Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Visit to Santa 2010
The visit to santa went awesome for Greyson, so so for Gunner. Gunner is in that stage where strange fat man in a red suit just isn't cool. Greyson on the other hand is all about it.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
My Awesome Birthday Gift
I know, a birthday gift doesn't sound like a post on here.....but, when you see it, you know it is all about here and how much I love being a mommy to my boys.
As always, Mom got me the perfect gift...without me asking. The card said...
2011 is going to be a special year for you. Here is something of a rememberance for all of the families and babies who you will help that you will not even know. Amazing.
As always, Mom got me the perfect gift...without me asking. The card said...
2011 is going to be a special year for you. Here is something of a rememberance for all of the families and babies who you will help that you will not even know. Amazing.
Christmas Program
Both Mommy and Daddy got a little choked up when we saw our little man up on stage at his first Christmas program...too cute!
Merry Christmas 2010
Merry Christmas!
Hi everyone! Hope you enjoy all the pictures of Greyson and Gunner on the card! I took so many it was hard to choose just a few! The card already says it, but we are soooo blessed! That’s right, despite Gunner’s early arrival and the hospital and care bills that followed, couldn’t be too much happier and healthier so we count our blessings daily!
Boys, Boys, Boys…what else can I say! It used to be a more equal ratio, but it is official, I am seriously outnumbered. Yet, I must say that I am loving being a Mommy to two big and healthy boys!
Our first, and always my baby, Greyson: Despite having to share and endure “quiet time” when Gunner is sleeping, Greyson absolutely loves being a BIG brother! You can see how much he loves “his baby Gunner” when he tries to snuggle with him and hold him, even though Gunner would much rather play beside him than be cuddled! Yes, we still think of him as our baby, but he is growing like the cutest weed you have ever seen. He is a very active little boy, and when I say boy, he is ALL boy. He climbs, jumps, and does all sorts of things that make us cringe. He has no fear and is so energetic. Greyson is in preschool again this year and is learning so much. I am amazed at all of the songs that he is learning for his first ever Christmas program! Although he misses his old friends at Kid’s Time, he has adjusted very well to his new preschool and is getting closer to starting Kindergarten each day (gasp!) His allergy to milk is still serious despite the testing showing an improvement, so that means we still have to be over-vigilant making sure he has nothing with milk in it and carry an epi-pen everywhere just in case.
Our second, but “miracle baby”, Gunner: I continue to be amazed by this boy! They say the most amazing things come in small packages and seeing him is believing it! Looking at him now, you would never guess that he was born at 33 weeks at a tiny 4 lbs and 17 ¼ inches! He is now well over 23 pounds and 30 inches. When compared to brother at 36 pounds and 41 inches, it is obvious, he’s a BIG guy! Our efforts to keep him healthy by hibernating all last winter certainly paid off, but this year with him in day care several days a week, we can’t be as careful. I am amazed how much his immune system has developed. We are still getting those uber-expensive shots, but this time they come out of our pocket! When we went for his 18 month well-baby visit, they said he is right on track, growing like wild. He is on the “real kids” charts now, low in percentiles, but there! They said he is actually a little advanced when we counted his “words” (more like sounds that he uses repetitively as words) including: mama, dada, dog, and deer!
Of course, the parents of these amazing children are doing ok too. We sincerely love having two boys and watching them grow together and learn to love each other is just amazing! Last year we got involved in our first March for Babies event, joining with the March of Dimes to educate and try to fight for the babies that are too little to fight for themselves! Our hard work was recognized and Gunner has been asked to represent our local March of Dimes as the Ambassador Child of 2011, which makes us the Ambassador Family. In this role, Gunner will become a celebrity and Mommy will do lots of speaking engagements, all to help every baby get the full nine months that (s)he deserves!
Because we learned all sorts of things last year we didn’t want to, like what pPROM means, that 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely, and how much it costs to be a guest at the hospital for 12 weeks between Mommy and Baby, maybe we can help someone else learn that lesson in a textbook instead of in real life.
So, again we have formed a team in honor of Gunner will be doing our second annual walk on April 30, 2011. So please consider joining me to walk, making a donation, or just raising awareness with me! Here is our team website: http://www.marchforbabies.org/teamgunner
Latest updates can be found at:
www.braggingabouttheboys.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com (tags: Greyson and Gunner Young)
www.theyoungboys.shutterfly.com (pictures, pictures and more pictures)
So all is well in the Young Household! Hope this letter finds you healthy, happy and in great Christmas spirits! Better watch out, better not cry, better not pout, I’m telling you why…..Santa is visiting our house again! Thank goodness for children!
