Radiothon - February 25, 2014

The Children's Miracle Network Radiothon starts tomorrow February 26th.

Owen's story will play around 8:15 am and 11:40 am.  You can listen on KLLL (96.3) or you can go to  www.klll.com and listen online.

You can make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network by calling 806-747-5437 or 806-770-5437 starting tomorrow morning.  They are having a 36 hour miracle radiothon.  Check out KLLL's website or Facebook page for more information.You can also go to the children's miracle network Facebook page at www.facebook.com/UMCCMN and bid on some things that have been donated for auction.  If you do decide to make a donation, make sure and tell the volunteer that your are donating in honor of Owen!

We hope they raise lots of money!

24 weeks old! - February 24, 2014

Today we went for a check up at the doctors and everything went well. Owen weighed in at a whopping 9lbs and 21 inches long. The doctor felt comfortable with taking away his caffeine and we will go back in two weeks and hopefully be able to start weening his oxygen!! We still have to work on him eating more efficiently since it takes him 30 minutes to eat 3 oz (on a good feed). The doctor wants him to eventually be eating that in 15 minutes.

Owen is making good progress and the doctor was happy with everything. We still have to work on him eating better (faster and more efficient). 

We will be on the CMN radiothon this Wednesday and Thursday. We still don't have the exact times, but when we find out we will post it!

Finally got a nice day to go on a walk

"You talking to me?"

Starting to get possessive 

"My big brothers a pug"

Working on tummy time

Children's Miracle Network - February 18, 2014

Owen is continuing to do well, gaining weight and getting stronger. Doctor has

told us that we can feed him every 3 hours at night instead of 3. He has adapted to this some nights.:)

We went to the eye doctor today and got some good news that he is released from him, now we have to see the pediatric opthamologist in 2 months who will just keep tract of Owens eye development.

Since Owen is a Children's Miracle Network baby we are helping out with the radiothon and telethon. We Are interviewing for the radiothon that is February 26-27 on 96.3 KLLL. If you would like to make a donation to CMN in Owens name please see the link below. We are not sure the exact time our interview is on, but will post it when we find out. If you want to call in to the radio make sure to let them know you are donating in Owens name so they can announce that on the radio.

http://klllcmnradiothon.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1098679&lis=0&kntae1098679=2F79C3E103DD4A6DA9BB8763B44780EC&supId=401319770

Thank you to all our friends and family for all of your support to this point!! 

5 Months/8lbs!! - February 11, 2014

Yesterday Owen went to the doctors for a weight check and he has finally hit the 8lb goal and some! He weighed in at 8lbs 6oz!! Now we are going to work on getting rid if some of his medicines and then start weening his oxygen in about a month, depending on how he does with out his caffeine. 

Last week and this week have been pretty quiet just going to weigh ins and workout with hls therapist.

Next week we go and see the retina doctor again and hopefully for the last time. Last time he said he hopes to be able to release him to the pediatric ophthalmologist after the next visit.

Weight gain is still our number one goal. The more he weighs the stronger he will be and the better his lungs will get. 

Day 1 and 5 Months old  - a miracle!

Loves his big brother

Cutie!

He can hear you!! - February 4th, 2014

This week we have be able to check off a couple of things on Owen's "To Do" list!

Last week Owen was finally accepted for 3 synagis shot (RSV vaccination). This will help his immune system to fight off RSV that could put him in the hospital.

Owen had to go to the hearing specialist last week because he failed two hearing tests in the hospital. He finally passed the test! Great relief!

We have been cleared of all of the state new born screening!

Owen is doing therapy multiple times a day to work on his flexibility and strength as well as vision and his sensory system. He is slowly improving with all of the above skills! We have an Occupational Therapists that comes in weekly and teaches us the exercises and will do so for up to three years.

 

Owen was 7lbs 13oz yesterday!!  Once he reaches 8lbs we are going to work on weaning the oxygen, getting him off of his monitors and off of his medications.

His personality is continuing to shine through, becoming more and more comfortable at home, loves his bath time, if he is unhappy with something he will let you know and make sure you take care of it right away:) he is almost out of his newborn clothes and diapers and has grown into all of his extra skin finally! 

PJ is a good helper!!

You would think that they liked each other

Very True!

He's a good snuggler!!

New Born Screening - Jan. 27, 2014

Owen is up to 7 lb. and 3 oz.!

His lab work showed that his iron levels are still elevated but coming down nicely.

Owen had some of his 4 month shots today.  He also had to get some more blood work done to test for liver function for the state newborn screen.  This is most likely taken care of, since the original levels were drawn at the hospital while he was experiencing near liver failure.

Owen also saw the immunologist today.  He was cleared of severe combined immunodeficiency disorder!!!  We will still go see him in 3 months or so, just to be on the safe side.  His prematurity could be a factor in other immune problems for awhile.

A big thank you to the State of Texas for the great newborn screening process that does not account for prematurity.  These screens that were re-done over and over because of "problems" with Owen, caused him to deal with the potential complications with who knows how many extra blood transfusions, not to mention all the needles.  Few of the results could have been helpful until they took blood from him after his original birthdate.  Maybe something will be done about this in the future.  If the people making these laws knew what it feels like to have all of these claims of health issues thrown upon parents who already have a sick premature kid, maybe they would consider looking at all of the variables when it comes to giving babies the newborn screening tests.



Praying for:

• eyes to correctly heal from surgery
• no infections
• gain weight
• developing properly

Working on his Therapy

Doing a great job with therapy

More therapy

Warn out

Loves his bath time

Our little Giraffe!!

Someone looks just like his daddy

Now he is gaining weight! - Jan. 21, 2014

Owen has been gaining weight!  He is up to 6lbs. 15oz.!

The ECI developmental group came and did their initial assessment last wednesday.  He was arching his back too much from not being curled up in the womb for long enough.  He just needs to strengthen some different muscles up.  They are going to show us how to do that with a special swaddling technique.  He responded to the sound of a bell on one ear but not on the other.  He could follow a light to the side with one eye but not the other.  The ear and eye tests could mean something or nothing at all.  They will follow up with both of these.  They are coming to the house this Wednesday.

Owen had his second eye appointment today and his laser surgery is still working!  Hopefully we will only have to see the eye surgeon one more time.

He also had an appointment with the pediatric surgeon today.  The doctor said it looked like he may have a reoccurring hernia on one side.  We have to take Owen back to see him in March.  If it truly is a hernia we will schedule a surgery date.

On Thursday, Owen has to go and get some blood work done.  Routine lab work and checks on his iron levels.  He had high iron levels when we left the hospital.  We stopped giving him supplemental iron.  Hopefully that did the trick.

We also have the first follow up appointment with the neonatologist on Thursday.



Praying for:

• eyes to correctly heal from surgery
• no infections
• gain weight
• developing properly
• Hernia to be OK

I'm done with this oxygen tube! What are you gonna do about it?

I am always a good boy and never cry.

What is this?

I'm a lion and its my mane!