Wednesday Night/ Thursday morning

Well, it's actually 3:10 on Thursday morning, and i just got home from the hospital. Josie is doing good. They are going to do the nasal canula again in the morning/afternoon, as soon as the Dr. orders it. She is just hanging out in there right now getting bigger and bigger each day. She looks wonderful.
We are going to take Easton to see her later this afternoon. He has not been there to see her since she has been in a crib, so I think that tomorrow we will let him hold her for the first time. That will be so exciting! PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES.......
Well, we sold our house..... Exciting, scary, sad, all in one.. It will be nice to go to a bigger house, but it will be scary, because I don't do well with change, and sad because little Miss Josie never got to see her old home, she will just know the new one, but it will all be for the better! So, now we are looking for something new. Yup, still looking haven't found the perfect one yet, so if we have not found the perfect one by time our time is up, then we will go stay with my Uncle until we do, so it will all work out. The next house I move to is the one that I will live in for a long time.
So, we are busy, busy, busy. We have a lot to get done....
Please continue to pray that Josie gets to come home soon. Josie's little boyfriend Cooper from across the hall in the NICU might be getting discharged next week.... That will be hard. We love that little guy, and are so happy for him, we just wish that it was our turn, and it will be SOON!!!!
So, please continue with the prayers. Love to all!!!!!!!

Tuesday Night

Well, nothing has really changes in a couple days. Josie weighs 5 pounds 6ounces. She is STILL on c-pap alternating with the nasal canula. Slowly but surely we are coming along.
Nothing much totell as of right now, we're just ready to have her home.
Please pray that's she can come home soon,. Not sure how much more I can take:(
Night and love you all......

Sunday Night

Well, Dusty and I have been home from the hospital for a few hours now. When we went to get Easton from my Mom and Dad's we decided to take him on a four wheeler ride. So we all, my Mom, Dad, Dusty, Easton and I all went riding. We had a great time.
Josie is still continuing to do great! She weighs 5lbs 6 oz tonight! She is really gaining well. She is still alternating on the nasal canuala, and is enjoying it. We are just taking tings slow still, we don't want to rush her!
Nothing really new, just been busy getting everything ready for the March of Dimes walk on May 9th. It's gonna be so much fun. We have been making her posters and things and they are sooo cute. I will have tons of pictures to put on here.
I will update you as it comes. Thanks, and please continue to pray!

Saturday Night

Well, Nothing really new with Miss Josie so far this weekend. She is doing the nasal canula 3 times a day now, and she has done very well on it for the last couple days. She weighs 5 pounds 4.8 ounces tonight. She is getting so big.
Dusty and I are heading up to spend the day with her tomorrow. Nana(My mom) went and spent some time with her today, and Dusty and I spent the day with Easton, Austin and Kendal.
It's hard, because when I'm home I feel like i need to be there with Josie, and when I'm with Josie I feel like i need to be home. UGHHHHHHH..... Crazy!
This will all be over soon, and Josie will be home with us, and then I won't have to divide all this time up. I just pray that day comes soon.................
I will update you all when I get home tomorrow night. Until then We love you all... Please keep praying!

Thursday Night

Well, Josie is 10 weeks old now, officially since 9:28 p.m.! Hard to believe that 10 weeks has went by already. Where has the time gone?
Josie weighs 5 pounds 1.5 ounces now. YEAH!!! Growing like a weed! Ready to go to those newborn clothes.
She did her last turn on nasal canula for the night, and she did great! She will sleep good tonight!
Dusty (Daddy) and Pa (My dad) went to spend a few hours with Josie this evening and I stayed home and took Easton to the block Party at the Noble Learning Center. Easton had a great time, especially with all the popcorn and cotton candy. HA HA!
Other than that, not a whole lot going on tonight.
We just got done with Josie's room. Thanks to Uncle Chris and Aunt Trinda (Meme) for all their help. PINK, PINK, PINK........
I think that she is set now, little miss Josie has more clothes than I do. Hopefully she gets a chance to wear them all!
Well, we're heading to bed. I'll let you all know what morning brings!!!
Please pray for Josie to continue to improve and make it home soon.....
Thanks and love you all!!!!

