From Reagan's Mom:

Raegan went to the doctor for her two month checkup today. She is weighing in at a whopping 8lbs 3oz now I can't believe how much she has grown! She had to get her shots today and she is not doing so well she has been really fussy and her legs are sore where she was given the shots it's heart breaking! But at least she got her vaccines and she should be back to her normal self tomorrow.

Raegans personality is developing more and more everyday. She loves to be read to; her dad and I read to her every night and she is bright eyed the entire time paying close attention to the picture on the pages. Her favorite book right now is "Tickle Bugs" it has the brightest pictures and she is mesmerized each time I read it. Reading to her has become one of my favorite things! She is beginning to "talk" to us cooing at us as we speak to her. I can't wait until she is smiling and giggling along with us as we play with her.

It's hard to believe my baby girl is ten weeks old now. It seems like yesterday the doctors were coming into my hospital room to tell me that they needed to deliver her early. I will never forget the tiniest sound her cry was when I heard her for the first time and how small her little fingers and toes were. I am so very blessed to have a baby doing as well as my Raegan is since she was born so early; I was once again reminded of this as I returned to the neonatal icu to donate Raegan's preemie clothes that she has out grown. It was nice seeing everyone again and being able to thank them for all they did for Raegan, but I am so thankful to have my baby home and not have to visit her in the hospital!

Raegan has almost out grown her preemie clothes!

Raegan had to go in for nerve wracking eye exam last week. Here's her mom's take on the experience:

Though I know it was important for her to get done it was heartbreaking to watch. Raegan had to get an eye exam because there is a retinal disorder that is only found in premature babies and she had to be checked to be sure she didn't have it. The disorder is called retinopathy of prematurity which basically means that the blood vessels in the eye have developed abnormally, which may result in one of three things: 1. the eyes could not heal themselves, 2. vision issues where glasses will be required and 3. the worst of all cases, blindness. To check for this disorder the doctor had to dilate her eyes by putting some drops in them and then pry and hold each eye open to be able to examine them. Since babies cannot move their eyes where you ask them to the doctor had to give Raegan some numbing drops in her eyes so she could move Raegan's eyes for her, so she could look at the blood vessels and see how developed they were. Thankfully Raegan's eyes are normal, so she is no longer at risk for retinopathy of prematurity, we merely have to go back in a few months to be sure her eyes are continuing to develop properly.

Baby Raegan is doing great considering all she has been through. We at Clear Cahnnel Asheville had the great joy of meeting Raegan and her family late last week. She is an amazing blessing for her family and is a prime example of the great things that can be accomplished through more research into prematurity.

Here's the latest from her mommy...

Being home with Raegan has definitely been an adjustment. Though Raegan is almost a month old now, we are just now being able to be full time parents and having to rely on the training the nurses at the N-ICU gave us without having them for back up. Raegan sleeps most all the time right now, only waking for thirty minutes or so every time she eats which is every 3-4 hrs. Though we are at home, Raegan is still on a particular diet for "catch-up growth." She is getting fortified milk, which means she gets extra protein and calories added to her milk so that she can gain weight. The N-ICU gave us a paper upon discharge that outlined the minimum amounts of milk Raegan must eat each feeding, depending on how long it has been since she last ate, in order for her to gain weight. I am constantly counting the ounces she is taking in each day to make sure she is getting enough to gain weight. Though I wouldn't trade being at home, the one thing I miss about Raegan being at the N-ICU is the nightly weigh ins. At home I can't weigh her down to the ounce so I'm not able to see her daily progress when it comes to weight gain.

When we came home from the hospital we were instructed to not take Raegan anywhere until we were cleared by her pediatrician that she was okay to go out. We were told the limit the visitors we had so that Raegan not only wouldn't be exposed to a whole bunch of germs, but also so she wouldn't be over stimulated and she could to continue to rest like she did when she was at the hospital so she could grow. This was the most difficult because we had some many family and friends that have been waiting to see her, it was difficult explaining to them that even though she is home we had to limit visitations just like the hospital. I also had to keep reminding myself of this fact too because I couldn't wait to be able to show her off. I am so proud of her!

We went to her first appointment with Raegan's pediatrician. Her doctor said she is doing well, and we are to just keep doing what we are doing. She weighed 4lbs 7oz, she is still gaining at about the same rate as she was at the hospital. Though the doctor said we still need to be mindful of who we bring her around and be sure not to bring her around anyone who is sick, we are finally able to introduce her to everyone who has been waiting to meet her!