Big Brother

We took Rogan to the doctor yesterday and he's up to 6 pounds 1 ounce. He no longer has to be on his premie formula and can now take regular Similac. Yeah for our bank account! Dr. Exon said we got another good one.

I was filling out paper work this morning for the adoption agency that we have to send in and Brice wanted to help. The adoption agency has a Big Brother Contract that Brice has to sign and send in. Mom got some pictures of him signing it, pretty cute.

We're doing great! Rogan is only waking up about every 3 1/2 hours now, so I feel like I'm getting more rest. My mom has kept our house clean, the laundry done and has cooked every meal. I think Brian is ready to hire her on full time. Brice got to go to the pool yesterday morning with his grandma while Brian and I took Rogan to the doctor. We took him outside to play last night on his swing set after it cooled off. I think he really missed his swing set. He hadn't played on it in about three weeks. He didn't come in until dark.

We're Home At Last!

We've made it back to our own beds, yeah! The kids did terrific on the ride home. We only had to stop once to feed Rogan and let Brice get out and stretch his legs and eat some lunch. The kids just slept in the back seat, we were very pleasantly surprised.

Rogan is doing well. He's eating like crazy! He went from refusing to eat at the hospital to taking a full bottle here. I think he just wanted to get home. He has his first appointment with the doctor tomorrow.

Brice is starting to figure it all out. Today he sat by me while I fed Rogan and helped hold the bottle. He also smelled his feet. We play a game with Brice where we smell his feet and tell him how bad they stink so he thought it was fun to do the same thing to Rogan.

We're all glad to be home and we're getting as much rest as possible. My mom is here to help out as long as we need her and my dad is coming up on Friday because he has the day off work.

I hope to get some pictures in the next few days of the boys together and I'll post them as soon as possible. Thanks for all the emails and warm wishes. Only the Mitchell's leave for vacation and come home with a baby!

Rogan

Rogan is out of the hospital! He was able to come home today. We are still at my parents' house and my mom and I will be leaving with the kids tomorrow morning heading for Jenks. Brian is at home, he had to go back to work and cannot wait for us to get there.

Adoption

We received a phone call from the adoption agency moments ago and all paperwork has now been signed, Rogan is officially ours! The official documents will not be able to be finalized with the court until December, but there is no turning back. We are waiting on the documents that say we can leave Texas and go home, we should be receiving those by Wednesday. Hopefully, Rogan will be home by then.

Rogan is still in the NICU. He was circumcised on Friday and hasn't been eating as well as he should and has been very tired and groggy. You can't blame him for not wanting to eat after that! As soon as he starts feeling better and eating more we'll be able to take him home. We are hopeful that he will be heading home within the next couple of days.

Brian headed back to Oklahoma today to prepare for a trial next week and return to work. He's got another mouth to feed! :) I am staying at my parents' house with Brian's parents until Rogan is able to leave the hospital.

We'll continue to keep you updated. Thanks for all the well wishes!

Rogan

Rogan was moved into a different part of the NICU today. This takes us one step closer to bringing him home. It was really just across a small hallway but a major achievement for a little fellow. He is still eating well and maintaining his temperature, etc. If he continues, he will probably be home sooner than expected. We are hopeful for this weekend sometime.

Brice was able to go up to the NICU to visit him today. He ssshhh'd Brian and told him to whisper near the baby. He also reached into the bassinet and patted his little brother on the back. Very sweet. My parents were able to go up and hold him today too. Brian's parents will be here on Saturday. After he is released from the hospital we will have to stay in Texas for 7-10 days while the paperwork goes through the court system. Please keep the thoughts and prayers coming, we appreciate everyone's support.

Rogan Blake Mitchell was born at 6:37 a.m. this morning, he weighed 5 lbs 9 oz and is 17 1/4 inches long. He was about 6 weeks early so he is in the NICU he is no longer hooked up to monitors and is in a regular bassinet. The only reason he is in the NICU is because he was so early. He may have to say in the hospital for about a week, it depends on how well he continues to eat. As of right now, he is eating well and everything is great. We'll do our best to keep everyone updated!

A Change of Plans

Well, we were scheduled to leave for Colorado today for my cousin's wedding and a week long vacation. Instead, we received a call on Monday from our adoption agency and we have been chosen again!

So, instead of heading to Colorado, we are going to Austin, TX. We are going to meet the potential birth mother on Thursday afternoon. Afterwards, we are going to Galveston, TX to spend our vacation on the beach instead.

We are a little apprehensive about this meeting because of the what happened in February. Hopefully, this birth mother will not change her mind. We do not have a lot of information, but we do know that she is only 16 years old, she's had her prenatal care since the 2nd month, she is due to have a boy on August 2nd, and she is currently attending classes for her GED.

We'll keep you posted and hopefully this is it! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!