Thursday

Well, Josie is doing great. The Dr.'s have been in already, and they have started her on a new formula with extra calcium and protein. She gets 42cc every three hours. Little piglet!! She is growing like a weed, and she is looking more and more like Easton.
She started alternating between, the c-pap and the nasal canula again this morning, she was on the nasal for one hour, and she dd WONDERFUL!! They will let her rest a bit, and then give her another hour. We are going to start out slow, and let her take her time. We have to be very cautious that she tolerates it well before we increase her time.
This is great! One more step closer to home.
We are off to get the rest of her stuff for her room today, and we are going to put her crib up today or tomorrow! WE ARE SO EXCITED....... Every time I think about it I just cry. I have waited a long time to do this for her, and now it's here.
Well, I will post more later and let you all know how she is tolerating her nasal canula the next time. Please pray she can do this, we're ready to have her home......
Love- Dusty, SueAnn, Easton and Josie!!!!!

Wednesday

Well, Sorry that I didn't get a chance to post anything yesterday, but it has been a little hectic around here the last couple days.
Dusty got hurt at work on Monday, so we had to take him to the emergency room, and then the following morning we had to go to work pro. So now he is off work until next Tuesday. He smashed his elbow, it looks horrible, I can only imagine how it feels. Poor guy.
What's next??????????????
Josie is doing great!! I went up last night and stayed the majority of the night and came home around 4:30 this morning to get a couple hours sleep before Easton woke up. Dusty is here, but he is limited on his mobility right now, so I wanted to be here to help him out. I will go back this evening, myself, my mom, and my grandma. She still weighs 4 pounds 14 ounces, so that's good. Monday night she was retaining a little fluid, so now she has evened out! She had a great night while I was there, she was sleeping so sound. She is looking more and more like Easton everyday, especially while she's sleeping.
She has outgrown most of her preemie clothes already, she can still wear the onesies, but her little sleepers are to small. SHE IS SO LONG!
I am still waiting on the Dr.'s to make rounds, they are on the unit, but they have not made it to her room yet. Josie is now the senior citizen of the unit. She has been there the longest. Hopefully, our turn to leave will be coming soon:)
I will let you know what the plans for the day are as soon as I hear from the Dr.
Thank you all for your continuous thoughts and prayers! We really appreciate it!
Talk to you all soon!!!!!

Monday

Well, Josie is still doing great! The Dr.'s are going to let her have a couple more days of rest and then they are going to try the nasal canula again. I think that she will do wonderful this time. I think they just tried to early last time.
She weighs 4 pounds 14 ounces, but the Dr. said that she is a little puffy, and they think most of that is her actual weight! ALMOST 5 pounds.... It's amazing. Is this really the same little girl who weighed 1 pound 10 weeks ago? It still amazes me everyday!
Josie is on a 27 calorie feeding and then twice a day she gets 30 calories. They are trying to beef her up so that she develops new lung tissue faster! I would say it's working! HA HA!!
So, she needs to rest all that she can in the next couple days, because she has to prove that she can do the nasal canula! As soon as she is on it again, they are going to allow her to start eating with the bottle. They will leave the ng tube in just incase it takes her a little while with the bottle, but the Dr.'s and I both think that she will take right to it! She loves sucking on her binki, but with eating off the bottle she has to know to suck swallow and breath all at the same time! She will do great though, I just know it. The sooner she gets to the nasal canula and eating from a bottle, the sooner she will be home. We can't wait.
I just wanted to take a minute and tell you all a little background story. If you look at Josie's guestbook, you will see a women by the name of Paula Adams. Paula is an RN from Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center. 7 years ago, my niece was born, after a very tramatic delivery that is. Paula was my sister-in-laws nurse. She was wonderful. I can remember my entire family talking about how wonderful she was, and my mom even wrote a letter to the CEO of the hospital to recognize that Paula was not just an average nurse. She was phenominal. Well years later when I was pregnant with our son Easton, I had severe gall bladder trouble and was in and out of the hospital everytime I turned around, and I had the opportunity to have Paula for a nurse numerous times, and yet again she prooved that she was above and beyond just your average nurse. I instantly felt such a connection with her, and she made such a rough and trying time much much easier. She felt like family, she is such a remarkable person, and I just love her to death. Well, during this experience with Josie, I had not been ill untill the weeks before I delivered her, adn up untill then I had not had the chance to see Paula and even let her know I was expecting. Well, on that Thursday before all the labs were back and before we knew what all was going on, I was lying in the bed talking to my mom and another nurse, and in through the door was Miss Paula. I instantle was relieved. She said that she was in another room, in a delivery, and she would see me soon, but she saw my name oin the list at the nurses station, and just had to come and say hi. She kissed me on the cheek, and gave me the biggest hug. Now, how many nurses do that. Paula is more than a nurse, she is one of the most wonderful people I know. I think that these nurses around here deserve much more credit then they are ever given. Paula if you get the chance to read this, I can't wait for you to meet little Miss Josie. You are amazing, and we will never foreget you. Please stay in touch. We Love You!!!
So, for now, that's all. Please continue to pray for Josie, and that the next few days go smooth for her...
Thank you all sooo much.

