2 week Update! March 7th

May 15, 2017July 8, 2017 / jennyalden / Leave a comment

Dear friends and family,

Thank you so much for the continued thoughts and support.

Many people have checked in for an update, and I think many others may be afraid to ask, so I thought I’d send another update..!

Firstly, everyone has told us that life in the NICU would be a rollercoast.

They weren’t kidding.

One day we were elated because we found out that Alden‘s ultrasound on his brain showed no hemoraging or abnormalities.

This was HUGE!! And super lucky for a 26 weeker!

We celebrated with a Pizookie at BJs- the greatest thing to happen to Aurora, Colorado.

Then the next day we found out that Alden was at risk for Meningitis… er, that would be a brain infection.

I’m going to go ahead and say this was one of the worst days of our lives.. That says a lot given my 2013.

But thankfully, it looks like our amazing doctors

were ahead of the game and caught it early.

It seems we have dodged a major bullet!!!

But now our little guy is on a 2 week (maybe 3?!) course of antibiotics. And his veins are too tiny to get the pick in, so they have to keep poking him for his IV….

poor little peanut.

He is such a fighter though!

And we’re doing our best with Kangaroo Care and pump pump pumping around the clock for mama’s milk to make him healthy and strong!

We’re proud to share that Alden has made the Kilo Club where he now weighs 2lbs 6 ounces.

Additionally, he has great lungs and is doing a fantastic job breathing on his Cpap.

He’s already dreaming about his time on the tennis court..

He’s also become very wise… with his face all smooshied up from his breathing contraptions, Yoda he looks like, Jedi he will become.

As for Kirk and me- our life is resembles Groundhog’s day.

We go back and forth from the hotel to the hospital, eat the same oatmeal for breaky and roasted chicken for dinner.

On occasion, we make the incredibly adventurous trip out to Target.

Or Sears!

Aurora’s best, y’all.

Despite the seemingly bleak circumstances of our Spring 2017, Kirk and I still crack each other up over the most banal moments.

For instance, we find the fact that we’re stuck in Aurora for three months ironically hilarious (who needs a Babymoon in Hawaii anyway!?)

Oh, and our wall is looking great!

If you haven’t sent us a pic of you with your words of encouragement for Alden, please do so! It really makes his day

A million thanks again to all our friends and family who have supported us through this trying time in our lives.

Even in the midst of the uncomfortable unknown with our precious little guy, we can’t help but feel so lucky and blessed to have your love and support.

We seriously have the greatest friends and family a person could ask for.

XOXOXOXO

Jenny and Kirk

The 3rd Update, February 23rd

May 15, 2017June 25, 2017 / jennyalden / Leave a comment

Dear Friends and family,

THANK YOU so much for your well wishes, prayers, check in, and support during this completely bizarre curve ball we’re experiencing. You have no idea how touched and humbled we are.

I’ve learned the hard way that the most challenging experiences in life have yielded the most incredible outcomes, and I have no doubt that despite how dark times may have been (or could continue to be) there is a bright rainbow in sight.

Little Alden Charles Spahn (AC Spahnny!) is a fighter. This much we know.

We are in awe of how much he’s had to endure on his own. By the time he’s a newborn’s age, he will have already undergone so much self soothing and resilience- true grit, Spalden Spirit indeed!

While yesterday was a rough one, today I’m thrilled to share I got to do Kangaroo Care for the first time in his 5 day old life! It was so amazing to hold his teeny little body against mine, and now that Kirk and I can actually Do something with our hearts and love, we know he will continue to Thrive! (..but one day at a time)

Many people have asked what you can do to help.

As we will be living here for the next three months, visiting Alden in his isolette, it would be Amazing if you could help us decorate the two wall corner of his station where I will basically calling my home way from home until the summer.

WALL OF LOVE/SUPPORT!

If you could send us a photo of yourself (and family) with a note that has your well wishes/prayer/motivational words/sense of humor, we’d love to wallpaper his corner with your positive thoughts of love and strength.

I want the doctors working on him to see how many people care, and are rooting for this little one’s survival.

Additionally, I want Alden to be surrounded by the vibration of all that love and support.

