The Busiest Bruckner

He's a busy guy... ;)

Now... (1/19/12)

Then... (7/21/12)

So... it’s been a while! As per the usual story, life got busy!

I started my new job at INCCRRA in their Data and Research division. I’m doing research and program evaluation for the network that provides support to licensed child care providers statewide. Pretty much I get paid to be a nerd full-time. Right up my alley! Since I’m still in my “introductory period” at work, Ian is busy running Finnegan around to his various appointments while also working. He’s a busy, wonderful daddy...because Finn has had a LOT of appointments. The appointments usually yield positive results/outcomes, but needless to say, Finn’s calendar is always fuller than his parents’ calendars. I am really happy to say that we have not been in a hospital this year (knocking really hard on wood)!

He’s growing a lot faster than I think Ian and I are ready for. As of Tuesday, he is about 19 pounds and right around 27 inches long. He is now in the 10^th percentile of height and 25^th percentile of weight based on his actual age of about 10 months. He’s also made his way into 9 month clothes! He’s sporting an awfully cute pot belly, but it’s a welcomed addition to his absolute adorable-ness.

The stud on his 1st Valentine's.

He’s still doing new things every day and advancing physically and developmentally, but he’s still delayed. We knew this would happen, so it’s not a shock, but it is a little harder to see other babies sit up, crawl, stand, or pull themselves up at 6 or 8 months, when Finn is 10 months and still struggling with the concept of sitting up. It’s really hard. I try so hard to not make those comparisons because (I mean really) Finn is already a HUGE miracle, and we’re truly blessed to have such a healthy baby (considering). Often it’s just harder said than done, and I have to talk myself out of that negative circle of ickiness. It does make the little things he does new that much more exciting, though!

Watching his 1st Superbowl!

We learned at the end of February that Finnegan is not completely deaf in his left ear. In fact, after an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) hearing test it was determined that Finn has moderate to moderate-severe hearing loss, but that at a conversational level and in close proximity, Finnegan can hear out of both ears. In any other situation, Finn would struggle to hear clearly out of his left ear, whereas his right ear is perfectly normal. With this exciting news, the audiologist suggested we fit Finn for a hearing aid. With the hearing aid (which he will officially get next week) comes a new aural therapist who will help Finn learn how to better develop his listening skills (responding to sounds right now), using his hearing device, and then eventually better understand and using language. We will become a lot more familiar with the trip to and from Champaign, since that is where the hearing clinic is located. Since he’s still growing rather rapidly, he may have to get new molds for his aid every couple of months. We picked a pretty “ocean blue” and gray aid that will go behind his ear. The aid itself is SUPER small (a little bit bigger than an earbud for an iPod), but it will obviously still be noticeable.

Finn and Grandpa Doman... :)

Speaking of noticeable... since December-ish, we have been a bit concerned about Finn’s head shape. It is rather flat on his right side. When meeting with his neurosurgeon in January, we were told that his shunt will cause problems with any sort of treatment for his head shape (medically known as plagiocephaly). Specifically, his neurosurgeon said that he would have to wear the helmet about twice as long as child without a shunt, and even then there’s no saying what the outcome may be. At that point, he expressed that further “flatness” can be avoided by repositioning. He became more focused on his positioning at that point, only putting him on his back when he slept. We didn’t expect changes over night, but we still were a bit uneasy about the whole thing; however, I just thought we were doing what was best for Finn so we didn’t delay more developmental progress with a helmet that might make him angry or otherwise “revolt”.

This week, Finn had an appointment with his the nurse practitioner at his neurologist’s office as well as an appointment with the Regional Development Follow-Up Program (RDFP). The RDFP is a research program through the Children’s Hospital of Illinois that looks at the development of NICU grads over a course of time. One of his old NICU doctors came to check him out after a physical therapy evaluation and expressed how she thought we should go ahead with the helmet. The nurse practitioner at his neurologist’s office said the same thing. When I heard that on Tuesday, I was just disappointed, because up until then, I thought we were doing the right thing. They expressed that he will lead a more “normal” life in the future if we did something about his head shape (especially since hats, sports helmets, etc. all require a round head to fit properly). All we want is for Finn to live a “normal” life considering all the hardships he has gone through, so we jumped on the suggestion. We called the neurosurgeon’s office the next day and requested a referral. After speaking with someone at the insurance company (who had NO idea what I was talking about and was giving me a bunch of useless information) and then having to call them back to get more accurate information, we found out we will likely have to go to Peoria to have Finn’s head casted and the helmet produced. The neurosurgeon’s office was great about getting all of this together quickly because we know our window of opportunity for this to have an effect on Finn’s head is closing. Yesterday we got a call from the Peoria office and he will be "evaluated" next Wednesday. We hope to have him all settled and weaning him into the helmet by the end of the month.