Sunday

Well, Josie has had a good, but long weekend. She started getting her vaccinations this weekend, and it has just wore her out. She is half the size of a full term baby and is getting the same amounts that those babies would get, so it is definitely taking it's toll on her. She had spiked a little fever with it, but the Dr.'s said that was normal and they started giving her some Tylenol.
My sister-in-law Kim and I went to visit today. This is the first time that Kim has been able to go and see her since Josie was just a couple days old. Kim and my brother Ralph have been helping with Easton, so they have just gotten the chance to go here lately.
Josie is retaining a little fluid this evening, so she weighs 4 pounds and 13 ounces, but the nurse says that a few of those ounces are fluid, so once her meds kick in she will lose some of that, so she actually probably weighs 4 pounds 10 ounces. That's just a guess.
Other than that, Dr. Ford had a little good news today. She said that Josie SHOULD be home sometime in the next 5 weeks. She doesn't look for her to be there any longer than that! I think I was floating on the clouds when she told me that. Those are words that I have waited to hear for 10 weeks now. We have watched babies come and go, come and go, and soon it will be our turn to go.
The Dr.'s and nurses are wonderful, and they have made us feel right at home. It will be hard to leave them, they have became part of our family in the last 10 weeks. We will forever be grateful to the Aultman Staff, I hope that they realize how important they are in our lives. They have made the dream of bringing our little miracle baby home a reality!
So, I am trying not to get my hopes up to high, I do keep a little place in the back of my mind telling myself that i she does not get to come home in the next 5 weeks, it will be ok, and it won't be long after that, but it's hard! I just hope that everything continues to go well, and that we will be making that trip home for good SOON!!!
We have a lot to do in the next 5 weeks, and a lot of baby shopping to do! YEAH!!!! Think of all that pink and purple that we get to buy. After 2 years of all blue, I didn't think they made any other color. HA HA!!!!
So, for now, we will enjoy our time with Easton, and make him feel as special as we have for the last 2 years, and try to prepare him and ourselves for her arrival home. That will be one heck of a day, both my babies together, each and everyday! Easton is going to be a great big brother..
I can see it now, we are going to have to put Josie in the dresser drawers to sleep, so Easton doesn't try to get in her crib with her. He will have her in the wagon of his tractor driving her around the house. HA HA!!!
Well, please continue to pray that she keeps improving, and that she does indeed come home soon. Thanks. We can't wait for you all to meet our miracle baby!!

