8/6 - Day 6 (continued)

Visitors today were:
Aunt Jamee Nelson
Uncle Jurgen & my cousin Blake
Blake and Amber Conlee
Aunt Mari
Rev. Robert
Grandma & Grandpa Benjamin

                                  

First Family Photos :)

                                  

                                   

8/7 - Day 7
Today I weighed: 397grams or 14 oz

It's my 1 week Birthday! Small milestone for some, but a huge deal for little me!

Another mostly quiet day so far. Dr. McElroy said this morning that I am still right about where I should be for my 7th day of life. I had another dose of surfactant this morning to help my lungs stay inflated. Hopefully soon they will be able to turn the pressure down on my ventilator a bit to protect my lungs from any further damage... but that will be up to me and if I cooperate with the new changes :)

As it turns out, turning a week old is a big deal in the NICU as well as to my family! Two big tests for me this afternoon to double check my progress. I had a brain scan this afternoon to check for bleeding in my brain. I also have an echocardiogram scheduled for this afternoon to see how my heart looks. Mom and Dad will get to hear the results tomorrow morning when the doctors do their rounds. Dr. McElroy says he has no reason to suspect problems, but with tiny babies they just never know so Mom and Dad will be anxiously awaiting tomorrow morning!

I grew eyelashes!

Brain ultrasound... I didn't seem to mind

Opinions doc?

Almost done!

Tucked back in <3

Visitors today were:

Paige Moorman :)
Grandma & Grandpa Hulsebus
Great Grandma Jean
Aunt Mari

My first week, weights, and visitors

Tomorrow is a big day, I will be 1 week old already! Here's a peak at what I've been up to, and who has been here to see me this week:

8/1- Happy Birthday Reagan Jean Hulsebus!!

Today I weighed: 500 grams or 1lb 2oz
It was a crazy day! At midnight, Mommy couldn't get comfortable but wasn't concerned. Daddy had a cow out at 1:30 AM and told Mom to call the hospital while he was gone to check in and see if we needed to go to Iowa City. They told Momma that unless she was having painful cramps, coming and going that she was probably fine... by 3:30 AM Mom said, something is not right, Dad said we're going to Iowa City NOW... and its a good thing he did. We walked into labor and delivery at 5:05 AM, the doctor checked Mommy at about 5:10, and by 5:43 I was here... I guess I was showing off my lack of patience. It is a good thing Daddy said lets go when he did!

My first day was a little rocky, all things considered I'm doing pretty well but it is a bit of a guessing game for the doctors and nurses to figure out where my settings all need to be and what makes me comfortable.

Visitors today were:
Grandma and Grandpa Hulsebus
Grandma and Grandpa Benjamin
Uncle Luke Benjamin
Aunt Mari and Uncle Jurgen
Uncle Jason and Aunt Jaime
Matt Linnenbrink
Jamee Nelson

8/2 - Day 1
Today I weighed: 500 grams

Visitors today were:
Grandma and Grandpa Hulsebus
Grandma and Grandpa Benjamin
Great Grandma Jean
Aunt Mari
Aunt Tara and my cousin Olivia
Uncle Luke and Aunt January

I was a squirmy worm all day today! Punching, kicking & just wiggling around, trying to get comfortable in my new enviornment.

8/3 - Day 2
Today I weighed:428 grams or 15 oz

Visitors today were:
Grandma Marilyn
Aunt Nancy Stewart
Aunt Mari
Gavin & Katie Burgess
Kate Essing
Aunt Leslie
my cousin Lauren Hulsebus

Today is the day my mommy is discharged from the hospital. She and Daddy stayed with me until 9:00 PM before going home to get some rest and leaving bright and early to get back to me by 8:30 AM. They were both sad to be away from me overnight, but I was in the very good hands of my night nurse. I also have my own phone line so Mom and Dad can call the hospital and check in with my nurse 24/7. Daddy called at 10:45 before we went to bed, Mommy called at 4 AM when she was awake pumping, and Daddy called again at 5:45 AM when he got up to start chores... These poor nurses may start to hate nights my parents can't stay here!

8/4 - Day 3
Today I weighed: 403 grams or 14 oz

Visitors today were:
Grandma Janet
Aunt Tara
Aunt Joyce
Great Grandma Groene
Aunt Mary Adkins
Aunt Mari, Uncle Jurgen, cousins Blake & Zane
Grandma & Grandpa Hulsebus
Kadie Ritland

8/5 - Day 4
Today I weighed: 345 grams or 12 oz Dr. McElroy says it is time for me to turn the corner and start gaining weight! I'm too tiny!

Today Mommy and Daddy got into a room at the Rossi Volunteer house! That means they will have a room on the 4th floor of the hospital to stay in until I am ready to go home, they are very relieved to be able to stay so close to me, and the nurses are probably relieved that they won't be bombarded by Mommy & Daddy's late night phone call check ins.

Today my lung scans looked great! Dr. McElroy ordered that my Nitric Oxide be turned down from 20 ppm to 5ppm. If I am a good girl and continue to oxygenate well, he will turn it off tomorrow. The Nitric Oxide was turned on my first day here as a way to balance the gasses in my blood, the downside to having it on is that if I am on it for too long, it can impair my ability to make my own. And that is essential to my ability to exchange gasses in my lungs. I've not been on it nearly long enough to cause any harm yet and the Doctors are all impressed with my progress so far.

