Here’s our son Charlie reading his NICU subscription to
“Spin” which this month features his Uncle Jeff on the cover.
There’s an excellent article about Wilco, with lots of cool pix of his uncle and cousins and mentions of his Aunt Susie. You can read part of the article online and see a video of Uncle Jeff jamming with cousins Spencer and Sammy. Charlie especially loves the photos of the Wilco boys at Superdawg, his family’s favorite Chicago hot dog spot, where waitresses still come out and serve you in your car. The “Spin” article features a whole section about his cousin Spencer’s blog with wonderful quips and quotes from the coolest 13-year-old east of Cedars-Sinai.
Charlie also enjoys his subscription to JVibe, a magazine for Jewish youth. This month Spencer was selected as one of the first annual 18 Under 18 award winners. JVibe received hundreds of nominations but Spencer made the final cut and is the youngest teen to win this award. Forgive all the kvelling, Charlie says, but since I’m writing so much about him these days, he wants his other family members to get their due.
It was an uneventful (yay!) day in the NICU with Charlie looking cuter than ever. At five and a half pounds, he can now wear regular baby clothes even though he still has to roll the sleeves up a bit. He looked remarkably rosy today which may be thanks to the transfusion he received this morning (I highly recommend them) and he downed a whopping 40cc of formula at one feeding, the biggest amount he’s ever taken by mouth. Charlie’s new neighbors across the way are a set of Israeli triplets and I love that the dad of this brood always comes over and calls Charlie by his Hebrew name (Chaim). We are now the old-timers of the NICU, having been there 94 days. Still waiting to hear when his shunt surgery will take place, possibly next week but probably not on Monday.
Charlie wants me to go down to the gift shop and get him the new “Rolling Stone”…gotta go!
Danny, you're the best! What a great post. And look at how wide open Charlie's eyes are looking at his uncle Jeff. I think you need to get him to come back and visit - Charlie obviously loves Wilco!
Posted by: Barbara | July 30, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Danny,
Thanks for kvelling. Charlie looks fantastic, and I love reading about your relatives. Congratulations to Spencer for being honored! I hope "old-timer" Charlie gets his surgery soon so he can go home and meet his canine siblings.
Love,
Julie
Posted by: Julie R. | July 30, 2009 at 09:04 PM
He's sooooo cute!
Posted by: La Framéricaine | July 30, 2009 at 09:06 PM
Look at those little cheeks plumping up, I just want to go "nom, nom, nom" on them. LOL! You know I'm praying for all of you.
Posted by: Heather P. | July 30, 2009 at 09:37 PM
So of course your son would be an early reader--proves the point about high interest content. Love seeing him in baby clothes--so much moving forward...congratulations on an uneventful day.
Posted by: Margie | July 30, 2009 at 09:48 PM
This might be odd but have you thought about reading to him? Was thinking about you on my way home from work last night and thought maybe Charlie would like it?
Thanks for so many amazing videos and photos keeping us posted!
Posted by: Mel | July 30, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Look at that beautiful, chubby baby.
I've been getting a subscription to SPIN that I never ordered, and I usually tear off my address and leave it on the mailboxes for the young people to take. But this month I found out what it was all for!
And I just found the following on Twitter:
@InesPedrosa when I gas up at a Wilco station I like to pretend that a part of my money is going to Jeff Tweedy.
Love you guys so much!
Posted by: amba | July 30, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Charlie's a well-rounded young man. I'm sure he'll enjoy his subscriptions to Ploughshares and the Paris Review as well. :-)
Posted by: Jane | July 30, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Superdawg...I think Bob and the kids were there on our most recent trip to Chicago. I had to work that day...but I still favor Weiner Circle. So Leah is about the show tunes. Its only fitting that Charlie will be about the rock n roll!
Posted by: Maria Sosa | July 31, 2009 at 05:04 AM
Danny, do you have some Wilco onesies put away for Charlie when he can fit into them? I got one for my niece a couple of years ago, and a t-shirt for her big sister. Well, see for yourself!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharkycharming/221483770/
Charlie is beautiful. I am so happy that he's doing well and growing every day.
