Merry Christmas and Happy 10 Months Old Baby Carter

12/25/14

Merry Christmas to everyone!  Last night we took Carter to Christmas Eve Mass with family and then headed to my aunt and uncle's house for a great dinner.  Christmas is always a festive time of year but it easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and lose sight of the reason for Christmas.  We all know that it is the celebration of the birth of baby Jesus and during this time we reflect on all that we have and all of the blessings that we have been given by his birth.  As children growing up our hearts pounded with excitement that the birth of baby Jesus also meant that Santa would be making his ceremonial visit to our Christmas trees if we had been a good kid all year.  As the years pass we go through many life experiences that change our perspective on everything and the Christmas Holiday suddenly evolves into something much more emotional, more personal, and more inspirational.  Last night as Carter prepared for his first visit from Santa Katie and I held him as a family, kissed him good night and laid him in his crib.  As a child I would have reflected on my list that I gave to Santa and if talking back to my parents, making fun of my sister or not doing more good things for others would affect the quantity of presents that Santa brought me.  I would have said my prayers right before climbing into bed and anxiously awaited for the first hint of a.m. to race to the Christmas tree.  Last night however was different.  Ten months ago the Lord watched over my wife, our baby and me as little Carter came into this world.  Last night I reflected on the first days and weeks of Carter's birth and the struggles that we went through.  I thought about the importance of life, why we look to our faith in times of need and celebrate our faith through all of our blessings.  On my way to bed I turned and looked at the tree, the silence of our home and felt an excitement for Christmas as a new Dad that I haven't felt since I was a kid.  This time of year is about the birth of Jesus, it is about the family we love and it is about being there for one another throughout the year to bring blessings to others.  Make that part of your life and no matter how difficult the struggle you will make it through.

Carter woke up at 8 am this morning and after wishing him a Merry Christmas he opened his presents from Santa.  He got lots of fun toys that made him smile and after eating and opening presents he took a long nap.  We had been having some trouble with his eating lately but after his nap he did something quite amazing for him.  He ate two jars of baby food and was focused the entire time.  It was a real relief and a lot of fun for us all.  Here are some pictures from our day today and a few from last night.  Merry Christmas to you all!!  Love The Hoffman Family!!!

9 Month Baby Exam

12/9/14

Today Carter went to his 9 month well baby exam.  He also had to have the 2nd part of his flu shot.  He did well and Dr. Sahai was happy with how he was doing socially.  He even laughed for him as he tried to bounce up and down during his exam.  He is now 16 pounds 4 ounces and still eating mainly eating his preemie formula.  He is now 25.5 inches long.  Dr. Sahai said he does need more tummy time to help build his tone.  We had a reminder that Carter although 9 months old is a 5 1/2 - 6 month old in terms of musculoskeletal development.  As a preemie parent you are so thankful of your blessings each day but it can be hard to see slow progress.  You do not try to rush it by any means and you enjoy every moment but you spend so many nights wondering if your baby will make it that you live for every moment of progress.  I think back to our early days in the NICU and remind myself of the physicians and nurses saying that preemies set the rules and do their own thing.  As a preemie parent you learn as you go and think back to all the information that was afforded you by all the professionals and other parents you've met along the way.  Tomorrow we have our gastroenterology appointment to discuss baby food.  I am sure his doctor will be happy to see his weight gain.

Carter laughing

Carter's First Thanksgiving

11/27/14  Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Carter!!!  He prepared a special artwork with the help of his teacher's Ms. K and Miss Aileen to share with everyone on his 1st Thanksgiving.

This time last year Katie and I knew that we would be sharing a special 1st Thanksgiving with our new addition however we had no idea how much it would mean.  The past year has brought many challenges but it has come with great reward.  This Thanksgiving we are thankful to have this amazing little miracle in our life and thankful for all that he has taught us.  I have said it before but I will say it again, his strength and determination has gotten us through the toughest times and as we celebrate this holiday and many more to come we are so thankful that God has blessed us with so many gifts of life, health and inner strength.  I am especially thankful for my wife who is not only an amazing mother but an amazing soul mate.  She brought this little man into our lives and her strength to protect him and beat the odds is something I will forever be grateful for.  I am also thankful for our families who have given us so much unconditional love and support.  We are so blessed to have the confidence that our families will do anything for us and for Carter.  Although Thanksgiving has taken on a lot of meanings since the Indians and Pilgrims celebrated it in 1621 the one thing that has been a constant is unity.  We all unite in the blessings that we have through rich family traditions and share our faith and good fortunes.  This holiday has taken on so much meaning and I truly appreciate the prayers and support of so many who read this blog.  

