It was a very different Christmas this year. Jack has been home for five weeks and is doing great. Still on oxygen and his pulse/ox monitor, but he hasn't really needed them for a while (his heart rate and pulse are normal all the time) and hopefully when we see the NICU doctor for an appointment at the hospital's high-risk newborn clinic in two weeks we can get rid of his wires for good.
We tried to get Jack and Luke together on Christmas Eve so the four of us could get a family picture together for our first Christmas, but it did not happen. Our request to bring Jack was officially denied around two weeks ago, but that was not going to stop us from trying. We brought Jack with us to see if we could get him back to see his brother. In over three months, they have been together less then three hours (when Rachel and I were able to hold them together a few times before Jack came home). The nurse told us he could not go back, so we just stayed there and waited. The nurse practitioner told us the same thing and we waited again. The NICU doctor agreed and Rachel and I took turns spending a few minutes with Luke and telling him that we tried to bring his brother back.
Grandma and Grandpa Barnes (Ken's parents) arrived Christmas Eve and will be here until January 2nd. On Christmas Eve we had a family dinner, went to church, and then to Rachel's parents' house for presents. Santa made a surprise visit and had gifts for Jack and his cousins Ross and Eli. Christmas morning Santa spent the day at Children's Hospital visiting all the patients, so at least both boys were able to get pictures with Santa for their first Christmas...
Luke is doing OK - just taking a long time to put on weight. His major health issues are behind him, but he is having a lot of reflux and having trouble keeping all his food down. He is in a crib now and is laying on a wedge - strapped in with velcro to hold him in since his position is almost sitting straight up. He still has not been able to start trying bottles, and it looks like it will be at least the end of January before he comes home. Rachel told Luke his goal was to get to 4 pounds by Christmas, and on Christmas morning he did it!
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