Posted by: Heather | July 31, 2009 at 05:30 AM
Your nephew Spencer got a little peeved at me on a Twitter post about going to Hot Doug's in Chicago and not Superdawg ... it was really funny to get a talking to by a 13 year old. I promise all in the extended Tweedy - Miller family to make a point of going to Superdawg very soon.
Nice to see that Charlie's reading about quality music, too!
Nice to see a definite happy write up here. Warms my heart.
Posted by: Brett Hickman | July 31, 2009 at 06:53 AM
super cute!!!
Posted by: Ana | July 31, 2009 at 07:21 AM
Thanks for the post - I "found" you a couple of weeks back and am keen for all the updates. Sounds like you had a gentle day yesterday - I wish for you many more of the same. Suggest Sun Magazine to Charlie, advertisement free, thoughtful writing, great photography also.
Cheers,
Mary in Canada
Posted by: Mary Flood | July 31, 2009 at 08:52 AM
Great to hear the Tweedy family news. Cheers to Spencer on his success. I have a cousin Spencer, too, nice man, but not quite the same as Charlie's Spencer! Charlie looks great in his new outfit. He certainly has good taste in music reading.
Have more peaceful days ahead for you and yours, I hope.
Posted by: Pam G | July 31, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I am glad to hear you in such good spirits! Chaim looks great. By the way, that was also my Dad's hebrew name. I wish for him the same intelligence, inherent good taste and good looks that my Dad had among the other wonderful traits that I am sure Charlie will have.
Lots of love to all, Julie
Posted by: Julie Schreiber | July 31, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Yay, Charlie is looking so good. Regular baby clothes! Loving the transfusion rosiness and the big dinners. Glad he is enjoying reading about his uncle and all the other members of his talented family.
Thinking of you and your family, especially your boys. Hope that things continue nice and uneventfully for you.
Posted by: Catherine | July 31, 2009 at 12:50 PM
So cute!
Posted by: Sarah | July 31, 2009 at 01:09 PM
Oh those chubby cheeks! It's such a joy to see Charlie looking so good. I wish you and your family a calm and happy weekend.
Posted by: Elise | July 31, 2009 at 01:37 PM
he looks great!!!!! starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel?
Posted by: Alexa | July 31, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Danny,
I could just eat him up! I have a picture of Lily reading the newpaper at about 2 weeks. Speaking of Lily, she would be just perfect for Spencer, don't you think?
Love to the whole family,
Cynthia
Posted by: Cynthia Reich | July 31, 2009 at 05:08 PM
The change we've seen in Charlie since we were first introduced is profound! You can really see his "babyness" now. What a beautiful, light and lovely post. What a nice day.
Posted by: Adriana Bliss | July 31, 2009 at 06:31 PM
40cc?! That's fabulous!! I remembering being so excited when Lawson took 15cc! lol Go Charlie!! Rosy and well dressed! Love it!
Posted by: Mitzi Levering | July 31, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Charlie looks so adorable in his big-boy sleeper.
How he's growing! And with those large feedings, it's no surprise.
I can't wait to read the joyous news that he's going home... I know it won't be much longer.
Good luck with the shunt surgery. I hope that puts the taps behind him for good.
xoxox
Lori
Posted by: Lori Kirkland Baker | August 02, 2009 at 12:35 AM
These photos bring back such memories of my own NICU boy. I'm glad to see that pink-cheeked boy of yours doing so well.
Posted by: V-Grrrl at Compost Studios | August 02, 2009 at 02:38 PM
Still keeping in touch with what's going on with Charlie, Danny. You and your entire family are still, and close to constantly, in my thoughts.
Posted by: Elisabeth | August 02, 2009 at 03:51 PM
He looks amazing and so healthy. I love seeing him like that. I can't wait until you can all go home as a family.
Posted by: churlita | August 03, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Damn! Charlie's kicking ass! You all keep hanging in there, taking each day as it comes.
Posted by: Kurt | August 05, 2009 at 11:51 AM