https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/Erik and Nikkie Reagan’s blog from 2008–2010: their daughter Brady, born at 28 weeks weighing 1 lb 7 oz, and her 94 days in the NICU, written as it happened.enhttps://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/bradys-first-blog/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/bradys-first-blog/Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:18:27 GMTA few days after Brady's early birth, Erik starts this blog so family and friends can follow her health in one place.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/im-going-to-be-a-whatwhen/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/im-going-to-be-a-whatwhen/Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:49:53 GMTNikkie shares Brady's first days: medicine for a small hole in her heart, paused feedings, and why we changed her middle name to Faith.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/one-whole-hand-old-today/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/one-whole-hand-old-today/Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:46:40 GMTAt five days old, an ultrasound shows the hole in Brady's heart has closed, and her doctor lowers her Vapotherm and calls her "great."https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/easy-updates-from-bradyfaithcom/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/easy-updates-from-bradyfaithcom/Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:24:23 GMTA housekeeping note: Erik explains how to follow the blog by RSS feed or email alerts.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/more-good-news/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/more-good-news/Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:16:05 GMTBrady starts feedings after losing weight, and Nikkie takes her temperature and changes her first diapers through the isolette's arm holes.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/one-week-old/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/one-week-old/Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:37:02 GMTAt one week, Brady comes off the jaundice light and her oxygen, gives us a smile, and Erik goes back to work.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/oh-what-a-day/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/oh-what-a-day/Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:52:50 GMTStill healing from surgery, Nikkie brings a crowd of family in to meet Brady, gives her first bath, and hears her head scan shows no brain bleed.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/cant-see-my-little-girl/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/cant-see-my-little-girl/Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:19:13 GMTErik loses his voice to a sore throat and has to stay out of the NICU so he won't pass germs to Brady.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/yet-another-day-in-the-nicu/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/yet-another-day-in-the-nicu/Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:08:50 GMTAfter two weeks of good news, Brady's heart rate starts dipping and a limb swells, but we learn we can hold her tomorrow; she's 1 lb 8 oz.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/wonderful-day/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/wonderful-day/Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:51:25 GMTNearly two weeks after Brady's birth, Nikkie holds her skin to skin for the first time, for an hour, while the monitor still flashes.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/aahhhhhh/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/aahhhhhh/Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:52:11 GMTWe spend 90 minutes with Brady with the isolette top lifted, and Erik catches her in a giant yawn on camera.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/already-having-trouble-coming-up-with-new-blog-titles/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/already-having-trouble-coming-up-with-new-blog-titles/Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:05:00 GMTBrady's feedings go from 5 cc to 7 cc, she starts smiling at visitors, and we have our first baby shower.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/some-are-good-some-are-bad-some-are-in-between/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/some-are-good-some-are-bad-some-are-in-between/Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:51:52 GMTNikkie answers a critical commenter: NICU parents are allowed hard feelings. Also, Brady comes off her IVs and gains another ounce.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/i-finally-held-her/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/i-finally-held-her/Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:44:21 GMTThree weeks in, Erik holds Brady for the first time, and we take our first family photo.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/shes-growing/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/shes-growing/Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:36:13 GMTNikkie holds Brady for over an hour without one heart-rate dip, and we learn she's grown to 1 lb 11.5 oz and 13.5 inches.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/mommys-birthday/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/mommys-birthday/Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:00:33 GMTA quick note from Erik wishing Nikkie a happy birthday, with more to come that night.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/first-birthday-as-a-mommy/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/first-birthday-as-a-mommy/Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:21:30 GMTNikkie's 25th birthday is bittersweet, spent mostly apart from Brady, who now weighs 1 lb 14 oz and is up to 17 cc feedings.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/puttin-meat-on-those-bones/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/puttin-meat-on-those-bones/Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:13:56 GMTBrady breaks the 2-pound mark at 2 lb 2 oz, and Nikkie goes back to work after five weeks as we figure out how to keep visiting.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/its-been-a-few-days/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/its-been-a-few-days/Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:34:50 GMTBrady gains 3 ounces to 2 lb 5 oz; Nikkie visits on her lunch break while doctors watch whether Brady needs a blood transfusion.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/139/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/139/Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:53:51 GMTNikkie wakes up with a cough and can't visit Brady, and shares how much that hurts.