day 10 and 11

Yesterday I didn't get any pictures!! Sorry but nothing has really changed...he is just slowly progressing. Now all that has to happen really is to get him up to eating what he should by himself. Today I talked to an occupational therapist that will be keeping an eye on him to see why he isn't eating everything by himself. They want to find out if he is just being a boy (they say are slower in developing than girls) or if there is something wrong. So our hopes of getting him home this week have pretty much been shot.

Hunter's new bed...


after he has eaten...it just wipes him out


CAUTION: If you choose to read the following be prepared to listen to me complain, vent, and ramble! Sorry!

Now we are just playing the waiting game! I need to keep reminding myself that he has the best babysitters and that I would rather him be completely ready to come home than have him home and something major happen and not know what to do. But it is so hard!! I wish I could spend every minute with him and not have to leave him! I wish that he would hurry so we can bring him home. I wish that I could juggle my home and hospital life better. I wish our lives weren't so numb right now...but that is the only way I know how to deal with it right now without having meltdowns everyday. I wish that I could be stonger in all aspects of life. I wish that I could please everyone all the time. And I wish that my baby was home!

day 9

Sorry I didn't post yesterday but it was a good day for Hunter! He got out of his incubator and moved to a regular baby bed. He had a little bit of a hard time adjusting but has been doing great! And he got his iv out of his head...I can't imagine how nice that feels! Now we are just waiting for him to eat all of his feedings from a bottle for at least 24 hours and then hopefully he can come home!



this is what he was in for a week...

AWESOME DAY 8

As you can tell by the title...it was a really good day! Mark, Tanner, and I went up this morning for his 11 o'clock feeding and this what he looked like...

Then I went back tonight for his 8 o'clock feeding and this is what I saw!...

HE IS OFF HIS OXYGEN!!! YEAH He is doing so well and hopefully tomorrow he will be out of the incubator and his iv's will be out! He also gained 2 oz since this morning and is still eating like a champ! We have been so blessed and can't wait to bring him home!

one week--day 7

First Bath!! Yes I know and wish it was earlier but with everything going on he hasn't been well enough to get a bath. But now he is okay to be taken off his monitors for a little while without any worry! It was a little different giving him a bath with everything still attached but I loved every minute of it!


I think he enjoyed it too because as long as I didn't move him into weird positions he would just lay there, as you can see, and be totally relaxed.


They also took him off the oxygen for about an hour and he did well! He couldn't go any longer without it, but it was an hour right? Better than no time at all! Each day he just gets better and better and I couldn't ask for more! He is heading in the right directions and that is what matters!

I love being able to hold him and take care of him like he was at home! The nurses are great and want you to be involved. They are the best babysitters I could have right now! I truly appreciate them!

day 6

All is going really well! My family was able to come up and see him. They got pictures but I didn't get any with my camera so sorry...I will have to post them later when I get them. He is eating more and more each feeding and can hopefully get his iv out in the next day or two. The iv is giving him protein and fats until he can build up having enough milk that will give it to him instead. We love him so much and can't wait to bring him home! Which is getting closer and closer, YEAH!!!

days 4 and 5 of Hunter

Hey sorry it has been a couple of days. It is not that I haven't been to see him it is just that we haven't been home long enough for me to post! :) He is still progressing!! YEAH They moved him to the upstairs NICU on Wednesday, which they call the feeding and growing NICU. So his no longer critical just needs time to grow and stabilize! He eats like a champ and is starting to have less and less oxygen help. So all in all things are looking up and up every day! We are hoping to bring him home sometime next week but I would rather him be there to continue getting stronger than bring him home and stress more! We love him so much and are grateful for all the blessings we have recieved! I want to thank everyone for your love and support, especially your prayers! It means so much to us and we truly appreciate it!
day 4

Christmas Eve

aren't the outfits cute? they have been dressing him the last couple of days!
day 5

Christmas Day!

fun thing yesterday was that he had his eyes open almost the whole time I was there!

Christmas Day with Tanner!

This year we went up to Mark's parents on Christmas Eve and came home yesterday evening. We had tons of fun with Tanner and were glad that we took some time for him during everything with Hunter. Tanner has been up at grandma and grandpa Nichols since last Wednesday so it was nice to spend time with him and now have him home. We certainly missed Hunter but we look forward to next year with him home! YEAH

day 3 of Hunter

Today was a GREAT day for Hunter! He was able to get off the ventilator..went to the SIPAP, which is another form of ventilator, then went to just the tubes in his nose. And this all happened from the last time I blogged to very early this morning! So when we showed up he was doing a whole lot better and the exciting thing was that we got to hold him!!! YEAH Another thing that happened was that I was able to try and breastfeed him...just to see how he would do...and he latched on easily! He didn't eat much but it was the fact that he had no problems that was great! Also while we were holding him he became less and less dependent on the oxygen and even didn't need the help at times! We also found out that he will for sure be there until Monday because when they took x-rays of his lungs they saw some little dark patches at the bottom of the lungs and so are treating him for pnemonia. They don't know if that is what it is or if it is just a little part still struggling to develop but it is better to be safe than sorry. So he just needs to be treated for 7 days and then hopefully he will eating normally and not dependent on oxygen. If all those things are good he will be coming home! It was so nice to see his progress and even better that we could hold him. It is amazing what just a little hugging and kissing can do for everyone involved! Therefore, it was a great day!

Hunter Ray Nichols (days 1 and 2)

Hello everyone! We wanted to just let you know that our little one came Saturday, December 20th at 10:04 pm. He weighs 5 lbs 12 oz and 18 inches long and we named him Hunter Ray Nichols. The labor was a little different this time because I was able to get an epideral (totally recommend it!!) but Hunter was breech. In spite of that the delivery was fine, but our little guy will not be able to join us at home yet.
This morning he was moved to the NICU at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for a closer watch. Since he was 4 weeks early his lungs had not fully developed and has been on oxygen since shortly after birth. Everything else is good but he just needed a little more time baking :( We are all doing fine and hope to bring him home sooner than later. Their goal is to get him off the ventilator today and start working on his feedings. So I will keep you all posted as to what is going on with lots of pictures. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!


because he was breech his legs and feet ended up by his head while they were cleaning him...

mom and Hunter

at EIRMC in the NICU with the ventilator...

look at all his hair! :)

coming early...

Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know that our little one will be coming early! I have gone to the doctor twice already this week and am dialated to a 3 and 75% effaced. The doctor gives me until the beginning of next week! I am still in shock and not sure how to take this news! I was expecting to or at least hoping to last until after Christmas but this little guy seems have a different idea. I have already been helped out a ton by friends and family (especially my mother-in-law and Stacy my long lost sister)! Thanks for everything and I will keep you all posted and put pictures on as soon as possible!