Saturday, December 29, 2012

2 Months Down!

It's hard to believe that Charlie arrived 2 whole months ago.  I think he is possibly the most popular boy in the NICU:)  So many of you have visited, called and passed along your thoughts & prayers Charlie- you've all played a huge role in helping us get this far.  From Charlie, Chuck and I - THANK YOU!!!

As of today, Charlie is 4 pounds, 3 ounces and a little over 16 inches long.  He is growing steady and doing really well with his bottle feeds.  We have recently been nursing - and it's starting to work;)  His Brady and Desat episodes have, for the most part, been during his feeds which is better than through out the day. We are really just waiting and watching him feed and grow at this point.  

Many of you have asked when we will be able to take Charlie home, and the answer is still "We don't know."  At this point Charlie is doing great and improving each day, but he still has some growing and developing to do.  My original due date was January 16th and the doctors have always said to shoot for that day.  We are hopeful to be close to that date.  We cannot wait to have him home with us, and for any of you that have parked in the Huron & Superior parking garage - if I have to hear Bing Crosby music one more month, I may literally go insane!

We have also had questions about our friends Sam and Mary and their little girl Meara - Meara is doing great!  She was Charlie's first little buddy in the NICU and is quite a little fighter.  She is over 2 pounds now and getting bigger each day.  For any of you that want to follow her progress, please follow her through the Caring Bridge website and search for Baby Angellotti.  Sam and Mary have been a great support system through this journey and we are so grateful to have them.  I'm sure Chuck and I have given them some comedic entertainment in return:)

Leftover Christmas photos!

Grandma Chris brought Charlie some super cute Santa Jammies - 

he kind of looks like a cute Where's Waldo!

Charlie is starting to make tons of facial expressions.  Here he is showing some of his favorites.  

ooooooohhhhhhhhh!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I'm bored with you, please leave.

Snuggle time with Grandma Chris!

So cute:)  Moments before he removed his feeding tube...AGAIN!

Our favorite nurse helping Daddy give Charlie a bath.  

Nurse Linda puts up with a lot of Chuck & Sarah - we love her:)

Nooooooo, please don't put me in there!!!!!

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.  

Maybe this isn't too bad...

The heat lamps are nice...

No they're not...I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!

Happy 2 Months to me!  

Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas Eve!

We've had quite a few exciting days in Charlie's room this week.  He's had some new friends stop by, some renovations to his room and a few milestones:)

Uncle Adam came to visit from San Francisco! 

Don't these two make a handsome couple?  Just kidding;)

Adam works for the Giants and brought Charlie his "Superbowl" ring to try on!  

For people who follow baseball, this is also called a World Series ring - I like to be funny:)

Charlie was not impressed at first.

Grandma Christine came to spend Charlie's first Christmas in Chicago!

She is in love with her second Charles:)

Sunday marked 8 weeks old for our Charlie boy!  

He looks so different compared to the 1st week of ties!

Over the last week Charlie began taking a majority of his feeds from his bottle - which is HUGE news! We are so proud of him and cannot believe how far he's come.  

Santa Baby:)

I'm sure I'll be in trouble for dressing him like this and taking pictures when Charlie gets older - 

For now, I don't care!  Enjoy.

Santa Suit credit goes to Uncle Jamie:)

 New sleeping arrangements

Charlie has been doing a great job of maintaining his body temperature and did I mention he now weighs 4 POUNDS!!!!!  This means he can sleep in a normal baby crib.  We were lucky enough to snag one of the fancy wooden full term baby ones.  Jackpot!  

This new crib will make it super easy for hugs, kisses and PICTURES!!!!!

 Chuck and I have so much to be thankful for this Christmas.  Our pregnancy could have went in a different direction, but we were so lucky to be given our baby Charlie.  We are also so very thankful to have the most amazing friends and family in the world.  You all mean so much to us and we cannot wait to share all of your kinds words, gifts and prayers with Charlie some day soon. 

Have such a wonderful holiday and new year!

xoxo - The Terhune's

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Slow and steady

This week was pretty quite for baby Charlie.  He is continuing to grow with each day.  Little by little he is getting close to 1,800 grams (close to 4 lbs) and that means he will be freed from his isolette!!!  I am hoping this will be Charlie's first present to his mom and dad:)  Once he reaches this milestone he will be in an open air crib and we can kiss him all the time!!!

Also this week David came to visit from Des Moines!  Charlie was so excited to see one of daddy's oldest friends.

We have been working with Charlie and his pacifier skills, as well as taking his bottle.  We had two successful mini-bottle feeds this week.  Go Charlie Go!!!!

Dad telling Charlie how proud he is of taking his bottle - and that he hopes his hair is not red!

Aunt Colleen and Uncle Matt came by for a visit.  

Charlie telling Baby Penny to COME OUT!!!!  And it worked!  Baby Penny arrived yesterday - Charlie can't wait to meet his new friend!  xoxo

Someone decided he didn't need his feeding tube in his nose - and ripped it out!  Our nurse decided to let him be free for a little break - so Charlie's face was tube-less:)

Daddy and I thought this was a pretty kissable face:)  

On Friday Charlie had a few Desat's and one Brady while we were visiting.  This was pretty uncommon for his recent behavior.  He had blood drawn and we will see if there is any sign of infection in a few days.  Until then, our doctors put him on antibiotics to be safe.  Hopefully this does the trick and his energy will be back up for more bottle feeds!

Xmas

I give you, the Laughlin Terhune family Christmas!

Charlie was extremely excited to have an early 1st Christmas this year!  Everyone made it in from the Quad Cities to see the new favorite baby:)  He slept for the most part, or maybe he was just pretending to sleep;)

Our first Laughlin four generation photo:) 

Great Grandma Jean was so happy to see her newest baby!

 Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mike:)

 Uncle Jamie and his new little friend:)

Baby's first Christmas hat:) He looks drunk.  Did Uncle Jamie buy you beer???

Grandma and Grandma back to spoil the baby.

Grandma Wendi is face timing with Sidney from the waiting room - she was sick:(

Celebrating 7 weeks!!!!

Why wouldn't I put an American Girl cowboy hat on the baby?  He was ready to party.

 Emily quickly handed the baby over when he pooped.

 Grandpa Joe holding his little buddy:)  xoxo

Uncle Jamie's neighbor sent a blanket for Charlie's 1st Christmas!  Thank you!!

Someone, I won't name names, kept pulling his feeding tube out of his mouth.  Hopefully it's a little more secure this way!  This will also help free up his mouth so we can make him an expert with his pacifier and hopefully soon a bottle.

We need to teach Grandpa Joe how to pose:)

The Grizwold's Christmas!

Charlie's stocking was a quick purchase this year.  

Next year we will have to find him something a little larger.

Surprise!  Everyone gets a picture of Charlie for xmas!!!  Ha

Charlie cleaned house in the gift department.  

He is now the proud owner of a Santa Suit - thanks Uncle Jamie!  Stay tuned for pics of his new get-up.  I'm hoping he doesn't look like a drunk mall Santa???