HOME!!

We finally have our baby home and we are so incredibly grateful. What an amazing, terrifying, wonderful journey it was to get here. As thrilled as I was to leave the NICU, I was a total wreck yesterday, bursting into sobs every time I saw any one of the dozens and dozens of people who have been involved in keeping Charlie alive all these months. I don’t think I’ve had that many tears since this whole ordeal began. As Charlie got placed in the cute departure pram they use to escort the babies out of the building, our nurse Christine paraded him through all six of the NICU bays. In each one, nurses, respiratory therapists, and doctors came rushing over to see him and say good-bye. There were many hugs, tears, and promises to come back and visit. Some of those nurses are so special to me I still well up every time I think of them (tears flowing right now). We got to see many of the talented doctors who saved Charlie’s life again and again. In addition to the nurses, I came to feel like the neonatologists, surgeons, residents, and hospitalists were members of our family. It was hard saying good-bye to our brilliant occupational therapist Jean and our social worker Alva who was there with us every step of the way and who I practically used as my own therapist throughout this process.

It’s now the next morning and I am still too filled with emotion to adequately write about these fantastic people and what they meant to us over the past four and a half months. As Charlie saw them all leaning over him on his parade out the door, he waved and seemed to be sending his own thanks. While there was plenty of paperwork, medications, and follow-up appointments to go over, I was a little surprised at how easy it was to get out of there. “They’re letting us just walk out with him?” I kept thinking to myself. Charlie enjoyed the ride home, his first exposure to sunlight and fresh air, and he seemed immediately at home in our house, even with our excited dogs trying to lick his face at every turn (can I Purell our dogs’ tongues?). Last night Leah cut off Charlie's hospital bracelet and he was a free man for the first time in 137 days! I just gave him his 6 am feeding and he’s now resting happily between me and Kendall who is sleeping after waking up for the 3 am. Charlie’s screechingly loud apnea monitor went off several times during the night (all false alarms) reminding us of the constant barrage of beeps and alarms in the NICU and how great it is to be in such a calmer, more serene environment. Right now Charlie is hearing the morning birds chirping for the first time ever and stretching out on our bed next to his mom, one hand resting on my computer and his little feet hiked up on my leg. It’s a whole new world over here with many new routines we need to figure out along with countless new joys and challenges. Again, I thank all of you for the life-saving support and concern you’ve shown to our family over these months. I am bursting at the seams with gratitude on all fronts.

Comments

[Pam P.]

Yay!!!!! We are all so thrilled for you all!

[Edelweiss Transplanted]

At last!! Look at Kendall's face, I don't think I've ever seen such joy in anyone's expression before. And that photo where you & Charlie are looking at each other -- Wonderful!

Congratulations to all three of you!

[your sister]

Bawling my eyes out.....

[Lisa D]

We couldn't be more happy for you! You made it Charlie (and parents!!)! Way to go!!!

[Brett Hickman]

So happy for all of you!!!

[Adriana Bliss]

Wow wow wow!!! Congratulations to all of you. My heart sings! What a beautiful post, what a beautiful day.

[K Wild]

Woke up this AM thinking of you and Charlie and wondering if you would have had the energy to actually post something after your big transition. Now I am crying, too, feeling grateful to all those people I don't even know. Also recalling the days after I brought my oldest home and my husband & I realized we were a family now, not just a couple - it was about way more than "us". Even with a "normal" childbirth and just a day in the hospital, I was also shocked they just let us out of there... Anyway, now you've got lots more adventures ahead of you & I wish you and your family all the best!!

[susie specter]

S'Wondeful S' Marvelous! Congratulations and may he stay healthy and continue to grow and thrive every day! Amen!

[david]

OK, you guys and Charlie are my heroes... but so are those nurses, doctors, social workers, etc. Lamed vavniks all.

Welcome home.

[amba]

What a triumph!!! Kendall looks absolutely blissed out. And the NICU people look so triumphant -- how they must love winning one like this!

can I Purell our dogs’ tongues?

It's probably good practice for his immune system!

God bless!!!! Welcome home, Charlie.

[B]

Such wonderful news! The part about his hearing the morning birds chirping for the first time really got me. The joy and emotion you're feeling right now must be overwhelming, but my heartfelt hope is that this will all become commonplace before you know it.

[Michele]

Congratulations! That is wonderful news. Good luck settling into your new life at home -- I'm sure it'll be a huge relief as much as a challenge.

[Jeryl Chico]

Bursting with joy for all of you!!!! Welcome home Charlie!! :-D

[Julie R.]

Danny,
How great! I love all the pictures. Have a good time seeing your home through Charlie's eyes. Love to everyone.

Love,
Julie

[Julia Adams]

I am so happy for you all!! Charlie is home!
xoxo,
Bulia

[sweetsalty kate]

Fresh air! No more cafeteria. No more scrubbing-in. Smiling, beaming, so thrilled for all of you.

