November 8, 2006 - Emma's Evening Edition

It's amazing how different an experience Emma's birth was. Jennifer and Emma are both feeling great and we've been able to spend time together all day. The only thing missing was...big brother Evan. We had a room full of visitors — Grandma Lynne, Grandma Claire, Aunt Janell, Aunt Jill, Grandpa Ed, Pop Pop Bob, Grandma Sharon, and Uncle Dave — and Evan was showing off for the audience. Reality set in when Evan said, "Emma's came out of there." He spent the rest of the afternoon honking her nose with his finger and trying to feed her Froot Loops and Skittles. He's going to be such a good big brother.

Emma's eating well and Jennifer is up and about. We should all be home as a new expanded family in just a day or two. Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. - Ed, Jenn, Evan & Emma

November 8, 2006 - 1:00 pm
Emma Kate Cichone Arrives

February 2, 2004

Evan's First Week at Home - - - New Pictures!

We are sorry that there haven’t been any updates since Evan came home last Sunday. It's been very busy since he came home and can honestly say we don’t know where all the time goes. When Ed asks me what I did all day I can’t seem to recall, only that I spent a lot of time holding Evan and just starring at him amazed that we created someone so beautiful (not to mention the changing and feeding that consumes most of the day).

Everything about him is perfect, his little hands, cute little feet (which I kiss every time I change him), his beautiful blue eyes, I can go on and on. Evan is continuing to do well. He had his first doctor’s appointment last Tuesday. The doctor was very happy with how alert and strong Evan was and how he was lifting his head. He weighed 4lbs 2 oz and we are sure that he weighs more then that now.

He is eating up a storm, every two to three hours and up to almost 90ml per feeding, a little piggie. I am sure that by his next doctor’s appointment on February 20 he will be much bigger. When you look at his face you can see that he is starting to get chipmunk cheeks and he is starting to get another chin.

Evan is on a pretty good schedule, although he has been up and fussy a few nights from 11pm to 1am (when Daddy is on duty). Daddy has been great to Mommy taking care of Evan during those hours so that she can get some sleep and be ready for the next feeding at 3am. We had lots of family visitors last week. Mimi and Captain Cichone came on Monday night and this past Sunday. Grandpa Pyzik and Grandma Sharon visited a few days last week, bringing lots of little clothes and goodies for Evan and Mommy. Evan is going to be one well dressed baby. Grandma Pyzik came and spent the day with us on Thursday, Evan was so alert and awake when she was here.

She read the My Grandma is Great book that her friend Joan bought for him and we put all of Evan’s gifts away in his room. Then in the afternoon Aunt Janell and Uncle Jason came by for a visit and helped us re-arrange the furniture in the nursery. We have a few last minute touches to make, but it is all set up now, it looks great. We promise to post pictures soon. Uncle Jason held Evan and was in awe by how tiny and sweet he is. Aunt Janell got to feed Evan and did a great job, she is the first person other then Mommy and Daddy that has fed him.

My friend Ellen stopped by to drop off the shower gifts from her Denise and Elayne. She was happy she got to meet Evan, we had a nice visit. Our next door neighbor’s Jan and John that moved to Virginia stopped by for a quick visit on Saturday while they were up this way for a quick trip this weekend. We are so happy that they got to meet Evan.

On Sunday, Grandma Pyzik and Great Grandma Drake stopped by for a few hours to visit. Evan was awake for most of the visit making cute faces. Evan got to watch his first Super Bowl with Mommy and Daddy. The Patriots (the team Evan and Mommy were rooting for) won.

Our first week with Evan home was amazing; we are so blessed to have him in our family. The feelings that you experience when becoming a parent can’t be explained until you actually become one. We love him so incredibly much.

January 26, 2004 - 2:00 pm

Evan was discharged from the hospital yesterday, yeah!!!! After waiting a few hours for them to discharge him and give him an RSV shot we finally got to go home at 5 pm. Uncle Dave stopped by to help us film leaving the hospital, but he had to leave since it was taking them longer than we thought to release us. So Grandma Pyzik and Great Grandma Drake came to help us out. They got to spend sometime with the little peanut while we were waiting and waiting. Evan is now 4 lbs, he is such a little peanut and so cute. He was in the hospital for a total of 16 days, 9 days at St Peters and 7 days at Hunterdon Medical Center. Since he was eating 2 oz per feeding and keeping his body temperature up they said that he can come home and continue to grow. All of the nurses in the Nursery @ Hunterdon are sure going to miss Evan. They took such good care of him and were very accommodating to mommy and daddy. We can’t thank them enough.