The dogs enjoy their new house... just like we do! :)

At the RDFP appointment, we also found out that Finnegan is at the developmental level of a 5 month old. They said that given his almost 3.5 month prematurity and about 1 month of meningitis that is about where they would expect him to be. That was still hard to swallow, but the fact that he’s developing at a “normal” rate after these delays is a blessing. Who am I kidding...everything about Finnegan is a blessing. :)


Here are some firsts for Finn:

1st time matching his Daddy!

First time with a sippy cup.... AND apple juice!

First time eating on his own!

First time getting food stuck on his face... 

First time waking up from a nap and refusing to let go of a blankey

First naked baby diaper picture!

Otherwise, enjoy this general adorableness! :)

Happy 2013!

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. We couldn't have asked for a more meaningful Christmas and a very welcomed new year. We were so blessed to have a wonderful new home (even though it's a work in progress), a healthy little boy, and only better things to come this year.

I was pleasantly surprised on New Years Eve by a phone call from a prospective employer. I had gone through a total of 3 interviews with this organization, and I was REALLY hoping for the job (more so than any other job I had applied for...and there were a lot!). I interviewed for the Research and Evaluation Specialist position at INCCRRA (Illinois Network for Child Care Referral and Resource Agencies). I clicked with the person that would supervise the position and I really wanted to have a change of career pace. The supervisor said in the last interview that they were hoping to make an offer before the new year, so New Years Eve was probably the last day to hear any good news. I was on pins and needles most of the day waiting for a call.

Even though I know you probably already know what happened based on my introduction (eeeee!), I'll tell you about how we were graced with the best news to end 2012. Ian and I were running around the house getting some things organized (the new story of our lives after the move), and Ian yelled from across the house that my phone was ringing. He went to answer it, but just missed the call. Of course, it happened to be the supervisor from INCCRRA. I quickly jotted down her number from the message and called her back. Voicemail. I left an awkward yet semi-professional message that joked about playing phone-tag. I hung up the phone and smacked my forehead with my palm. I hate leaving messages. I attempt to go on with my day. I  had just finished giving Finnegan a bath (in true boy fashion, he got himself messy after eating "lunch") when my phone rang. I juggled a naked baby wrapped in a hooded towel while I tried to grab my phone. It was the supervisor. After the general pleasantries, Finnegan decided to join the conversation. After a couple awkward jokes and laughs, I was offered the position. I didn't know what to do with myself. I quickly dressed Finnegan while telling him over and over that mommy got a job. Each time I said it he smiled and giggled. Each time he smiled and giggled, I smooched on his cheeks. Ian was out in the garage, so I quickly wrapped Finn in a blanket and ran to the back door to tell him the news. I yelled to him from across the yard, and I could hear him drop everything he was doing and yelled, "What!?" He ran to the door and gave Finn and I a big hug.

It was an unforgettable moment. After being RIFed from one teaching job, "let go" from another, applying for over 80 jobs, and subbing on a temporary basis, the prospect of having a more secured job was overwhelming (in a good way). Beyond that, I felt like it was God's way of saying... "See, Christine? 2012 wasn't all that bad, was it?"


My first day is January 22nd. This week I finish up my last maternity leave substitute teaching assignment. I was blessed to be given this opportunity (thanks for having Harrison, Jessica!), and it couldn't have come up at a better time for my family! Even though it was trying at times, I feel like I learned a lot from this experience. I know that while I love teaching, it is not for me right now. In order to focus on my family and myself the way that I want to, I need to be able to come home after work and be with my family; not grading papers. Eventually I want to go back to education...but for right now, I'm anxious to try my hand at research!

In other news, Finnegan continues to thrive with his various therapy sessions. After his physical therapist retired in December, Finnegan has since been seeing his occupational therapist weekly, and recently began seeing a new physical therapist. We both really like her, and we have noticed a big change in his endurance and overall strength. One of the most exciting things for me is to see him interacting with toys, talking to his hands, and not screaming as soon as he is placed on his stomach. He can now prop himself up on his elbows and roll onto his side. We are working on rolling over and sitting up (among other things).

He is up almost every morning at 5am (or about 15 minutes earlier...before mommy and daddy's alarm clocks go off), and usually passes out at about 7 or 8pm. Between all the cute little girls he plays with while at day care, the eating of baby food, and the therapy sessions, Finn is just a busy bee, and he crashes at the end of the day.

Already this year, we have learned that Finnegan and sweet potatoes do not mix, diaper rash is no fun, and Finnegan has a vocal range of an opera singer.

Finnegan goes to the neurosurgeon next week to check on his head shape. His pediatrician was a bit worried about how flat it has gotten recently. This will help us figure out if Finn will need a helmet or not.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and videos of our little guy...there are plenty more where those came from! ;)

Finnegan rocking the tummy time!