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/great-news/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/great-news/Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:19:04 GMTBrady will move to the NICU's intermediate area and starts one bottle a day, though she won't suck yet; Nikkie is sick and can't visit.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/new-pictures/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/new-pictures/Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:22:23 GMTErik posts 14 new photos, holds Brady, tries a bottle she doesn't understand yet, and gets peed on for the first time.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/big-girl-now/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/big-girl-now/Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:27:35 GMTBrady wears her first clothes and gets her first bottle from Nikkie, but her oxygen dips while she's held and she needs a mask.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/update-on-weight-and-stuff/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/update-on-weight-and-stuff/Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:12:17 GMTAfter a scary night, Nikkie calls at 8 a.m.: most of Brady's oxygen dips corrected on their own, and she's gained an ounce to 2 lb 6 oz.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/beep-free-day/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/beep-free-day/Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:33:08 GMTFour people hold Brady, including both grandmothers for the first time, without one monitor alarm, and she drinks 10 cc from a bottle.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/good-days-and-bad-days/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/good-days-and-bad-days/Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:20:18 GMTAfter a great night at 2 lb 9 oz, Brady goes back on oxygen and turns blue during a feeding, and Nikkie calls it the worst moment of her life.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/update/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/update/Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:10:12 GMTA brief prayer request: Brady is having a blood transfusion today.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/but-he-is-strong/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/but-he-is-strong/Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:02:26 GMTBrady gets worse: more oxygen, signs of infection, antibiotics, and her first blood transfusion. Erik leans on "Jesus Loves Me."https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/better-news/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/better-news/Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:12:41 GMTBrady responds to her medicine; she's back in the critical section on Vapotherm until she's weaned, and we can finally sleep a little.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/getting-better/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/getting-better/Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:41:14 GMTNikkie explains Brady's skin infection, cellulitis, which caused her breathing trouble; she's improving after what we call the worst days of our lives.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/be-still-and-know-im-here/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/be-still-and-know-im-here/Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:12:11 GMTBrady needs another transfusion, an IV in her head after 7 tries, and more oxygen; a friend's song reminds Nikkie that God is still there.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/just-a-short-update/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/just-a-short-update/Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:59:25 GMTBrady is off antibiotics and back in the intermediate area, and a specialist is coming to help with bottles that sometimes turn her blue.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/2-pounds-gained/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/2-pounds-gained/Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:41:23 GMTEight weeks in, Brady weighs 3 lb 5 oz, is off all breathing support, and is still learning to breathe and swallow with the bottle.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/moving-on-up/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/moving-on-up/Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:47:54 GMTBrady moves out of the NICU to the step-down nursery, drinks a whole one-ounce bottle, and a doctor checks her for a possible hernia.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/growing-like-a-weedfinally/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/growing-like-a-weedfinally/Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:12:10 GMTBrady gains 7 ounces in three days and gets her own crib, but still chokes on bottles and has stage one eye disease of prematurity.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/patiently-waiting/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/patiently-waiting/Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:03:39 GMTWeigh-in Mondays become our favorite day; Brady finishes a whole bottle, gets her first immunization, and our pastor visits to pray.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/another-update/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/another-update/Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:31:53 GMTAt two months Brady weighs 3 lb 15.9 oz, so we round up to 4, but her vaccinations bring apnea and put her back on oxygen.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/2-steps-forward-and-9-ounces-back/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/2-steps-forward-and-9-ounces-back/Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:47:10 GMTBrady loses 0.9 ounces after her shots and her first week in an open crib, but she comes off oxygen and drinks about half of each bottle.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/a-specific-prayer/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/a-specific-prayer/Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:56:47 GMTBrady chokes on hospital nipples and refuses the slow-flow one, so we buy our own bottle at the mall and ask for prayer that she'll take it.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/long-road-ahead-of-us/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/long-road-ahead-of-us/Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:09:03 GMTTwo months in, Brady drools out her bottles, may need a stomach tube, and will need hernia surgery, but her oxygen monitor comes off.