The Troxtel's: February 2010

2 year update

Wow! I can’t believe it has been 2 years already since Aidan was born. It goes by so fast. He is currently just over 25 lbs and 30.5 inches long. Two years ago he weighed 3lbs 11oz and was 15.5 inches long. Although he is small for his age and is not on the growth charts he is continuing to grow in the right direction. Aidan is making some great progress. He continues to crawl albeit an army crawl, but is moving very fast especially when he wants something. We have had to finally baby-proof the house and close the doors. He is so full of energy now that he has his new kidney and it is functioning properly. He is really trying to stand up on his own and pulling up on things. He is using his speaking valve for 1-2 hours 3-4 times a day. He laughs so much now it is so awesome to hear. He has this great big belly laugh. He is really starting to become a little boy. He is even throwing little temper tantrums. Our next major surgery will be his mandibular distraction sometime in the summer or fall. We want to thank everyone for their love and support.

Aidan when he was first born.

Aidan at his 1st birthday.

Aidan at 2. Wow what a difference.

January 25 to 31 - Happy Birthday Mom and Aidan

On January 26 we had Mommy’s, Aidan’s and Nurse Amy’s birthdays! Happy Birthday to us!!! Mommy and Daddy took Aidan to Toys R Us for the fist time. He absolutely loved it. He smiled the entire time we were there. Because it was his birthday he got a balloon, stickers, and a little crown. The transplant clinic visits continue to go well without any incidents or problems. As does the therapies with Early-On.

January 18 - 24 - Brithday Party!

We celebrated Mommy’s, Aidan’s, and nurse Amy’s birthdays along with Grandpa and Grandma Marino, and Uncle Tony at Benihannas this week. Aidan was enamored with the chef while he did his tricks. It was fun to watch. We then went over to Grandpa and Grandma Marino’s house to have some cake. Aidan sure made up for last year by smashing the cake all over the table and getting some on Daddy. Gifts from everybody included books, a toy chest, clothes, and money. Thanks everybody!

Aidan's Birthday Cake Before

Look mom

Having some fun with my cake

Look I have icing up to my elbows.

Aidan's Birthday Cake Afterwards

January 4 to January 10 & January 11 to January 17 - Fun Pictures and Video

Nothing much new to report over the last couple of weeks. The transplant clinic visits continue to go well without any incidents or problems. Early-On continues to come to the house every week for OT and PT therapies.

Aidan and daddy enjoying the BCS Bowl Game

Aidan enjoying the football game.

Aidan standing with some help from dad.

Aidan's new means of transportation

December 28 through January 3 - Date Night and New Years Eve

Mommy and Daddy went to see The Jersey Boys while nurse Stacie got to baby sit Aidan. Thanks nurse Stacie!! We had another transplant clinic this week which went well again. No problems to report. We spent New Years Eve at home while Daddy cooked a nice Alaskan King Crab dinner. Um, Um Good!

Daddy proud of his dinner he made. It was great.

Aidan enjoying time with mom and dad on New Year's Eve.

December 21 - 27 - Christmas

We had our first transplant clinic this week which went well. For the fist 2-3 months we have to go every week but then it decreases to every other week, then once a month. Daddy is very happy that we don’t have to get up early in the morning for dialysis anymore. We didn’t have a lot of time this year to bake cookies for everyone but we did make some for Santa. Christmas was awesome one again. We visited Grandpa and Grandma Marino on Christmas Eve and on Christmas. Grandpa and Grandma Troxtel were in town for the weekend and stopped by for a visit. Aunt Rachel also stopped by as well. Aidan got tons of stuff for Christmas; clothes, books, money, toys. All the things a young boy would want.

Happy little boy.

Making Christmas cookies for Santa.

Grandpa Marino, Aidan and Toula on Christmas Eve

Milk and Cookies for Santa

Santa really liked the cookies and left Aidan a note.

Christmas Tree after Santa stopped by

December 14 - 20 - Aidan's Coming Home

Aidan was able to come home from the PICU on December 18. What a happy little boy he was when we finally arrived home. We were all very happy to have him home before Christmas.

So happy to have a new kidney and to be home.

December 7 - 13 - Hospital Stay

Aidan spent the next 2 weeks in the PICU at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. Mommy and Daddy went to see him everyday. Aidan was kind of out of it for the first 3 days but after about 1 week he was ready to come home but the doctors wanted to keep him for a little longer.

Recovering in the PICU.

December 1 - 6 - Kidney Transplant

This week we started of with hemodialysis, an ENT appointment, a visit by Early-On, and an ESRD clinic visit. All went well especially the clinic visit since we got some of the greatest news we could have ever hoped for. We were told that there might be a potential donor for Aidan. Daddy told mommy as soon as we got home and she was very excited. She couldn’t believe it. I think she was in shock that it actually could happen. We waited all day and night until about 5PM when we got the call to bring Aidan in and get him prepped for the kidney transplant surgery the next day. Mommy and daddy never left the house so fast. We got Aidan to the hospital, signed paperwork, asked questions, and did not get any sleep. The surgery took place at 10AM the next morning on December 4; which also happens to be Grandpa Troxtel’s birthday. Happy Birthday Grandpa!!! Grandpa and Grandma Marino came to visit Aidan before the surgery. By the looks of him you would never know he was getting surgery, Grandma Lee and Ray came to the hospital later that afternoon to support us. The surgery was about 6 hours long. What a relief it was to hear that the surgery went well and while it was more complicated then they originally thought all was successful and working properly. He has about an 8 inch scar on his belly.

Aidan with Grandma and Grandpa Marino before surgery.

Aidan is so happy that this day finally came.

Being taken to the ER for kidney transplant surgery.

November 23- 30 - Visit with Santa and Thanksgiving

What a busy week Aidan had. We started off by visiting Santa at the mall and wishing for a kidney for Christmas. We then had family pictures taken at Sears to keep Grandma Troxtel working. Mommy and Daddy met with the lawyer to set up Aidan’s special needs trust. We had hemodialysis 3 times this week with no issues. We had our last PT appointment for the calendar year and paid a visit to ENT to remove some granulation tissue around the trach. They also decided to downsize his trach from 4.5 to 4.0 due to Aidan having issues with his speaking valve. Mommy and Daddy were able to spend a little time together and went on a day date for lunch and a movie. We celebrated Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma Marino’s. Unfortunately we had to watch the Lions lose another game. Grandpa and Grandma Troxtel were in town for the weekend and stopped by for a visit. Aunt Rachel also stopped by as well. Aidan has learned a couple of new things this week. He is learning how to play peek-a-boo. He has really enjoyed discovering his pee-pee. He plays with it ALL of the time. Daddy caught him one night where he undid his diaper and had his hand all the way down there playing with himself. Aidan has also become a very squirmy-wormy. The boy does not want to sit still for one second. It makes it hard to do some of his care, but he is anxiously exploring his world.