Aidan's first Christmas

Helping mom and dad with the holiday cookies we sent out to family....

Christmas Eve!!!

Sleeping so Santa can stop by...

Looks like Santa drank all the milk and ate all the cookies and left a note for a good little boy!!!

Christmas Day!!!!

Merry Christmas Aidan!!!

Opening Presents

Aidan is done...

To say that Christmas was extra special this year is an understatement. We had the best Christmas this year because we were able to spend it with our son in the comfort of our home. We went a little overboard with presents for the little guy this year. But, you only have a first Christmas once. Aidan also enjoyed spending the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa Marino and Uncle Tony. Grandma and Grandpa Marino went overboard on presents for Aidan just like we did. He had the most presents to open up from home and at Grandma and Grandpa Marino's house. Can you say SPOILED...

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!!

Visit with Santa

Yesterday was a very exciting day for Aidan he got to meet the big guy himself (Santa). Aidan was very happy to see Santa and was checking him out. He told Santa that he was a very good boy this year and would just like to have good health in 2009.

First Thanksgiving and Aidan being sick!

Well it has been a pretty stressful last month for Aidan and his Mommy and Daddy. As you can tell we updated the blog only once in November. After Halloween he was admitted to the hospital with aspiration pneumonia. After a few days he came home to rest and recover. Unfortunately the antibiotics have not worked and he continues to need frequent suctioning from this trach to remove the excessive secretions. Mommy and Daddy have gotten very little sleep and are very tired. Our new nurse has worked out very nicely since she has started. We like her and Aidan seems to like her as well. Aidan enjoyed his first Thanksgiving at his Grandpa and Grandma Marino’s house along with Uncle Tony. Although he did not get to eat any turkey he did fall asleep at the table. We recently went to the pulmonologist (lung doctor) who recommended a very aggressive lung hygiene program for us to follow to help him with his aspiration pneumonia. Hopefully it will work; otherwise we will need to do some more invasive procedures. Aidan continues to progress at his own pace. The teachers from the Early On service have been very impressed with his progress. He is starting to sit up on his own and we recently got him fitted for an abdominal binder which will help support him as he learns to sit up. We have a meeting with several doctors towards the end of this month to discuss plans for a possible kidney transplant. We hope to have some good news to report back soon. Grandpa and Grandma Marino stopped by for a visit this past weekend. He enjoys seeing them when they stop by. He is looking forward to seeing his Grandma Lee come down for a visit after Christmas. Speaking of which Aidan is looking forward to his very first Christmas. We hope to get him feeling better so that we can take him to see Santa Claus for some pictures. It looks like Aidan will be a very spoiled little boy this year. He really enjoys the Christmas lights on the tree and wakes up every morning and goes to bed every night listening to Christmas music. We will post some pictures and video of Christmas morning later this month. His mom and dad are really looking forward to Christmas morning with the little guy. We have added several new pictures to the site and some new video. Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!



First Thanksgiving


I feel like the kid from the movie "A Christmas Story!"



See I do smile once in a while.

ER Visits.... Hospital Stays

Aidan had to go to the hospital just after Halloween for the first time since he has been home because of aspiration pneumonia. He was there for a few days and has now come home and is doing terrific. His mom and dad are very happy to have him home. His aspiration pneumonia is common in babies with trachs and since he does not “suck” he is more susceptible to it. Also it is that time of the season. He is doing very well and is progressing in all of his areas that he needs to work on. He continues to do well with the therapists that come to the house every week. He is smiling all of the time and has become very playful. The family will be taking group pictures soon. So expect to see some in your mail boxes or e-mail shortly. We are looking forward to our very first Thanksgiving together as a family and even more so to our first Christmas. We have also recently gotten are nursing care back from the State. We are very thankful for that service, although Grandma Marino did an excellent job of filling in for the last 2 months. Thanks Grandma!! He was looking forward to seeing Grandpa and Grandma Marino this past weekend but Grandpa has a nasty cold and did not want to come over and get me sick. I hope I will see them this weekend. Aidan would like to say thank you to everybody that keeps him in their prayers. He really appreciates the kind thoughts. He loves you all very much. Aidan would also like to send out a special prayer to his Grandpa Troxtel!

Happy Halloween!!!

Trick or Treat!!!

We are so excited today because it is Aidan's first Halloween. We will be going up to CVS later today to trick or treat then we will hit the next door neighbors house when we get home.

Bath Time with Aidan

Aidan loves his bath time and yesterday we decided to do a little videotaping of what he loves to do during bath time. That is splash all around and kick those little legs. When we are done with bath time we have to wipe everything down and go change our clothes because they are wet.

I am ready for my close up...

So today was picture day at Aidan's school (Early-On). He looked so adorable. I even bought a new outfit for him to wear. If anyone, would like a picture sent to them, please email either Erik or myself.

Early-On Home Visit

Early-On came to the house to visit today. Aidan really enjoyed sitting in front of this toy and pulling on the beads. He was smiling and laughing the whole time. He really enjoyed his early-on visit.

Hanging with Grandma Marino

A Long Road Ahead...

Well it has been a long road since Aidan was first born. Due to the overwhelming volume of emails to keep everyone up to date we have created this blog for our friends and family. Aidan has brought such joy and happiness to our lives. Despite his medical problems he is progressing very well in all areas. He is almost 9 months old now. He weighs just over 16 pounds and is just under 24 inches in length. A long way from 3 lbs 11 oz and 15.5 inches when he was first born. He really enjoys bath time and we hope to post some video of him on the site soon. He also enjoys spending time with his mommy and Grandma Marino. He always gives Daddy a big smile when he gets home from work everyday. He recently had a visit with his Grandma Lee and her boyfriend Ray. They enjoyed the visit as did Aidan although it was a bit short. Grandpa and Grandma Troxtel are coming for a visit this weekend. Aidan really enjoys when mommy and daddy sing to him. He has a little rattle that he plays with when we are all singing. He really moves those legs and likes to shake, rattle, and roll! Some of his favorite bands are Queen, Journey and pretty much any band on Rock Band or Guitar Hero and of course the hair bands. We also went to the cider mill for the first with Aidan. He seemed to enjoy as you can see by the picture below.

Today we start our blog...

Today we decided to start a blog about the Troxtel's. This is an easy way to keep our family and friends up to date on what is happening with Aidan and us as a family.