Saturday Afternnon

I just wanted to take a minute and thank all of you who have taken the time to follow Little Miss Josie's journey so far. Thank you for the prayers, and all of you concerns with our entire family. It's times like this that it's nice to live in such a small community.
There have been people that I don't even know, who have sent us cards, e-mailed us, and even visited Josie's blog.
I have made some amazing friendships through this experience, and connected with people that I never would have dreamed of having things in common with , and it has been those people who have given me some great advise, and wonderful words of wisdom.
At the beginning of this with Josie, it seemed like we were all alone, and then people who were in our same situation came to us and made us realize that we were not alone, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. One day indeed, Josie will come home, and sleep in her own crib, play with her big brother, and just enjoy her life. She has fought for every breath that she has taken for the last 10 weeks. The last couple of weeks have been much easier, but it is still a little fight for her little body.
We have watched our daughter go from a little 1 pound 15 ounce baby girl with her eyes still fused shut, to an amazing miracle, a strong willed little girl who smiles at you when you talk to her, and grips your finger as she holds on. It has been nothing short of a miracle.
The Dr.'s and nurses have saved our little girls life. I'm not sure how they do what they do, but our entire family is greatful for them, and we always will be.
In the years to come, we will look back on this, and we will tell Josie just how strong she was, and we can show her the pictures of how small she was, and that she never gave up, she did what she had to do. I will never forget when she first got sick, and the Dr.'s were not sure that she would beable to fight the infection, I put my hands inside her isolette, layed them on her head and her belly, and I looked at the Dr.'s with tears rolling down my face, and said" You do not know where she comes from, she is going to prove you all wrong, and get through this, we just have to keep the faith". Well, here we are weeks later, watching her make memories everyday!
POWER OF PRAYER!!!
I can't wait for her to get home, and get strong, so that she can come and meet all of you who have stood by her side, kept the faith in her, and continued to pray.
I dream about bringing her home everynight, and watching her play with Easton, Austin and Kendal( My nephew and niece)! It will be such an amazing day.
Also, thanks to all of you who are joining us on MAy 9th for the March of Dimes Walk. It will be great to show Josie all the pictures and the tape of who came to show their support for her. We know that not everyone can be there that day, we know who you are, and that if you could be, then you would be. Just knowing that you care has meant so much to us.
We love you all, please continue to pray for her to continue to improve, and to be home soon!!
Love You All.....................................................

Saturday

Well, Josie is still continuing to do well. She started getting her vaccinations late last night, so she has a small fever right now, but they have given her some Tylenol to help with that. She will get another vaccination later. I asked them to break them up as much as possible so that she didn't get so many at one time. I think she has been through enough!
She is still on her c-pap, they have not started up the nasal canula again yet, which is just fine with me, I think she needs a little more time to rest, and let her lungs get a little stronger.
My mom and Grandma went to visit today, and spend the day with her. I have just been cleaning and playing with Easton. This is the first day in a long time that I have just stayed around home, I just feel like I should be there with her every second, so my Mom and Grandma went so that I could get some things done around here. I thik this is the first time that my house has gotten a good cleaning in almost 10 weeks....
I will talk to you all again soon.

Friday

Well, Little Miss Josie weighs 4 pounds 8 ounces tonight! She is doing great in her crib, and loving it!
Nothing has really changed since yesterday!
All is well, I will just be glad when she is home! I really miss having my kids together, and all of us being able to do things together.
Everything will be better soon.
I'll update more as I have things to tell you, for now, just please keep praying!

Thursday

JOSIE IS BACK IN HER "BIG GIRL CRIB"!
Well, Josie went back into the crib today. She weighs 4 pounds 5. 8 ounces tonight. She is not doing the nasal canula for a few days, because she was starting to show us some signs that her little lungs are not ready for that!
She is doing great other than just needing to relax.
No big changes, just taking it day to day, letting her relax, and letting her grow.
She is looking more and more like Easton every day. Her is is getting so long, and is so blond, and she has such big beautiful eyes!
Well, I will update you all tomorrow, but for now, that's all I have. No changes actually is good news, just sitting status quo!!!
Please continue to pray!
Love Ya All!!!

Wednesday

Well, everything is basically the same as yesterday, which is good! She did do some time on nasal canula today and tolerated it very well! We will do more and more time on nasal canula each day.
They have not weighed her tonight yet, so as soon as they do, I will let you know. I am going to visit her tonight when I get Easton and Dusty in bed. Dusty had his wisdom teeth pulled and his molars today, so he is not in any shape to take care of Easton. HA HA!!
Please just continue to pray that Josie keep improving and that she can come home soon.
Talk to you all soon!

