recovery, rather than the surgery that proves to be most difficult. The good news is that because Shep has been able to do so much on his own (eat, poop, regulate sleep, maintain a strong immune system) he will likely recover at a faster pace.

The changes to Shep's plan all came about during the Christmas holiday and we have spent the last few days getting ready for the week ahead. Last Thursday, Vicki and I sat down with Dr. Jonas and went over the procedure. Then on Friday, Vicki took Shep to the hospital for all the preliminary testing (all of which came back normal). So now we wait for Monday.

We have to get Shep to the hospital on Monday morning around 6:00 Am. Shepherd will go into surgery around 7:30 and the procedure will take approximately four hours. The surgery will be performed just like an open-heart procedure in an adult. I mentioned in one of my first updates that Shep has a VSD and subpulmonic stenosis. He also has something that is called double outlet right ventricle (DORV) (check out the picture below to get an idea of what Shep's heart looks like). During the surgery the doctor will go in and sew a patch over the VSD and close off the double outlet, so the aorta only gets oxygenated blood and the pulmonary artery only gets deoxygenated. Finally, the doctor will shave off the excess muscle around the pulmonary valve, allowing more blood to flow to the lungs. Vicki and I will get updates throughout and when Shep is finished he will be moved to a special cardiac intensive care unit. Shep will likely spend the week after his surgery recovering in the hospital. It also is worth mentioning that children tend to recover much faster than adults. Because Shep's bones are still forming he will have far less discomfort and will be moving around much more quickly than the typical adult patient.

So that is where we are at. Everyone is very optomistic and Shep is expected to make a full recovery. Remember, he has been training and preparing for this day his whole life. When I go into the boys' room Shep has the theme song from Rocky playing and he is doing cardio, lifting weights and drinking milk all at the same time. Our little guy is going to kick ass on Monday and Vicki and I will be oh so happy to put this behind us. As always, I thank you all for your positive energy and good thoughts. I will send updates as soon as we know that Shep is out of surgery and is doing well.

-The Brittons

Everyone gains weight during the holidays.

I apologize to everyone for not updating the blog for a few weeks. I will do a couple of updates in short succession to bring everyone up-to-speed and of course share the newest pictures.

To begin, the boys first holiday season was a huge success. Like everyone, Shep and Jack packed on the pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's. When the little guys were born they weighed 3 lbs 5 oz and 3 lbs 4 oz. Today, they each weight 8 lbs 3 oz. Weight gain has been a constant theme in these updates because it has been the major theme in our lives. From making special breast milk / formula cocktails for Shep to keeping a log that lists the exact time, amount, and medications in each feed, a large part of our day is dedicated to helping the boys beef-up. In fact, since they left the hospital the boys have been to the pediatrician's office four times and have had a home health nurse visit once a week, all in an effort to closely monitor their growth. Therefore, Vicki and I were super excited when we found out the boys were 8-3!

In addition to eating, Shepherd and Jackson spent the better part of December spending time with both sets of Grandparents, their Aunt Jo, Uncle Bruce, Great Grandma Debby and of course Aunt Heather. It was great having the families in town and the boys were of course spoiled rotten and loved every minute of it. Shep and Jack also experienced their first snow storm, as the Mid-Atlantic was blanketed in over a foot of snow the week before Christmas.

It was an amazing holiday season and the Britton boys were definitely full of Christmas cheer. Over the past month, Shep and Jack assembled a very impressive holiday wardrobe. The ugliest Christmas sweaters have nothing on these boys. From Santa themed sleep slacks, to all green onesies, it seemed liked everyday brought a new and more festive outfit (you can checkout their wardrobe by looking at the pictures below). Shep and Jack are already planning next year's winter wardrobe.

I recognize that 2009 was a difficult year for many people, whether for economic reasons, health issues, or you were Tiger Woods. However, the birth of Shepherd and Jackson coupled with the copious amounts of love and support from our friends and family helped make 2009 our best year yet. Shep, Jack, Vicki and I are looking forward to a 2010 filled with happiness, lots of good HEALTH, and more great times with friends and family. We are wishing you and yours the very best in this new year and as always thanking you for your love and support.

Kodak Slideshow of Shep and Jack's Holiday Spectacular

-Shep, Jack, Vicki, Ryan

REUNITED and it feels so good!

As you might have noticed, I typically try to update the blog on Sunday evenings. Unfortunately, I missed last Sunday's update, mainly because I was pretty tired. However, I am happy to report that the reason for my exhaustion is that Vicki and I have been busy taking care of both Shepherd and Jackson. That's right, both our boys are home. On Friday December 4, a week and two days after his brother was sent home, Vic and I were given the word that Shepherd was ready for pickup.

The last time I spent this many nights awake until 4:30 A.M. I was at a bachelor party in Vegas. In fact taking care of new born babies is not all that different from a trip to Vegas with the boys. During both events you are running on very little sleep, someone is drinking from a bottle at all hours of the night, you often have to carry that person to their bed, and boobs are matter of great importance.

Jackson had a great first week at home. Aside from getting settled in his new room, he made two trips to the pediatrician's office (standard procedure for a premie), saw a home health nurse, and spent many nights up late with his mom and dad (he likes to watch Conan). The pediatrician continues to monitor him closely, but has been very happy with his progress and weight gain while at Casa de Britton.

