It does get easier, being sleep deprived and having a child with an omphalocele

I would be lying if I didn't say that I think about Jackson's omphalocele every day.  It isn't always in a negative light infact it is usually when I change his diaper and I see that pretend belly button the surgeon made for him and I think of my brother saying, "Well...Jackson is lucky, he will never have to worry about belly button lint!"  I smile everytime I think of that...but it is when I feed him and he takes FOREVER to eat, or spits up (which is so rare I feel lucky) that I think of his omphalocele and scar tissue, and what issues that can cause as he grows older.  It is when I see that tiny little protrusion in the middle of his belly that the pediatric surgeon thinks may be a hernia that I get a little weepy.


I can't help but wonder if the slow eating and the spitting up has anything to do with the little organs that were squeezed back into his stomach cavity and I worry when I  think that he may be having a harder time then most babies, it just isn't fair...but I also stop and think that many babies that were born totally normal act the exact same way.  It is hard to get all of these thoughts out of your  head when your child was born a little "different."  However,  when I read my fellow omphalocele mom's blogs and see that their little ones perhaps have hernias too, I know that we are not alone and that Jackson has so many friends out there just like him.


Thank you to the moms and dads who have been so brave to tell their stories and keeping everyone updated on their baby's life...the good, the excellent, and the incredible.  


I am so thankful to have my little man in my life and last night when my husband came home early from work and exclaimed, "I came home early because I wanted to spend time with my son," my heart swelled with great love for my little family!

 

This is one of Jackson's footprints on my brother's arm...aww Uncle Ian!