TEAM CHARLIE CLAIRE

Last week we took CB to CHKD for a NICU Follow Up Clinic visit, thank you Aunt Theresa for going with us!  A little back story...C was moved to the NICU at VA Beach General when she was 3 days old which is when we first started noticing her "episodes." By the end of her first day in the NICU it was determined that Charlie Claire was having seizures and was started on phenobarb.  Beach General was not equipped for CBear to have an MRI or an EEG so after 6 days she was was then transferred to the NICU at CHKD and was in there for 6 days.

Babies who graduate from the CHKD NICU  get "invited" for this follow up appointment so their development can be followed and if need be they get plugged in with different services. C's first appointment was scheduled for February but we rescheduled it because at that time she was seizing all day every day and we didn't really think it was a good time for her to go. We were hesitant to go to this appointment because Charlie Claire is already in the Early Invention Program through which she receives physical therapy and vision services so we thought this appointment might be a tad redundant.  We decided to take her anyway because we didn't think it would hurt to have another set of eyes check her out. Next time, we will go with our gut. I am sure that this program does wonderful things for babies that leave the NICU but we will take advice from Miss Wendy, Dr. Morton and Dr. Cotton (pediatrician) who see Charlie Claire on a regular basis and who know her ins and outs then some Dr. who read her chart, asked us some of questions and spent 5 minutes interacting with her. Overall, since C is already receiving PT and the vision services they didn't have any other suggestions but the Dr. just wasn't the most pleasant person we have come across. 

One positive outcome of the CHKD visit was stopping by Dr. White & Dr. Torre's office! Dr. White was C's neuro in the NICU and he followed her until we went to MCV, Dr. Torre was the Dr. on service when C was admitted to the PICU in December...he was the one who broke the news to us that C was going to need surgery. We LOVE Dr. White and Dr. Torre! Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Dr. Torre but we did get to see Dr. White and he was AMAZED at how great Charlie Claire looks! He hasn't seen CC since February when she was at her WORST so he is extremely pleased to see her doing so well!

This morning Miss Wendy came over and C had a great session. Miss Wendy loves how CBear gets more and more social each time she sees her! We are currently working on sitting up, holding toys, reaching for toys, eating solids, rolling over, etc.


J Monster
Our sweet little boy is a piece of work! Jackson officially has a temper...not sure where he gets that from! :) He also does not like to nap which makes it pretty impossible for Mama to get anything done while he is awake...J doesn't play so well by himself, he likes constant attention! Jackson is an army crawling fool...he has no problem getting exactly where he wants to be and even a few places we don't want him to be!

A couple littles that I know will be turning 8 months old in a few days...

Helping Mommy clean up the kitchen!

Jackson falling asleep during his evening bottle because he didn't take an afternoon nap