[Catherine W]

What wonderful news. Charlie is looking so good and I bet he is happy to be home, away from all those alarms blaring. I love him listening to the birds chirping!
I remember that strange feeling, how easy it was to leave in the end. I remember my husband and I speeding up ever so slightly once we got out of the door. Just waiting for them to call us back!
This has made my day. I'm so pleased for all of you. xo

[Julie Levin Freireich]

Did you drive home like a Grandpa? Sooo happy for you all. Love, Julie

[Tove]

Never commented but congratulations!! This is so fantastic and well-deserved!

[franknotes.wordpress.com]

Yippeee! Congrats! We can't wait to meet him; of course that's going to mean Purell-ing my son from head to toe! ;)

[Erica M]

Exhaling.

[Maria Sosa]

Thanks for sharing all these pictures with us Danny. Love the one of Kendall watching over Charlie in his car seat. All those little simple pleasures that you will all get to enjoy.

[Nikki S.]

You don't know me, but I found your blog through a friend (Lori) and have been reading, hoping, and praying for y'all all the way from North Central Louisiana. I am so happy to see Charlie has left the building! Good job, little man!

[Otir]

New beginnings. Welcome home, dear little Charlie. You are part of a very big world, it's a huge honor, thank you for lighting it up and firing up our emotions. Power to you, and take good care of your parents and family, they'll need you a lot!

[Marilyn Molnar]

Welome home, Charlie and may this be the first of many happy, sweet and healthy New Years for all of you.

Love,
Marilyn

[jason]

Spectacular! Marvelous news!

[Anna Marie]

Congratulations to you all!!! What an incredible journey you have been on, and it's just the beginning. =)

[Your Big Brother]

You almost owed me new keyboard, but so far, wiping the tears off the keys has actually worked better than any approved cleaning methods I've tried.

The peace and the joy in Leah's, and Kendall's eyes is priceless. I don't know how to describe the emotion in your eyes in the first pic, but I have a pic of you making the same face at Leah when she was a baby!

Now quit making me cry!

[Margie]

Crying, heart bursting. Oh Danny--so much love in these pictures. You've gotten home together.

[Lori Kirkland Baker]

Chills and tears!!!!
What a blessing to see the words "NICU discharge".
I am beyond thrilled for you.

[Maria]

This was lovely to read. My thoughts are with your beautiful family.

[Debbie Botwin]

I have been reading your blog for months and even though I don't know you I am so happy for you and your family. The pictures of you, Kendall and Leah with Charlie brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful little boy. Home just in time to spend Rosh Hashanah with his family. Great timing little guy.

[V-Grrrl at Compost Studios]

Oh Danny, this made me cry. Very, very happy for you and yours.

[Andrew Forsythe]

Welcome home, Charlie! We are so happy for all of you!

Andrew, Rosalinda, Elisa & James, Sophia & Stephen, Joseph, Gina (and Mia)

[Elisabeth]

This is such great news, Danny! And such a miracle story. May Charlie enjoy many many years of a great life with his mom and dad, half-sister and other relatives. He is so cute! And congratulations to all who cared for him for a job very well done!

[La Framéricaine]

It's been a helluva road and I'm really happy that this new section has led you all home together.

I think that it is particularly touching--I too am crying--that you took the time to document for Charlie, all your readers, and, perhaps, your future medical team readers the faces of your medical team and that you continue to acknowledge all that they have done for Charlie, you, Kendall, Leah, and your extended family.

I don't think that they get this kind of coverage often. Not because people don't appreciate and depend on them but rather because people are so ground down by the traumatic nature of what they are being required to live through that they don't have the presence of mind and the wherewithal to thank them as much as they would like. Congratulations on having been able to do that as these 137 days have unfolded.

Now, to turn an old curse on its head, "May you live in boring times."! I think you've lived through enough interesting ones to last a lifetime.

Bonne continuation, Danny.

[Helena Seli]

Congratulations! So wonderful to see you all so happy! We made it out of the UCLA NICU after 3 months on Thu. Our daughter Annalisa is almost 6 pounds, 38 weeks. Looking forward to your future blogs - and sharing the journey outside of NICU. I will keep my prayers at night for all the NICU babies and parents we have met - in person or via the net.
Lots of love,
Helena Seli

[maggie may]

I never saw such a joyful blog post title!!!

[Nichole]

Yay!! I'm so happy for you all.

[Linda Zumoff]

Many blessings to all of you!!

[Jan]

Your joy brings us joy. Go Charlie!

[Morgan]

Danny, I've followed your blog throughout the past hundred and thirty-something days and have felt so invested in Charlie's life just from reading along. I had to finally post and say congratulations on making it through and for getting to take your baby boy home where he belongs! This is the best news I've heard in a long, long time. I wish you and your family nothing but the best and can't wait to see little Charlie grow up!