Last night went well, he woke up like clockwork for his feedings every three hours, a few times he woke up about an hour before his feedings. Overall, not a bad night. Our cat Daisy is not sure what to think of having a baby in the house. She sniffed him a little when we got home and then flew upstairs when he started crying. I am sure she will get adjusted soon to the new noises. The best was after I went upstairs to get some things together I looked over the balcony down into the family room and saw daddy and Evan asleep on the couch together. It doesn't get any better then that!! We are so happy that we have our family home and are grateful that things have gone so well.

January 25, 2004 - 5:30 pm

Evan is home!

We got to bring Evan home last night. Should have a full update and new pictures up by this evening! It's a little busy in the house right now :)

January 24, 2004 - 1:37 pm

Delinquents!

I guess we owe everyone an apology for not keeping you up to date. Lots of good updates this session.

Evan always has us dancing. When we arrived Friday at lunchtime, and Evan's doctor informed us that he may get to go home on Sunday. He was transferred to a crib Thursday night and has done a great job keeping his temperature and eating up a storm. He's eating between 50 and 60 ml each feeding. Coming home has triggered a number of events, including finding the proper car seat to take him home in. He's too small for the one we got him, so we'll borrow a portable car crib from the hospital to take him home.

We planned to have a sleep over with him on Friday night, and we figured now would be the time to get on "Evan Time." We were up every three hours, Jennifer pumping, Ed feeding and changing. We both feel OK this morning, even with the uncomfortable hospital bed and couch. We still need to get the system down so one of us can sleep, but that's all part of the adventure. It's funny how even though we set the alarm, one of us would be up 10 minutes before. Evan was pretty good overall, just easing us in I'm sure.

Saturday morning, after Evan's 7:30 feeding, I changed and swaddled Evan, and put him on Mommy's chest in bed. I crawled in bed beside them, and we all took our first little nap together. I think the 30 minutes did the trick, erasing getting up through the night. His nurse took him to do his vitals and give him a change. He came back to us while we had breakfast, and we got ready to go out to do get the last minute items done before we came home. As we brought him back to the nursery, we remembered that today would be the best day for "the snip." Dr. Pisatowski was on the floor today and did the honors. We put our plans on hold to wait for him and feed him when he was done. Like a typical boy, he was quite upset, so his mommy comforted him with a little breast feeding, and topped him off with a bottle. He was still upset, but we just got him swaddled up and sleeping. We'll let him sleep it off, and see him tomorrow for the big day.

January 21, 2004 - 11:46 pm

Our little bright eyed boy is right on track. Another ounce today brings him to 3 lb. 12 oz. He's not only guzzling down 50 ml of milk each feeding, but topping it off with a little from mommy as well. The nursery at Hunterdon is getting busy, so we've been lucky enough to bring Evan out to Jennifer's room for feedings. Daddy's starting to get the diaper thing down. We think getting him out of the plexicondo is just around the corner. Overall a quiet day with our little boy.

January 20, 2004 - 10:36 pm

More from Evan's Mommy...

Today was another amazing day spent with Evan. I don't know where the time went, but before we knew it, we were getting ready to leave. Daddy just asked me if we could go back and see him. We miss him when we aren't with him, but know that he will be home soon with us. It just doesn't seem soon enough.

Evan is doing very well, he is continuing to feed from a bottle now up to 40ml per feeding. The doctor says that he needs to gain a little more weight, about 3 oz and then they will transfer him to a crib. Then he needs to keep up his body temperature while in the crib and continue to gain some more weight. There is no exact weight that they are looking for, but around 4 1/2 lbs is what the doctor said. We know that our little guy can do it. He is such a strong, determined little guy.

