Lucky Week 17- June 17th

October 4, 2017October 4, 2017 / jennyalden / Leave a comment

Dear Friends and Family,
I can’t wait until Sunday to share the news!
After after being in the hospital for 118 days, we are overwhelmed with joy to finally have our sweet little baby home with us. He is a Miracle, he his a Fighter, and he is the sweetest, most lovable little being we could ever imagine. 😍👼🏼😌

Here we are on Wed, the moment we dreamed of for so long. BRINGING our baby home!

But first we got to do an overnight with him in the hospital for practice. We’re just so giddy he’s out of the NICU in this pic! No cords attached!

And the next day- I survived the night!… on 2 hours of sleep..(I sent Kirky home for Zzzz since um, that hospital bed wasn’t going to sleep two)

Hospital snuggles..

As for Charlie, he has already been the best big brother. It’s as if he’s known and loved AC all this time we’ve been visiting him the hospital.

And here’s the growth from the end of Month 1 to almost Month 4…

These three make me the luckiest..

Thank YOU, family and friends, old and new, for sharing this journey with us. It has been cathartic and meaningful for me to write these weekly recaps, and I will compile them into a book for Alden someday.
Your support, love, care packages, messages, and simply being there on the other end of these emails has uplifted us more than you will ever know. Really, I can’t thank you enough. 😪🙏🏼😌

Love from,

The Spaldens

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Week 16- June 11th

October 4, 2017October 4, 2017 / jennyalden / Leave a comment

Week SIXTEEEEEEN…

Well the good news is, we made a pretty cute munchkin who is more alert, interactive, and amazing by the day..👍🏼

In other news.. We are. STILL. IN. The HOSPITAL 🏥

It seems that falling asleep while feeding isn’t the only problem..

Alden has a lot of discomfort into his feeding, and has even showered us in some pretty impressive projectile vomiting..🌋

Some theories are:
-Acid Reflux, -Pyloric Stenosis, -irritation from the feeding tube, -food sensitivity
Results from the Acid Reflux and Pyloric Stenosis tests were inconclusive, so he’s getting another ultrasound on Monday to check. Fingers crossed it’s not PS, because that would mean a little stomach surgery…!

When Alden‘s not dreaming of coming home..

He’s working on his tennis game. Needs to keep his eye on the ball.. 🎾

He still enjoys Kangaroo Care-

But is much more awake during it and prefers to gaze at his book collection than sleep.

(Sorry that pic doesn’t feature more of Kirk’s chest for you 😉

In case you’re wondering, my plan is to stop peppering your Sunday in-boxes with these updates once he comes home. Then I will transfer them to a family blog where you can check in to see his progress if you like 🙂
So here’s to having next weekend be The. LAST. email update… ! Or else- we might get the Alden Stink-Eye, which is just as scary as Ice Cube’s..

(Kirk wonders, does this make our kid.. Vanilla Ice?)

Love Always,
The Spaldens.. aka the brilliant artists behind this tennis platter and dog dish
#We❤️ColorMeMine!

Week 15- June 4th

October 2, 2017October 2, 2017 / jennyalden / Leave a comment

Dear Friends and Family,

Yes- we’re still in the hospital. But all is well. AC hasn’t had a Brady (heart event ) in over a week now () and the only thing left for him to do is finish his bottles.
But as you can see- he has a problem staying awake for his feedings..

Kirk’s been dubbed the Baby Whisperer as he’s the only who consistently gets Alden to finish whole bottles. He swears by John Denver and handholding

The doctor said that because Alden‘s so great otherwise, we forget he’s a 26 weeker and that if not eating is the only thing he’s doing like a normal preemie, she’s just fine with that.
In the meantime Alden‘s been enjoying visitors.. like Megha Tolia 🙂

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And Nirav Tolia too!

And Cousin Shelley!

On Memorial Day Kirk and I took a quick trip to our favorite spot, the Bodega Bay Lodge.

And while Kirk was in LA for his school’s graduation, we celebrated my niece Ashley’s 5th birthday by doing her favorite thing- biking from their home to the Menlo Grill for dinner

When we’re not passed out with Alden

We have fun family Gazing parties

Again- We wish the camera could capture how our sweet pea really looks. For example, it’s impossible to see from the pics that he actually has blue eyes (for now at least ) and his hair continues to come in very blonde..

Alden continues to have a very sweet and mellow disposition, and we are so so ready to bring this snuggle bug home with us. We are too in

Love from,

The Spaldens

Ps: I know you’re dying to see our ColorMeMine master-pieces, but we haven’t picked them up yet- so until next time 😉