[Elaine Soloway]

Waiting for this day...
How do you make hearts on the computer? Anyway, here's kisses,
xoxo xoxo xoxo

Fake Grandma

[Kirk Jusko]

Congrats.

[Heather P.]

Welcome home sweet precious boy!
G-d Bless!
I'm still praying for your whole family!

[Laura]

Congratulations. My eyes are full of happy tears as I read this. I wish you and your family many years of happiness and joy. You all deserve it!

[Marilyn Reynolds]

Great day! Great pictures! When is your "Charlie's Story" book being published?

[Sam Wengroff]

Such a great thing to be home for shabbat!
I am happy for all your family. Enjoy all the moments

[Dr. Judy]

Hip Hip Hooray! I do not encourage Purell-ing your dog's mouth. But I highly recommend REQUIRING Purell for every single person who enters your home.

A thousand congratulations, and enjoy every second.

[Diana Geherty]

yay yay yay. could not be happier for you all..

[Jane]

I'd write something more profound, but my eyes are all wet.

[Cynthia Reich]

Dear Danny,

Thanks for your generosity in sharing your homecoming joy with all of us. Are you going to blog again after Charlie's 6 pm feeding? Just kidding. I'm thrilled for you and Kendall and Leah.

Love,
Cynthia

[Barbara]

Yay! I am just speechless, bursting with joy! Mazel Tov! What a wonderful way to start the new year.

[sandy martin]

Danny~
What a wonderful extended family you ALL have! I am sooooo happy for you, Kendall, Leah and Charlie and your entire family in Chicago also.

Love, Health and Happiness~

sandy

[OldOldLady Of The Hills]

How Thrilling and Touching this is Danny & Kendall & Charlie & Leah....YOU ARE HOME...HOME HOME--There is no place like HOME....!
What a wonderful thing, Danny, to let us see so many of the Nurses and a Doctor or two and other care givers who have so lovingly taken care of Charlie in these most difficult and important first days and months of his life....ALL of them have such sweet faces....
And Dear Dear Charlie...right there in your bed and next to your blog....I know Kendal and you have to be Kvelling, to say the least....
I am so truly Happy for you all....!
Mazel Tov.....

[Shannon]

This is such fantastic news and I agree, Kendall is glowing beyond belief. I am so happy for all of you and am looking forward to blog posts about Charlie's first b-day, first cupcake, first home run, prom, wedding... hehe.

There is so much crazy nasty stuff going on right now but when I see the smiling faces of all these people... thank you, Danny, for reminding us what it's all really about.

[jennifer]

so happy for all of you. thank you for sharing this amazing journey. charlie is adorable!

lo-he-ha,
jennifer

[Kitty]

Hurray, Hurray, Hurray! What a triumph! So exciting, such good news. Very very happy for you guys. Yay!

[Laurie]

I have a similar picture of you with my son Adam when he was baby. Time goes by so fast. The love that shines through in those pictures from you and Kendall for your son is so heartwarming. He is so blessed to have you as parents. Hallelujah.

[Julie Schreiber]

YAY! What more can I say...best news ever! I am overjoyed for you all! xo...Julie

[mary]

When I saw the first picture, with you and Charlie, it brought tears to my eyes- there is so much in that picture. And the rest of the images are just wonderful. I can't tell you how happy I am for you and your family. Thank you for sharing this part of your life, the ups and downs, all the good and sad parts- your writing is so moving.

[Gordon]

I was thinking about all the people responsible for helping our Charlie on his long journey from birth all the way to going home.
A lot of genuine heroes and heroines go to work every day. And, if you asked them, I'm sure they'd say that they were "just doing my job." But, it's so much more than that. They truly perform miracles, they give hope when all seems hopeless, they train and educate, provide love and comfort, and give and give and give.

Welcome home, little Charlie Miller !

[Beth]

I thought of you all yesterday and couldn't wait to read that Charlie's homecoming is official! Yay! So excited for you all!

[Dave]

Congratulations!!! I keep you all in my prayers and thank you so much for sharing so much of yourself and your family with all of us.

There is so much more I want to write, but will leave it at that. Again, congratulations, I am so happy for all of you!

[Cristina]

Charlie is home!!!! The best news ever!! I didn't comment before as I don't know you personally but after all these months reading your blog, Danny, your family has become also a part of my everyday life and a part of so many people's lives... We've been sharing your worries, hopes and finally great success in bringing your litle boy home! I'm really happy for all of you and I'll keep reading with tears of joy in my eyes his next steps in this crazy world we're living in! Lots of LOVE to you all!!!

[Pam G]

Wonderful photos. Congrats & continued good luck.

[Sally]

Tears of joy are falling for you here in Maine! Congratulations!!!!!!!

[Cindy in Canada]

Welcome home, little man.

