Yep.

Happy Birthday to ME!

So sad this picture was taken 31 25 years ago.

Sunday Sustenance

"Where there is great love,
there are always miracles."

-Willa Cather

Small miracles

Holding Mommy's hand - December 25, 2008

Just 9 months ago, we had a very sick little boy indefinitely in the NICU.

Some days, because it feels so long ago, it's hard to believe how far we've come!

September 10, 2009

TODAY, Connor weighs a whopping 17.2 lbs!
(That's more than 7 times heavier than he was 9 months ago.)

TODAY, after months of physical therapy,
Connor decided to roll over by himself
for the very first time!!

Now, we're no longer behind his adjusted age on the developmental tests...
in fact, some might say we're closer to his actual age.

Oh happy day!!

"Jump up... to get down."

Sunday Sustenance

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (unknown version)

9 months old

9 months old.
Time is flying by... way.too.fast.

We've now had Connor home with us a month longer than he spent in the NICU. Thankfully, with every passing day, it feels like ages ago.

LATEST STATS

(As measured at his GI follow-up appointment, on September 8th... and he's only getting bigger!)

Weight: 16 lbs, 8 oz
Height: 26 in

You can see in the growth charts on the right his general growth pattern for the past 6 months, and where he falls in the percentiles (according to his adjusted age of 6 months).

MEDICAL PROGRESS

Saw his surgeon for a follow-up this past month. As far as the NEC surgery, Connor's clear and done. The surgeon was all ready to graduate us, say sayonara, and I had open my mouth to ask, "What about...??" So, Connor's got a small hernia issue that we'll revisit with the surgeon to see if there's anything we're going to do about it next spring.

Meanwhile, this past week, Connor graduated from his GI and his hematologist... no need to see them ever again unless there's an issue.

Monkey boy - September 2, 2009

We doubt that we will ever need to follow-up on SOD. Both his pediatrician and neurologist feel that he doesn't have it. (So, no MRI with sedation in Connor's near future.) Since he was previously cleared of any lingering ROP issues, I don't think we'll be seeing his ophthalmologist again either.

August 30, 2009

This means that the only doctors/specialists he will see moving forward are his pediatrician, surgeon (hernia follow-up), neurologist, and nephrologist. WAHOO!

We've already begun the weaning process for his Reglan, so we're well on our way to being down to just 2 meds - the multi-vitamin and the antibiotic.

September 7, 2009

DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESS

We started eating cereal 3 weeks ago. Connor has enjoyed oats and barley much more than he did the rice - thank goodness! We'll spend a week on multi-grain cereal, and then he can move on to 1st foods like carrots and sweet potatoes as a 2nd solid meal... YUM!

Goatee o' Cereal - September 13, 2009

Early Intervention decided that he's right on track for his adjusted age, and there's no need for them to provide in-home therapy. (Yep, I've got mixed feelings about that.) We'll reevaluate in a few months.

Happy to report that we're almost there...



NOTABLE EVENTS

Uncle Jason came to visit. :)

While on their way to a cruise of the Caribbean, my brother and sister-in-law had a quick layover here in Chicago. Since neither one of them has had a chance to meet their nephew, we decided to catch them briefly at O'Hare. Connor is definitely a people watcher!


Connor also got to meet some of my old coworkers at ALDI Corporate HQ, and he attended the {unofficial} Alterian company picnic in Varna, IL.

We traveled downtown to the Renegade Craft Fair last weekend, where Connor discovered that his parents are boring suburbanites. We so didn't fit in with the vegan bohemians or the uber-yups! Cool wearables on sale... lots of fun t-shirts and jewelry, lots of letterpress products, etc. I actually saw a ton of stuff in person that I've read about on various design blogs, but just couldn't see spending the arm or leg they were wanting for some of their wares. One of my favs was Campfire Goods who sold tees sporting the graphic on the left. (Classic.) We did do a little to stimulate the local economy (and make Uncle Scott proud) by stopping into the brick-and-mortar Threadless Kids, and bought Connor this and that.

We finally decided upon and picked up Connor's 1st Halloween costume!