Love you all,
The Young Family
Hi everyone! Hope you enjoy all the pictures of Greyson and Gunner on the card! I took so many it was hard to choose just a few! The card already says it, but we are soooo blessed! That’s right, despite Gunner’s early arrival and the hospital and care bills that followed, couldn’t be too much happier and healthier so we count our blessings daily!
Boys, Boys, Boys…what else can I say! It used to be a more equal ratio, but it is official, I am seriously outnumbered. Yet, I must say that I am loving being a Mommy to two big and healthy boys!
Our first, and always my baby, Greyson: Despite having to share and endure “quiet time” when Gunner is sleeping, Greyson absolutely loves being a BIG brother! You can see how much he loves “his baby Gunner” when he tries to snuggle with him and hold him, even though Gunner would much rather play beside him than be cuddled! Yes, we still think of him as our baby, but he is growing like the cutest weed you have ever seen. He is a very active little boy, and when I say boy, he is ALL boy. He climbs, jumps, and does all sorts of things that make us cringe. He has no fear and is so energetic. Greyson is in preschool again this year and is learning so much. I am amazed at all of the songs that he is learning for his first ever Christmas program! Although he misses his old friends at Kid’s Time, he has adjusted very well to his new preschool and is getting closer to starting Kindergarten each day (gasp!) His allergy to milk is still serious despite the testing showing an improvement, so that means we still have to be over-vigilant making sure he has nothing with milk in it and carry an epi-pen everywhere just in case.
Our second, but “miracle baby”, Gunner: I continue to be amazed by this boy! They say the most amazing things come in small packages and seeing him is believing it! Looking at him now, you would never guess that he was born at 33 weeks at a tiny 4 lbs and 17 ¼ inches! He is now well over 23 pounds and 30 inches. When compared to brother at 36 pounds and 41 inches, it is obvious, he’s a BIG guy! Our efforts to keep him healthy by hibernating all last winter certainly paid off, but this year with him in day care several days a week, we can’t be as careful. I am amazed how much his immune system has developed. We are still getting those uber-expensive shots, but this time they come out of our pocket! When we went for his 18 month well-baby visit, they said he is right on track, growing like wild. He is on the “real kids” charts now, low in percentiles, but there! They said he is actually a little advanced when we counted his “words” (more like sounds that he uses repetitively as words) including: mama, dada, dog, and deer!
Of course, the parents of these amazing children are doing ok too. We sincerely love having two boys and watching them grow together and learn to love each other is just amazing! Last year we got involved in our first March for Babies event, joining with the March of Dimes to educate and try to fight for the babies that are too little to fight for themselves! Our hard work was recognized and Gunner has been asked to represent our local March of Dimes as the Ambassador Child of 2011, which makes us the Ambassador Family. In this role, Gunner will become a celebrity and Mommy will do lots of speaking engagements, all to help every baby get the full nine months that (s)he deserves!
Because we learned all sorts of things last year we didn’t want to, like what pPROM means, that 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely, and how much it costs to be a guest at the hospital for 12 weeks between Mommy and Baby, maybe we can help someone else learn that lesson in a textbook instead of in real life.
So, again we have formed a team in honor of Gunner will be doing our second annual walk on April 30, 2011. So please consider joining me to walk, making a donation, or just raising awareness with me! Here is our team website: http://www.marchforbabies.org/teamgunner
Latest updates can be found at:
www.braggingabouttheboys.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com (tags: Greyson and Gunner Young)
www.theyoungboys.shutterfly.com (pictures, pictures and more pictures)
So all is well in the Young Household! Hope this letter finds you healthy, happy and in great Christmas spirits! Better watch out, better not cry, better not pout, I’m telling you why…..Santa is visiting our house again! Thank goodness for children!
Love you all,
The Young Family
Friday, December 3, 2010
March for Babies 2011
It's that time of year again! Time to start thinking about walking for healthy babies. On the first day available, Team Gunner is up and running again! Below is my letter that will be included in the Family Teams information packet!
January 2011
Dear Family Team Captain-
It is my absolute honor and pleasure to welcome you in joining our fight to make sure every baby gets their healthy start in life! The March for Babies campaign is dedicated to funding the mission of the March of Dimes. This event is so moving and powerful because its heart lies in the family teams comprised of those who have been directly touched by the mission of March of Dimes. I am excited to meet you and hear your story! I encourage you to check out our website at http://www.marchforbabies.org/ and share the information with your team.
My ties to the March of Dimes run deep. It all began long ago when I made my first meager donation to the March for Babies campaign, formerly known as WalkAmerica, while I was a high school student working at one of our corporate sponsors. At that time, there was no way that I would have ever thought that my life would be touched by prematurity. I didn’t even know what the mission of the March of Dimes was.
