Hello,
Claire returned to the pediatrician earlier this week and continues to do fabulously. She weighs six pounds and four ounces and has caught up with the average newborn in size. Claire is too big for her preemie diapers and has graduated to the newborn size. Of course they are a little big but she will grow into them soon. Her hair continues to grow & is so pretty - I think there is some natural curl and wave!
Dr. Frank assures us that Claire is doing fabulously. She is trying to hold up her head and there is some bobbing and weaving going on but she is getting better at the task. We started her on medication to regulate her bowels and she is happier with less gas and grunting. She is now "regular" and doesn't require suppositories - woo hoo! Breast feedings are going a lot better now too and Claire is able to nurse without difficulty. What a journey and how very proud we are to see Claire conquer every task that is required of her. It makes sense looking back that of course breast feeding would be a challenge due to her petite size.
Claire's big sister's came to visit today and both remarked on how "grown up" she is looking. She has out grown her tiniest preemie clothes and some of the smaller newborn sizes as well. I have separated her clothes by size to ensure that she spends time wearing all of the cute outfits that have been given to her. We will keep some of the preemie outfits so that Claire can dress her dolls when she is bigger.
What a year 2010 has been. We are so very pleased that our wish to become a family has come true and that despite Claire's early arrival, she is thriving. We thank each and every one of you for checking in on Claire's blog. We have felt the power of your positive thoughts & prayers and Claire's amazing progress is
truly a result of all of your support and love. Her team of medical providers have provided us with excellent medical care and resulted in her fabulous outcome.
We look forward to 2011 and the many surprises in store as Claire continues to grow. It is anticipated that she will meet her developmental milestones based on her due date, not her actual birth date. Knowing Claire, she may surprise us and meet them earlier rather than later.
We wish you all a healthy, prosperous, and exciting new year. Embrace your loved ones and keep some Holiday Magic in your life throughout the New Year 2011!
Love,
Denise & Alan
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Happy Holidays!
Hello,
Well as luck would have it, and a lot of love & prayers, our Baby Claire now weighs 6 pounds 1.5 ounces. Alan's Christmas wish has come true and he is a very happy Daddy. She is growing and changing so much in just the 3 weeks that she has been home. If she had been born on her due date, she would be 2 weeks old today!
We have had recent issues with our little Claire and gas. Yes, I think all parents encounter this issue at some time or another. We started her on Mylicon drops made for babies and the result is amazing. She is no longer crying due to gas discomfort. Right now she is laying beside me in a very lovely quiet alert state. She is taking in the world around her and completely content. She is wearing a very cute pokadot outfit from her Aunt Mary Lou and Cousin Meghan and is really looking forward to her first Christmas Morning.
We couldn't be more pleased and are so very happy with the blessings and good fortune that this year has brought to us and our new family. I had always imagined what it would be like to have a child and to celebrate the Christmas season. My expectations have been exceeded and we do appreciate the fact that if not for the many prayers and good wishes, our journey would have been much more difficult. Let our experience be proof that dreams can come true and it is never too late for second chances.
"Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". We do believe!!!!
Merry Christmas and wishing you all love and a joy-filled holiday season.
Love,
Denise & Alan
Well as luck would have it, and a lot of love & prayers, our Baby Claire now weighs 6 pounds 1.5 ounces. Alan's Christmas wish has come true and he is a very happy Daddy. She is growing and changing so much in just the 3 weeks that she has been home. If she had been born on her due date, she would be 2 weeks old today!
We have had recent issues with our little Claire and gas. Yes, I think all parents encounter this issue at some time or another. We started her on Mylicon drops made for babies and the result is amazing. She is no longer crying due to gas discomfort. Right now she is laying beside me in a very lovely quiet alert state. She is taking in the world around her and completely content. She is wearing a very cute pokadot outfit from her Aunt Mary Lou and Cousin Meghan and is really looking forward to her first Christmas Morning.
