We've moved!

You should be automatically redirected in 6 seconds. If not, visit
http://understandingprematurity.com
and update your bookmarks.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Day 365

One year. One year ago we welcomed Charlotte into our lives. We welcomed milestones and set backs. We welcomed days of joy and days of agony. We welcomed a whole new world into our lives.  As a review, here's her first 26 weeks:

First Transfusion: 5 days old
Heart Surgery: 14 days old
First time held by Dad: 17 days old
Finally above birth weight: 19 days old
First diaper change by Parental Units: 22 days old
First time held by Mom: 32 days old
First time meeting Big Brother, Caleb: 5 weeks old
Switched to SiPAP: 6 weeks, 3 days old
Off of TPN (full feeds of 15 mL every 3 hours): 6 weeks, 3 days old
First time wearing clothing: 7 weeks old
Doubled Birth Weight (2.5 pounds): 7 weeks, 4 days old
Parents Decided on a Name: 11 weeks, 2 days old
First "good" x-ray of lungs: 13 weeks old
First Eye Surgery: 16 weeks, 2 days old
First Transfer to CHOP: 4 months, 28 days old
First Time on Nasal Cannula: 5 months, 3 days old
First Time Feeding Charlotte with a Bottle: 5 months, 17 days old
Transferred back to Chester County: 5 months, 18 days old
First day Home: 26 weeks old (more time inside the NICU than inside me)
(Of course, she just ended up heading back to the hospital 5 days later, but oh well.)

Baby Charlotte, we celebrate all of your milestones today. 

We celebrate you, and the strength that you have. We celebrate the humility you have taught us. We celebrate the kindness that you bring out in others. We celebrate your fat thighs and your perfect smile. We celebrate the moments of despair, because they were followed by moments of hope. We celebrate the nurses, doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, respiratory therapists, radiology techs, and unit secretaries who have made your life possible. We celebrate the grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins, and friends who sat by your side during this past year.

Today, we celebrate the journey. 

7 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Charlotte! No one deserves a celebration more than you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy birthday, beautiful Charlotte! May the journey get easier and less bumpy. I know it will. Daphne sends kisses.

    ReplyDelete
  3. HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE (and family!)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Now this is official begging. Post a pic of her in her birthday outfit, because I know you, so I know you bought her one! lol
    Kay

    ReplyDelete
  5. Technically, she got jewelry as soon as she was born--hospital "bracelets" can be considered jewelry! lol Seriously, it was good to see Charlotte today. She looks wonderful! You are all doing a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy birthday, and I love the b-day outfit!

    ReplyDelete