These last few weeks have been like a continuous roller coast ride.  We have been trying to finalize travel plans for Aiden’s visit to Boston and the insurance company (who up until this point has been wonderful) dragged their feet until the last minute and denied the Air Ambulance flight a week before Aiden’s appointments. This did not give us sufficient time to appeal (the standard appeals process taked 30-60 days), so we requested an expedited appeal.  Late Thursday evening, they also denied this request, which effectively left us with no recourse.

We were at a loss for what to do or how to get him to Boston.  The scheduled appointments and procedures in Boston had taken many months of waiting, planning and extensive coordination, with the physicians making special arrangements to ensure that the procedures are performed in the best manner for Aiden, so that he does not have to undergo anesthesia multiple times.  We had looked into commercial several times in the past, but flying commercial entails some medical risks, and Aiden’s doctors had advised against it. 

Amazingly enough, at the end of the day yesterday (Friday) afternoon, the insurance company called us back and told us that the Air Ambulance had been approved!  There were no specific reasons they provided for their change of mind, or at least none that they wanted to share with us.  In any event, this was clearly an answer to the many prayers that were offered up on Aiden’s behalf, and it was unmistakable to everyone involved that God had answered in a miraculous way.  It is impossible to express just how thankful we are for God’s continued watchcare over Aiden! 

Hannah and Aiden will be leaving for Boston on Sunday afternoon. Please keep Aiden in your prayers over the next several days as he will undergo a couple of tests to once again try to determine the cause of his digestive issues, in addition to re-inspecting the laryngeal cleft.  He will be in Boston at least through Friday.  Depending upon the results, if the doctors feel that surgery on the cleft is required, then he will stay through the following week at least .

On a lighter note, we took the boys to the Fort Worth Zoo a couple of weeks ago, and they had a blast. The monkeys and cheetahs were their favorite of all the animals. The Fort Worth Zoo has a sign at the entrance: “Bring your little animals to see our animals.” How appropriate! Below are some fun pictures.

The twins need a haircut

Oops. Wrong set of twins. The boys are not sure what to make of the monkeys

Meanwhile, Aiden is trying to be the star of the show

A little monkey watching the monkeys

The flamingos were very pretty and the boys stared at them for a while

This guy did not really like me that much

Here we are…hot, worn out and very thirsty

Evan, what are you pointing at?

Ethan, why the face?

Let’s enjoy the outdoors!

A little bear went fishing…

…and saw a fish…

and tried to catch it

Aiden, don’t fall in!

A soaked Evan makes an attempt to escape

Aiden loves the water

Kaelyn and the Trips got along so well

Ethan’s newest friend is Uncle Tim

After nearly 19 months, Aiden has taken his first steps and can walk half way across the room. He is so proud of himself everytime he does it! There is a short clip of him walking in the video below.

Despite being out of the feeding program, Aiden still likes to take little baby bites (and even some big ones). Please pray that he continues to want to eat even though he is no longer getting daily therapy. Hopefully, we can get him up to Boston later this month where they will reattempt to diagnose what is causing the vomiting issue. If this issue can be corrected, we will put him back in the program.

Ethan and Evan are doing very well and have gotten very good at repeating things we say. Grandma and Grandpa were here for several days and had a great time with the boys! Just a few short days later their Aunt Aleta, Uncle Tim and cousin Kaelyn were here for a week. We posted several pics below (more to come in the next update).

Nice backpack Aiden

Aunt Amisha and the trips tried a picture…but Evan did not fully cooperate

Evan, are you still upset?

Aiden is so happy

Time for bed

So silly!

Ethan lies on grandma and chugs his milk

What is going on over here?

Wow!

Laughing it up

And Evan gives him a big kiss

Now its Ethan’s turn to enjoy grandpa

Evan enjoys his toys

Ethan, don’t fall off!

The youngest and oldest

From oldest down to youngest

Aiden, are you offering me something to drink?

Evan, what are you looking for?

Ethan loves his little red monkey

…and his little cell phone

And now Ethan is looking for something under the couch

Aiden, have you ever ridden on an aiport fire truck?

Thanks so much for the prayers! After being admitted on Friday evening, Aiden looked great the following morning and the bloodwork showed that all his levels were back to normal. It is difficult to say with certainty what caused the problem but it appears it was due to dehydration from all the vomiting. They gave him Intravenous Therapy overnight and that seemed to take care of his issues. He went home on Saturday evening.

Aiden was so happy to be back home. He crawled all over the place yelling at the top of his lungs and we had to chase him around to make sure his oxgen stayed attached. Unfortunately, it looks like the feeding program may be put on hold given the additional feeding is what most likely led to the increased vomiting. We will consult with his doctors and get their input before making any decisions.

