Thursday, July 31, 2008

First Eye Exam





Raegan had her first eye exam and she had her hair brushed for the first time today. It was a big day. She did really good with the eye exam, she didn't even cry. She will have another eye exam in a few weeks to make sure her eyes are on track. So far so good, but it is still to early to tell if there will be any vision problems.

Today while I was holding her we took her hat off and I got to brush her hair. She loved it. Her hair is getting longer and more red. I can't wait tell she is older and has long red hair. My little peanut is getting so big.

So Raegan's weight is now 2 lbs 5 oz. Her feedings are up to 14cc's. She was given Lasix a water pill for her edema, which is almost nonviable. She lost 4.5 oz of water from the medicine. She feels much better. Today she kept taking her c-pap out of her nose. They also turned her c-pap down, hoping that she will move to the nasal cannula in a few days.

She has been doing so well, and her feedings are going really good, I am hoping that she will be moved closer to home in the next few weeks.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Day of life 25

Raegan is now 25 days old. She currently weighs 2 lbs 7 oz and is 13.5 in long. She is still on the c-pap machine. We are hoping soon she will be taken off that and moved to a nasal cannula. Her feedings have increased to 7cc and will increase 1 cc every 12 hours. She does have a little edema. They will continue to watch her and see how things go. The last few days her urine output has been low, today it has been getting better so when her urine output gets better, her edema will go away. Other than that things are good.

Other than that things are good. I have been writing about my experience and will post a blog soon. So for now this is it, I am going to go take a nap while I can.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

3 weeks old

Raegan is 3 weeks old, and as of today she weighs 2 lbs. It has been a very exciting week. She was put back on the c-pap machine, moved to the big girl room, taken off the antibiotics, reached the 2 lb mark. Raegan is a fighter, she just wont give up. I am so proud of her for being so strong.

I want to thank all the people that have came up to OHSU to see Raegan. It means a lot to Aaron and I. I am also greatful for the people the keep us in there prayers. Raegan is doing good, but we are not out of the woods yet. We wont be out of the woods until we can bring her home.

Well I am off to bed. I need all the rest I can get before Raegan comes home.

3 weeks old pictures



Monday, July 21, 2008

So much to do

Not enough time! So it has been a few days since I posted a blog. I have been busy. I need an extra 6 hours in the day. My brother and Aaron painted yesterday. Aaron also finished landscaping the back yard. My mom came over on Saturday and helped me clean my house. It has been nice having all the help. This week I am going to try and get Raegans room ready. I know she wont be home for a while, but it will be nice to have it done.

Any how Raegan is doing good. She is back on the c-pap machine. Her weight is up to 810 grams, translation 1 lb 12 oz. Her color looks really good compared to last week. Today was the last day for her antibiotics. Other than that things are the same with her. We will keep our fingers crossed that thing continue to go well.

Oh and I have some news to share. Raegan has a new cousin. Congratulations to my brother and sister-in-law. There son Jett Landon Johnson was born today at 5:49pm. He weighs 7 lbs 3 oz and is 20.5 inches long.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Two Weeks Old



Raegan is now two weeks old. She currently weighs 1 lb 11 oz. The past few days have been rough for her. She had a little infection, and they are not sure what it was from. They have been treating her with antibiotics. She seems to be getting better. I think yesterday was the worst for her. She just didn't look like herself. The few times she opened her eyes she just had a glazed over look. Today she had her eyes open more, and looked better. I can't for her to get better so she can go back on her feedings, and so I can hold her again. I also want her to feel better. It makes me sad to see her sick, and the doctors poking and prodding at her.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Baby Shower - Update

So for those of you who I sent invites to, there is an error. The baby shower is on Sunday the 27th of July. The invites says Saturday. It was late when I was typing the invite up. Sorry for that.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Raegan's 1st Video



So today I took a short 30 second video of Raegan. I think I will do this more often. I will try next to do the video when she is a little more active.

She had a rough night last night. They have been taking blood from her to run tests, so last night they had to give her a blood transfusion. They don't give her much blood at all. They had to put an IV in to give her the blood. She had an x-ray last night and is showed that part of her bowel was thickening, so they are checking to make sure she doesn't have a virus. In the mean time they are giving her antibiotics just to be on the safe side. I think today was hard for her as well. She has an IV in one hand, and an IV in the other arm. My poor little girl. I felt so bad today. She looked so sad. I am hoping that tomorrow will be better.


I also want to say thank you again for all the people that are thinking about us and praying for her. We are very great full for that.

Busy

I know it's been a few days since I have posted a new blog. I have been busy. everyday I go see Raegan, I have to pump 8 times a day, take care of the house and do chores, make phone calls, give my dogs some love, spend time with Aaron, and find some time to sleep. Getting up at 6am every day is a challenge, when I went to bed at 11:30pm the night before. I am hoping that today I will have time to take a nap when I get back from seeing Raegan.

So speaking of Raegan, so is doing really good. She still has the c-pap in, and that only thing it is providing now is pressure, where as before is was pressure and oxygen. She hadn't had a stool in about 36 hours, and she had two while I was there yesterday. The nurse had to collect a urine sample from her yesterday, so when the nurse went to put the bag on to collect it, Raegan gave her sample. That made it nice and easy. Raegan knew what she had to do, and got it taken care of. Last but not least, the big news of the day.... I got to hold Raegan for the second time. Just being able to hold her is so amazing. I wish I could hold her everyday, but it is a lot of work to get her out and put her back in her bed.