Tuesday Night

Sorry I haven't posted anything today, but I just got home from the hospital. I got to bath Josie for the first time. The nurses have been the ones doing it, but tonight it was all Mommy!!! I was so thrilled. Things are just getting better and better. I pray that they continue to go that way!
She is on the c-pap of 4 at about 25% oxygen, and then she has her turns with the high flow nasal canula also. We skipped the high flow turn this evening, because this morning she got a little tired and her resperations were up, so I suggested to the Dr. that maybe we should just skip the next one and let her rest, and then start again in the morning. When I gave her her bath tonight we did put her on the high flow for just an hour or so, but then we put her right back on the c-pap and she did wonderful, NO trouble at all, so she will be ready to go by morning.
She weighs 4 pounds 5 ounces tonight, she is getting so big! Actually some of her preemie clothes are getting to small. I never thought I would be so happy to see her outgrow her clothes!
I will be going to see Josie again tomorrow evening, I can't go in the morning, because I have to take Dusty to get his wisdom teeth pulled out. I will take care of him for most of the day, and then Easton and I will go spend some time with her!
So, everything is going great! Please continue to pray that she stays healthy, and gets to come home soon....

**** Remember, If anyone else is interested in doing the March Of Dimes walk with us all, please contact us SOON!!!! Thanks...

Monday Morning

JOSIE WEIGHS 4 POUNDS....... YEAH!!!!!!
I just talked to Josie's nurse, and Josie has hit the 4 pound mark. She actually weighs 4 pounds and 1 ounce. Hard to believe the little girl who weighed 1 pound 8 weeks ago is up to 4 pounds today. It's amazing.
She is doing great, she's up to 34cc every 3 hours on her feedings, and she is doing great! She got her nasal canula time at 3:30 this morning until 5:30, and she did good. They will do it again at 2:30 today.
I am waiting to get a call from the Dr.'s to see what the plan for today is. They had not made rounds the last time I talked to the nurse.
I am heading up as soon as my dad or Dusty gets home to get Easton, and spend the evening and most the night with her since Dusty is off tomorrow!
I'll post more when I talk toy the Dr.

Sunday Night

Well, we just got home from seeing Josie, and picking up Easton. We are pooped.
Josie is doing great. She was on nasal canula for like 5 or 6 hours total today, and she loved every minute of it. They will alternate back and forth from the c=pap to nasal canula until her lungs get use to the change. So far so good though, she seemed very relaxed on the nasal canula. It was so great to see her whole little face today. She looked soooo cute. Her little boyfriend across the hall (Cooper) got her an outfit and a stuffed bunny that sings.
We have actually became very close with Cooper's parents. He to was born at 27 weeks, but 2 weeks later than Josie, he was born at 9:27 p.m, and Josie was born at 9:28 p.m., he weighed 1 pound 14 ounces, and little Miss Josie weighed 1 pound 15 ounces. It has been so nice to get to know someone else that is going through the exact same things that we are. They are amazing people, and we think the world of them. We were talking tonight about the kids getting to go home, and that we will HAVE to keep in touch, and make visits. It will be neat years from now to let the kids know that we actually all met in the NICU! How many people can say that their friendship started in a NICU! HA HA...
So, all though that we have had a rough 8 weeks, we have met some amazing people, some with situations a lot better the ours, and some with situations a lot worse. See, things could always be worse. We are just thankful that Josie is doing so well, and that we are on the road to home.
The power of prayer does wonderful things. We thank you so much for all your prayers!
I will post more later when they weigh her. Talk to you all soon!!!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone, I hope that the bunny found it's way to your house. Easton got a John Deere battery operated tractor with a wagon, and his wagon was full of candy. Crazy bunny!!!
Little Miss Josie got a cute pink ballerina basket full of 2 oz baby bottles, onesies, and some baby headbands. That bunny sure knows what she needs.
I talked to the nurse this morning, and she is doing WONDERFUL! She is keeping her body temperature now, so they are thinking about putting her back in her crib, and also they ARE going to start her on the nasal canula today, and see how she does. I know that she will do GREAT! She just has to take things slow!
We are spending time with Easton, and then my mom is coming to get him, and we are going to see Josie.
We wish you all a very Happy Easter.
I'll talk to you all soon!!!!