Forever entertaining... :)

The best way to get Finn to prop himself up on his elbows is to put a mirror in front of him... he likes to see himself!

I have a feeling Finnegan will grow up to be one of those people who talks during movies...

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Posing on Christmas Morning!

We have had a little bit of excitement this month!

Besides Finnegan's First Christmas, we also moved in to our first home, and had a baby hospital stay.

Right after being admitted.

Shortly after the last post, we got results from Finnegan's EEG and met with his neurologist. The EEG showed no signs of seizure activity (!!!) and the doctor adjusted his medication to slowly wean him off of the phenobarb. After that amazing news, Finnegan started coughing and had quite a runny nose. Ian took him to the doctor and we were told (as always) to just watch out for breathing because RSV was making its rounds in the area. Now, Finnegan had already been receiving monthly shots of Synagis which is designed to lessen any symptoms of RSV if he were to get it. Well, Finn surprised us all on Saturday when Ian took him back into the doctor's office: he tested positive for RSV. After a breathing treatment in the office, they gave us several options for treatment. Since his symptoms were not too severe in the realm of RSV, they left it up to us. We decided to take him down to the Children's Hospital in Peoria as a just in case. Because he was stable and breathing easily, they let us take him.

Finn and Mommy watching Tangled together.

When we got there, they told us that since RSV is SUPER contagious, we had to either wear protective garb (mask, gloves, and gown) 24/7 or stay in his room and only leave to go to the cafeteria or to go home. All visitors, doctors, and nurses also had to "garb up" before entering the room. He was super content the whole time. They said that since his symptoms weren't severe, he was simply admitted because of his medical history and as a precaution.

They said the only treatment they would give him (unless his symptoms worsened) was nose suctioning using a bulb suction and saline solution. He liked it more than most babies, but, as you can imagine, he didn't like it too much!

Finn after they told us we could go home!

We had a minor issue that evening with nurses being overbooked and not taking care of our little munchkin like they should have, but then again we knew that he wasn't as severe as the other babies on the floor with RSV. The next morning, they told us we could go home without a problem. We were told that we would need to continue suctioning out his nose to keep his airway clear and that he was a lucky little boy for not having more severe symptoms, since some babies do die from RSV. We thanked God that Finn was given the opportunity to receive Synagis! Even though getting the shot is painful for our little guy, it worked!

Another follow-up appointment with Dr. Emm a couple days later was very positive. He received another flu shot (his second) to help protect him from getting the flu... let's pray that doesn't happen! The doctor was a bit more concerned about his head shape, so he wants us to go back in to see his neurosurgeon (Dr. Lin) sooner than we had originally planned on seeing him. It is possible that Dr. Lin may suggest Finnegan get a helmet to help reshape his head. In the meantime, we are working to move his head often.


We were happy that Finn was feeling better, but we still had a lot of work to do on the house! Our moving day was scheduled for December 15th (Ian's birthday no less), so we had a LOT to do before that day!

The week of the 15th, I had to work and was not able to take off any days (because if I don't work, I don't get paid), so Ian did a lot of the running around, packing, etc. He did a great job with the help of his dad and brother! When I came home from work Friday afternoon, I was shocked by how much was already done! My dad came and one of Ian's coworkers and Pat also came to help move the "stuff" into the house. We had stuff EVERYWHERE, and we had to make sure the master bedroom and dining room was empty so that the drywall guys could come in to finish the walls on Monday. We were able to get it all done, surprisingly!


It took the guys only a couple days to get the walls done. In the meantime, we got the bathroom finished (we just have to clean up some of the wood from paint drippings) and got a lot more electrical work put together (our dads are awesome!). Finnegan has been suck a little trooper through this whole process! On our move-in day/evening, he slept the WHOLE time. What an awesome little boy!

With his RSV, he had a little bit of a break from therapy since the therapists wanted him to recover, and they didn't want to spread more RSV germs. The Thursday before Christmas his occupational therapist came to his sitter's house to work with him. She said she was quite impressed with his progress, especially since he had been sick. We have been working with him on sitting up and gaining more head control. We also have worked on hand-eye coordination and oral stimulation. He's slowly coming around! :)

Christmas came and went. It was such a magical time for us to see Finnegan with his family and enjoying all the Christmas lights (well... he was actually more partial to the ceiling fans)! Here are some of our favorite moments from Christmas 2012!

After Christmas, we went back to work on the house. We spent a lot of time cleaning off the dust from the walls from the drywall dust so they would be ready to prime, paint, and move into...officially. We finally agreed on paint colors, so the next step is painting, putting up the trim, hanging the draperies, and moving in that furniture! We'll get to staining that trim a little later.

