It has been a while since our last update. As you can image, we have been extremely busy! Aiden has made good progress but the drug wean is taking longer than expected. This has caused other issues such as vomiting, respiratory difficulties, and makes him very cranky at times. The goal is to have him weaned off the main narcotic in about 5 days, and then they will start to wean his oxygen to a lower level before starting to wean the valium. After that, they will work on his feedings and try to get him to take milk from the bottle. If he does, then we can do a swallow study and get a better idea of what might be causing his feeding issues.

Despite all the hardships, we are very thankful for where we are. Several weeks ago, things took a turn for the worse but thank God, He answered prayers and things have gotten so much better. Aiden’s vitals look good and he has steadily gained weight (just over 11 lbs).

Ethan and Evan continue to do very well. Evan is near 17 lbs. and even 6-9 month size clothes are getting tight on him. Ethan’s face has filled out very well and he is not too far from 15 lbs. Both boys are beginning to “talk” and actually communicate with each other from time to time. They do a pretty good job sleeping through the night and are starting to eat more solid food. Evan will literally lunge at the food and can not wait for the next bite!

Thanks for your continued prayers. Hopefully, the next update will be “the return of Aiden.” If all goes well, he could be home as early as the end of next week…hopefully!

Evan wonders what I’m doing

And so does Ethan

Ethan, you looking for a fight?

He was only playing!

Evan is being bashful

An early mother’s day gift — a 24×53″ canvas portrait of the boys

Ethan loves his toys

The twins just before their “walk”

Evan is so cool with sunglasses

It took Ethan a little longer to get used to glasses

Evan with a pacifier

Fly Evan, fly!

Why does Elmo get to keep his clothes on when we have to take ours off?

The little charmer

He has grown in weight and length

Trapped in his cage…when can he come home?

Aiden can be quite serious at times

Aiden continues to slowly progress. His oxygen was down to 1/2 liter this morning and he is alert, active and even took 10 ml of milk from the bottle. However, as they started weaning him off his medicines, there are now signs of withdrawals. They changed medicines on Tuesday and stopped giving him Methadone. This evening, he was very agitated and breathing much heavier to the point where his oxygen had to bumped back up to 1 liter. This is not uncommon as withdrawal can cause all sorts of short-term issues. Hopefully, these issues are strictly withdrawal related and this phase will soon be over.

Ethan and Evan are doing very well. They are starting to eat solid foods (see pics and video below) and loving it — especially Evan. Ethan seems to think that he is in charge and we have dubbed him “the Prince.” Whenever he wants something, he squalors for it and expects immediate results. It is very amusing (of course, in a few years it won’t be). Evan lives to eat and as long as nothing gets in the way of his food, he is quite happy. They have both gained weight and Ethan is near 14 lbs. and Evan is close to 16 lbs while Aiden is just over 10 lbs.

Please continue to pray for Aiden and that he would learn to eat again, get down on his oxygen and the withdrawals would go away. Thanks!

What is Evan up to?

Got Milk?

Ethan blows me a kiss

Aiden’s eyelashes seem to have grown

Reading at such a young age

Evan loves solid food!

So does the prince!

Face-off

Hey, I saw it first!

Aiden is all smiles

Upclose shot of the Little Charmer

Aiden taking care of some business

Evan loves his ‘slugger’ outfit

Some matching socks

Ethan is wearing his favorite outfit (Manish calls him “Mr. Peabody” when he wears it)

“Prince Pea” in his royal chair

Evan getting ready to go for a walk

Ethan is not too sure he wants to go for a walk

A snow storm in Texas (yesterday, it was so warm the boys went for a walk)

Look who wants to play in the snow!