If you don’t have a hard photo on hand to send me, perhaps you can write your words of encouragement and take a selfie with it. Email me the selfie and I’ll have them uploaded to Shutterfly to print.

Below are some pics to share with yu.. the flag shot is what I snapped my first time outside after a week in the hospital. Who knew I’d have a Colorado baby?! I can’t help but note the heavens seems to be beaming down here.

The address for our little hotel room in the middle of now where (like, Aurora Colorado makes a parking lot look like a thriving metropolis) is:

ADDRESS:

Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver

Address: 13200 E 14th Pl, Aurora, CO 80011

Room #: 917

Phone:(303) 365-1234

One final note:

Kirk has been the most amazing, supportive, loving husband a girl could DREAM of having. He is my best friend and soulmate and I’m so grateful to have him by my side in this journey. Also, he is a nervous nelly. I think he has a mini heart attack every time we visit Alden- so perhaps someone wants to send him a massage!? Ha- I need him living 103 more years with me

The First Update- Feb 21, 2017

May 15, 2017 / jennyalden / Leave a comment

Dear friends and family of the Spaldens,

After a harrowing 72 hours Jenny and Kirk welcomed a teeny little baby boy into the world at 10:35am Sunday. They are grateful for the extra days they had for medicine to kick in to help welcome him into the world, however, he had to come early due to risk of infection.

While the parents haven’t slept in 3 days, Kirk and Jenny are doing well and are grateful for the incredible nurses, doctors, and care they’ve received at the University of Colorado. They know their little guy is in the best hands.

Jenny will be discharged from the hospital either tomorrow or Wed. For now it looks like they will be staying at the Hyatt Regency across the street from the hospital and from there they will find a place to stay nearby the hospital for the next few months as baby Spahnny grows into the healthy little boy they know he is. Jenny will give me their new address as soon as those logistics are confirmed.

They thank everyone for all the love and support you’ve sent their way. It has meant the world to them!!!

Much Love,

Julie

The News: Feb 17, 2017

May 15, 2017 / jennyalden / Leave a comment

Dear Book Clubbers, friends, and family of Kirk and Jenny,

Jenny asked that I please keep her loved ones posted on the events of the last 24 hours….

Yesterday I was with them in Aspen when she woke up early with some scary bleeding. She was rushed to the local hospital, which is where the doctors noticed her cervix was thinning and dialating too soon for her 26 week pregnancy.

This is Nothing Jenny did wrong or anything the doctors could have screened for. It’s a freak thing that happens to some women. If this had happened sooner (before 24 weeks), it could have been stitched up. However, that is not an option as things stand.

Thus, they had to emergency evacuate her out of Aspen (via helicopter) to The University of Colorado Hospital, which happens to have one of the top NICU in the country (fewf!!).

There was a very scary moment when they said baby would have to come NOW and about 15 people rushed into the room with chords, lights, shots, IVs, you name it. Thankfully, they found the cervix, which has bought her and the baby some time to bake. The near goal is 48 hours more (since yesterday) so the coritzone shot can kick in to help the baby’s lungs and brains should he come early.

Kirk’s goal is that he hangs tight until his 40th birthday on May 3rd 😉

Either way, it looks like the Spaldens will be camping out in Colorado until baby’s original due date, which is May 24th.

True to form, Jenny has been powering through like a champ with her usual can-do attitude, always looking on the bright side. She’s been through tough times before and appreciates all the love and support in her life.

Kirk has also been amazing, never leaving her side. I think it’s safe to say that yesterday was the scarriest and most harrowing day in his life. His devotion and love for Jenny is just awesome.

Jenny has a nice spacious room with a big window and bare walls. I know she would LOVE it if you colored a picture, wrote a note, sent them a prayer, or made something fun they could post on her walls for a collage of love and support for the baby and family. Later they can take it down and make a book of it. 🙂

Address:

University of Colorado Hospital

Room 413

12605 East 16th Avenue

Aurora, Colorado

80045

phone: 720-848-4000

Thank you in advance for keeping this information amongst Jenny and Kirk’s loved ones. They appreciate you in their lives more than you know.

Sincerely,

Julie Warnock