Thursday, Finn had an appointment with his occupational therapist. She was really impressed with his progress! Now, he can sit up with just some support on his midsection (right under the ribcage). He rolled over with help and even started picking his head up on his tummy!

Last night, while we were playing, I put Finn on his belly. As soon as I let him go, he put his arms up and pushed off from the ground. He held himself up! He did have quite an incentive...I was holding a mirror up to him. He for sure likes himself! he could be screaming his head off, and if I show him a picture of himself or give him a mirror to look at, he is automatically mesmerized!

We're exploring the world of baby food slowly but surely. He seems to tolerate peas, hate oatmeal, and LOVE applesauce. We'll be trying some green beans next! He's a VERY happy baby. He's pretty consistently giggling, smiling, and eating his hands. He's also exploring his vocal range. ;)

Even though this year has brought us the most amazing gift, it has also brought about some amazing hardships. I'm looking forward to the new year and praying that it brings more stability and good health for all of us!


Thank you for all of your support this year. I cannot imagine how we could have made it through this year without this blog and without the support of all of you reading it. I have started following a couple other families on their journey in the NICU on Facebook, and as I read through status updates, I cannot help but take a deep breath, close my eyes, say a prayer, and hug my little dude. Every Sunday, I pray for families in the NICU and the doctors and nurses taking care of them. I know those prayers are what kept Ian and I sane and kept our little guy safe, so I guess it's the least I can do.

As I sit writing this from the living room of our new home, I couldn't feel more at peace. Even though I'm still not fully employed and there are a lot of unknowns ahead, things have started to calm down a bit. It's hard to feel anything but peaceful when I look over and see my mighty Finnegan snoozing in his swing with his little pudgy fingers on top of his knees, his little lips pouting out, and his little butt chin just being SUPER adorable. What a blessing.

From our family to yours: We wish you a happy, healthy, and blessed 2013!

Giving Thanks...

Life has been SO busy! The best part is that it all involves GOOD things. I worry about jinxing myself, but I'm SO thankful for a streak of good news!

Play, play, pass out!

Since our last post, we have closed on a home, began renovations and slowly fixing it up, I have started working my second maternity leave at the high school, and Finnegan has been flourishing.

Most importantly, Finnegan has been doing REALLY well. He received his 6 month shots and his first flu shot before Thanksgiving. To help remedy the frequent puking, Dr. Emm put him on Prevacid. Finnegan is happy because he gets his Prevacid with applesauce! Finnegan began to get used to his biweekly blood draws at the lab. The receptionists and nurses all knew me by my face, so I just had to wave and we would be checked in. The nurses looked forward to every Monday and Thursday when they would get to see Finnegan. The last two blood draws, he even giggled throughout the entire thing, the stick, draw and everything! The only time he cried was when I put them in the car seat. The nurses were just in awe of him! The best news came after his last blood draw last Thursday: Finn's CBC results had been awesome and his platelet counts had been trending in the right area, so we could discontinue labs for a couple weeks. They want us to go back for one more blood draw then to determine if he even needs any more!

Finnegan has another appointment with Dr. Emm in a couple weeks. At that appointment he will get the order for his followup immunology tests. Last week Finn had a followup EEG. Still waiting on results.

Today Finnegan went for a followup appointment with his neurosurgeon and had another MRI. Dr. Lin was SUPER happy with Finn's improvement. All the excess axial fluid had been resolved, so the shunt is doing what it needs to! The size of his ventricles is still a bit big, but the doctor thinks it might be his new baseline. He'll go back in March. On Thursday he goes back to see his regular neurologist, Dr. Taft.

He sees his physical and developmental therapists once a week. They are also so impressed with Finn. He still has a lot of work to do to catch up physically and developmentally, but he's already made so much progress! He is looking up, tracking toys and people as they move across the room, smiling when we talk to him, eating his hands, rubbing his eyes, giggling at toys/mobile when he sees them, and keeping his head up better. He still struggles with tummy time. The physical therapist has provided a wedge that puts him at an angle so he doesn't have all the gravity working against him. I am just so impressed with him. His is my inspiration.

In house news, we are slowly making improvements to make this house an amazing home. Our family is such an amazing help in all of this. I am astonished at all their talents and their graciousness. We have a bunch of projects in the works, and it's crazy being in between houses constantly, but it will all be worth it in the end! It helps that Finnegan is a little trooper and just goes with the flow (most of the time!).

I started my second maternity leave at the high school last week. By the end of this year, I will have taught almost every English class at Bloomington High School! After over 75 jobs applied to since May, I have my first SECOND interview this week. I am super excited for this interview and even more excited about the job itself. Keep your fingers crossed for me and our family! :)