As of yesterday, evening Evan weighed 3 lbs 12oz. All of the nurses at Hunterdon are loving him up, they think he is such a cutie and they are happy to have him back to take care of until we can take him home, which we are hoping will be in a week. While the visiting is much more strict at Hunterdon, we were able to sneak in Evan's great grandparents, the Jacobs. Great Grandma and Grandpa Jacobs were so happy to get to see little Evan. They think that he is very precious and can't believe how tiny he is. Captain & Mimi Cichone were also able to sneak a peak and spend a few minutes with Evan.

- Evan's Mommy

(Don't get the Captain & Mimi thing? That's a topic for a slow news day :)

January 19, 2004 - 11:16 pm

Closer to home!

Just when I was going to cut down on how frequently I update the site, we have a big day!

Evan and mommy started their day together at noon at St. Peter's. Today was the first attempt of giving Evan his lunch fresh from the tap, as opposed to bottled. Evan latched on right away, and mother and child had their closest moment since he was in the womb. They're still going to feed him pumped milk with a fortifier for now, until he's a bit bigger, but him and mommy will get their time together as a treat. It's like baby Dairy Queen, or something like that.

I left my two precious ones to go to some meetings. No sooner than I got in the parking lot of the first one, Jennifer calls me with the good news that Evan is heading back to Hunterdon Medical Center. I got back to them at 2:15, and took mommy to Flemington, while the transfer team chauffeured Evan. As always, the staff there was accommodating, gave Jennifer an outpatient room to stay in if she pleased, and let us feed Evan. They're all really happy to have the little cutie back, and we're happy he's much closer to us. He'll be in the plexicondo for a few more days, just to prove himself at Hunterdon.

In closing tonight, I have to give our huge thanks to the doctors and nurses at St. Peter's NICU. While taking excellent care of our son, they gave us a chance to learn how to best care for him under their caring, watchful eyes. We hope that you'll never have to visit there, but if you do, we know you will be in the best of hands.

January 19, 2004 - 12:49 am

Jennifer and I had a great weekend with Evan. So many good things are happening. He's taking to his bottle very well, so much so that on Sunday they removed his feeding tube. The next milestone is for him to keep his weight increasing while working harder for his food from the bottle. He was down on Sunday, but we're optimistic for Monday

We had our class on how to give Evan a bath, and will give it to him Monday night. I started to take him out of the isolet (plexiglass condo) and swaddling him myself. It's so weird having a newborn and not having to take care of him all by ourselves. In one way we're lucky, getting eased into it, but I'd trade it all to have him home with us.

This weekend's visitors included Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, and Great-Uncle Cichone. Evan's Auntie Lisa and Uncle Chris were up from D.C. and got to visit too.

Lots of Evan's neighbors were going home today. I was incredibly jealous that they got to take their sons and daughters home and we couldn't. It's starting to get frustrating that we can't be with him more. I really can't wait for him to get strong enough so we can start making our house his home.

January 16, 2004 - 11:25 pm

Evan's doctors are working on fast tracking him out of St. Peter's. They're starting to add supplements to Jennifer's milk in order to pump...him up!

Jennifer got to "kangaroo" Evan today. This involved getting mother and son some privacy, and letting as much of Evan's baby soft skin be in direct contact with Jennifer's bosom. Both off them looked so warm and happy, it made me a little jealous. Perhaps when he get's bigger, he can try to brave the jungles of daddy's bosom. He better bring a hedge clipper.

He's being a stinker with his feeding tube. He managed to pull it out last night. We can't wait until he has enough strength to finish his feedings completely by bottle so we can take it out. He's too handsome of a boy to have that tube hanging out of his nose!

Evan's Aunties came to visit today, and were kicked out by the first visit by Evan's Unks. David and Jason came by to visit, and both were totally amazed by their tiny nephew. Both can't wait until they visit again.

January 16, 2004 - 11:43 am

Just send up some new pictures. He's a cutie all right!