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/more-pictures/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/more-pictures/Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:56:45 GMTErik posts new photos to Flickr and describes Brady with her arms frozen like a little ninja.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/chunky-little-baby/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/chunky-little-baby/Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:10:14 GMTBrady gains about 7 ounces to 4 lb 6.3 oz, has neck rolls, and starts watching people who talk to her and lifting her head.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/almost-five-pounds/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/almost-five-pounds/Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:05:03 GMTBrady is 4 ounces shy of 5 pounds, and Erik shares a one-minute video of her.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/still-almost-5-pounds/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/still-almost-5-pounds/Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:29:36 GMTBrady is 4 lb 15.3 oz; doctors blame reflux and float surgery, we push back, and a "ready, set, go home" card appears on her crib.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/specific-prayer/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/specific-prayer/Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:56:28 GMTAt 5 1/2 lb and nearly 85 days in, we're worn down, offered a g-tube for Brady's feeding, and ask for prayer to decide this week.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/short-update-on-previous-post/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/short-update-on-previous-post/Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:38:38 GMTBrady takes a whole bottle at 5 a.m., and her doctor agrees to hold off on the g-tube while she keeps improving.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/day-87/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/day-87/Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:31:15 GMTOn day 87, a breathing scare sends Brady back to the NICU for an upper GI and head MRI while we wait to see if bottles or a g-tube get her home.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/and-the-surgeons-been-called-off/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/and-the-surgeons-been-called-off/Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:41:38 GMTBrady's upper GI and brain scan are normal, she starts draining 3 to 5 bottles a day, and the surgeons are called off.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/end-in-sight/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/end-in-sight/Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:09:27 GMTA nurse tells Nikkie that Brady could go home Saturday if she gains weight, switches to a take-home formula, and passes her car seat challenge.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/going-home/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/going-home/Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:58:58 GMTAfter 94 days, the doctor discharges Brady, and Erik shares the news that we're bringing her home this morning.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/home-sweet-home/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/home-sweet-home/Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:06:12 GMTWe room in overnight, learn infant CPR and Brady's heart monitor, then bring her home to little sleep, a fussy eater, and a baby who wants holding.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/no-internet/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/no-internet/Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:49:40 GMTTen days home, we've moved into a new house but have no internet yet, so photos and updates have to wait.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/still-no-internet/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/still-no-internet/Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:03:48 GMTA one-line note: we still have no internet at the new house, so updates are on hold.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/back-to-the-hospital-we-gobut-not-for-long/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/back-to-the-hospital-we-gobut-not-for-long/Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:00:20 GMTTwo and a half weeks after coming home, Brady has hernia repair surgery and is fussy but doing well, at about 6 lb 10 oz to 6 lb 14 oz.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/let-there-be-internet/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/let-there-be-internet/Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:53:26 GMTOur internet is finally connected at the new house, and we promise new pictures and video soon.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/amazing-little-baby-girl/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/amazing-little-baby-girl/Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:15:20 GMTBrady starts laughing and can't get enough to eat, and we're chosen as the March of Dimes Ambassador Family for Savannah.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/our-cutie/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/our-cutie/Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:19:52 GMTErik shares phone snapshots of Brady's funny expressions from playtime before dinner.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/new-video/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/new-video/Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:50:53 GMTErik catches Brady on video flashing him a huge smile while he works at his computer.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/shes-growing-2/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/shes-growing-2/Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:00:06 GMTBrady reaches 8 lb 4 oz, sleeps 7 hours straight, and a high-risk follow-up finds her on track; Nikkie thanks Brady's NICU nurses.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/shes-such-a-little-darling/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/shes-such-a-little-darling/Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:49:35 GMTAt almost 5 months, Brady has gained nearly 8 pounds and 8 inches, grabs a toy duck, and opens and closes her hand back at Nikkie.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/nine-pounds/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/nine-pounds/Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:16:57 GMTBrady reaches 9 lb and 19 inches, comes off Reglan, eats 4 to 5 ounces a feeding, and sleeps until 5 or 6 a.m.; we've all stayed healthy.