Not to be outdone, Shep quickly picked up his pace in the NICU and was able to join his brother at home. Over the past few weeks, Shep has been on a medication called Lasix. The medication is a diuretic that is used to eliminate excess water from the body. Less fluid in the body means less fluid for the heart and lungs to process, which ultimately reduces the strain on these organs. The Lasix has helped lowered Shep's breathing rate and allowed him to spend less energy on breathing and more energy on eating. Over the past few days, Shep has been to the pediatrician and cardiologist (again, standard procedure). Both doctors are pleased with Shep's progress and want us remain focused on helping him gain weight in preparation for surgery.

The Britton boys have clearly had a good couple of weeks and this last week marked another amazing first - the boys were able to meet their Grandmothers. I am not sure if I mentioned it, but the NICU visitation policy is extremely strict and only parents are allowed in to visit their children. As a result, no one has been able to see the boys except for Vic, me and the NICU medical team. The past two weeks were more than just a homecoming, they were an introduction to friends and family. In addition to their Grandmother, the boys have been able to meet their Aunt Heather and a number of our friends.

Shepherd and Jackson are looking forward to the holidays and spending more time with family and friends. Words fall short in expressing how happy Vicki and I are to have our boys home. We will keep the updates coming.

Much Love,

-The Brittons

Kodak Slideshow of Shep's Homecoming

Your Baby is Ready for Pickup

As I have mentioned in previous updates, it has been difficult to determine exactly when Shepherd and Jackson would be coming home. Before the boys can leave the NICU, they must be able to maintain their body temperature, pass a multitude of exams (hearing, eye, car seat challenge), and most importantly drink their entire bottle in less than a half an hour / 8 times a day. Only when these benchmarks are consistently met do parents get to bring their children home.

On Wednesday (11/25/09), after almost six weeks, Vicki received a call from one of the neonatologists informing her that Jack was ready to go home. This incredibly important call, which we have been anxiously awaiting, was surprisingly similar to the call you would get from your local dry cleaner or bakery, letting you know that your order was ready for pickup. We knew Jack was getting closer to going home, but we had no idea it was going to be on Thanksgiving.

So on Thursday (11/26/09), Vicki and I headed to the hospital to celebrate Thanksgiving with the boys and then bring Jackson home. Needless to say, Vicki and I have had an amazing and somewhat exhausting Thanksgiving weekend. Jackson is adjusting incredibly well to his new home. He has already called dibs on a crib and is hanging posters on his side of the room.

At the moment, we are still unsure about when Shepherd will make his trip home. We think of ourselves as being on the baby installment plan. It's basically like those sketchy late night infomercials - we will try Jackson at home for a week and if we like him, we will receive another baby just a few days later. The doctors and nurses continue to be impressed with Shep's progress and believe he will not be in the NICU much longer.

Though they are in two different locations, both boys continue to do well (both boys are over five and a half pounds) and get stronger. Jack's homecoming was definitely a great way to kick off the holiday season and to remind us of all we have to be thankful for. I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day! Please know that Vicki, Shep, Jack and I are thankful for the love and support we continue to receive.

-The Brittons

Kodak Slideshow of Jack's Homecoming

Don't Drink and Drive

Shepherd and Jackson are five weeks old. The boys are now the sage elders of the NICU, sharing their wisdom and life experience with the young kids who come into the unit. The Britton Boys continue to improve on a daily basis and at some point during the last week both boys crossed the five pound mark (Jack is 5 lbs 4 oz and Shep is catching up at 5 lbs 1 oz). Shep and Jack's feeding schedules are like a frat boy's during rush week. They grab a bottle, drink until they pass out and then wake up three hours later and do it all over again. And the similarities don't end there, they also occasionally throw-up on themselves.

Jack has been doing so well with his feedings that he was able to take the Car Seat Challenge (CSC). I find it funny that the quicker you can down a bottle, the faster you get to go in a car, but that's for another time. Now, earlier I talked about the onesie challenge, which is a contest that doesn't really exist, but that I made up to help improve my baby dressing skills (I can now dress the boys in just under two hours). The Car Seat Challenge is a real test that the boys must pass before they can leave the NICU. To complete the CSC a child must remain securely fastened in their car seat with their leads attached for 90 minutes. During the 90 minutes the child must maintain their heart, breathing, and pulse-ox rates without any significant decreases. I am happy to report that Jackson dominated the CSC and passed without any problems (There are pictures below). After watching his brother Shep is anxious to show us his skills and will hopefully take the CSC at some point this week.

In addition to the CSC, the boys have had eye-tests (that came back normal) and Jackson had a hearing test (that also came back normal). We are still unsure of the boys homecoming timeline, but the CSC is one of the last NICU hurdles. The doctors and nurses have told us to be ready and that the boys could be coming home at any moment. It is possible that Jackson may come home before Shepherd, but for the moment we are in a holding pattern.

Another great week in the books. Vicki is doing very well and we are both trying to get the apartment ready for the homecoming celebration. Thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts. New photos are below.

Kodak Slideshow of Shep and Jack Week 5

Video Slideshow

Much Love,

-The Brittons