[Chris]

This is AWESOME! I can only try to imagine how you feel about the NICU professionals. I love them now too!

Welcome home, sweet boy! Congratulations!

[Susan Buckley]

Now I am weeping with happiness too! Just the beginning of a whole new adventure in which Charlie is sure to bring as much joy as is reflected on the faces of his adoring mother, father, and sister.

Mazel tov from a lapsed Presbyterian who has been praying for you all along.

much love,
Susan

[Reto]

Congatulations!!!! Wonderful news, thank you for sharing this wonderful pictures. Just the best for all of you!

[Sarah]

Ben has that exact same outfit! God, I hope both Charlie and Ben don't show up to the same social event wearing that--how gauche!

[quinn cummings]

Welcome home, you big gorgeous boy. You couldn't have picked a better family.

[La Framéricaine]

I hope that all of you will be getting some R&R at home with soft lighting and great music!

[Pearl]

This message is for Charlie:

Baruch haba...and zei gesundt.

[Jen]

ah, so happy for you all! Congratulations, family!

[Leightongirl]

OH MY GOD! Congratulations!!!! WOO HOO!!

[Kate]

Charlie! You are a hero. We are so happy for you all. And we can't wait to meet you in person.

Love,
Kate, Teresa and Enzo.

P.S. You are so fucking handsome I can't stand it!

[Kimberley]

I'm welling up at the idea of your little man hearing the birds chirp and feel sunlight for the first time. k xxxx

[Alan Spector]

I remember bringing my kids home from the hospital. It seemed like yesterday and also,a million years ago. Enjoy each and every day. Welcome HOME,Charlie!!

[RD]

Yes, yes, yes!! Way to go, Charlie! We are so happy for you and your parents! Blessings to all!

[Lydia Karoll]

Starting the new year with a new life. Your cousins wish you, Kendall & Charlie years filled with health, joy & love. Love, Lydia

[Ingrid]

congratulations on bringing your son home! I've learned alot from your blog about preemies. I met a woman who was the daughter in law of an "incubator baby" on display at coney island as part of the carnival side show in 1940. Dr. Martin Couley used to display preemies for kicks! I am looking forward to reading more about charlie and his family in the coming days --

[Peggy Larson]

Mazel Tov!

[Heidicrafts]

"Mazel tov!" says the Protestant. Best wishes to the whole family. Now Charlie can start watching those wonderful movies and hearing those show tunes first hand.

I found your blog because I loved Kendall's first book, but I stayed for so many more wonderful stories about Hollywood and Jewish life and the Hailey-Millers. I'm curious about so much, and you show me things I didn't know I wanted to learn.

I've been apprehensive whenever I click to Jew Eat Yet, [toss salt, spit thrice, etc.] but I am so happy for you all that Charlie is home.

[Ana]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[john armstrong]

137 days, it seems like a year ago, but it seems like yesterday.Maybe that's what they mean by time is relative. Fresh air! Sunlight, moonlight,starlight! Welcome to the world Charlie! You have a lot of people in your corner and if wishing wells,crossed fingers, prayers, lucky charms, and wishing on stars mean anything at all, you have an amazing life ahead of you, now the adventure begins, God Speed.

[Ethan Kaplan]

Congrats Danny. I've been following the blog since your nephew linked to it. We had our baby at Cedars too. I remain in admiration of you and your wife's strength. We uncle and aunt were having a baby around the same time as us and had a still birth at 7 months. Our son was born two months later. The mix of tragedy and joy is hard to deal with. You guys are inspirational.

[heather...]

So happy for you all Danny. Lots of love.

[Anonymous]

CONGRATULATIONS to you and your family! I'm so happy for you all. I wish your son continued good health and your family joyous moments ahead.

[Candi]

Welcome home, Charlie!

[gorillabuns]

typing through the tears! I'm so incredibly happy for you guys!

[jodi sh. doff]

I'd stopped reading your blog for a while, since the birth of your children. It was simply too painful to read daily. I can't imagine what it's like to live through.

Mazel Tov and congratulation on bringing Charlie home. It's been a long road.

[Ginger]

Congratulations! I am so happy to hear that Charlie is at home.

[Felicia Park-Rogers]

What an amazing blessing.
So much love and happiness--
Felicia

[Alexis Sanford]

This is a beautiful thing for a beautiful boy in a beautiful family. I am so honored to be a part of it. Hooray hooray hooray!
xxo Aunt Lex

[Elise]

I'm wiping away tears of joy as I type this...MAZEL TOV CHARLIE, DANNY, KENDALL AND LEAH!!!!

[churlita]

Hooray! He's finally a free baby. I'm so excited for you and your family.

[Patsy]

My heartstrings are pulled.

[sarah g]

I am so happy for you! I have been praying for you and getting updates from Neil.

many blessings and Charlie looks so good.