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/double-digits/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2008/double-digits/Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:53:59 GMTBrady weighs 10 pounds at her Synagis shot, and we share her first Christmas: books, noisy toys, and a singing teddy bear.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/happy-new-year/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/happy-new-year/Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:11:21 GMTLooking back on 2008, Nikkie writes that Brady's lungs have caught up, and Brady rolls over for the first time on New Year's Day.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/3-months-and-3-days-and-march-for-babies/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/3-months-and-3-days-and-march-for-babies/Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:17:25 GMTBrady has now been home longer than she was in the hospital; Nikkie grieves a missed church dedication, and we set a $1,000 March for Babies goal.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/she-weighs-how-much/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/she-weighs-how-much/Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:44:39 GMTBrady weighs 13 lb 10 oz at her RSV shot, comes off her apnea monitor after no episodes at home, and may start going to church in March.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/poor-little-baby/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/poor-little-baby/Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:55:42 GMTA stomach bug, then a cough we get checked quickly because of RSV risk; it's an ear infection, and Brady actually weighs 11 lb 1 oz.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/doing-better/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/doing-better/Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:16:13 GMTBrady recovers and starts solids, while Nikkie dreads going back to the NICU for follow-up clinic and thinks about donating Brady's preemie clothes.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/finally-new-pictures/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/finally-new-pictures/Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:06:06 GMTErik posts new photos to Flickr and mentions a family photo shoot from the past weekend.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/oh-what-a-night/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/oh-what-a-night/Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:46:28 GMTBrady's breathing turns labored, so we take shifts holding her all night; it's a respiratory infection, not RSV, and she's started sleeping in her crib.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/happy-easter/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/happy-easter/Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:37:24 GMTBrady's NICU follow-up goes well and she sits up on her own, but being sick keeps her home from Easter family visits.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/march-for-babies/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/march-for-babies/Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:06:39 GMTErik explains how to donate to or walk with our March for Babies team as the local March of Dimes Ambassador Family.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/off-the-subject-of-brady/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/off-the-subject-of-brady/Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:33:52 GMTNikkie describes the online preemie-parent community she leans on and asks for prayer for Kayleigh, a 1-pound baby who may not wake up.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/we-walked-for-babies/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/we-walked-for-babies/Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:32:21 GMTOn Brady's first big outing she rides six miles in her stroller at March for Babies; we double our $1,000 goal and see her NICU nurses again.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/dedication-at-church/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/dedication-at-church/Sun, 03 May 2009 12:00:27 GMTWe attend church as a family for the first time and dedicate Brady, and share an 8-minute video of her journey for NICU families who need hope.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/happy-mothers-day/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/happy-mothers-day/Sun, 10 May 2009 23:18:43 GMTErik celebrates Nikkie's first Mother's Day, and we visit her family's farm for the first time since her grandfather passed away.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/a-year-to-remember/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/a-year-to-remember/Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:17:25 GMTOn Brady's first birthday, Nikkie recalls the pre-eclampsia emergency behind her birth; Brady is now 17 lb, crawling, and passes her eye exam.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/its-been-a-while/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/its-been-a-while/Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:57:52 GMTAt one year adjusted age, Brady is talking, takes her first steps during a photo shoot, and her NICU follow-up finds her on track.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/bloggers-unite-prematurity-awareness/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2009/bloggers-unite-prematurity-awareness/Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:35:44 GMTOn Prematurity Awareness Day, Nikkie shares that 1 in 8 US babies is born early and urges pregnant women not to let doctors brush them off.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2010/almost-another-decade-under-the-belt/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2010/almost-another-decade-under-the-belt/Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:32:42 GMTNikkie recaps Brady's 2009 milestones, from 10 pounds to walking, and a 4-day November hospital stay for RSV and pneumonia.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2010/two-years-old/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2010/two-years-old/Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:19:20 GMTOn Brady's second birthday, Erik shares what two years as a preemie dad have taught him about serving, patience, prayer, and one day at a time.https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2010/prematurity-awareness-day/https://nicu.reaganadventures.com/2010/prematurity-awareness-day/Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:53 GMTNikkie explains the pre-eclampsia that caused Brady's birth at 28 weeks, the warning signs she brushed off, and its risk factors.