Comparison

Ellie 1 week old

Owen 3 weeks old

Check List

Owen is long past the "critical phase" in NICU (crossing fingers nothing sneaks up on us), but we now have a check list to meet before he can come home. There are only 3 things on our check list, so you would think it wouldn't take too long, but it does.
Check list:
*Off all oxygen support
Owen has been off Oxygen since day four, check it off the list right??? Not so fast, since Owen has been attempting breast feedings he is so worn out he is dropping his oxygen level, thus the possibility of being put back on oxygen. They checked for infection, and that came back fine, so their conclusion is that feeding is taking all of his energy. Wednesday night the doctor thought he might need the oxygen, so the nurse brought it in, but then the doc said to wait on it. The oxygen is still sitting in his room and I really hope he doesn't need to go back on it.
*Eating for 48 hours by breast or bottle and gaining weight
Owen started 1 breastfeeding attempt every 12 hours on Monday, and is currently able to attempt twice as of yesterday. Yesterday he only had 1 good feeding out of 4, but today he has currently had 2 good feedings, and we have 2 more tonight. If things continue to go well we will hopefully be able to attempt 3 every 12 hours tomorrow.
*Holding temperature in room air for 48 hours
Owen's isolette temp is almost as low as it can go, it can be lowered 1 more degree until it is room temp. They plan on keeping him in his isolette until he gets his feedings down. We don't want him using his energy to keep his temp up, when we need him to be using it for his feedings.

Goal Board in Owen's Room

Daughetee News on the Rugby Website

The two men in my life have made news this week on the Cedar Rapids Headhunters Website. Owen is only 3 weeks old and is already BIG NEWS in the rugby world :)
Check them out: http://www.cedarrapidsheadhunters.com/rugby/

News from the NICU

I'm a bit behind on postings, that said...no news is good news right??? :) Actually, I have two new addictions, and that is what has kept me away. My first addiction up in NICU is holding Owen! Now that he isn't hooked up to a IV we are able to take him out of his isolette and put him back all by ourselves...I love this new freedom. My second addiction is the TV show "Weeds", I get Owen out of his isolette plop on the chair and watch it on my computer.
Owen Update:
Weight:4 pounds 2 ounces
Owen is starting to make one breastfeeding attempt every 12 hour shift. He doesn't get it yet, but hopefully he will catch on soon!

Me and my two "addictions":)

Daddy and Owen

Book Worm

Ellie is a little book worm. She LOVES to be read to and to sit and look through books on her own. When looking for Ellie you can typically find her in her room next to the book shelf looking through a book.
Ellie used to have just two books she loved, but now she likes to look through many different books. When "reading" them on her own she flips the pages the right way and looks as if she is really taking everything in. When being read too, she still likes to flip the pages for you and joins in on parts that she has memorized. For instance in the book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt", she knows exactly when to say "Oh No" on each repetition through. She is such an active child, so it makes me very happy to see her also have a calmer side to her :)

One morning she pulled all of her toys out of her toy box and climbed inside with a book.

Owen's Firsts...

Here are some of "Owen's Firsts"

First bath that mommy and daddy got to see: 10/15

First time mommy changed Owen's diaper (it was a poopy) and dressed him : 10/15

First handshake: 10/16

First time being held by daddy: 10/17

1 Week Old!

Owen is one week old today! He has come very far in the past week.

Updates:
Owen is completely off oxygen support. He has started to digest his feedings with little to no residual left in his stomach. His feedings have increased from 3 ml of breast milk to 14 ml. Doctor said that if he continues to digest his feedings they will increase the amount each day. Owen is off light therapy. He is still experiencing "bradys" (stops breathing causing heart rate to go down) but, he is also still fixing them on his own. The doctor said this is very normal for his age.
All about Owen:
Age: 1 week old
Weight: 3 pounds 14 ounces
Feedings: 14 ml
Kangaroo Time: Owen loves kangaroo time with mommy and today was the first day that he also had time with daddy.
Sleeping: He sleeps most of the day. Owen sleeps the best when swaddled tight and placed on this back.
Hic-ups: Owen gets the hic-ups at least twice while I'm with him throughout the day. He had them all the time when in the womb! :)
Pacifier: Owen has a pacifier that he will sometimes take for a short period of time. It is the tiniest pacifier I have ever seen.

Kangaroo Time

I have been able to spend a few hours holding Owen everyday now since Tuesday! They call this "kangaroo time" :) I love being able to hold him and spend time talking to him. The first couple of days he got very upset by the transition, but he is now used to it and calms down very quickly once in my arms. They also have you do skin to skin during this time, which keeps us both nice and toasty and is great bonding time. Holding him instantly lifts my mood :)

Mommy and Owen


This is Owen's first time wearing clothing. While on oxygen support it was hard to get him into clothes. Now that he is off they change his outfit everyday. They have a closet full of outfits in the NICU. If I'm around the nurses always let me help pick his outfit out for the day. His first day in clothing he wore a onsie that said "Little Racer" and had race cars all over it.

He was too cute!

