Weekly Fact - Week One

Nasogastric tube: A tube that is passed through the nose and down through the nasopharynx and esophagus into the stomach. Abbreviated NG tube. It is a flexible tube made of rubber or plastic, and it has bidirectional potential. It can be used to remove the contents of the stomach, including air, to decompress the stomach, or to remove small solid objects and fluid, such as poison, from the stomach. An NG tube can also be used to put substances into the stomach, and so it may be used to place nutrients directly into the stomach when a patient cannot take food or drink by mouth.

No more feeding tube

After a long night and no sleep Raegan and I got up and got ready so I could take her to the pediatrician for her first visit after leaving the hospital. The doctor said that Raegan looks great. Her weight is up to 5 lbs 7oz. We also took the feeding tube out, Raegan is no longer needing it. That's right Raegan has been eating every feeding from a bottle, and even better she has been eating more than the minimum required amount. On Saturday night we started using the Dr. Brown bottles, let me tell you it works great. We have tried so many bottles and nipples, and this one by far works the best. I recommend it to any one who has an infant.

One last thing, since I have come to know so much about the medical field, I have decided that I would do a medical fact of the week.

You know you're a preemie parent when...

If this list looks familiar, you might be a parent of a preemie baby! We have to laugh about it to keep our sanity! :)

You know you're a preemie parent when...

You measure everything in cc's

Luxury = sleeping three hours in a row

You can change your baby's diaper with one hand

In the course of the same day, you have wanted to slap and bear hug the same NICU nurse

You feel a secret pull of jealousy when one of your friends delivers full term

You have gotten a rash on your hands from washing with hot water and the NICU soap... eight times in one day

The statement "breastfeeding is simple and natural" makes you laugh -- or cry, depending on the day and the hour.

Your baby has ever outgrown an outfit... while s/he was wearing it.

You cry when you're happy, laugh when you're mad, and throw things across the room when you're sad.

You could drive the route from your house to the hospital in your sleep... and maybe you have.

You can't remember what you talked about before feeding schedules, diapers, and growth charts.

You're more interested in your baby's diaper than the State of the Union

Your idea of a vacation is walking outside to get the mail

When someone offers you their hand to shake, you think twice, envisioning the germs that you might take home from them

The sound of your baby crying is beautiful, not annoying.

While everyone else coos, "He's so tiny!" your six-pound baby looks huge to you.

Your heart almost bursts with love at least once a day

You would climb to the top of Mt. Everest, barefoot, if it would help your baby to grow healthier, bigger, or stronger.

You not only know what "bilirubin" is, you have had several extensive conversations about it.

You never knew how grateful you could feel that your baby has gained an ounce.

You know where all the vending machines are on your floor of the hospital... and which ones have the good snacks.

You literally live your life one hour at a time.

The security guard at the front door of the hospital just waves you in when he sees you.

You are grateful for the smallest things now -- a shower, clean socks, a meal that you didn't have to cook, a friend who has a whole conversation with you without offering you any useless advice.

You had to give up your shower today to make time to read this list.

First day home

Raegan has been home for 24 hours now. I can't believe it. Wait, I can, I was up all night. Being a parent to a child that has been in the hospital since birth is different than being a parent to a child who is at home. Baby in hospital = sleep, baby at home = no sleep. I can't wait until Raegan sleeps through the night. I am sure that will be a while from now. We have to wake her at least every 4 hours to eat. She has to eat 180ml every 12 hours (and in the hospital that would say 180ml Q12). Raegan did come home with a feeding tube (I had to learn how to put that in before she came home, it was not so bad), but we are hoping that she will start eating more by mouth and we can take the feeding tube out soon. Raegan also came home with a monitor. It lets us know if her heart rate drops, or goes to fast. This doesn't happen very often, maybe once every few days, but they just want to make sure that she stops having spells before she stops wearing it.

So any ways on to things here at home. The dogs have been great with Raegan. They come check her out when she cry's. I am sure the dogs are tired from being up some much last night. One of the dogs, Sayde, laid on our bed and leaned her head into the bassinet and just watched Raegan sleep. I wish I would have had the camera.

Well Raegan is just starting to wake up from her nap. It's time to eat. I will post more pictures later on tonight, or sometime tomorrow.

Coming Home

I am going to the hospital for the last time, I get to bring Raegan home. I am very excited. I will post pictures later and update you on how the day goes.