This sweet little boy was born on July 8, 2015. Jackson Brandon Eccles is my first grandchild. What a blessing it was to be able to spend time with him during the first days of his life. I got the call from Ashton early in the morning around 5:10 a.m. that her water had broke and that she and Brandon were getting ready to head to the hospital. I had planned on hiking the Y with Easton and Dallin that morning and I thought we would have lots of time so we continued with our hiking plans. Ashton checked in periodically through phone calls and texts to keep us posted on her progress. When our strenuous hike to the Y was finished we checked in with Brandon and asked if they needed anything. An order from Chick-fil-A was dropped off at the hospital and then I headed back to my Mom and Dad's in Draper to get showered and ready for the day with the plan of returning later to spend time with Ashton while they waited for things to happen. Around two Janelle and I headed to Provo with games and things to do for Ashton and Brandon while they waited for baby Jackson's entrance into the world. As we were driving we received a call from Ashton saying that it was time for Jackson's arrival. I guess we weren't going to be playing games and hanging out after all! We still headed to the hospital and made our way to the maternity waiting room where we waited and waited and waited. Brandon came out once to give us the update and tell us how things were progressing. Ashton was pushing and slowly getting there. That was around 5:20. At around 7:00 I was getting a little concerned since it had been so long since Janelle and I had heard anything. Janelle checked in with the nurse at the desk and she reported that a baby had been born. What!!!??? Why hadn't we heard anything. Weird. A few minutes later the nurse who had been in the delivery room with Brandon and Ashton came out to talk to us. She said that Jackson had been born and was doing fine but Ashton had some serious complications after the birth and they were trying to get her stabilized. That explained why it took so long for us to hear about the birth. We were escorted to the nursery area by the nurse so we could see baby Jackson. When we saw him for the first time he was laying in a bed being examined, poked and prodded by a nurse. Brandon was with him holding his sweet little had. I was able to get some pictures of that moment.
Jackson received some shots and had some blood tests done while we watched in awe of this beautiful little baby who had just left heaven to start his journey in life. I have to admit I got a little teary with the emotions I was feeling.
As Ashton was stabilized I was able to go see her. She was pretty out of it but was able to talk a little bit. She had experienced some very serious hemorrhaging and had lost a significant amount of blood. She was very weak and tired and feeling nauseous. She kept falling asleep. She was out! Brandon and Dallin gave her a blessing about an hour later. I was able to stay with her while Brandon spent time with Jackson in the nursery helping with his first bath. I headed home late in the evening with plans to return in the morning.
This was my first time holding Jackson! What an absolutely sweet little cuddly bundle! I loved holding him and watching all the expressions he would make. He loved to wrinkle his little forehead, squirm, squeak, and wiggle. He was pretty good at crying too and letting you know that he needed something.
I'm a Grandma! Yay!
Ashton was a little perkier and doing better in the morning. We are so grateful that all turned out well with her. She continued to progress in the hospital and was monitored carefully. She did have to receive two units of blood in the morning before I got there to help get her red blood cell count up and to help replace the blood that she had lost.
Kaitlyn and Kamryn came to visit.
Uncle Dallin holding his brand new nephew! A first time Uncle.
Easton is loving his new title of Uncle Easton. Everyone wanted to hold Jackson.
Great Grandpa Homer
Great Grandma Homer
Brandon is mastering his diaper changing techniques.
Brandon + Ashton +baby Jackson=A Family
Great Aunt Janelle and Kamryn
Jackson wasn't very good at nursing those first few days. As a matter of fact, he just wouldn't do it. Period. So Ashton had to pump her breast milk and then feed it to Jackson with a little dropper. They didn't want him to get used to drinking from a bottle and get confused. Dallin's helping out here with the feeding and then doing some burping.
It's going to be such a blessing to watch this little guy grow. He is so loved already and will always be surrounded and supported by people who love him dearly.
Ashton wrote up her birth story and shared it on her blog. If you would like to read it click HERE.
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