Visitors today were:
Grandma & Grandpa Benjamin
Uncle Mark, Aunt Leslie & my cousin Lauren
Aunt Tara & my cousin Olivia
Uncle Jason, Aunt Jaime, and my cousins: Josie, Jayden & Jaxon
Father Hoffman

8/6 - Day 5
Today I weighed: 374 grams or 13.1 oz I've decided to listen and start gaining like a good girl :)

Today was a quiet day, just Daddy, Mommy, and Reagan. Enjoyed some quiet time with Daddy this morning and some with Mommy this afternoon. Because I am cooperating and oxygenating very well, Dr. McElroy ordered that my Nitric Oxide be taken completely away! He also said that my awesomeness so far is unbelievale. I am off to a great start and my chances for survival get stronger everyday.

8/7 - Day 6
Today I weighed: 407 grams or 14.3 oz. Yay! working my way back up!

Dr. McElroy says the honeymoon is over... because my lungs are so tiny and so immature, some damage to them is inevitable and today on my lung scans, the first signs of some damage showed up. It is minor and the doctors are changing some of my pressure settings as to not tear or irritate the tissue any more. This means that I will probably get some more surfactant, I have not had any in three days so that is to be expected as well. It is also not irreprable damage, my lungs are still growing and developing and I may repare some of the damage on my own. Even if I end up going home on oxygen, I'll be developing lung tissue until I am 5 years old so I may grow right out of my need for it.

I am still doing very well, keeping oxygenated and my blood gas tests have been pretty good.  I've adjusted well to not having the nitric oxide, so well that they took the machine out of my room! The respiratory therapist said its always a good sign when he gets to wheel that machine out. Dr. McElroy came in a little bit ago and answered some questions for my Mom and Dad, general concensus is that I am doing very well so far.

Pictures from the first week in the life of a tiny cowgirl

Some would call me a tiny princess... my mommy says princesses sit in castles and wait for someone to rescue them; cowgirls pull up their boots and do all they can to help themselves out so I've decieded to be a tiny cowgirl <3

My Billiruben levels were high for a few days so I got to wear this cool mask and do some sunbathing under UV lights. Here I'm taking a little break from my mask to show off my pretty face.

I love to hold hands

My daddy loves me lots :)

Time for a diaper change

Don't be alarmed by the plastic wrap, I am under two layers of it to keep me warm and insulated, it doesn't touch me, but it helps me regulate my body temperature.

Day 3, my billiruben levles have been down so I get to keep my mask off for a while.

My very first tiara.

Understatement?

This is just a stop on the way to where I'm going, I'm not affraid because I know, this is my temporary home <3

Back to sunbathing in my pretty mask. I actuallly like my mask as it keeps ALL light out and I can relax

No more lights! Taking a break from the plastic wrap to get a new diaper and some lotion on my delecate skin.

Not trying to brag, but I am so pretty!

Whats Next for Reagan

Reagan is in for quite the journey. Right now, every day is a milestone for our little girl. There is no plan and no expected outcome for Reagan just yet, right now her job is to stay stable, and to start growing. The doctors will do as little to Reagan as possible over the next few weeks, the goal is to do as little stimulating and interfering with her as possible and to try to allow her to grow as if she were still inside her mommy. We will post updates on her progress and her visitors.

Visitors Welcome

Very healthy*, adult, (over the age of 14), visitors are more than welcome to come by and visit Reagan. Either Matt or Emily (and sometimes both) will be with her in the NICU and would love to show off our tiny bundle of joy :) As Reagan is limited to the number of visitors she can have at a time, because access to the NICU is limited, simply text or call Matt (319)470-5951 or Emily (319)470-8441 ahead of your visit to be sure one of us will be here to sign you in.

Right now, Reagan is in Bay 1 of the NICU at The University of Iowa Children's Hospital. The easiest way to get to the NICU is to park in either Ramp 2 or 4, take the level 2 walkway to Elevator I, up to level 6, and follow the signage to NICU Bay 1.

*because Reagan and all of the babies in NICU Bay 1 are in critical condition, it is very important that no one with any cold or flu-like symptoms visit. The tiniest germ or virus could be fatal to NICU babies.

Thank You ALL For Your Support

First and foremost, THANK YOU!! The support and love Reagan's parents have received in the first week of her life has been amazing and we are truly grateful! To those of you who have called, texted, emailed, facebooked, and sent gifts; thank you! Though we may not have had a moment yet to call you back or tell you directly, we have noticed! Everyone's thoughts and prayers mean the world to us and we really appreciate the community's support.

Love,

Matt & Emily

A Little Info about Preemies

Of course, preemies are in many ways small versions of the full term infant. But preemies also are very different from full term infants, and they live in a world that is very different from that of either the fetus in the womb or the full-term infant at home. Therefore, it is unfair to think of the preemie as either a fetus or a mini full-term baby: preemies are unique, and deserve unique and special treatment.

The preemie of 24 weeks gestational age would normally expect about 16 more weeks in the womb, where:

oxygen and food are provided by the placenta, thus there is no need to breathe or digest.

temperature is comfortable and stable.

there is protection from injury.

the effects of gravity are not felt, and the baby moves easily and stays comfortably curled-up (flexed).

there is constant motion, thus the baby is rocked gently much of the time.

the baby feels the rhythms of the mother's changing day-night activity.

the baby's nervous system does not have to respond to lots of different kinds of things (sights, sounds, touches).

there are no intense lights, sounds and touches, although the baby does hear his/her mother's rhythmic heart and bowel sounds, can hear speech, and feels gentle touch from his/her own limbs and the fluid and sides of the womb.

To read more about understanding preemie babies visit:

http://www.spensershope.org/Educational%20Brochures/Understanding%20Your%20Preemie.pdf