Thursday, August 27, 2009

Happy Two Months!

Today Charlie and Lily turned 2 months old! We celebrated with mini cupcakes and a reading of Birthday Monsters. Well, the nurses got the cupcakes and the babies got the story, although Lily’s nurse snuck a cupcake into the unit so we could take a picture of her with it. The picture is adorable, but I think Lily was annoyed when the cupcake was taken away before she could have a taste. Soon enough, baby! The nurses also made Charlie and Lily cute birthday signs for their isolettes.

Charlie kicked off his birthday early this morning with his first attempt at bottle feeding. According to his nurse, Charlie got in two good sucks before he realized that there was actually something coming out of the nipple. He held the milk in his mouth with big wide eyes and sputtered in confusion. He swallowed after his nurse massaged his throat, but he let the second sip dribble out of his mouth. That was the end of Charlie’s foray into feeding. This is pretty much normal behavior for a preemie’s first bottle feeding attempt, though, and the nurses will keep trying him with the bottle until he catches on. It’s exciting that he even got to try, and we’re confident he’ll catch on soon.

Lily began her day with some progress in the breathing department. The doctors declared that she was ready to begin weaning off the CPAP, so she will now be alternating between the CPAP and nasal cannula for four hours at a time. This method worked well for Charlie in helping him get off the CPAP so we’re hoping it does the same for Lily. Lily’s day ended with a bath from mommy! Lily’s wonderful nurse Alicia supervised me as I sponge-bathed the Bug. Oh how mad baths make Lily! But I had a fantastic time scrubbing her down. After her bath she came out to get weighed and amused us by rolling around on the scale and punching Daddy in the eye when he leaned down for a kiss. She gets her right hook from Mommy and Billy Blanks. Alicia then instructed Joe to pick up Lily and carry her back to the isolette. Joe got a fantastic quick snuggle with Lily sans blankets and breathing apparatus. She was even wearing her “Daddy Loves Me” onesie – so appropriate!

So Charlie and Lily had a nice 2 month birthday! Being with them makes Joe and me so happy and just makes us feel better – we would spend all our time in the NICU if we could!

Tomorrow will a slightly more difficult day. We’ll begin up at the NICU for a memorial service being held for Annaleigh. We are honored that the NICU staff is choosing to celebrate our little girl like that and we know it will be a nice way to remember her. After that we need to sign some papers at the cemetery and choose a headstone for our baby. Not pleasant tasks, but all we can do now to continue to take care of our precious Annaleigh. We take comfort in the fact that Charlie and Lily will be there waiting for us when we’re done, ready to make us smile again.


Charlie has the "sucking" thing down (note the pacifier) but the whole "suck/swallow/breathe" thing is a bit much for him.


Brooke was pretty thrilled to give Lily her bath today. Lily... not so much.


This shirt is not just for show. It states the complete and utter truth.

Lily's birthday sign is so pretty (just like her). Her nurse Julia did a great job on it!

23 comments:

Michele from FTHS said...

Happy Birthday Charlie and Lily!!! Love the pic of Brooke and Lily!

Quince Family said...

The pics are awesome...Charlie is really starting to look like a big boy and the pic of Lily and Brooke made me smile.
Melissa (shady06 from Multiple Mamas)

Kiane said...

Happy 2 Months Charlie & Lily!! Such cute pics :)

Kiane (SAIF)

Lauren said...

Happy 2 months!

Good luck tomorrow. We'll be thinking of you.

momma mimi said...

Happy two months Charlie and Lily!

Amy
momma mimi from TTTC

Anonymous said...

Happy two months my sweet angels.
You are more beautiful than ever.

My heart goes out to you Joe and Brooke. Be brave today. I love you guys. Just remember - Annaleigh is just a thought away.

All My Love, Auntie :)
xoxoxoxox

Sarah - The Home Cook said...

Happy 2 months, Charlie and Lily! Sounds like a great day.

Good luck today. I'll be thinking about you guys.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday beautiful babies! I am in utter amazement at how nice and round they are growing! I love the expressions on their faces and the stories of Lily's spunkiness.
Amy

Jenn said...

I can't believe how big they have both gotten. Charlie especially. This makes me so happy to see.

Cynthia said...

Happy birthday, babies! Charlie and Lily are looking bigger and stronger every day. You all will be in my prayers today....

Anonymous said...

So much progress-so wonderful. And giving Lily Big a bath? I can't imagine how exiciting that must have been for Brooke. The look on her face says it all. Charlie will be chugging before you know it. It makes me smile so big to see them doing so well. -Marcie

Courtney said...

Happy two month birthday, Charlie and Lily!

#1SAHM said...

Happy 2 months b-day Charlie and Lily! : )

mrsolsenk12 said...

Happy birthday Charlie and Lily! I love the pics. Lily looks so great without the breathing tubes. Her face is beautiful. I hope that today is an ok day and that you are able to celebrate Annaleigh's life to the fullest.

Anonymous said...

Happy 2 months Charlie and Lily!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy 2 month Birthday beautiful babies!!! They are getting more beautiful everyday!!! I'll be thinking of you today as you celebrate Annaleigh's life.

Tonya Lynn said...

Happy 2 months Charlie and Lily!!!

I'm sure Charlie will get the suck/swallow/breathe thing down soon and sooner or later Lily will learn to love baths (it may be when shes two and can actually play in them ;) but she will.)

My prayers are with you today.

Diana Lopez said...

Happy 2 months Charlie and Lily. God bless you and your Family..you two are getting big..

Katie said...

Happy Birthday little ones, I can't believe how huge you both are becoming. Keep on truckin and putting on more weight, this will probably be one of the few times in your life where it's ok to gain a bunch of weight. :)

Courtney in CT said...

Love love LOVE the picture of Brooke with Lily; priceless.

These little chunks are lookin' good! Keep it up, Lily & Charlie!

-Courtney

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday babies!!! You are looking beautiful!!! You are making all of us readers so proud!!!! Keep up the good work! You are so loved along with your sister!!!!

Anonymous said...

I have goosebumps reading how good the babies are doing! I really believe that Annaleigh is with them cheering them on.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday babies and God bless you!!!!

Cheryl