Home is wherever I am when I am with you...

It has been a question on everybody's mind, so I think it is only fair to share with you some information about when Owen will be coming home...

Owen's story began on May 26th.  Making quite an entrance into the world, it was decided that the safest place for him to be was North Austin Medical Center.  It is an unbelievable hospital with the most phenomenal staff!  At this point in time, it is the best place for Owen and has become our home away from home.  It is amazing to think that while this hospital did not exist in our lives 3 months ago, it is now a "home" filled with love, hope, and familiar faces (doctors, nurses, other NICU parents) that have become family. 

As much as we would love to have Owen at home with us, right now he needs to grow.  From day one in the NICU, the doctors and nurses told us to anticipate Owen's NICU discharge date to be sometime around his original due date: August 16th.  Every baby is different, so some babies get to come home a little earlier than anticipated while others need a little extra time to grow. 

Owen is a miracle. A fighter. One amazing little boy.  He is our son, perfect in every way.  He shows us each and every day just how strong he is. 

Throughout our NICU journey thus far, Owen has conquered so many milestones: breathing without oxygen, maintaining his body temperature, not needing caffeine, sleeping in a big boy crib, and most recently, tolerating oral feedings.  He was introduced to the bottle on July 2nd, and has slowly but surely been building his endurance so as to help him finish a full bottle feeding.  As of today, Owen is offered 3 of his 8 daily feedings by bottle.  As his success continues, the doctors and nurses will continue to increase the number of bottles he is offered per day.  Once Owen is able to consistently and successfully take all 8 of his feedings by bottle, we will begin the discharge discussion.  He will still need to pass two additional tests: a sleep study and a car seat test.  Once he shows us that he is ready, our sweet boy will get to come home. 

So when will that be?!  We can't say.  As soon as he is ready, Owen will tell us. 

In our eyes, "Home" is not the building where we lay our heads at night, it is where we are when we are together. 

Please continue to keep our little warrior in your thoughts and prayers!  Sending lots of love, hugs and kisses to each of you!!

xoxo,

The Jamisons

 

Sunny days...

You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

You'll never know dear

How much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

It has been another amazing week with the Jamison family!  Owen continues to grow bigger and stronger with each passing day.  He is one fiesty little warrior that continues to inspire us :)

Here is a look back on our week...

Monday, July 9th

Weight: 4 pounds, 12 ounces

So sleepy...

Tuesday, July 10th

Weight: 4 pounds, 13 ounces

Tummy time + no diaper = one happy boy!

Wednesday, July 11th

Weight: 4 pounds, 15 ounces

Guess who gets to hang out in a big boy bouncy seat?

This guy!!

Thursday, July 12th

Weight: 4 pounds, 15 ounces

So fresh and so clean after my bath with mommy and grandma Linda!

I look like such a big boy in my monster outfit from Meemah!

Friday, July 13th

Today was such a big day! Owen was rather exhausted by 5:00 p.m. because he spent his afternoon doing the five pound party dance!!  Woohoo!!

Saturday, July 14th

Weight: 5 pounds, 1 ounce

Happy 7 week birthday to you, sweet boy!  You continue to inspire your daddy and me with each day that passes!  We love you oh so very much!!  xoxo

This sweet boy brings so much joy to so many people!

Vince and I are beyond blessed :)

Sunday, July 15th

Weight: 5 pounds, 1 ounce

It is hard work to be this handsome!

We cannot believe it is already the middle of July and that our little miracle has more than doubled in size!  Grandma Linda and Grandpa Tom finally got to meet Owen in person!  They flew into town late Tuesday night, so our days have been especially busy... 

We hope you are all having a wonderful week!

While you tackle your daily office work, Owen will continue to work on his bottle feeding :)  Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers!  He is forever grateful!

Sending hugs and kisses to all of you!!

xoxo,
The Jamisons

 

Feeding and growing...

Here we are!  Since it has been almost an entire week since our last update, I figured we would give you a brief recap of everything that has happened in the past few days! I cannot believe Owen is now 6 weeks old!  Our days fly by and before I even know it, we are celebrating another birthday week :)  Owen continues to show all of us just how incredible he is.  Lots of baby steps this week...a promotion, successful bottle feedings, no more caffeine, and he continues to gain weight!!  He tells me every day that he wants to grow big and strong, just like his daddy! 

Let's reflect, shall we?!

Tuesday, July 3rd

Guess who was promoted into a big boy crib?!  Owen Vincent did!!  

