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Thoughts from a Preemie Mama

As our world is so crazy right now, I've been thinking a lot about our time spent in the NICU.  It was probably the hardest thing that I have had to deal with in my life.  Since not many people know my story, I thought I would blog about it on here and share a few things.  At 28 weeks pregnant I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.  Preeclampsia is a life threatining disease.  I was placed on bed rest in the hospital.  The doctors really wanted to try and get us to 34 weeks but at 30 weeks and 5 days my baby boy decided it was time to join us in the world.  I also had a 4 year old at home and that was one of the hardest things having to stay in the hospital and not be at home with my little guy.  I was on hospital bed rest for 12 days before my little one made an appearance and then my little guy spent 65 days in the NICU.  He was born weighing 2 pounds and 8 ounces.  Let me tell you something, NICU babies are some very strong warriors and siblings of a baby in the NICU is a strong warrior.  My 4 year old got to spend a lot of time in the waiting room because this took place during flu and RSV season, since RSV can be fatal to a preemie, no one under the age of 16 was allowed in the NICU rooms.  (This was prior to COVID, so I don't know what the hospital policies are now).  









My little one is now 3 years old and thriving.  He graduated from the NICU followup clinic and we are now down to just regular kid doctor checkups.  No more hospitals, no more specialists.  He loves playing ball and just about any sport and he loves his big brother.  







I can tell you one thing though, you find just how strong you are when you have to fight for and with your little one to survive.  I don't think anyone (outside of my Mom and one brother) realized just how close to death I came.   The night before my little one was born, I literally was at Heaven's door, fighting for my little one and my life.   There is a rock song that has a line saying "Knock, Knock, Knockin' on Heaven's door" and let me tell you, that is right where I was at, fighting for my life and my child's life.  It was quite an unusual experience and then the next morning the Doctor came in and said that we needed to have the baby that day and to get ready for a C-section delivery.  

Even though that was a challenging time, you find out you are stronger than you know and when God has a plan for your life (even when that includes hard things to go through)  you will find the strength to go through them.  You just have to trust God to take care of you and rely on him through it all.  There was no way me or my family would have made it through that time without God carrying us.  Now, I find that every February, I stop and just take time to be grateful for all the little things in my life.  I am grateful for my family, for my home and I am even grateful for you.  If you are reading this, even if I have never met you, I am grateful for you today.  So, please take some time out this month to simply be grateful for all that you have because you just never realize how fast that can change.


Tulips~n~Lace

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