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

First time wearing Jewelery: 11 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 Major Break-down by Mom in the NICU: 4 months, 14 days old

First Transfer to CHOP: 4 months, 28 days old

First Time on Nasal Cannula: 5 months, 3 days old

Second Major Break-down by Mom in the NICU: 5 months, 1 week 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.