Shameless Request

If you've followed my blog for any length of time (or if you are privileged enough to know me personally... :-) haha) then you know that I gave birth to a preemie baby nearly 2 years ago. You might also know just how passionate I am about education regarding prematurity, breastfeeding for healthy babies (preemie and not), and an organization called March of Dimes. There is not a philanthropy I feel more passionate about than March of Dimes. I didn't know a whole lot about the organization until a couple of weeks after my sweet Keagan was born 4 weeks early, unable to breathe on his own, and in an incubator in a NICU two and a half hours away from our home. Once we got home, I realized just how "behind the scenes," so-to-speak, March of Dimes was in the health of my baby, other premature babies, and even babies born full-term and healthy.  They really are amazing. 

No new family should ever have to go through even a tenth of what ours went through when Keagan was born, and our story isn't really even that "tragic." I am again walking in the March for Babies on May 5th, and fundraising to support March of Dimes. I sincerely hope that you will open your pocketbook and donate to our team, not just for Keagan but for all babies. Please go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/teamowens to donate to our team. 

 

The first time I held my tiny son, he was nearly 24 hours old. This is also the last time I held him before he was transferred to a hospital 2-1/2 hours away.

How I saw Keagan when I finally arrived at the NICU. 

We had to learn how to gently touch our baby so as not to over-stimulate him.

 Hard to see how beautiful our son was with the CPAP mask on. 

Keagan not only received breathing support, but had to have treatment for his legs/hips to encourage proper development and his head to prevent torticollis due to a flattened side.

The NICU nurses are special people, and were spectacular to our son and family.

What our sweet preemie looks like today.  A glowing, happy, and very healthy little boy.

So, that is our story in a picture-nutshell. Please, visit my page and make a secure donation.  Your gift supports March of Dimes research and programs that promote healthy babies, and help those that are not.  http://www.marchforbabies.org/teamowens

Thank you to those who have already donated. I am so very appreciative of your support!

Name and Number, please

This weekend marked 20 weeks into this pregnancy.  Twenty weeks = Half Way Point.  Whaaaaaaaaaat??  It hardly seems possible that we are already half-way through this process.  And it scares me because I haven't done ANYTHING to prepare for this baby!!!  Well, that's not entirely true...we have done some brainstorming and have talked about a lot...but haven't actually DONE anything! Oh well.  It will happen.

Twenty weeks means it is time for some belly "bump" (if you want to call it that...it is more like a full-fledged pregnant belly!) pictures. This month, we were on the road again. Josh ended up getting us last-minute tickets to see NCAA playoff games in Louisville. It was insanely hard to pass up this opportunity: both our alma maters in the NCAA tourney, back-to-back games, only 4 hours away.  For some serious basketball fans, it was on like donkey kong! (as the college kids say...or said way back when)  At first I wasn't feeling the expense or spontaneity of the situation, but then I was reminded how very rare this situation was...and how you only live once! :)  Twenty week pics were taken in Owensboro when we dropped Keagan off at Gama and Poppy's for the day. 

In other baby news....sweet Baby Boy #2 has a name!! We finally settled/agreed on something and we are so very excited about the uniqueness.  Keagan's brother will be Finley James Owens. Finley means fair-headed/blonde warrior.  I love this because (by sheer coincidence!) it kinda goes with Keagan's name, which means small, fiery thinker and is also Irish in origin.  Josh is pretty set on shortening Finley to "Finn" which I like a whole lot, but I have been calling him Finley.  So I guess it will all pan out once he's born!

Now back to the NCAA tournament...a definite highlight of our week...possible year! (no, seriously.)  Josh and I absolutely love March Madness.  I wouldn't say it is all-encompassing of our lives, but we do our best to fit our schedules around the basketball games on television.  Honestly, I never dreamed we would get to go to a tournament game, let alone two games of schools that we love.  So when we got tickets we went all-out! 

Tassie and Joey were also up in Louisville for the games, so we met them for a drink (or, in my case, some cake) before the game.  Check out Tassie's toes...you know you're die-hard when you get a pedicure and pick UK blue polish! :)

BEHOLD!  Our tickets!!  Little did we know when we bought these (the day BEFORE) just how spectacular our seats would be.  We were TEN rows up from the court.  NO JOKE.  We about crapped when we realized how lucky we were.  Can we say Cloud 9???  I don't think the grins left our faces the whole 5+ hours we were there!

Because the games were in Kentucky, we ran into a bunch of people we knew from school...either from MSU or from UK.  It was really neat!  I managed to get some pics with a few people I knew were going...the others we ran into were just luck!  The first pic is with my friend, Jenny, from PT school.  It was fun to catch up with her before the games.  Then we met up with Stephanie and Christian, sorority sisters from MSU, and Steph's fiance Jason. It was lots of fun, but we didn't have enough time to socialize at half-time...quick hugs, quick catch-ups, and a quick picture...die-hard fans can't miss the game!  So good to see you all!  See you in Atlanta?  New Orleans??

By the time UK played (they were the second game) the arena looked like Rupp Arena...a literal sea of blue. Iowa State fans were severely out-numbered, out-cheered, and the team was out-played. Darn their luck.  Because we were cheering for two different teams, we had to do a t-shirt quick-change between games. 