Saturday Night

Wow, we have had a busy day. Easter egg hunts, wrestling tournaments, and more Easter egg hunts. Easton is sooo wore out.
Josie is doing wonderful, she is still in her isolette, they are just going to let her hang out there for a couple days, she actually sleeps better in there anyways. She is at 26% oxygen and her c-pap is on the last level, a pressure of 4. She weighs 3 lbs. 15.8 oz. Almost 4 pounds. How exciting!!
We are getting our Easter baskets ready to put out for the Easter bunny, never thought that I would have 2 kids this Easter, but I am soooo thankful that I do.
Dusty has had a hard day, I think that he has told me a hundred times today that he wishes that she wasn't so far away, and that he misses her. His eyes just tear up, and it breaks my heart. He, and all of us just want her home so bad. I just keep telling him soon enough. We literally dream about that day!
Other than that, that's all I have for right now. Thanks for everything everyone. We really appreciate it..

Saturday Morning

Good morning everyone.
Josie is doing wonderful this morning. She is in her isolette still just relaxing, and her oxygen is down to 23%. Room air is 21% so actually she is only at 2%. They are just letting her stay in her isolette to keep toasty, and she will get in her crib later. No hurry, as long as she is doing good, I don't care where she sleeps. HA HA...
Still waiting on the Dr.s to make their rounds so I'm not really sure what the plans for today are.
We, Dusty and I, are getting ready to take Easton to the Easter egg hunt, and then we are going to see Josie later this evening.
I'll talk to you all later. Have a great day, it looks like it's going to be wonderful!!!

Friday Night

Well, I just got off the phone with the nurses, and Josie had to go back in her isolette tonight. Her body temperature was down some, so they did some blood work to rule out infection, and that all came back negative. So, that's great. She must have just been chilly tonight. We all forget that she is still so tiny! She isn't even 4 pounds yet. She still has a long way to go.
Other than that she is doing great. She will go back to her crib tomorrow. She just needed a little warm air..
Other than that, not a whole lot going on.
I will let you know more tomorrow!!

Friday Evening

Well, I am up here at the hospital with Josie, and I just got her bathed and all dressed. Picked her outfits out for the next couple of days, so now she is ready to go.
She is doing great, she's actually sleeping right this minute, so I snouck out to the computer which is in the family waiting area. I told Dusty that the Easter Bunny better bring me a laptop for Easter. HA HA!!
She is still in a pressure of 5 at 27% oxygen, I THINK that they MIGHT take her to nasal canula tomorrow, but who knows! As long as she is doing good, I don't care what they do. I just don't want them to rush her. She was to sick of a baby to rush her, she has had a long 8 weeks.
We are taking Easton to the Easter Egg hunt tomorrow, and then Dusty and I are coming to visit for a few hours, and then we are going home, because the Easter Bunny will come tomorrow night for Easton. Then Sunday we are doing Easter with Easton in the morning, while my mom and Grandma come and see Josie, then they are coming to get Easton, and then Dusty and I will come do Easter with little Josie. We were going to bring Easton on Sunday also, but he has started with a runny nose, so I think that it would be best of we didn't bring him, just to be on the safe side. We can't handle anymore bad times. Next year the four of us will be together for Easter.
So, I will be heading home soon so that we can color eggs with Easton tonight, so I will update you all later. O' by the way Josie weights 3lbs 14.5 oz. ALMOST 4 POUNDS!!!!! YEAH!!!!!
KEEP PRAYING!
Love- Dusty, SueAnn, Easton and Josie

Thursday and Friday Morning Update

Well Sorry that I didn't get a chance to post for Thursday, but I spent the majority of my time with little Miss Josie. I am finding it harder and harder to leave her room, let alone leave the hospital to come home, but Easton is here, and he needs me also. I try to break my time up as much as I can and spend equal time with them both. It's hard, let me tell ya.
Well, the intentions for Thursday, or so we were mistold were that Josie was suppose to come off the c-pap and go to nasal canula. That's what one Dr. said, but when the other Dr. came in the room, he said that was not the intentions for that day. He wanted to let her relax on the c-pap for just a little while longer. He said that we all have to remember that her lungs are severely damaged from the infections, and the ventilator. She has to do things slow, and work up to things. We all agreed, please do not rush her. She(Josie) will let us know when it's safe.
So Thursday, she just relaxed, and enjoyed her crib, and listened to her CD player and lullaby's that the Easter Bunny brought her early. She love her music. She was at a pressure of 5 on c-pap running in about 27 % oxygen, and statting in the high 90's.