Now, fully aware of the mission, I know that both of my boys are March of Dimes babies. Obviously, my second, born at 33 weeks benefited from the mission of the March of Dimes. But my first son, who was born healthy at full term also benefited from the research funded by the March of Dimes that guided my prenatal care and newborn screening. We walk for all of the March of Dimes babies in our lives and to help all babies get a healthy start. We fight because babies shouldn’t have to!
It is my job to represent and support you in your effort as a family team. I can help you set a fundraising goal, brainstorm fundraising ideas, and keep aware of all pertinent event information. Enclosed in your packet you will find a lot of tools that will make your job easier, including t-shirt order forms, chocolate order forms and other fundraising ideas including some great March of Dimes merchandise at www.wristbands4awareness.com/mod_individual.
We also have a lot of great online marketing tools including your personal webpage that allows for online donations, an email generator, and a facebook application to help you approach your family and friends for their financial support and sponsorship. Go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/ today and see how easy it has become to help give every baby a healthy start.
How many babies can you help? Consider your total from last year and set a new goal; maybe 10% more than last year. If this is your first year, set some goal. I know I was shocked when I set mine and raised over six times it! It’s amazing how people want to help you be successful.
I hope you will join us at our two March for Babies sites in 2011-- on April 30th at Battle Creek Health Systems and on May 7th at the Celery Flats Historical Site in Portage. I will also be keeping a blog featuring information and pictures of the event at http://www.kalamazoomarchforbabies.blogspot.com/.
Sincerely,
Christi Young
March of Dimes 2011 Ambassador Family Mom
January 2011
Dear Family Team Captain-
It is my absolute honor and pleasure to welcome you in joining our fight to make sure every baby gets their healthy start in life! The March for Babies campaign is dedicated to funding the mission of the March of Dimes. This event is so moving and powerful because its heart lies in the family teams comprised of those who have been directly touched by the mission of March of Dimes. I am excited to meet you and hear your story! I encourage you to check out our website at http://www.marchforbabies.org/ and share the information with your team.
My ties to the March of Dimes run deep. It all began long ago when I made my first meager donation to the March for Babies campaign, formerly known as WalkAmerica, while I was a high school student working at one of our corporate sponsors. At that time, there was no way that I would have ever thought that my life would be touched by prematurity. I didn’t even know what the mission of the March of Dimes was.
Now, fully aware of the mission, I know that both of my boys are March of Dimes babies. Obviously, my second, born at 33 weeks benefited from the mission of the March of Dimes. But my first son, who was born healthy at full term also benefited from the research funded by the March of Dimes that guided my prenatal care and newborn screening. We walk for all of the March of Dimes babies in our lives and to help all babies get a healthy start. We fight because babies shouldn’t have to!
It is my job to represent and support you in your effort as a family team. I can help you set a fundraising goal, brainstorm fundraising ideas, and keep aware of all pertinent event information. Enclosed in your packet you will find a lot of tools that will make your job easier, including t-shirt order forms, chocolate order forms and other fundraising ideas including some great March of Dimes merchandise at www.wristbands4awareness.com/mod_individual.
We also have a lot of great online marketing tools including your personal webpage that allows for online donations, an email generator, and a facebook application to help you approach your family and friends for their financial support and sponsorship. Go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/ today and see how easy it has become to help give every baby a healthy start.
How many babies can you help? Consider your total from last year and set a new goal; maybe 10% more than last year. If this is your first year, set some goal. I know I was shocked when I set mine and raised over six times it! It’s amazing how people want to help you be successful.
I hope you will join us at our two March for Babies sites in 2011-- on April 30th at Battle Creek Health Systems and on May 7th at the Celery Flats Historical Site in Portage. I will also be keeping a blog featuring information and pictures of the event at http://www.kalamazoomarchforbabies.blogspot.com/.
Sincerely,
Christi Young
March of Dimes 2011 Ambassador Family Mom
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Special Delivery
I blogged earlier about the reborn doll that I had commissioned to be be created. Well, reborn Gunner is home. He is going to be a mission piece as we proudly represent the March of Dimes as the 2011 Ambassador Family. I can't believe my 4 lb preemie is now over 22lbs. No one else would either, which is why Terra created this amazing baby to demonstrate what he was when he was born. The resembelence is uncanny. Thank you Terra (who is a Preemie Mom herself!)
To hold him, you actually think he feels heavy. This is because you pick it up as a doll. A doll traditionally weighs ounces, not pounds. When you imagine it as a baby, newly born, it becomes light...as you imagine it being less than half the weight of most newborns.
His length is the size of most little girls' baby dolls. I know as a child that I had dolls this size. But that length is also the length of Gunner when he was born.
The doll is so small that he swims in a preemie sleeper. Just like Gunner did when he was born.