So much fun.  I told Josh I am ready to go to Atlanta now to watch the Cats play Indiana.  That's this coming weekend.  He didn't seem so sure, but you never know!!  Thursday morning there wasn't even a thought in our minds to go to these games...but it happened!  Sadly, MSU didn't win...but they played their hearts out and gave us a wonderful game to watch.  UK won.  And we are hoping they will win it all.  Who knows...I might even be going to New Orleans for that game.  This new found spontaneity makes me think we can do anything!!

Growth and Development

(GASP! Can this be...I have done three blogs IN A ROW?!! Blog stalkers, I hope you are proud!)

Today was the big'n ultrasound. The "twenty-week" growth and development ultrasound. It took an hour. I had to get up and pee once (mostly because the tech was hoping it would get the baby moving, but it was welcomed relief). It was remotely uneventful (which is good!) other than getting to see my baby in full detail for an hour. I had to go to a different office for this ultrasound (my Dr doesn't do these ultrasounds in-office like he used to) so I didn't get a lot of info from the tech who did the ultrasound. Also, the pictures kinda stink. If it had been the tech that did Keagan's G&D ultrasound, we would have gotten a lot more insight into this baby's growth/development AND we would have gotten a TON of pictures. But it wasn't. I am assuming all is well because the tech said if the doctor found something wrong I would most likely get a call today...and I didn't. A very positive thing that we did learn is that this baby is growing right on schedule and is measuring a day ahead. My doctor will be monitoring me closely because of the issues we had with Keagan, but he will not start this until I am 26 weeks (about when he thinks Keagan's growth significantly slowed). Baby was breech at this appointment (as was Keagan at this point) but I was assured from the tech and my doctor that baby can flip and this means nothing. I sure hope this baby knows which direction he is supposed to go as things get closer ;) ... I'd like to avoid another c-section if possible!

Sweet baby profile..with hands in front of his face

A foot...I counted more than 5 toes (!) so I really hope this is an artifact! Ha...guess we will see!!

In case anyone was questioning his gender from earlier...he wasn't bashful at all today.

So everything looked good, that we could tell (not that we have trained eyes). His heart rate as 154.  His spine was beautiful, his heart was beating perfectly. I have gained another 4 pounds (!!) but the nurse this time said that that was good and I didn't need to worry. Funny thing is, the nurse at the last appointment that made me feel badly about my weight gain QUIT! :) Darn the bad luck.

Some "inventory" things:
> I am no longer nauseous, unless I allow myself to get hungry
> I am significantly bigger (belly) with this pregnancy than I was at the same point with Keagan
> Keagan has no clue he is going to be a Big Brother...but he loves to talk about and point out babies
> I still gag and carryon with I brush my teeth
> Baby Boy #2 still does not have a name. Poor thing.
> I cannot drink just straight water (ick), I have to add some sort of flavor packet or lemon to it
> I have quite a bit of round ligament pain (probably from getting bigger quicker)
> I am up at least 3 times every night to pee.  And I don't sleep good most nights.
> My boobs are huge (comparatively)
> My face skin is like I am 16 again. UGH. So much for "glowing" during pregnancy.
> We are going to JAMAICA for a babymoon!!!!!!!!!!!

I will try and take some belly-pics this weekend to celebrate 20 weeks, i.e. Half-way point. 

What little boys are made of...

Snips and Snails
And Puppy-dog Tails.
That's what Little boys are made of.

And skinned knees.

The first of many. And he took it quite well...crying because he wanted more bubbles! (He was chasing bubbles when he tripped) Well, he took it well until he got into the bathtub later that evening. Oh, I remember that sting!

Random Phone Pics

I promised I would do better in blogging. But I broke my promise. My only excuse is laziness. But then tonight I was looking at some old pics in my phone and decided that they are cute enough to share! They aren't great pics (quality) but I think I like them so much because they are "in the moment." I had to catch the photo-op as quickly as I could, and running to get my big camera just wasn't an option. But sometimes these "in the moment" pictures tell a better story. So...enjoy.

Three Generations of Owens Men (Keagan wasn't into pictures...)

Gimme dat hat, dada!

 Sick, but snuggly, when he had Hand, Foot, Mouth disease

Pajama Day at school!

Rockstar!

First time checking out the mannequin at Old Navy

 Sad about something...but so cute in his manly Carhartts 

 Playing with Daddy's old Tonka truck

Fixing his lawnmower, shirtless

Blanket-head...so silly!

 An important call

As long as his "running" shoes are on, all is good.

I mean, how could I resist??

Haulin' precious (and very patient) cargo.

This kid loves chips and salsa at the Mexican restaurant.

This is at the Murray Wal-mart. Yes, it's a bobcat. And yes, it is stuffed. But it is so incredibly random and classically redneck that it deserved two pictures.

 Another important work call.

Sitting like a big boy at his new table from Grandma and Grandpa.

Daddy got him ready for bed this night.  A new fashion trend.

RACERS! RACERS! Goooo RACERS!!

Just like a man...socks and underwear only.

How laundry is folded at our house: Keagan in the basket, handing me clothes hand over fist.

LOOK!  There's Dunker!!! (the MSU Racers mascot...he loooved him!)

The child loves a carousel...big or small.

Such a handsome, happy child. I couldn't be more blessed!

Last, but not least, I found this video on my phone of Keagan dancing to Madonna's Superbowl half-time show.  I was so tickled I couldn't hold the phone still.  In the beginning Keagan does his own moves, but towards the end (after intently studying her moves) he starts dancing like Madonna is on TV.  It surprises me that he can mimic, in real time, what he sees on TV.