I love this picture too!
Luke held him first when they got home! Rylee didn't know that or she would have been mad. She did get her turn though and they are both loving on him as often as they can! Parker really hasn't noticed him much other than pointing to him.
A NICU NURSE AND A NICU BABY….
What happens when a NICU Nurse has a NICU Baby? It is a lot different being on the outside looking in than being on the inside looking out. Erin will now have much more compassion and understanding of what is involved when your baby is sick. Although she had a lot of compassion and understanding before - it just takes on a whole new meaning. Grant had such great nurses to help us through the entire process and we are very thankful for their expertise. Two of the nurses had been NICU nurses for over 25 years (each). We would leave scratching our heads over all the information we tried to consume while visiting Grant.
That being said there are so many people to thank and I’m sure I will leave someone out but I‘ll try anyway….
THANK YOU to….
God - We know you healed Grant and we are thankful for all of the answered prayers!
Doctors and Nurses - To Dr. Stern, the neonatologists, and all of the NICU nurses and OB Nurses at Baptist Women’s Hospital - we thank you for taking great care of Erin and Grant.
Our Family - Whether you were here or in Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, or in all areas of Arkansas or another state - we felt your love and prayers. Tyra, thank you for letting me know that almost the entire town of Mena was praying for Grant. That is awesome!
Our Friends - There is nowhere to begin with this one. So many friends were praying in Wynne, St. Louis, New Orleans, Jonesboro, Rogers, Little Rock, Fayetteville, Trumann, just to name a few!!! You will all remain in our hearts forever. (To my Wade Sisters - thank you for sending encouraging messages every day - I love you all!)
Churches - I know entire churches were praying for Grant and we will never forget what you have done for us. As Bro. Matt said the day Grant came home, “God is good.” A special thank you to Bro. Matt Pearson and Jeff Brawner (my nephew who is a minister in a Memphis church) for their trips to the hospital to pray with Erin and Russ.
We have so very much to be thankful for today and will forever be grateful for each and every person in our lives! I hope you all get the chance to love on Baby Grant soon!
THIS SIGN SAYS IT ALL!!!! (Day 8 - Thurs. - Feb. 19)
Russ, Erin, and Grant made it home tonight about 6:00 p.m. It has been a long day of waiting and preparing for them to get home. I will post a longer update tomorrow. We are all just so happy to have them home safe and sound. Can you hear my sigh of relief from way over here?
HE IS AN OVERACHIEVER! (Day 7 - Wednesday - Feb. 18)
Just had to list a few of Grant’s accomplishments for today:
1. Dr. Hamilton came over from LeBonheur Children’s Hospital to do his echocardiogram and the little hole in his sweet heart has closed.
2. He was given his hearing screening today and passed with flying colors.
3. He was moved to a big boy bed.
4. He nursed today for the first time and did so well.
5. He will get his last dose of antibiotics tonight.
6. His bilirubin had gone back down. It was up and down the last couple of days but so far he has avoided the bililights and sunglasses.
7. He got to wear big boy clothes. When I was there his nurse put him in a yellow and blue outfit so I guess he is officially a “Yellowjacket.”
9. His Grammy got to hold him for the first time and his Aunt Ashley got to hold him last night. I know I listed this last but believe me - there was no better feeling than loving on this beautiful boy!
PRAISE GOD FOR ALL OF OUR ANSWERED PRAYERS! Please pray for all the other little babies who are fighting in the NICU. There are so many families who are also praying to bring their babies home.
Grant is saying his bedtime prayers and is praying for all his tiny friends in the NICU.
COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS! (TUESDAY - Day 6)
A short update for now!
Today was another great day for Baby Grant! He ate so well today (and was still wanting more). Erin said he would just go right to sleep after she burped him. Tonight they will be taking his umbilical IV out. That is a big step and one I will be glad to see happen. They told Erin he will be in a regular crib in the NICU in the next day or two and will be able to wear CLOTHES!!! She can’t wait to put some of his real clothes on him. Grant really has made LEAPS AND BOUNDS in his recovery over the past two days. The first four days were so scary.
The power of prayer is awesome! So many friends, relatives, and entire churches were praying for him on Sunday and so many of those prayers are being answered. What a difference a day makes! We are on our knees thanking God for our many blessings.
This was Erin and Russ’ first Valentine card from their little miracle! 
A GREAT DAY - MONDAY - Day 5 !
Today was the best yet with Grant being free of all tubes from his face. See how beautiful he is!
When I got to the hospital this morning Erin could hardly wait for Russ to take me to the NICU to see Grant and I wasn‘t sure why. She said be sure to take your camera so I thought something must be good. When we got there I was so surprised to see him with no tubes and he was just looking all around (I think he recognized me!). Then the nurse told us that he just had a bottle (his first breast milk) and drank 10cc’s. We were shocked because we thought that was at least a couple of days away. He tolerated it fine and they are no longer concerned about his digestive system. PRAYER ANSWERED!
In the afternoon Bro. Matt came to visit and prayed for Baby Grant. We enjoyed his visit so much. One (among many) specific prayer request was offered up and we can’t believe what happened on our next visit. At 4:00 p.m. we went to see Grant again and the nurse said to Erin “I think you need to hold your son and he needs for you to hold him.” So Erin and Russ spent the next hour holding and loving on him. This was also not expected for several more days. PRAYER ANSWERED! (Thank you Bro. Matt!)