Today is Friday morning, and i just got off the phone with the nurse, and she is still doing GREAT! The Dr. is in the NICU, but has not made rounds yet, so I am waiting to see what the plans for today are. A new Dr. takes over rotation today, one that Josie has had many times before, but they work 3 weeks on and 3 weeks off for their rotations. So, the last time that she saw Josie, she was one sick little girl, and now she is not, so I am anxious to see what she has to say about her progress.
I am heading up there as soon as Dusty gets home from work. They are only working half a day today, so I will be heading out soon. He is going to spend the day with Easton and fill our eggs for our Easter egg hunt at my mom and dad's tomorrow night.
I will let you all know more here in a bit, and thank you everyone for EVERYTHING!!

Wednesday Early Morning (5:00a.m.)

Well, I just called to check on Miss Josie, and she is still being a little trooper. She lost that little bit of fluid that she was retaining, so that's good. She is at 28% oxygen still on a pressure of 6, she is just hanging out at that spot right now, but that's ok, she'll get there, she just likes to take her good old time. She had a great night and slept well. She was getting ready to have her morning assessment to update the Dr.'s for their morning rounds, so I'm not really sure what the Dr.'s plans are for today yet!
I am hoping that my mom is off tomorrow, if so I think that Dusty and I are going to stay with her tonight. I have a preemie parent connection meeting at the hospital tonight. We are making our posters to display at the March for Babies walk. Josie is going to love hers.
Well, I will let you all know what the Dr.'s say. Talk to you soon!!

Tuesday Night

Well, I just got off the phone with the nurse. Josie weighs 3pounds 12 ounces tonight. She is retaining a little fluid, but nothing that they are concerned about! She will get her Diurel at midnight, and then she will lose that extra fluid. She got her bath and is wearing her Dadddies Little Princess onesie tonight with a pink bow in her hair. The nurse took a picture. I left a disposable camera at the hospital in her room so that if the nurses do something neat, or something goes on that they think I might like, they can take a picture for me. I just love those nurses. They are soooo great with Miss Josie.
Other than that she is all tucked in for the night.
I will be there in the morning to spend the day with her.... I can't wait to see her. I miss her soooo much. No mother should have to leave their child.... Just doesn't seem fair.. She'll be home in no time though...
I'll update you more tomorrow. Keep praying for her...Thanks everyone. We love you all....

Tuesday Evening

Well, Josie had an exciting day. Her Pa and her cuddled for the first time today. Yup, he actually held her. We asked him what he thought, and he just grinned from ear to ear. They had her all dressed in her purple camo, and waiting for him when he got there.
I'm sure Josie loved it as much as her Pa did.
She has had a great day, has rested well, and has just been doing as she needs to be. I just got off the phone with the nurse and she said that she was getting ready to give her a bath, and weigh her and get her ready for bed. I will call back at 9:30 and see what her weight was for today!
Her blood levels from her liver enzymes have started to come down, so that is great news. Hopefully they will continue to do so in the next few days...
She's at 25% oxygen tonight, slowly coming down, but Josie likes to do things her way as we have learned in the past 7 weeks and 5 days. She is actually 35 weeks gestational age today. Hard to imagine that she should still be inside, but everything happens for a reason. I will just be glad when I figure out what the reason was that she had to come 13 weeks early, and fight so hard, for so long. It better be a good one. I'm sure it will be.. Well, I will update in a couple hours after I talk to the nurse again..

Tuesday Morning

Well, I am off to Columbus in the snow. I just talked to Josie's nurse, and she is doing GREAT! She had a wonderful night, and is at 26% on her oxygen.
My Dad(Pa) is getting ready to go up there, and he is going to have the chance to hold her. Isn't that great! I am so excited. He's a little nervous, but he will be fine! That should tell you how great she is doing! The nurses have her all dressed in her purple camo..... I can't wait to see her in that. I've waited a loooonnnngggggg time for that..
I will talk to the Dr.'s in a bit and see what the plans are for today.
Talk to you all soon!

