Sunday, January 6, 2012

A few moments after I posted the NYE post, the hospital called us to talk about Charlie.  Earlier in the day there was a small amount of blood in his stool.  The doctors noticed a few smalls cuts (the medical term is called fishers) on his little baby butt:(  To try and determine what was going on, they held his feedings and placed him on antibiotics and an IV for fluids.  This was quite a scare for Chuck and I to receive a call at midnight after we had left a happy, seemingly healthy baby earlier in the day.  Charlie showed no other symptoms and seemed to stump the doctors with what was going on. To be safe and give his bowels a rest, the doctors decided to hold his feeds for the next 48 hours.  On Friday, I met with the doctors during their normal rounds and they felt Charlie was able to resume feeding again. They cannot be 100% certain, but felt the blood in his stool was most likely caused by his fishers and not something more concerning.

Today was Charlie's 10 week birthday and we were so happy to nurse him and give him a full feed with his bottle!  Charlie was doing great but his temperature was a little low this evening.  The nurses are taking his temp every 15 minutes to make sure it stays within a normal range for preemies. Always something to worry about in the NICU:)  Keep your positive thoughts coming for Charlie as we hope to near the home stretch!

When our nieces were really young, they came to visit Uncle Chuck and Aunt Sarah.  We of course had to visit the Disney Store and buy something:)  Emily decided on Chick Little (or Chuck Little) and Piglet (which of course was me!)  

Now Chuck Little is able to stay with Charlie and watch over  him - Piglet is not in the photo, but she is there too:)

The ups and downs get so frustrating, but how can you be upset with this face:)  

Charlie was such a trooper taking his pacifier this week instead of his bottles.

I'm pretty positive I did notice a few eye rolls at the nurse and I as we gave it to him - he knew it wasn't food;)

Happy 10 Weeks!!!

So photogenic!  

He gets this from Daddy since I have a face for radio!!!  

(joke courtesy of Angela:))

Happy New Year!

Happy 2013!

This week we had a lot to celebrate - the start of a new year, Aunt Abby coming to visit, Charlie's 9 week birthday and the temporary removal of Charlie's feeding tube! YAY!

Abby came to help the Terhune's ring in 2013!  

She could not believe how big Charlie had gotten from her last visit.  

Abby has been my best friend since junior high, Charlie is so lucky to have her in his life:)

Sunday was Charlie's 9 week birthday.  

I cannot believe how small the ties look on him compared to the 1st week! 

He now weighs 4 lbs, 5 oz. and is 17 inches long.

New Years Baby!

Already dressed to impress:)  You can find just about anything on the internet.

So happy to have a party hat!
Charlie's resolution is to eat more, exercise less and be cord-less.

Charlie has been doing great over the last 24 hours with his bottle feeds and nursing.  We have been able to keep his feeding tube out and hope it continues to stay out.  

It seems like this journey has taken forever, but we are so blessed to have such a strong fighter.  We have been on "Charlie" time waiting for him to grow and develop at his own pace.  The end is in sight and we cannot wait to bring him home!

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