We couldn't be more pleased and are so very happy with the blessings and good fortune that this year has brought to us and our new family. I had always imagined what it would be like to have a child and to celebrate the Christmas season. My expectations have been exceeded and we do appreciate the fact that if not for the many prayers and good wishes, our journey would have been much more difficult. Let our experience be proof that dreams can come true and it is never too late for second chances.
"Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". We do believe!!!!
Merry Christmas and wishing you all love and a joy-filled holiday season.
Love,
Denise & Alan
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Hello,
Claire has completed her second visit with the pediatrician and now weighs 5 1/2 pounds - she is thriving since coming home from the hospital!! Last night she slept for 5 hours which was such a nice reprieve from the wee-morning feedings. Of course she is likely to return to the 3-4 hour schedule but we are gradually adjusting. If Claire is napping, I try to rest too.
Claire's hair is the prettiest chestnut color and it is starting to grow. She continues to be a really good baby but the last three nights included a midnight bewitching hour. Thankfully the rocking chair has provided great comfort for her fussiness and for me too.
I have received my Christmas wish for Claire to come home on December first. Alan's wish is that Claire will weigh six pounds by Christmas Day. She has passed her due date of December 10th and continues to do very well. I think that Alan's wish will come true too and that she will surpass six pounds soon.
We wish you all a very happy holiday season and that you will enjoy time with your family and loved ones. As always, thank you for your support, loving thoughts, and prayers for our Baby Claire.
xo,
Denise & Alan
Claire has completed her second visit with the pediatrician and now weighs 5 1/2 pounds - she is thriving since coming home from the hospital!! Last night she slept for 5 hours which was such a nice reprieve from the wee-morning feedings. Of course she is likely to return to the 3-4 hour schedule but we are gradually adjusting. If Claire is napping, I try to rest too.
Claire's hair is the prettiest chestnut color and it is starting to grow. She continues to be a really good baby but the last three nights included a midnight bewitching hour. Thankfully the rocking chair has provided great comfort for her fussiness and for me too.
I have received my Christmas wish for Claire to come home on December first. Alan's wish is that Claire will weigh six pounds by Christmas Day. She has passed her due date of December 10th and continues to do very well. I think that Alan's wish will come true too and that she will surpass six pounds soon.
We wish you all a very happy holiday season and that you will enjoy time with your family and loved ones. As always, thank you for your support, loving thoughts, and prayers for our Baby Claire.
xo,
Denise & Alan
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
One Week Post Homecoming
Hello -
What a difference a week makes! Of course we are learning to live with sleep deprivation but with Alan's night owl and my early morning routines, we are making the best of our new life with Claire at home.
Claire saw the pediatric opthalmologist yesterday and her eyes are perfect - our next visit will be in one year - woo hoo! Today we saw the pediatrician and Claire has gained weight and now has reached five pounds two ounces and measures 17 1/2 inches long. The doctor is pleased with her progress and we return in a week to monitor her growth. If she continues to do well, we will stop the additional calorie supplement and maintain feedings on breast milk and formula as needed.
It has been fun to get to know Claire. She is a very content little soul and only cries when she needs a diaper change or is hungry. Rarely she will fuss without any reason but is easily consoled. Claire is quite a talker - she coos and squeaks and has periods when she is very wide-eyed and alert taking in the world around her. She looks totally cute in pink and tolerates being dressed in the latest baby fashions.
Luckily for me, she has saved her worst diaper changes for Alan - call it good timing on my part! We are very happy to have Claire at home and taking care of her has been quite easy, all things considered. We aren't certain exactly what the Christmas tree will be like this year - the season has come along quickly and we haven't even given it a thought. We have been focused on our Baby Claire and adapting to life at home. Fortunately, there are no more daily trips to the hospital!
Thank you again for your support. The kind thoughts and prayers have been working for our Baby Claire.