Jenn sent the following message to Elayne, it gives a good update from her perspective:
We are going to do our best to keep up the journal entries. We have been getting home late and have been pretty tired, but we know that everyone wants to hear about his progress and it is a good way to keep everyone informed. It is also something nice to have and look back at when he is at home with us and all of this is forgotten. Evan weighs 3lbs 8 oz, a few days ago he weighed 3lbs 5 oz so already he has gained a little back. He is a heathly looking boy, nice and pink. I want to just gobble him up when I am with him. I am catching up on a few things this morning and then Ed is bringing me down to spend the afternoon with him, I can't wait.

More tonight...

January 15, 2004 - 11:54 am

Just a short update tonight, as Jenn and I are beat. Evan has gained weight over yesterday. His feeding is up to 30 ml and is beginning to take part of his meals from a bottle. Jenn got to spend the day again, and her mom and sister came by to keep her company.

Daddy came by late after purchasing a responsible family car for the family. He got to feed Evan from the bottle, about half way before Evan got exhausted sucking the milk out. As always, it was tough to leave our little handsome boy behind.

Mommy decorated Evan's condo, and he's wearing a cute little dinosaur top tonight. I'll check the camera tomorrow and send up some pictures. For now, it's time for Daddy to get some shuteye!

January 14, 2004 - 11:12 pm

Mommy's Turn...

We interrupt daddy's ramblings to bring you this important message from mommy.

If I think about the one thing about today that touched me the most, it had to be my baby Evan's eyes. I got to hold Evan for most of the day, and got to watch him take in the world around him. Looking into his eyes made nothing else in the world matter but him. I love to just talk to him and see him react to me. He's smiling as much as he can, with that silly tube in his mouth. He was trying to pull it out all day.

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sharon got to see Evan for the first time today. You could tell that Grandpa was proud of his first grandson, and once he got to hold him he didn't want to let go. Evan's Aunties came by as well, and Aunt Janell couldn't let him go either. She's totally in love with her little nephew. Mimi got to hold the little peanut too!

Evan is up to 25 ml of breast milk per feeding and he can't get enough. The doctor says getting up to 40 ml is a really good sign for him to go home. He was moved from the more critical side of the NICU to a quieter adjacent room with a lot less bells and whistles going off all day. They removed his IV and he has his hands free to make all kinds of cute little poses. His glass condo has been set for room temperature, meaning he's keeping his temperature up all by himself. We can start putting little clothes on him tomorrow, and start to decorate his bedding with some of the lovely things all of you have given us. We're waiting to see how he progresses, because his doctors want to move him back to Hunterdon Medical Center so he's closer to home before they let him out. I don't care where he is as long as I can be there right by his side, or holding him in my arms, or just watching him become more handsome every minute.

Daddy came by after work, and got to hold his son. He's a natural at this. I melt every time he looks into Evan's eyes. While I had to go and pump, daddy told me that he was singing songs on the radio playing in the nursery to Evan. Today's numbers included Barry White and Elton John.

We left at the 6:30 pm break. Even though I was with him all day, I still felt like it wasn't enough time. I know Ed felt the same way, when he asked me if we should turn around at our exit at home and head right back to our son. I can't wait to get there tomorrow and to see all the new wonders my little Evan has in store for me.

Until tomorrow, Mommy

January 14, 2004 - 12:44 am

Mother and Child Reunion... Hungry Hungry Hippo!

Well, you could just hear Paul Simon singing in the background today, if you could hear over the gobbling of milk!

Jennifer got discharged today. Took most of the day, but it gave me time to get some errands done. Got to see Evan late in the day, with a big snack tucked away in my pack. He was sleeping when I got there, probably dreaming of his mommy. He was weighed, bathed, and then fed. He still has the stomach tube in, and mommy's milk was given via the tube. He's up to 20 ml of milk at a feeding, which is twice as much as I fed him for the first time on Saturday. Hungry Hungry Hippo indeed!

Later that afternoon, Evan was awake, sucking his pacifier and crying and cooing. Auntie Jill snuck upstairs to visit. Grandma and Grandpa Cichone came to visit too. But the big news was that Mommy was coming after 8 o'clock.