All right, I am off to get ready and go see my little girl. If anything changes I will post a new blog tonight, if not I will post one tomorrow.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

10 days old

My little girl is 10 days old. Wow time has gone by so fast. She is doing so good. Better then anyone ever expected. I am so proud of her for being so strong. I can't wait tell she can come home. I know that time will be here before I know it.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Mixed emotions

Today has been a day of mixed emotions. Happy because my little girl is doing so well, and that she was moved back to the c-pap machine, which is a step in the right direction. And sad because I can't be with her all day every day. I think not having her inside of me, and not having her home is hard. I know it's these crazy hormones that are changing on me. I can't wait until my hormones are back in order.

Any ways Raegan is doing really good today. I got to see her face today without any tubes when they changed out to intubation tube for the c-pap machine. She has such a cute face. She also has the cutest face when she is mad. When the nurse went to put her on her stomach today, Raegan stretched her legs out and held her self up. Reagan is one strong little girl. She grabs my finger and holds it really tight, and when I put my hand down by her feet, she pushes pretty hard.

I can't wait to go see her tomorrow, and I am hoping on Sunday I will get to hold her again.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Baby Shower



I just wanted to let everyone know that we are having a baby shower/BBQ on July 27th at 1:30pm. Everyone is welcome to come. If you send me your address I will send you and invite. Or just email me at cwitbeck@gmail.com and let me know your coming and how many, so I can buy enough food.

Also for everyone that is asking if we need anything, that is very nice of you. You don't have to get us anything, but if you would like we registered at Target and Baby's-R-Us. If you want to make it simple, a Target gift card would be great.

1 week old


Thinking...



Holding moms ring


I just got back from seeing Raegan today. We talked with the doctors today and they said she is doing really well. They are going to take out the ventilator today and put her back on the c-pap machine. They are also going to do an ultra sound to make sure the ventricles are staying the same size and to make sure there is no bleeding in her brain.

Today she would sleep then wake up. She all ready has a big personality for being so small. We are hoping on Sunday to be able to hold her again. The doctor said that she is ready.

The doctors said that Raegan will have to stay in the NICU until her due date September 13th. She may get to come home a little early, we will just have to wait and see. They also that once she gets a little bigger we might be able to move her up to the NICU at SW Washington Medical center, that way she would be closer to home. Aaron and I will go check out the NICU once they think she might be able to move. I would like her to be close, but I also want her to have great doctors.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Thank you

I just wanted to say thank you to every one that was been thinking about us. I am grateful for all of you thoughts and wishes.

I was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon. It has been a little hectic trying to get things taken care, and adjusting back to "normal" life. Lots of little things to take care since I have been home. I am sure it will take a few days to get on a schedule. Since coming home I haven't had time to really sit down and respond to every ones emails, so I thought I would write a blog and cover every ones questions.

I am doing fine since coming home, still a little sore. I am sure that is to be expected. It is hard to go home and not being baby, but I will be going everyday to see her.

Raegan is doing good. She has put on 4oz since Sunday, and she is now up to 1 lb 10oz. Just before we got there today they took the phototherapy lights off of her. The jaundice is gone. Also the she had a valve in her heart that did not close, and that has now closed. She is breathing with little help from the ventilator. Today she had her eyes open for a long time.

Over all things are looking good. We took pictures of her today, so tomorrow I will post new photos. For tonight, I am losing my train of thought, time to go to bed. Again thank you to everyone that is think about us and continue to think good thoughts.

Sunday, July 6, 2008



Last night was the most amazing night ever. I held my baby girl for the first time. There is not enough words to describe the feeling. I am sure that every mom knows the feeling I am talking about. I didn't think that I would get to hold her for at least a week or even more. I only had to wait 48 hours.

Raegan is doing very well. They did have to put a tube in yesterday to help her breath, but it should come out in the next few days. They also had to give her blood. Not much at all, just 7cc. They said that babies at her age can't make there own blood, and they are taking so much out that they have to give her more.

Today she is getting 11cc of blood, and she also has a little jaundice. Jaundice is the yellowish staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes) that is caused by high levels in blood of the chemical bilirubin. Bilirubin comes from red blood cells. When red blood cells get old, they are destroyed. Hemoglobin, the iron-containing chemical in red blood cells that carries oxygen, is released from the destroyed red blood cells after the iron it contains is removed. The chemical that remains in the blood after the iron is removed becomes bilirubin. They are doing light therapy, also called phototherapy, which chemically breaks down the bilirubin in her skin to non-toxic forms. She will have the lights on her for 24 hours.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Friday, July 4, 2008

1 day old



Reagan is almost 24 hours old. She just got to meet her Great Grandparents and her Aunt Julie.

Welcome Reagan



We would like everyone to meet our daughter Raegan Renae Witbeck. She was born July 3rd at 6:08pm. She weighs 1 lb 9oz, and is 13 inches long. She is doing very well. I will keep everyone update and post more pictures soon.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Today is the day

So the doctor just came in and said that today is the day. In a few hours we will have a baby. Wow I made it to 29 weeks and 6 days. I have been here at OHSU for 18 days. I can't believe it is time. It the next few days I will post a picture and birth information.

Due to the fact that she is 10 weeks early and she is going to be so small, we are going to ask that there be no visitors for at least the first week. I will let everyone know when it's ok for visitors.

Feel free to post your wish's and comments here on the blog. Oh yeah one last thing have a Happy 4th.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Day 17


This afternoon the nurse came in and said that I had a package. She said that all the nurses wondered what it was. After the nurse left I looked to see who the package was from and it was from my brother in-laws girlfriend Rachel. She must have read my blog that I posted about Eleni's Cookies. She had sent me cookies from there. The cookies are very good, and very cute (as you can see in my picture). I recommend them to everyone.

I want to say thank you to Rachel. It was very sweet of her to send the cookies. It put a smile on my face.
 

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