Back to Carter's 1st Thanksgiving.  I know you all are wondering, "What did little Carter eat today for his 1st Thanksgiving?"  Turkey of course......wait little Carter has no teeth and we certainly did not puree turkey so we relied a wonderful blend of........

How did that go you wonder? 

1st bite on its way!

1st taste of a meat......

yum Carter says but he wanted a bit more so..........

Ha just kidding this is not Gastroenterologist approved!

After a nice full tummy of food and love Carter took a nap.  He had a great first Thanksgiving and I hope you all did as well.  Whatever your tradition enjoy food, family and blessings.  We love you all, good night and god bless from the Hoffman family!!

Turkey Butt!!

  

Happy 9 months Carter

11/25/14

Happy 9 months old Carter.  This little guy continues to amaze us everyday.  He is eating baby food and still drinking his Neosure.  He has started babbling more and more and tends to be very talkative when he is ready to nap.  dadadadadadadadadadadada is all you hear and I love it.  He smiles a lot and is a very happy baby.  Enjoy the pictures and have a Happy Thanksgiving!  I will post more pictures later in the week so you can all see him eating his pureed turkey dinner, yum!

Mr. Bumblebee has become his favorite, instant smiles when he sees him!

Look at me!  I'm sitting up with minimal assistance my personal best is about 10 seconds but I'm getting better every day!

Gerber Be Our Baby Photo Search 2014

11/17/14

Each year Gerber has a photo contest to find its Gerber Baby.  The prize for this contest is education money which would be a great start for Carter's future.  Below is the link to vote for Carter.  You will need to enter some basic information first then you can do a search for his ID which is 263182.  Then vote.  It's that easy.  You can vote once a day until December 14th.  Don't forget to vote for this little miracle and joy.  And as always check back for more Carter updates.  With Thanksgiving on its way there will be more fun Carter stories to come.

https://photosearch.gerber.com/gallery?entry_id=263182

Prematurity Awareness Day

11/16/14

Tomorrow November 17th is Prematurity Awareness Day.  I will admit myself I never knew the statistics, the impact or the struggles that these babies endure.  Many do not make it but thanks to research and technology many do and these little boys and girls become our miracles.  The use of surfactant in respiratory distress syndrome, often seen in babies born before 30 weeks gestation improved respiratory complications and survival.  Treating premature babies have come a long way however there is still work to do.  On this day pray for all preemies and get involved in organizations like the March of Dimes who work everyday to improve outcomes and the Ronald McDonald House who help families through one of the most difficult times of their life.  Nine months ago my wife's and I life forever changed as well as the lives of our families.  A miracle was brought into our life and he taught us what strength really looks like.  A lot of people that included doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, family, and friends never gave up.  They prayed, they supported and they fought for a 2 pound baby that faced a struggle every minute of every day.  This day is for all babies who come into this world too early.

Happy Halloween

11/1/14

Happy Halloween to everyone.  I know you were all anxiously awaiting the pictures of Carter's first Halloween outfit so here they are.  He really did seem to enjoy his outfit and all the fun we had carving pumpkins.  Especially when he got to play in the pumpkin.  Although he doesn't get any candy he did get some great Halloween books.  Enjoy the pictures and please remember that November is Prematurity Awareness Month.  I will have more to come on that.

