Saturday, September 4, 2010

Home again, home again.....

We have left the sterile confines of Swedish and are now home. As you can see Avery has taken her new responsibility of Big Sis very seriously keeping a watchful eye on Mr Charlie the entire ride. While super exhausted I know Mon and I are both thrilled to be home.
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Moving Day

Night 2 was much the same as night 1; sleep, eat, sleep, eat, sleep, eat...... He did have a few moments but overall he has been a great baby during the night. We are getting released today so both Charlie and Mon are being run through a battery of tests. Charlie also will under go his first major surgery, circumcision! Just the word trips me out but the alternative is, well, you get the idea (hopefully without the mental picture). We also got back his Billy Rubin counts from a second test this morning and his counts are elevated but still within a good zone. Because of our ordeal with Avery this has been hard news for Mon. Please send prayers and positive thoughts about this, we would love to avoid the bed of lights this time around. Beyond this news Mon is looking and feeling better and better all the time. She is up and around despite the pain; I'm super proud of her for fighting through and getting on her feet. We hope to be home early this afternoon so I'll keep you posted on our escape from the hospital. Charlies just turned 3 days old or third day of life as they call it in the medical world. Happy 3rd Day Mr. Charlie....

Friday, September 3, 2010

The Nurse with Squeaky Shoes On

When you spend this much time in a hospital you notice some pretty strange and alarming things. For example why at this hospital is the smoking section right below the cancer wing?!? I kid you not, you walk through people who have obvious scares from their bout with cancer only to leave the front door and be hit with pungent smell of cigarette smoke. Even more amazing was the conversation I over heard while following a couple out of this wing. By her hair you could tell cancer was an ongoing fight and she was telling the man, "wow, after talking with him today I feel there is a chance at a normal life". Just then we crossed the threshold to the outdoors and as she finished her statement she whipped out a cig and lit up. Are we really this stupid as a human race?

But I digress back to the title of this blog; last night we had two nurses. One dressed in the usual blues and then a second who was dressed in the sportiest nursing outfit I have ever seen. No lie, the getup had racing stripes. Additionally, nurse 2 also wore a jacket complete with fur trim. This was all acceptable because lets face it, it's the middle of night and Mon and I are trying to get any sleep we possibly can. But then came the realization that her shoes were an early warning system for the entire Pacific Rim. Have you ever had a pair of shoes that got soda on the bottom and then walked around to hear the sticky/squeaking sound with every step? Well she either ordered these bad boys directly from Coke or soaks them nightly. As the night progressed you could hear her coming from five minutes away. When she entered the room it sounds like a chorus of Coke stained dancers had entered the room. This would not have been such an issue except for the fact that they insist on coming in every 1.5 hrs to check on mom and baby preventing any normal type of sleep a person in our state craves. For those in the nursing industry please do not repeat this ladies insensitive fashion sense. If you have a colleague who wears a shoe with an early warning system please pass along this blog link. There is enough going on without having to hear your every move. So to the nurse with the squeaky shoes last night, thank you for forever changing my sleep patterns with your footsteps. I had no idea I could exist on such little sleep until you decided to show up. My only remaining question (coming from a guy who can't stand the sound of change in his own pocket) is how in the hell can you not notice this? I'd cut off my own feet is my shoes made this sound!


OK enough with the fashion critic of the over night staff. Mon is up and around feeling much stronger and better this afternoon. Charlie continues to frequent the buffet line like Baptists at a Golden Coral for Sunday lunch. All his tests and counts are coming back great so fingers crossed we will be able to head home tomorrow. Thanks again for all the messages, emails, and phones call; your support is incredible! Thank you!

Night 1: In the Books

Night one is in the books and I have to say Charlie was much easier going than Avery. His appetite has only increased, he is big into his bink, and enjoys a good hour or two snooze on and off pretty much all night. The doc has been into see him and thinks he looks great. She said he did not look jaundice at this time so fingers crossed we make it through the next 7 days without that flaring up.

Mon on the other hand is still in a lot of pain. Her incision and abdomen are very sore but as I remind her all the time, did you have major surgery. We hope that she can get some relief with the new pain meds. She is pressing hard to get up and around but as of right now its very slow going.

That's the update for now, more to come later today!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Some Final Thoughts & Lots of Pics

The night has fallen here in Seattle and the view is something to behold. Mon is feeling great, actually got to eat a chicken salad sandwich tonight, but is worried about what tomorrow may bring after her experience with Avery. Charlie has finished eating for a zillionth time tonight and is resting fast for the moment. When I got back from the house this evening he and Mom were sizing one another up. He has taken to eating like a duck to water and seems pretty alert for a little guy.

Watching Avery with him today was a real trip. I'm not sure what was running around in that small dome but I'd have paid good money for a window. You can tell she is getting the idea but not sure how stoked she is with this "baby Charlie" thing. I'm sure she'll be great, she has been with everything else to this point. Putting her to bed tonight was filled with questions and comments about the entire day. For 2 she does not miss very many details.

OK, I know most of you have skipped right past all of this written content to the pics so I won't bother you with more ramblings. Here are a few moments from Day 1:





















































While we're both exhausted from the big day both Mon and I are super excited to add Charlie to our little family. All your comments, well wishes, thoughts, and prayers as much appreciated. We are lucky to have two great healthy children and a giant community of friends and family. We truly are blessed!

We Have Moved To The Penthouse

We're out of the recovery room and into our new home for the next few days. For those requesting details we're at Swedish on First Hill, room 1015 SW. Mom and baby are still doing great.
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3 Happy Campers.....

Because the audience is demanding more pictures here is the three of us. Avery is at the house still with Jonna but in an hour or so we'll remedy that situation. Can't wait to introduce Buggy to her new little brother!
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Twin Sisters Sharing a Moment

Auntie Steph arrived and shares a moment with her sis and newest edition.
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First peak at Charlie

Here is a first image for you, having some minor tech issues but will get them resolved soon and load some more pics. Everyone is still doing great. He ate for 55 mins on his first feeding, nurse said "welcome to the world of boys".
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Charles Lawrence Dirks

Monica and I are happy to announce that Mr Charles Lawrence Dirks joined us at 10:02am today. He was 8lbs 1oz and 20" long. Both mom and baby are doing great. Will get pics up soon!
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Booted, Suited, and Ready for Action

Next post should be after Mr Charlie has joined us.....
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Grandparents have arrived

Meme and Geezer have arrived.
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One last prego pic....

For posterity sake. Still looking like we'll be on time.
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Couple of quick points

Charlie was just on the monitor for 20 mins and sounds great. He was a little hard to find at first but the nurse said it was b/c he knew it was eviction day. :-)

Also quite bullish on having a son on the first day of the college football season....

Nurse just told us that it does look like we'll be on time so 930 looks to be a go.

Beyond that we have officially entered the hurry up and wait stage. Any last minute guesses on weight and length?
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We have arrived

The trip to the hospital was uneventful but traffic allowed us to make it on time so we'll take it. Now its time to wait, tick, tock, tick, tock.....
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Last pictures of pregnant Mon

Just a few last shot for your enjoyment. Just departing the house....
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The big day is here.....

Well the big day is finally here..... Mon and I have to be at Swedish at 7:30 this morning and the c-section is scheduled for 9:30. However like with Avery we can always be bumped for emergency needs. Since Mon can not eat or drink anything we are hoping for an on time procedure but either way we're both just plain excited. Can't wait to meet him and introduce Avery.
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