March Of Dimes Walk

We will be doing the March of Dimes walk in Akron on May 9th at 9:30 a.m. in support of Josie, and all babies that have been, and will be born prematurely. If it wasn't for the March of Dimes, and their research efforts, Josie wouldn't be here today, and we support them 100%.
We have formed a family team made up of all our family and friends. Our name is Josie's Angels, and we would like to invite anyone that wants to come and support us to walk with us on this very special day.
We have team shirts being made right now, but we are still able to order if need be, so if anyone else is interested, please contact me, and I would be more than happy to get them for you.
Thank you to everyone who has already contacted us. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!!
We are also selling raffle tickets for $5.00 if anyone is interested. All proceeds go to the March of Dimes in Josie's name.
Let me know if you would like to join us. We would love to have you!!

Monday Night

Well, I just got off the phone with Josie's nurse, and they said that she now weighs 3 pounds and 9 ounces. She is getting so big!! She is on 28 percent oxygen tonight on the c-pap on a pressure of 6. That is GREAT!! We are so happpy that things are ging good for her now, and that she is feeling better.
She has been resting well all night, and is enjoying listening to the cmt channel. She has to have sound.
I am not able to go see her tomorrow, so my Dad is going, and actually the nurse told me tonight that if my Dad is comfortable, he can hold her. The only people that have held her so far are myself, Dusty and my Mom. I'm not sure he will hold her yet, she is so small, and he has a hard time putting his hands in her isolette, he's afraid he will hurt her, or pass a germ to her.
He likes just sitting by her isolette and talking to her, but we will see. I think he will give in. HA HA!
Nothing else really going on for tonight, she is resting good, and tolerating her feeds, pooping and peeing. That's all we can ask for right now.
Please jsut continue to pray for her. She'll be home in no time. I just know it..

Monday, April 6th

Well, Josie Lynn Marie Hooks was born on February 12th, 2009 ( 13 weeks early) at 9:28 p.m . She weighed 1 pound and 15 ounces and was 13 3/4 inches long. Not at all what we we were expecting.
Josie was born 13 weeks early because I developed severe preeclampsia. We found out that I had this on a Friday and Josie was born on the following Thursday via c-section.
Dr. Binkiewicz sent me to Canton to Aultman Hospital, because he said that is where Josie had the best chance of survival at, due to the fact that she would be so early. That was the longest ride of my life. I had no idea if this little girl that I had felt move, kick, and hiccup for the last 6 months inside of me was going to bebale to survive or not. The fear was really setting in. I arrived in Canton, and immediately had family surrounding us, which we are so thankful for. Immediately we had ultrasounds, and all different types of medicine to try and keep me from going into labor, and Dr.'s were coming out of the woodwork. We had no time to think, now we just had to listen, and hope and pray that our little baby girl was strong enough to make it.
So here we are 7 weeks and 4 days later and our little miracle baby Josie is doing well. We had a rough few weeks in there. Josie developed 2 infections, and was put on numerous antibiotics to try and fight these infections, but the Dr.'s kept telling us that they could not guarantee us anything, and that they might not beable to do anything for Josie, but deep down, I knew that she would pull through. She is my little fighter, and she had made it the first few weeeks already, and she was going to get through this, with all of her family right by her side.
She was put on a ventilator, so that all she needed to do was rest, and the vent would do all the work for her, and she just needed to rest and let the antibiotics do thier job. After 4 weeks on the vent, and numerous rounds of antibiotics and 6 douses of steroids, Josie is infection free!!! She has been off the vent for three days, and was put on c- pap, and is doing GREAT!!
The Dr's have told us that there goal is to have her off the c-pap by the end of the week!
We were able to get her dressed for the first time on Sunday, and that was an amzing feeling. Just to see her with clothes on and with that little purple bow in her hair was priceless! I think I took 1,000 pictures.
She will be coming out of the isolette and going into a small crib in a day or two, and that will be another milestone down, and 1 step closer to home.
We, the Hooks family, Dusty, SueAnn, Easton and Josie would like to thank everyone for all their prayers, thoughts and concerns, cards, adn letters of encouragement. They have meant so much to us. We have people that we don't even know, walk up to us, and tell us that Josie and our family is on their prayer list at Church, and we truely believe that it has been Josie's strength, and the power of prayer that has gotten us through this. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.