Happy 8 Months Old Carter

10/25/14

Today Carter turned 8 months old.  He has been doing wonderful.  He is a happy little man who smiles a lot and is learning so many new things.  He loves to play with his hands and eat them.  He has been sleeping well at night and wakes up very happy.  It's the naps that you have to worry about, he doesn't take many and when he does he's a bit tearful when he wakes up (easily consolable though so that's a plus).  He has been doing great with his eating and is taking his bottles now in under 30 minutes.  Burping has taken on an art and I have come up with a technique I call co-burping.  This is especially helpful when Carter is milk drunk (see below photo).  For those of you wondering, milk drunk occurs mostly around 9 pm where Carter basically sleep drinks and when it's time to burp he is so tired he can't even hold his own head up.  Burping can be tough so Mommy holds him while Daddy pats his back.  This has yielded a burp 100% of the time.  I might have to write a book on this new found technique.  He has been eating baby food now as well.  This is quite entertaining since he is not the greatest at opening his mouth to accept the food.  It requires Daddy and Mommy to put on their best show like singing, dancing and acting goofy just to get a smile so we can sneak the food in as fast as possible, I refer to it as a baby food plane crash.  It can be a messy experience.  His favorites so far are carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and pears.  He is doing well at Daycare and has been quite excited when he sees his teachers who have been amazing at learning and understanding what it is to care for a preemie with eating issues.  Carter is looking forward to his 1st Halloween and I would really recommend you stay tuned to this blog because you will not want to miss his costume.  Enjoy the pics for now, Happy 8 months Carter, the man, the strongest, my hero! #babycarterstrong

Pumpkin patch time

Chillin in my love seat

Taken from a previous post.  This is "milk drunk"

  

7 Months and a Baptism

October 1, 2014

It's been a busy week for little Carter.  Last Thursday he turned 7 months old and then on Saturday he was baptized.  Family near and far gathered together for this joyous moment.  Carter wore my baptism outfit and Father Tom at St. Brendan's Catholic Church performed the ceremony.  Afterwards the whole family went to dinner to celebrate.  It was a great moment for us and Carter.  He has been doing very well and continues to get bigger and stronger.  He is an amazing little boy and it is such a blessing to see how far he has come the past 7 months.  I hope you all enjoy the pictures of the past week.

Oh boy, pictures!

I'm 7 months? Meee?

Great Baptism Celebration

Carter and his Godparents, my cousin/brother Kyle and Katie's sister Kristen

What?  I can't eat this cake? No fair!

Two doctors today keep the preemie complications away

September 3, 2014

Today Carter took a trip to Orlando for an appointment with his pediatric gastroenterologist and his pediatric ophthalmologist.  His GI doctor was very happy with his progress since he has gained another pound since his last visit.  He is now 13 pounds and growing.  We will continue to slowly introduce baby food while maintaining his Neosure intake.  After that appointment Carter went and saw his eye doctor.  He received very good news that his retina is perfectly normal.  We do have to return in January since the doctor wants to continue to follow him given how early he was born.  Carter was very good today, as usual and barely made a sound when they dilated his eyes.  Friday we have an appointment with the pulmonologist for him to get his first RSV shot.  RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus infection.  It is caused by a virus and can be a severe illness in preemies.  This shot will help prevent Carter from getting the condition.  He will get one shot a month through January.

6 Months of Strength

August 25, 2014

Happy 6 month birthday to the cutest little preemie out there.  Just in the past week he has started eating Neosure cereal from a spoon and getting better and better at it.  He is getting stronger by the day sitting up and is more and more focused on his surroundings.  He is a pro at his Bumbo seat and is starting to enjoy being in his swing, he's even fallen asleep in it.  He has a number of appointments coming up in the next two weeks including his pediatrician, his pulmonologist, his gastroenterologist and his ophthalmologist.  He is looking forward to good news all the way around.  Enjoy some of Carter's 6 month photos below and I have included some his blooper shots this time.  Thank you all for your continued love and support.  Remember that no matter how strong preemies look they are always fighting their battles.  Love and pray for them all, they are the poster children for strength.

"Mr. August"

"Excuse me please can someone give me a hand?"

"um, HURRY!!!"

"Yum, satin, haven't tasted this before"

"I can hold my own sticker now, thank you very much!"

"This is tiring stuff"

"Ah, my Mickey"

August 23rd, 2014

Rice Rice Baby

8/23/14

First I have to take a moment to say Happy Birthday to my Dad.  Although you are in heaven looking down I take this day to remember the memorable birthdays.  As a kid, last night would have been reserved for decorating with paper streamers and balloons.  The smell of Sauerbraten would fill the kitchen and German chocolate cake would be getting the finishing touches for you to later blow out your candles.  I would have probably gotten you another wallet, pair of socks or hand game but to you it was like you got gold.  That was what you did as a Dad, and now I totally get it.  Love you Dad!