Mommy arrived, and Evan lit up. He got one scent of her and started fussing and crying. If he could jump out of the incubator, I think he would have. Then, when he settled down, and heard her voice, he opened those big blue eyes — W I D E ! I haven't seen him look around, focus, and land his gaze on anyone like I saw him look at his mother this evening. It was so precious! Eventually Mommy got to hold her son for a couple of hours, and you've never seen a glow like the one that eminated from my wife and child. I got to hold him for the first time since he was born, and I couldn't help but sing to him, just as my father did for me as I was a child. Only I don't think he made up as many words as I did tonight. Grandma Lynne got a few minutes in too, but I know not nearly enough. Mimi Claire will get her chance tomorrow, and I know she and Evan can't wait!

Mommy's heading back to St. Peter's tomorrow to spend the day with Evan. Grandpa Bob will get a chance to use his new video camera to get some action shots of my little boy. Until then, there's new pictures in the photo gallery. However, I'll be counting every minute at work tomorrow until I get to bask in the glow that only my new family can provide.

-U Know Who! :-D

January 12, 2004 - 11:54 pm

Evan is still making great progress. Seems like there was a mix up of information last night, though. His breathing tubes, which I like to call scuba gear, were removed this morning. He's still being fed by a stomach tube, but he's being fed formula mixed with as much of Mommy's milk as she can muster. She's working really hard to give him all she can, even though she can't see him. It's starting to wear on us, and we keep choking back the tears every once and a while. With the real news now, we don't have an indication of either discharge date. However, I think Mommy's and Evan's doctors are in cahoots to get them together for as quickly as possible for as long as possible. All I can do is wait, and carry Mommy's love and milk to our son.

Not to be a total downer, when I'm with my little boy, all concept of time seems to disappear. I want him to see his mom as soon as possible, so I won't ask them to take him out of the incubator to let me hold him. Today I had one arm through the one hole rubbing his back, while I looked through the other hole at his little sleeping face. He looked so peaceful, so peaceful that it began to put me to sleep. I fell asleep with Evan with my face wedged in the portal. Explain that ring around the face, will ya?

I went to leave at 4:30 today, but ended up going back in to see him and stayed to 6:30. I can't explain the power he has to take someone who is always doing twenty things at a time, and reduce me down to only wanting to gaze, massage, tell stories to, and sing to this little person. Well I guess that's four things. :)

In other news, the cold weather has killed my car. Jenn and I are shopping for a new car to take Evan home in. Probably going to get a Chrysler Pacifica. I'll bring the color swatches tomorrow for Evan to pick one out. Maybe blue to go with his eyes. Oh those eyes! But that's a topic for another night.

Back at the hospital tonight with Jenn, and her rhythmic snoring reminds me that I need to get my sleep as well. For those of you who are continuing to follow the story, my whole family feels your love and it cradles us in the strength we need to feel together, even though we're apart. - Evan's Daddy!!!

January 11, 2004 - 8:53 pm
Two days old

For Evan's two day old birthday, he reflected on a day of great progress and activities. Daddy arrived just before lunch with a snack for him from mommy. We weren't sure if he was going to enjoy it, but Margie, his nurse, gave daddy the great news that he was going to have his first meal. He cried like a baby, daddy that is, because he was so happy. So what did he do? Daddy called Mommy and made her cry because she was happy.

Aunties Janell and Jill came by and took pictures while Daddy got to feed Evan through his little stomach tube. It was gone in a blink of an eye. The rest of the afternoon he spent with Daddy included a visit from Great Aunt Janice, Great Grandma Drake, Grandma and Grandpa Cichone, and Grandma Pyzik. He was wiggling and dancing all day, kicking off his monitoring equipment, just like his daddy would. He opened his baby blues a couple of times, but the big event will be when Mommy will be the first one to take off his hat and declare what color hair little Evan has. She will officially certify it by giving him the first kiss on his little baby head.

Later that day, Evan was upgraded from his ready-bake oven bed to his own, contemporary plexiglass condo. Mommy and Daddy later found out that all of the tubes the hospital was using to provide air and food had been removed, and Evan is running on all cylinders. (Which is more than they can say about Daddy's car, but that's another story)

Evan will soon be moved to the regular newborn nursery. Mommy may be discharged tomorrow and we'll see when we can all go home... and let Daisy know what she's in for.

- U know who!