Update on Owen

Here is a brief update on Owen.
Age:5 days old!!!
Weight: 3 pounds 10 ounces
Feedings: Owen is having some residual with his feedings (3 ml of breast milk). Today their was some bile in the residual which could be a sign of infection, but it only happened once, so they are hoping he is able to start digesting his feedings.
IV/Pick Line: Owen has a pick line in (don't know if I'm spelling that right). Through this line he is receiving lipids, potassium, and other liquids for nourishment.
Light treatment: Owen is jaundice, which is very common, he is on light therapy to take care of this condition.
Bradycardia: Owen is experiencing "Bradys" he will stop breathing for short periods of time causing his heart rate to drop. On a positive note he has been able to correct all of them on his own.
Oxygen: Owen is off the ventilator and C-Pap, he is only receiving oxygen support through his nose.

Bittersweet Homecoming

Today I was discharged from the hospital. Having been there for an entire week I was excited to get home to Jeremy and Ellie, but very sad to leave Owen behind. We packed up around supper time and brought all of my stuff up to Owen's room. I plan on being there as much as possible until he is able to come home with us. It is very nice that each baby has their own room, so we are able to feel comfortable staying with him while he is in the hospital.
Great Uncle Dan and Aunt Karla sent Owen these flowers and bear to my hospital room after he was born. I left the bear behind in Owen's room to keep him company while we are away :)

Big Sisters are the Coolest

Ellie came up to the hospital on Monday to visit mommy and daddy. She couldn't before then becasue I was on magnesium and that stuff messess you up! My mom brought her up sporting her new shirt that says "Big Sisters are the Coolest"! Ellie was so excited to see me, she ran up to my bed and said her newest word "Up" over and over. I was happy to see her as well, and happy by her reaction. I was getting a bit worried that she would forget all about me considering I was spending so much time away from her at the hospital. Ellie can't see Owen until he comes home, but whenever we say his name she puts her finger up to her mouth and says "shhhh" we are training her already!

Being Silly :)

Visiting with Mom and Dad

Owen's Birth Story

Owen was born at 32 weeks and 3 days gestation. Our troubles all started at 28 weeks when I was having symptoms of pre-eclampsia. I was in and out of the hospital for four weeks, until Tuesday, October 6th when I was told that I was in until I delivered. I had very high blood pressures, the highest being 193/122, large amounts of protein in my urine and my blood work was showing that my liver enzymes were rising. I was feeling down being in the hospital and away from Ellie.
By Thursday though I started to except it and I had a ton of visitors on Friday. My mom brought me scotcharoos, Aundrea sent me and Ellie some books, Grandma sent some Betty Janes my way, Julie brought me caramel apples, Jeremy brought me Olive Garden, and Mary brought me some books to keep me busy! :) I was feeling much better!
Unfortunately things turned very quickly. I woke up Saturday morning with excruciating pain in my right upper side. The doctor ordered labs and a shot for the pain while we waited. The shot did not dull the pain at all it only made it impossible to keep my eyes open. I started getting sick because I was in so much pain, and needless to say I will never eat Olive Garden again. After waiting what seemed like a lifetime my labs came back and showed that my liver enzymes were very high. The doctor also said that she could feel that my liver was enlarged. This being said she said we had to deliver by c-section immediately. She asked how fast my husband could arrive, and I was wheeled to the operating room for preparations. Jeremy got a call at 6:30 in the morning to get to the hospital. Luckily my mom was already at the house for the night and he was able to make it to the delivery. Jeremy arrived around 7:00 and Owen was born at 7:39AM.
He cried immediately, which was a great sound! I was able to briefly see Owen and then he was sent up to NICU. Jeremy was allowed to follow him upstairs and stayed with him until I was back in my room.
After birth Owen was initially put on a C-Pap and then put on a ventilator because he needed more oxygen. I was unable to see him until Sunday because I was stuck on magnesium and a catheter amongst other things. As soon as I was taken off everything I went up to see Owen. I still felt awful and only stayed for a short time, but it was great to see him again. This is the first picture of us with Owen. Don't judge the look I really was not feeling well :)

Welcome Owen Allen Daughetee to the World!

Owen was born Saturday October 10, 2009 at 7:39 AM. He weighed in at 3 pounds 12 ounces and was 16 1/4 inches long. He is absolutely the most handsome little guy I have ever seen. We love him dearly. Check back for frequent updates on the newest member of our family.

Relaxing :)

Mommy's little manFirst time I was able to touch him

Sweetheart

Ellie and Bell

Ellie and Bell (our dog) are big buddies. Bell who is normally our crazy dog will sit and let Ellie pet her hug her, and pull on her tail. Ellie especially loves to hold on to Bell's tail. It is a bit strange to us considering we thought Bear would be the one to bond with our kids and Bell would avoid them, but Bell has proved us wrong and is great with Ellie.

Hold on tight :) So happy!

32 weeks

I had my weekly doctor appt on Tuesday. The protein levels in my urine were very high this time, 3000, as compared to 294 four weeks ago. So, I'm back in the hospital, which I'm not very happy about. My doctor said I may be here until delivery, while the doctor on call yesterday said I may be able to go home in a few days, so we will see what the doctor on call today says. Another ultrasound was done and baby is doing well. The baby is weighing in around 3 pounds 9 ounces.
On a brighter note I am 32 Weeks today, hopefully I only have 4 more weeks to go :)
In four weeks I will have an amniocentesis to check babies lung development and if all is well we will have a baby in early November!