Below you will see hot off the press picture of Rice Rice Baby.  Baby Carter is getting his trial runs of rice cereal as part of our treatment plan from the Pediatric GI doctor to prevent/improve his food aversion.  We have also started him on Prevacid which from what we have heard can make some pretty impressive ground in his reflux symptoms.  After a couple rough eating days for Carter he drank 20 ounces yesterday so all three of us were quite excited.  We know that he will get through this as well and am looking forward to him jumping this hurdle.  I would continue however little Carter is gumming off his hands in hunger so it is time for a bottle.  Stay tuned for Carter's 6 month birthday on Monday!!!!!!

 

Happy Saturday

August 16, 2014

Happy Saturday everyone.  Carter wanted to give you all a little update on his progress.  He is doing well and getting bigger.  He is now a tad over 12 pounds and has held steady there for a few weeks now.  Last week he had an appointment with the Pediatric Gastroenterologist for some feeding issues that he has been experiencing.  They are trying to get some better control over his reflux issues that have begun to create some food aversion.  His medication was switched to Pepsid and in a couple weeks we will start introducing cereal mixed with his Neosure then if that goes well, baby food.  We follow-up in 3 weeks with the gastroenterologist so he can make changes here and there in an effort to prevent Carter from developing a food aversion.  He is sleeping well and most nights sleep 5-6 hours, wahoo, especially for Katie who has been waking up for his middle of the night feeds, she is an amazing mommy.  He is smiling a lot more now and still loves to stare at blinds, fans and palm trees.  Here is a picture from this morning for your enjoyment.

  

Happy 5 Months Old Baby Carter

Friday, 7/25/14

Today Baby Carter turned 5 months old.  He had a good day.  He woke up at 4:30 am for his early morning feed then saw Daddy off to work at 7 a.m. then went back to sleep.  It was a stormy day in Ormond so Mommy and Carter had a indoor play day keeping busy with tummy time and naming animals on the walls of his bedroom. We weighed him tonight and he is 11 pounds 9 ounces.  He loves the blinds and palm trees and any flashing lights.  He also loves to suck on his fist and has not realized that his thumbs are opposable and suckable.  He is a very active baby and moves his legs continuously (he is getting them ready for soccer).  He is a joy to be around and his smiles will melt your heart.  Although I didn't get any smiles out of him for his 5 month old pics, I promise to share when I get some.  In the meantime enjoy!

The Supermoon has nothing on Super Carter

Saturday, 7/12/14

It has been a little while since my last post because I have been busy enjoying our amazing little boy.  He is doing very well.  He now weighs 10 and a half pounds and is 21 inches long.  He is quickly realizing what he likes and what he doesn't like.  He is a very content little man and a lot of fun to watch.  He makes many adorable faces.  He does not socially smile yet (we are working on it) but he does what I call facial progressions.  He will smile, frown, smirk and make other faces all back to back within a couple of seconds like he is doing a system check to make sure it all still works.  It is very cute to watch.  He is still rolling over from belly to back and is now also starting to teethe.  I have learned quite a bit being a new parent as well.  In no particular order here is my Top 10 List:

#10.  Let a sleeping baby sleep

#9.  Being a heavy sleeper will forever be a thing of the past.

#8.  Babies have an unbelievable ability to know when you are eating

#7.  Keep dirty diapers further than a legs length

#6.  If you know #2 has just happened give at least 2 minutes before removing the dirty diaper

#5.  I never realized how many ways there are to burp a baby, and that no one way works every time

#4.  It is almost impossible to put on a shirt when the baby will not bend his arm

#3.  I have never been so tempted to run red lights just to keep the car moving

#2.  Never change a diaper after filling the baby belly

#1.  There are no words to describe the feeling of holding a miracle

Now enjoy some pictures of Carter!!!!

"This Bumbo chair is pretty neat"

10 seconds later.........."Get me outta here"

"Ribbit"

"Yum, mouse ears!"

Happy Summer

Monday, 6/23/14

Carter wishes everyone a Happy Summer.  He started summer off on the longest day of the year last Friday hanging out at the beach during sunset to enjoy the breeze and scenes.  He had a good time in his little baby bubble.  Today Carter had a well baby visit and wanted to announce that he has surpassed the 10 pound mark.  He was really good at his visit and everyone was impressed with his progress.  He is still on Neosure and eating every 4 hours.  On Saturday night Carter slept for 6 hours during the night for the first time.  It was wonderful and hasn't happened since lol.