January 10, 2004 - 8:53 pm
One day Old!

Well, Evan spent his one day old birthday away from Mommy and Daddy. Last night the nursery decided it would be better to get Evan the attention he needed at St. Peter's in New Brunswick. A team of 8 doctors and nurses picked him up at around 6 am, just after we had a chance for Jenn to get out of bed and see him. Mommy's still at Hunterdon Medical Center.

Daddy went with Mimi (Grandma to us common folk) Cichone to see Evan. During their stay in the mid-day, the team there removed his breathing tube, and he was breathing very nicely with a little bit of assisted "room-quality" air. I think Daddy will get to hold his son again tomorrow, and I can't wait. I especially can't wait to get mommy there, probably on Wednesday. In the mean time, mommy's busy at work getting ready to fill that little belly of Evan's. We're sure it won't be little for long. More tomorrow, going to keep mommy company tonight.

- Evan's Daddy :)

January 9, 2004 - 8:53 pm
Evan Edward Cichone has arrived!
3 lbs. 11.5 oz. - 17.5 inches long

Evan and Jenn weren't too thrilled about a long labor, so Evan was delivered by c-section by Dr. Bowers and her excellent team. Mommy is resting and doing fine. Our little boy came out fighting, but got tired quickly. After some helping hands from the team here, he is very close to breathing without any backup equipment. We're hoping to have mother and child together in the morning!

-Evan's Daddy :)

Pictures can be found in the Picture Gallery.

If you like to send some well wishes, page us.

January 9, 2004 - 1:00 pm
It's finally time. Our little baby Evan has been cooking for about 35 weeks now and he's looking to get out. We're on our way to the hospital today to get induced. Stay tuned for update and pictures!

February 19, 2003
The site has been up for almost five years, and it's due for some sprucing up. Changing the front page is just the beginning. Let's see where it goes!

September 11, 2001
Jennifer and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the senseless acts of terrorism on September 11th.

January 2001 - Live on Emeril Live
Jennifer and I got the opportunity to see Emeril Live in January 2001. The show will premier February 25, 2001 at 8:00 p.m. The theme is Cuban cooking. You'll definitely see a close-up of Jennifer, and maybe even see me behind her. We're on the left hand side of the stage, against the wall.

December 2000 - Happy Holidays.
Check out some of our new holiday pictures in the Picture Gallery. You'll find pictures from the Lucent Holiday Party as well as the Vanstar Holiday Reunion under Events.

April 29, 2000 - Lisa & Chris' wedding.
Lisa and Chris tied the knot this Saturday, April 29, 2000, in a beautiful ceremony in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Jennifer and I had the privilege of not only attending the wedding, but escorting the Bride and Groom from the church to the Raritan Valley Country Club where the reception was held. While we were having a great time (can you say Ed + Three Martini's ;), we had a chance to snap a bunch of digital photos of this spectacular event.

December 31, 1999 - e2k-2
Everyone at cichone.com wishes you and your families a very happy and safe new year. We got together with our friends last night (and this morning!) for a little pre-millennium bash, e2k-2. The pictures (though not in photo gallery format) are available online!

February 15, 1999
Welcome to the newly upgraded cichone.com.  You'll notice a new facade on most of the pages as well as some new functionality.  I rewrote the Picture Gallery using JavaScript to do some neat thinks like picture descriptions, and auto slide show, and dynamic picture size selection.  Both Jennifer and my pages have custom text paging forms for your convenience.  The Links section is also meatier.  Unfortunately, the whole site is heavily dependant on JavaScript in both Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer.  This is just my way of making people keep current with their browsers.  I welcome any comments on the new design.  Just drop me an e-mail.

September 13, 1998
We did it! Jennifer and I could not have asked for a better day! We hope to have a lot more information regarding the wedding up here soon including movies and an annotated photo album, but there's just not enough time to get that done before the honeymoon!

A very rough presentation of the digital photographs taken by Jason and Alex is available. There's been no time to sort out the bad ones or to retouch anything. We just wanted to get things out as soon as possible for your viewing enjoyment. Keep checking back to see what's new!

Thank you to everyone who made our wedding the best day of our lives. Hope to talk to you all soon!