Saturday, April 18, 2009

Saturday Night Blogging...

Well, it's 9:47pm. Ava and Brennan are sleeping. Cory is watching some stupid movie, and I'm blogging. Before the birth of the most precious babies in the world, I would have never been home on Saturday night! Isn't it funny how things change? Anyway, while we were home this evening, we took some pictures of our growing babies and I thought I'd share a few.







Gosh, aren't those beautiful babies? As you can see, Ava is such a daddy's girl. Brennan is MY boy! :)

Friday, April 17, 2009

A NICU poem

As many readers know, my sweet babies were born at 29 weeks and 2 days gestation. They were in NICU for 6 weeks. They are now healthy, normal, growing babies. I think about those days in NICU often, when I'm not super busy with the babies. When they are both screaming to the tops of their lungs, I think how Cory and I used to just wait for the smallest whimper and how we couldn't wait to hear them cry. When I get frustrated, I try to think of where we were 5 months ago. Cory and I are so fortunate that our babies were saved. A lot of parents don't have this luxury or if their baby does survive, there are long term effects from prematurity. I actually belong to a preemie support group and there is a mother on there, who delivered her child at 35 weeks. The baby went to NICU, as he was having difficulty breathing. He died two days later. I can't imagine what this poor Mother is going through. She blames herself, I'm sure. I know I did. You know, when Brennan was at Egelston, there was a nurse who was pregnant. She was probably 36 weeks. She complained about how big she was and how ugly she felt. I always got so angry when I heard her, because I would have given anything for my babies to still be inside me. She has obviously never had to sit in a NICU, holding her baby's hand through the holes of an incubator.



Anyway, I found this poem on the preemie support group this morning and I felt it appropriate to share:


God Bless this Little Child...God bless the little child behind the plastic wall For all he knows is the ringing of the bells andthe blurred images around him. He has been takenfrom my womb without warning and I long to hold himin my arms.Lord, I ask in your name that my child be healed.I am willing to accept your decision no matter whatit will be. I am willing to take on the responsibilitiesfor caring for this child. I am willing to give thischild love and understanding no matter the cost.Please Lord help me to accept reality and what hashappened without explanation or warning. Help meface the fact that this is not my fault and that I was given a special task to complete here on Earth.God give my child the strength to make it through anothersecond, minute, hour and day as each moment isa blessing and a triumph from heaven.God, may you give the strength and compassionto the caregivers and nurses that take care of my childMay you keep my child protected and free from all injuryand pain. Please take away the guilt and burden from my heart dearLord. It is heavy and I feel it is all my fault.Take it away dear Lord. Sweet Jesus allow me the strengthand understanding I need to communicate with the Doctorsand Nurses.As you see dear Lord, I am at your mercy for the life ofmy child. Please leave him here on Earth and know thatI will provide all the love and understanding thatthis child needs. I accept the challenge and will beyour humble servant dear Lord.

-Author unknown


I hope you all have a great day!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

This is the title of so many blogs I've read lately, but seriously: when is this rain going to end? I was reading Athens Banner Herald online and they say that the drought is over because of all the recent rainfall. I would sure hope so!

So, as many know, my last day at my job was last Monday (3/23). I shadowed at Landmark Hospital on Monday. LM is like a longterm ICU, with ventilators, trachs, etc. I liked it, but it is going to be quite a change. I have the job if I want it. At present, I'm waiting for the HR coordinator to call me so we can talk money. That is always hard. The job will be 12 hours shifts (7a-7p). Although I know the shifts are going to be exhausting at first, I am so happy that I will be at home more with my growing babies. They seem to change more and more everyday and I feel as though with 8 hour shifts everyday, I'm missing so much. So, hopefully this change will be good for me and more importantly, for them.

As for Ava and Brennan, we are enjoying our time together. They are babbling constantly. Ava says "Ah gooooooo!" constantly. I think Ava is cutting her first tooth. She is drooling so much and putting everything in her mouth. I can see the tiny teeth in her lower gum. Poor baby! I am hoping Brennan waits a little longer. I don't know about two babies teething simulataneously! They are both trying to sit up, which is so cute. The sit up briefly and fall backwards.

Well, I'm off to finish my morning cleaning. I've gotten so much done over the past week, being off work. My house and so clean and organized! I love it! Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! Stay dry! :)