Weight: 4 pounds, 2 ounces

Wednesday, July 4th

Weight: 4 pounds, 4 ounces

Thursday, July 5th

Weight: 4 pounds, 5 ounces

Friday, July 6th

Weight: 4 pounds, 8 ounces

Saturday, July 7th
Happy 6 week birthday to you, sweet boy!  We love you so very much and are inspired by you more and more with each day that passes.  You are one amazing, incredible little warrior.  Your daddy and I are truly blessed to have you as our son.  We love you!!
xoxo,
Mommy
  

Weight: 4 pounds, 9 ounces

Sunday, July 8th

Weight: 4 pounds, 10 ounces

Dear Aunt Kitty,

Happiest, happiest birthday!!  To celebrate your special day, I decided to eat my whole entire bottle!  All 43 ml!  Whoopppiiideeeedddooo!  I love you and cannot wait to see you again!

 xoxo,

Owen

We cannot thank you enough for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers!  We miss each of you so very much.  Grandma Linda and Grandpa Tom are coming into town this week, so I will try to post an update after they meet Owen for the first time! 

Sending hugs and kisses from our home to yours...

xoxo,
The Jamisons

4 lb party!!

Hello!!

Such a fabulous day it has been, full of so many precious surprises!

 

It's time for you to get your dancing shoes out again because Owen is ready to party!  Guess who now weighs 4 lbs?!

It's time for a 4 lb party dance!!

Not only do we get to celebrate such a huge weight milestone, but we also get to celebrate Owen's first bottle feeding!!!  The speech therapist stopped by this morning and trialed a bottle with our little warrior, who decided to show her how he could eat 8 ml orally!  Just a rockstar he is! :)

But let's be honest...weighing 4 lbs and eating from a bottle for the first time make is a lot of work.  We had one tuckered out little boy.

After a morning of rest, Owen was ready to cuddle with mommy and daddy during his afternoon snack!  Bright eyed and full of smiles, he continues to melt our hearts! 

So tiny.  So perfect.  So loved.  Our sweet little miracle.

Cutest. Baby. Ever.

(I might have a biased opinion, but seriously!?  How precious are these pictures?)

As if these two huge milestones were not enough, we found out tonight that our handsome little man is going to be sleeping with the roof of his bed raised tonight.  So long as he can maintain his heart rate, oxygen, and body temperature, he can move into an open crib.  For tonight, he is all bundled up and tucked in tight, ready for a big night with one of his favorite nurses!

We hope you all had a wonderful day! 

Hug your loved ones tightly and tell them just how much you love them :) 

We are so very grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers!  Please continue to think of and pray for Owen as he works towards the next few milestones...

Sending hugs and kisses from Owen's office!

xoxo,

The Jamisons

Good morning!! 

I cannot believe this week is already here and gone...where did the time go?!  Our little warrior continues to show us just how much of a fighter he is with each day that passes!  Let's give you a quick recap of the last couple of days...

06/26/12:  3 lbs, 7 oz!

06/27/12: 3 lbs, 8 oz!  It's time for a three and a half pound party dance!

 

06/28/12: 3 lbs, 9 oz!

06/29/12: 3 lbs, 10 oz!

06/30/12: 3 lbs, 12 oz!  Happy 5 week birthday, sweet boy!

07/01/12: 3 lbs, 14 oz!

Can you even believe our handsome little one is already up to 3 lbs, 14 oz?!  He has gained nearly two pounds during his stay in the NICU.  Last Saturday, we had to ask Owen's nurse to cut off his wrist and ankle bracelets because we thought they looked a little too tight.  It was a moment we will never forget...seeing those bracelets being cut off because his arm and leg were "too chubby" to accommodate :)  

We have had lots of FaceTime/Skype dates throughout the last couple of weeks, something which Owen loves!  As he continues to grow stronger, he is becoming much more alert during his feeding times...maintaining his 'quiet alert' state while staring and smiling at us.  It is the sweetest sight to see :) 

This week we are hoping to introduce bottle feedings to Owen.  Additionally, as soon as he reaches 1800 grams (approximately 4 pounds), they will consider taking him out of his isolette and moving him into an open-air crib.  These two things are huge milestones!!  We cannot wait for the days to come when we can share with you the changes!

As we prepare for the week ahead, we continue to count our blessings and say thank you for all of the incredible things that happen every day.  Owen is truly a little miracle, and we feel so blessed to be able to share him with you.  

Have a wonderful week!  Please continue to keep Owen in your thoughts and prayers!

Hugs and kisses to you!

xoxo,

The Jamisons