Spence and Addison are both really sick. Addison and Spence have really bad congestion and caughs. Unfortunately they have both been vomting as well. Although both Spence and Addison seem to have the same thing it is way worse for our little Spence. The Doctor put Spence on Zithromax today to hopefully knock out the infection that has attacked his little lungs, if this doesn't get rid of it we are going to have to consider hospitalizing him until he is well again. This thought scares me but I know that whatever comes our way we will be able to handle it. I am hoping and praying that the Zithromax will do the trick and Spence will soon be well. Little Addison is doing a little bit better but she can't seem to shake this yucky caugh and congestion, right now the Doctor hasn't prescribed any antibiotic for her but is she continues to get worse or starts to wheeze we will have to bring her back in to the office. Chloe is a trooper although she has a caugh she is a big help, most of the time she is asking if there is some way she can help, at other times she wants to be babied like Addison and Spence.. I am appreciative of all the prayers being said on our little ones behalf. I will try to keep you updated on how they are doing.. Hopefully the next entry will be telling you of how they are all doing well ..

Well Spence is doing great he is now 12 pounds 5 ounces and 22 and a half inches long. He is getting so big it is almost hard to believe he was only born at 1 pound 4.5 ounces. He is smiling now and laughing a lot. Addison and Chloe can't seem to get enough of him. Spence has a PT and an EI (physical therapist and early interventionist) that come once a week to work with him. Spence is getting really good at turning his head from side to side. He was having some trouble when he first started but now he is able to turn his head like a champ. Spence also had some trouble lifting up off the ground and holding his head up but now he is also doing better with that. Things here have quieted down some but things seem to get crazy in the blink of an eye. Spence seems to be thriving here at home and I couldn't be more happy to have all of my kids home with me. Love you lots .. Oh and I will hopefully have some pictures to put on here soon, our camera has been broken, but now that it is working I should be sending some pictures soon ..

New update

I am so sorry that it is taking me so long to keep everyone updated on our little Spence, time just seems to fly around here. Everyone is really good, the girls are in love with Spence and have already started to spoil him rotten. Every time Spence gets upset or even looks like he is going to cry Addison comes and tells me that Spence is sad and wants mommy, I just have to smile because she is too cute. Chloe loves to hold him and just love on him, at least for five or ten minutes anyway, she usually gets bored after a little while and wants to give him back. She is always talking to him and telling him how much she loves him and how cute he is, and of course Addison wants to do everything the same as sissy, so as soon as Chloe steps away Addison is over there telling him again. Spence is now 10 pounds 9 ounces and 22 inches long. We went to the GI last week and they have decided to put Spence on Soy Formula for now, they are unsure if he has a milk issue. So far he is doing well on the Soy formula. On Friday of last week Spence had an ultrasound of his Gallbladder done to see if the Gall-stone has decreased in size, or if had completely dissolved. Unfortunately the gallstone was still there, I am unsure if it has decreased in size because due to Dr. Amarnath's policy the results will not be given until Spence's follow up appointment which is on the 13th of November. I am sure that if something came up that was concerning he would have called me, so I am sure everything is ok, when I know more I will definitely update everyone. Last week we also went to the Pulmonologist and Spence is now on 1/32 liter of oxygen, which is pretty much like breathing room air. He is allowed to be off of the Oxygen during the day as long as someone is watching him, at night he must wear it so that we are sure he is doing well. On Monday of this week we went to the Cardiologist and were informed that Spence at some point had a hole in his heart and also a heart murmer, but all is well, after they did an ultrasound of his heart everything appeared normal and we wont need to see the cardiologist again.

LONG awaited pics of Spence

from Mommy

Everything at home is great, a little loud at times but very enjoyable. Spence is doing well, he has acclamated himself to our home and is really thriving. Spence now weighs 9 pounds 1.5 ounces and is 20 inces long. He is eating his bottles well and is on 1/16th of a liter for his oxygen. The girls are absolutely in love with him and are always looking at him to make sure he is still here and ok.

Hello, everyone!

Good news! After almost 5 long months, Baby Spence was released from the hospital yesterday. He came home on an apnea monitor and oxygen but Joseph and Kimberly are glad to have him home in spite of that!

Thanks for all your prayers and support during this time. Even though he is out of the hospital he still has a long way to go so if you would continue to pray for him to stay healthy through this virulent flu season, it would be very much appreciated. Because of the time he had to spend on the ventilator, his lungs are weak and a case of the flu, or any respiratory infection for that matter, would be very dangerous for him. He is a sweet little boy and is doing well at this point! Thanks again for praying for him (and us!)

Love,
JoEllen

Spence is doing really well. He is now 8 pounds 2.3 ounces and 19 inches long. He is getting so big but is still so small looking to me. Spence is no longer on the Vapotherm and no longer has his NG tube for feeding. Spence is doing his best to eat his 8 bottles a day, he is finishing them but sometimes he is really tired after eating them. He is up to 72 cc's every three hours. Spence is eating from a haberman nipple that is meant for Special feeding issues. Spence has a very narrow pallet due to him having the Vent in for so long. He is expected to be home sometime by the end of this month or early October, it just depends on him and how much progress he makes. The Doctor's are hopeful that Spence will be able to come off the wall oxygen all together before he comes home. I am so excited that the time for him to be home with us is fast approaching. We are busy getting the house together, we are getting rid of a lot of junk that we don't use or need so we don't have to much junk collecting dust. I am going to have Joseph download some pictures of Spence so everyone can see how much he has changed.