More soon - likely weekly updates from now on.
xo,
Denise and Alan
What a difference a week makes! Of course we are learning to live with sleep deprivation but with Alan's night owl and my early morning routines, we are making the best of our new life with Claire at home.
Claire saw the pediatric opthalmologist yesterday and her eyes are perfect - our next visit will be in one year - woo hoo! Today we saw the pediatrician and Claire has gained weight and now has reached five pounds two ounces and measures 17 1/2 inches long. The doctor is pleased with her progress and we return in a week to monitor her growth. If she continues to do well, we will stop the additional calorie supplement and maintain feedings on breast milk and formula as needed.
It has been fun to get to know Claire. She is a very content little soul and only cries when she needs a diaper change or is hungry. Rarely she will fuss without any reason but is easily consoled. Claire is quite a talker - she coos and squeaks and has periods when she is very wide-eyed and alert taking in the world around her. She looks totally cute in pink and tolerates being dressed in the latest baby fashions.
Luckily for me, she has saved her worst diaper changes for Alan - call it good timing on my part! We are very happy to have Claire at home and taking care of her has been quite easy, all things considered. We aren't certain exactly what the Christmas tree will be like this year - the season has come along quickly and we haven't even given it a thought. We have been focused on our Baby Claire and adapting to life at home. Fortunately, there are no more daily trips to the hospital!
Thank you again for your support. The kind thoughts and prayers have been working for our Baby Claire.
More soon - likely weekly updates from now on.
xo,
Denise and Alan
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
A Sweet Homecoming
Hello -
Oh happy day....finally...our precious Claire has come home to start our family chapter. She is now 4 pounds and 10 ounces and took 67 cc's from the bottle this morning. We were discharged around 1:00pm and got home by 1:30pm. No problems so far and we feel confident we can handle her cares here at home. It is so much quieter and no alarms to contend with - what a relief. And no more trips to the hospital!
We spent time this morning with Claire's pediatrician who happens to be one of the doctors that has cared for her in the NICU. We covered all areas of concerns including feedings, elimination, and sleep. She has an eye exam scheduled next Monday and we see the Pediatrician again next Tuesday. She continues to do very well and we are so happy to finally have our baby at home.
Big sister's Emma and Mary have come to visit and become acquainted with Claire. She has been a little star and loves spending time with her sisters.
Bella photos took pictures today before we left the hospital. You can take a look at http://www.bellababyphotography.com/ with password 1018clairealoha.
We will continue updates as Claire grows and becomes her own person. Thank you so much for all of the kind thoughts and prayers. We are so happy to share our homecoming and the day that we are finally together again. It was a dream come true for me as I wanted Claire home on December first, and here we are on 12/1/10.
With Love,
Denise and Alan
Oh happy day....finally...our precious Claire has come home to start our family chapter. She is now 4 pounds and 10 ounces and took 67 cc's from the bottle this morning. We were discharged around 1:00pm and got home by 1:30pm. No problems so far and we feel confident we can handle her cares here at home. It is so much quieter and no alarms to contend with - what a relief. And no more trips to the hospital!
We spent time this morning with Claire's pediatrician who happens to be one of the doctors that has cared for her in the NICU. We covered all areas of concerns including feedings, elimination, and sleep. She has an eye exam scheduled next Monday and we see the Pediatrician again next Tuesday. She continues to do very well and we are so happy to finally have our baby at home.
Big sister's Emma and Mary have come to visit and become acquainted with Claire. She has been a little star and loves spending time with her sisters.
Bella photos took pictures today before we left the hospital. You can take a look at http://www.bellababyphotography.com/ with password 1018clairealoha.
We will continue updates as Claire grows and becomes her own person. Thank you so much for all of the kind thoughts and prayers. We are so happy to share our homecoming and the day that we are finally together again. It was a dream come true for me as I wanted Claire home on December first, and here we are on 12/1/10.
With Love,
Denise and Alan
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