Finally Becoming a Family of Four

As many of you know, on November 3rd, Jadon Michael Foster became the fourth member of our family. It was such a bittersweet arrival. We couldn't have been more excited to finally meet him but our excitement was quickly clouded by unexpectedly learning he was born with a diaphragmatic hernia. Our world was quickly turned upside down as he made his way to Children's Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago a mear 4 hours after his birth.

But I'm so happy to finally update you all and tell you that 34 days later, on December 6th, we finally became a family of four as Jadon was released from Children's and we were able to bring him home! Surgery went amazing and his recovery was phenomenal. I still don't think I fully comprehend how quick a recovery he had for a baby born with a diaphragmatic hernia. The nurses kept telling us that most babies born with this anomaly are in the hospital for months. But I know that it was because of all your prayers. So thank you for diligently holding up our family in your prayers and thoughts. I can't begin to tell you how much we were aware of them.

The only thing keeping Jadon in the NICU was his feedings. He was taking about 60% of his feedings via a bottle and the rest he was getting via his NG tube. My parents offered to take Sarai home with them for a week and a half so Mike and I could focus completely on Jadon and work on his eating. Because we were able to spend so much time at the hospital, the drs allowed Jadon to come home with his NG tube. They also anticipated he would improve quicker at home in a more comfortable environment. And they were right! A week and a half after coming home, we took out the NG tube and he has been eating amazing ever since! We will still visit his surgeon occassionally and have x-rays done to make sure he doesn't reherniate. The possibility of that happening is very small. But if you saw him today, you would never know that he had spent a little more than a month in the NICU and had surgery at 6 days old. He is our little miracle baby!

Here are a few pictures of the day Jadon came home. Sarai wasn't allowed to visit him in the hospital so this was the first time she met him or held him. She adores him and loves being a big sister. She is a great little mommy :-) The last couple of pics are around Christmas time sans NG tube.