COMING UP

Bliss. - September 13, 2009

Mommy & Daddy are preparing for 1st overnight away from Connor... a little getaway to downtown. I've got a lot of mixed emotions about being away from him, but do want to thank Grandpa & Grandma Sprik for babysitting. You can imagine the arm-twisting we had to do!

August 30, 2009

Next week, Connor has an evaluation for a DOC Band. While we've seen marked improvement on the shape of his head (he has a flat spot), our window to help correct it is closing quickly. We're not 100% sure that he will qualify for treatment. For now, I'm just happy that he doesn't hate having things on his head.

Our little hoodlum - September 10, 2009

Just one more appointment with the private physical therapist before our flu season hiatus.

Early October brings another round of follow-up appointments with his nephrologist and neurologist up at Lutheran General.

September 15, 2009

And finally, at some point in the next few weeks (because we want Aunt Kristen to be as miserable as possible - J/K - because early babies can be a little scary sometimes!), Connor will no longer be the youngest Rogers grandchild! :)

CUTENESS OVERLOAD

This one's for Tiburon - September 9, 2009

August 30, 2009

Lounging. - September 2, 2009

Sleepy. - September 6, 2009

Lake Connor...
he's just days away from taking his baths in the regular bathtub! - September 3, 2009

Name that Tune - September 7, 2009

Still no teeth... yet. - September 7, 2009

We start 'em young! - September 10, 2009

Flat-footed on the floor! - September 10, 2009

Annoyed. - September 10, 2009

Y'all come back now, ya hear?? - September 15, 2009

Something to tide you over...

Still working on the post for Connor's 9-month birthday.

Going to be a little late this month (lots of photos to weed through and edit), just waiting for my reinforcements to arrive (aka Grandma & Grandpa Sprik).

In the meantime, Connor would like to share a story with you:

I'm so excited!

...I think I might just wet my pants!



T minus 44 hours and counting...

Gesundheit!

The dreaded flu season is nearly upon us.

And, we've been planning for it... another hibernation.

To prepare, Connor's had round 1 of 2 of the regular flu shot, and will likely begin his monthly RSV vaccination soon. (No, he won't be receiving the swine flu vaccine this year.)

Brian and I have plans to get our own regular flu shots in the next few weeks (both of us did last year, and the flu bugs skipped our house last season - we were exhausted, stressed out, and traveling to the hospital every single day).

I've tried to coordinate some in-home therapy for Connor through Early Intervention, but they've decided that he's right on track for his adjusted age, and there's no need. We'll reevaluate in a few months. (In the meantime, his private therapy is on hiatus come October.)

We'll be extra careful here, especially to limit Connor's exposure (we already spent 120 days too many in the hospital this past year).

Thanks to Mindi for posting this ever helpful greeting guide (as seen in the NYTimes).


So, if we just wave at you, or seem standoffish, it's nothing personal... we're just practicing germaphobes for the next few months.

Sunday Sustenance

"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."

— L.M. Montgomery

Renegade Craft Fair

I've been looking forward to attending the
Renegade Craft Fair
for over 8 months now.
(Ever since before our little life-altering event.)

The show happens just once a year
in Brooklyn, LA, San Francisco, & Chicago.
(With holiday shows held
in Chicago & San Francisco.)
Chicago's show
is this weekend,
in Wicker Park!!
We're going to miss
the annual holiday show this year,
so this is my last chance,
until Fall 2010.

From everything I've read (a sample),
it's not your typical tired, podunky,
tole-painted, macraméd event...

I'm guessing it's going to be more like a real-life Etsy show, full of the quirky and artsy.

I'm hoping to score a few unique Christmas gifts.
I can't wait!

If you're local, maybe we'll see you there??

Sunday Sustenance

"Children think not of what is past,
nor what is to come,
but enjoy the present time,
which few of us do."

- Jean De La Bruyere

September Birthday Wishes

We hope you have a wonderful day!

Mary celebrates her 29th birthday (again!) on September 20th.

Let Brian consider this his notice that it's officially MY BIRTHDAY MONTH
(he's off the hook after the 28th).