After nearly 7 weeks in Boston, Aiden has finally returned home. Hannah and Aiden arrived on June 2nd. Although he is still throwing up, he is recovering well from the surgery and is extremely happy to be back with his brothers. He has been doing well with walking, although his balance still needs some work. His hair has grown by leaps and bounds and he has beautiful little curls. Finally, Hannah had to take him for a haircut (Manish says he was “Samsonized”!). The little locks were a big part of his charisma and charm…but don’t worry, it will grow back.

All three boys are increasing their vocabulary. For example, “car” and “keys” combinations now include the word “door…open the door.” Additionally, they love listening to their “A-B-D’s” music. We are working on getting that right but they are convinced that is what it is called. At the end of the B-I-B-L-E song, they will say “Bibee” (Bible), and they have a name for each song. Ice Cream is a new favorite, expecially for Evan. After dinner, Manish asks them “who wants…” and Evan is hooked because he knows what’s coming. See the video below for his little reaction.

Hannah will take Aiden back up to Boston Children’s in late July for the laryngeal cleft surgery. Please keep him in your prayers! In the meantime, we are thoroughly enjoying being back together as a family for a couple of weeks. Enjoy the video and images below.

Look who’s back in town!

All of the “Things” are finally reunited

Thing 3 is so happy to be back

Simply adorable

The twins new favorite is their Shapes video

Aiden is laughing it up

He has so much hair (this is before the haircut)

Indian style on the couch

The trips

A battle over the toy is looming

Always smiling

Ethan, do you like Mickey Mouse?

I guess not

Hello Rabbi Aiden

Shalom!

Thanks for all your prayers! Aiden’s infection eventually went away and we were approved to fly him back in late July for the laryngeal cleft repair.

We expect Aiden and Hannah to come back home this coming Tuesday (June 2nd). It has been about 6 weeks since they left and both are very anxious to get back. Aiden is still vomiting so at this point, it is difficult to tell what (if any) impact the malrotation had. Even so, we are glad it is finished and over with and now we can focus on his next procedure in July.

“E and E” are starting to develop a vocabulary that goes beyond “cars, keys and door.” Although that is still their favorite subject. They are trying to string words together to convey what they want and will probably be “talking” in a few weeks. Whenever Evan gets a hold of the phone, he says “mommy…mommy…mommy” as each night, we call Hannah and the boys talk to her. Ethan has learned self-defense. Historically, Evan has been a bully and took whatever toys he wants whenever he felt like. But lately, Ethan has fought back with his mouth (as evidenced by the many bite marks he has left behind on Evan’s arms, hand and even face)! So, Evan has learned to be more respectful of Ethan and his razor sharp teeth.

Below are some recent pics of the twins and one of Aiden (webcam).

Should you boys be up there?

Evan, that looks like your “naughty” smile

Ethan, you too!

The wet-wipe container makes a lovely head covering

The little bear is so full of life

Ethan, that looks dangerous

That hat looks good on you

Hi to you too

Evan found some food in his hand

How did you get up there?

And you too?

The twins are hanging out

This looks like trouble

Grandma’s favorite “things”

Thing #1

Thing #2

Snack time at McDonalds

Ice cream is a favorite

Grandpa loves feeding his babies

…and is doing double duty this afternoon

Evan loves his fries

Devouring

Ethan likes them but not as much

Grandma is going to put some sauce on your fries

Wow, Evan you are dipping your fries all by yourself!

Ethan, one french fry at a time!

Web-camming with Hannah and Aiden (his hair has grown so much)

Hannah and Aiden have now been in Boston for over five weeks.  The separation has been difficult for everyone.  Aiden wakes up asking for his Daddy and brothers in the mornings, and Ethan and Evan go around the house trying to figure out where Mommy and Aiden have gone.  Evan will lay his head down on the floor outside the door to our room and try to see through the crack under the door and call “Mommie?  Mommie?”  The Child Life Specialist at Children’s Hospital was able to find a laptop for Hannah to borrow for a couple of days, so that Aiden could see pictures of Daddy and his brothers.  He was so excited to see them, he started clapping!  We will all be so glad to be together again, hopefully soon.

Speaking of Aiden…as you know, he underwent a major surgery a week ago to repair the intestinal malrotation, remove his appendix, remove a urachal remnant,  and insert a surgical j-tube.   The surgery went very smoothly and only took approximately 5 hours, thankfully much less time than initially estimated, and therefore less time that Aiden had to be under anesthesia.   

After spending several nights in the ICU to get his respiratory and pain issues under control, we were all (including his doctors) pleasantly surprised by how well he seemed to be recovering and we were making great progress getting him up to his baseline on j-tube feedings.  He had some low-grade fevers following the surgery (to be expected), and on Tuesday, developed a small area of inflammation or (we thought) perhaps a little bit of infected fluid drainage behind the incision, but it seemed to respond to antibiotics and appeared to be improving.

We were making preparations to be discharged from the hospital on Saturday (today); however, yesterday (Friday), Aiden just didn’t seem to feel good.  Even after adjusting his pain meds, he didn’t want to move or be touched.  His heart rate was up and he seemed to be working hard to breathe.  By Friday afternoon, his fever returned with a vengeance.  Within 30 minutes of the Tylenol wearing off, it had shot up to 101.5 and Aiden’s whole body was burning up.  The incision area all around the surgical j-tube had become swollen and inflamed, and was very tender.  The doctors ordered a number of tests and also changed the antibiotics, as he was obviously not responding to the one that he had been taking.  Fortunately, although he still has the fever and infection, he seems to be doing better today, and we are all keeping a close eye on the infected area.  Please, please pray with us that Aiden will respond to this new antibiotic and that it will completely wipe out the infection.

We are all hopeful that the intestinal repair will help to solve the motility issues and relieve the pain that Aiden has been experiencing.   As for the longer term plan: after extensive discussions with our doctors here at Boston Children’s, we now have a basic timeline for the near future.  Hannah and Aiden will have to remain in Boston for at least another week, until the beginning of June, for follow-up appointments with the aero-digestive doctors and the surgeon.  The doctors believe that it is best to wait at least two months (eight weeks) before attempting to repair the laryngeal cleft.  In the meantime, we are hopeful that they will be able to return home for the next seven weeks or so and spend some time together as a family while Aiden recovers.  This is largely dependent upon the insurance company, so please pray that everything works out.

And last but certainly not least…on this Memorial Day weekend, we want to remember and express our whole-hearted gratitude to those who have sacrificed so much and given their lives to preserve our freedoms and liberties, so that we can continue to live in this great country.   May we do our part to honor their memories and keep this nation free, and may God continue to bless America, land of the free and home of the brave.