With Hannah gone all day and Manish working, it has been tough on the twins (especially Evan). All day they say “Ma?” and “Dodden?” Otherwise they are doing great in terms of growth, health, etc.

We posted some pictures over the past couple week below and some of Aiden at the hospital.

Aiden, you are drinking Starbucks?

I guess he likes it

The little wave

Things are looking up?

What kind of a face is that?

Ethans loves the page with the car on it

And he loves to climb

So cute!

Loving his little froggy

Ethan, that is a remote control, not a phone

Evan, watch your step

Following in daddy’s footsteps

My little boo

What is that?

Loving his blocks

Still has the slippers on

What are you up to?

Ethan and Aiden are playing house

Let me in Aiden

Loves those books

This smells like trouble

The slide is so much fun

Want to go again?

Ethan’s turn

He wants to climb back up the slide

Evan enjoys going down

But today, he was so tired he eventually laid down on the slide

Carolina swings Ethan…

…while Edith swing Evan

Ethan looks tired

Evan is almost out

Ethan, your turn to fall asleep

Exactly one year ago, you were in the same place

So sad to be back

But guess what, this was just a short stay and you get to go home tonight!

Hey there Evan

Such twins

Aiden had a slight fever last night and was breathing heavy. He seemed to be back to normal this morning but by the middle of the day he was working harder than usual to breathe. So, Hannah took him to the hospital for some tests and it turns out his CO2 levels were high enough for him to be admitted to the hospital.

It appears the cause is the increased vomiting over the last few days which led to aspirations and possibly, a bacterial infection. He will most likely be in the hospital the next couple of days (at the very least) so please keep him in your prayers. Thanks so much!

One morning a few weeks ago, we brought the boys downstairs to discover that we had some visitors in our back yard: two ducks were swimming around in the pool! Of course, the boys were incredibly excited. They were standing at the windows jumping up and down while looking out at the ducks, yelling (at the top of their lungs) “Qua, qua, qua, qua, qua!” They must have scared the ducks away (as well as anyone and anything else within a 3-mile radius!!), because the ducks were gone just a few minutes later. Ironically enough, the boys have not forgotten and will still stand at the windows looking out at the pool saying “Qua,Qua,Qua,Qua,Qua” (it sounds more like “KaKaKa”).

They have seen “ducks” on their Letters DVD for the letter “Q,” and therefore developed their own version of “quack”–hence the “qua,qua,qua.” Of course, they get so excited when they see any animal of any kind, and they now think that every animal (dogs, cats, horses, cows, birds, etc.) says “qua,qua,qua” with the exception of the turkey (which they have never seen), but somehow they know that it says “Gobba, gobba, gobba,” as they say in such cute, soft little voices.

The little monkeys are into everything these days, from taking their clothes off to climbing on top of the changing table (constantly) and climbing over the baby gates. Yes, you read that right: climbing OVER the baby gates. Oh, and did I mention that they have also figured out how to open the gate? Yikes!!! They are enamored with butt paste (don’t ask), and so they have figured out how to climb up on top of the changing table to get to it. Ethan, being the more flexible and lighter of the two, is more adapt at it, but they can both do it. We can’t even turn around for a second, or the next thing we know they are sitting up on top of the changing table.

We have had some good news for Aiden. On March 16th he will begin the Intensive Day Feeding Therapy Program. This is a full-day program (9AM-5 PM) which runs 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Hannah will be taking him into Dallas each day and various members of our family will be coming down to help take care of Ethan and Evan. We are so grateful to our families for their support and help, giving up their time and vacations to help us work out the logistics and coverage so that Aiden can get the help that he needs. Please pray that this will help Aiden begin to eat, that everything will go well and Ethan and Evan will adjust easily to the changes, and traveling mercies as we travel back and forth each day. Immediately following completion of the feeding program in mid-April, we will be taking Aiden back to Boston for some additional testing and possibly surgery.

We have some updated video and pictures below.

Captain Adorable himself

What is he up to?

Ethan, do you know?

Are you eating, Evan?

Don’t eat that!

Ethan loves getting his hands on the remote control

Got milk?

Too much, apparently

Why the tears?

Loving mommy!

So happy!

More love…Evan, your belly is sticking out

Ethan nearly pulled the drawer on top of himself

Hi boys!

Love the little wave

What are you two up to?

Ethan is showing off

So Evan one ups him

Aiden, are you feeling left out?

Evan, you ready to eat?

Aiden is so cute!

Ethan, what is that?

The twins try to trade food

While Aiden watches on

Evan, did you make a bad deal?

Ethan thinks he did too

So they trade back