Grant is still working hard to breathe but his sats are at 100 and you can’t get better than that. The breathing issues should get better over the next few days. He still has a few more days in the NICU for his pneumonia to clear up but he will be home, hopefully, before he is two weeks old. (Maybe way before if he keeps doing so well.)
Erin is doing well but is still pretty sore. Her blood pressure and high heart rate issues are starting to get better so she will probably be discharged tomorrow and they will move into the Hampton Inn which is on the hospital property. Russ is doing great and has been so good to Erin. I could sense a look of relief on his face today with so many positive things happening.
I can’t say enough or thank everyone enough for the prayers, support, and love over the past five days. Please continue to pray for Grant to breathe easier.
Will update tomorrow - love you all…………..
YOUR PRAYERS ARE WORKING!!!
This update was for Sunday (I got home too late to post that night).
When I said this to my nephew (Jeff Brawner) today - he said “they always do.” He is so right. Thank you, Jeff, for coming with your family to pray with Erin and Russ today.
Grant was feeling a bit better today. These may be little teeny tiny baby steps but to me they feel like leaps and bounds. Erin called when I was on my way to the hospital this morning to tell me Grant was on room air and looked better. He still has his nasal cannula but now it is only helping to push the room air when he breathes. They fed him 7 cc’s through his tube today but his digestion system is still not working quite right. They will try to feed him again tomorrow and if he is still having problems they will do an upper GI and see what is going on with that. Erin feels like it will be okay and that his feeding tube was too far in. The neonatologist told her they had backed it up a little so maybe this little problem will improve tomorrow.
I went in to visit Grant right before I left the hospital tonight and he was sleeping so well. His sats were good and he looked very comfortable. I’m thinking it was because I was there holding his little paci for him. (I’m sure you all agree with that - right?) We are not supposed to stimulate him in any way. He just doesn’t feel like being touched right now. Erin and Russ were told today they don’t have to wear gloves anymore so at least they have skin-to-skin contact now.
They kept Erin for at least one more night to treat her high blood pressure and high heart rate. Hopefully, this will be better today although she will stay in the hospital as long as they will let her.
Baby Grant still has a lot of progress to make but I will keep looking for those baby steps along the way……
Thank you again for all your prayers, support, and love.
NO CHANGE - Day 4
Just talked to Erin and she said Grant was about the same. I am washing all their clothes to take back today. There is a possibility Erin will be released today so we will have to get them a room in the onsite hotel. Erin said she's not leaving until Grant comes home! I'll update later today, hopefully, with encouraging news. I'm sure with all of the prayers going up for Grant he will soon be better. Thanks again for the support and prayers for Grant, Erin, and Russ.
They can't wait to touch this beautiful boy!
One proud Dad!
Love you all! Keep praying!
MAYBE A DIAGNOSIS! (DAY 3)
Erin, Russ, and I just went down to see Baby Grant and he seems to be breathing a "little" better. The Neonatologist came in and said they think he has pneumonia and will start treating him for that. He will be here at least 10 days. Thank you so much for all of your prayers. They mean so much to Russ and Erin. I will update later. I hope to put a video up.
Isn't he beautiful!!!!
PRAY FOR BABY GRANT
Grant Aston Oguin
Born February 12, 2009
5:48 p.m.
6 lbs 11 ozs
19-½ in.
UPDATE FROM MESSAGE BELOW:
Erin and Russ visited with Grant this morning (Friday - Day 2) and he is about the same. They were told he would be in the NICU for about a week. While they were there they turned the C-PAP machine down to see how he would do.
THURSDAY - DAY 1
What a long day! Erin and Russ’ day started out about 3:45 a.m. having to get up, get dressed, and get to the hospital by 5:00 a.m. Erin was induced and labored all day long - and did she ever think it was the longest day ever!!!!! Dr. Stern finally told her about 5:00 p.m. that he didn’t think she would progress enough in the next few hours and based on his opinion recommended a C-Section. She was definitely ready for this to happen and was already exhausted. The section went well and Erin did well afterwards. However, Baby Grant apparently had fluid on his lungs and was having a hard time breathing. After all of his assessments and a bath he was taken to the NICU. He is currently on a nasal CPAP which involves the use of nasal prongs or a mask that fits over the nose and gives Grant help by providing extra pressure when he takes a breath. He is also receiving IV antibiotics in case he has any infection from the fluid. The neonatologist visited with Erin and Russ tonight and told them that he would be in the NICU 24 to 48 hours and it was possible he might have to have surfactant to help his lungs along.
Neither Erin or Russ have been able to hold him and Erin only saw him for a brief second so this is very hard for her. It will at least be tomorrow before that happens. She needs lots of rest and Grant needs to get better and I think things will start looking up. Everyone is just so tired - I even passed up the exit to come home tonight and had to drive several more miles to get back to where I needed to be (to get home at 1:00 a.m.) My mind was definitely on Erin, Russ, and Baby Grant.
Please pray for all of them and for a better day tomorrow! God has blessed us with this special little baby boy and we can’t wait to bring him home and love on him…….
ON HOLD!
Another Monday appointment and another wait……
Erin’s appointment today went great and she is dilated to 1 cm. Well, that’s a start!!! Dr. Stern said he would see her next Monday. Last week he said he would probably induce at 37 or 38 weeks due to her high blood pressure. This Thursday will be 37 weeks so it could be next week. We will patiently wait and Grant will be here when he is ready (or when Dr. Stern is ready). Since a healthy happy baby is our goal we will just count our blessings now and let our anticipation grow!!!
I will try to get a recent picture of Erin this week.....