For all intents and purposes, it serves as a beautiful piece of art and a symbol of what my son, born too soon, was. I was especially moved when I found out the artist and creator is the mother of beautiful twin girls, who were also born at 33 weeks like Gunner. It touched my heart when she said "when I hold his head in my hand, it feels like I was holding one of my babies" I am not sure you would get this if you didn't have a baby whose head was about the size of a baseball. I have since changed his clothing to one of Gunner's first outfits that Daddy bought him, but here is little Gunner. Thank you, Terra.
To hold him, you actually think he feels heavy. This is because you pick it up as a doll. A doll traditionally weighs ounces, not pounds. When you imagine it as a baby, newly born, it becomes light...as you imagine it being less than half the weight of most newborns.
His length is the size of most little girls' baby dolls. I know as a child that I had dolls this size. But that length is also the length of Gunner when he was born.
The doll is so small that he swims in a preemie sleeper. Just like Gunner did when he was born.
For all intents and purposes, it serves as a beautiful piece of art and a symbol of what my son, born too soon, was. I was especially moved when I found out the artist and creator is the mother of beautiful twin girls, who were also born at 33 weeks like Gunner. It touched my heart when she said "when I hold his head in my hand, it feels like I was holding one of my babies" I am not sure you would get this if you didn't have a baby whose head was about the size of a baseball. I have since changed his clothing to one of Gunner's first outfits that Daddy bought him, but here is little Gunner. Thank you, Terra.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
This is the reality of prematurity
Although you will hear me be all sunshine and rainbows about my son (how I love him and I wouldn't change anything about him for the world, which I still wouldn't) here is the reality of prematurity. I feel amazingly blessed to have a "normal" full term pregnancy before my preterm pregnancy. However, having that wonderful nearly uneventful pregnancy also made me painfully aware of everything that I missed and was robbed of during my preterm pregnancy.
The photo you see above was the last picture taken of my pregnant with Gunner. I was 28 weeks along. 28 weeks, that is 12 weeks before my due date. This was the morning of the day that my water broke. Later that afternoon I was admitted to the hospital, not to be discharged until I had a baby, which at that point, they thought was imminent. One of the things I missed was taking a weekly picture of my belly to see how it grew or having professional pictures taken, like I did with Greyson. Yes, I know, in comparison to my son breathing, this is very very petty.
As I said, I was blessed with a relatively uncomplicated pregnancy before Gunner's birth. I was blessed to have a baby that could room in with me, nurse for hours on end, to change a diaper without assistance, to have my only worry be if and when I may get some sleep again. As you can see above, the parenting of a preemie is very different. You are a visitor instead of a parent. There is no 24-hour responsibility, because you just can't be there the whole time. Especially if you are balancing the care of a 2 year old with that.
You have to wash for 30 seconds just to go in (with soap that if I smell now still takes me back) You have to take a temperature every care session. That is the only time you feed or diaper the baby, or you might overstimulate them to the point that they have spells where their heart rate drops or they forget to breathe. You can't just nurse them, you have to see what they can handle at that moment. You see progress and then the next time you are there you see regression. You feel that the only thing you can do to really help them is to be up at all hours of the day and night pumping. Wow. That was verbal diarreah. But the reality comes through; the parenting of a premature child is not an easy road. This is parenting with a child who was able to breathe on his own. I cannot imagine having a baby born so soon he couldn't breathe or touch as his skin is so sensitive it may rub off with a gentle touch.
All of that being said, I am reminded of my committment to the March of Dimes. I am so firmly committed because this organization works tirelessly to help raise the funds necessary to research all of the things that can help end prematurity and help the babies born too soon. So today, remember all of the babies born too soon, like Gunner. But also remember and cherish your own children as well, because chances are they are all March of Dimes babies.
What, you didn't have a preemie, so the MOD didn't have anything to do with your pregnancy or child? If you refrained from drinking (1970's) or smoking (1970's) or took a prenatal vitamin daily (1990's) your child is a March of Dimes baby. The years in ()'s are the years in which the March of Dimes' funded research told us not to drink, smoke, and to get daily folic acid in our diet. So I have two March of Dimes babies. A full-termer and a preemie.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Prematurity Awareness Day
Last year, I celebrated prematurity awareness for the first time, by posting Gunner's birth story. A story that I took days to write, months to come to term with, and an event to share. You may ask, why I say celebrated? I think it is because although I wish I had a full term, uneventful pregnancy, I have to say I know why I didn't.
I didn't have a perfect pregnancy because:
The experiencing of prematurity inspired me to do my first March for Babies. Our amazing team raised over $3000 to help fund research to fight prematurity and support families like mine.
The loss and helplessness I felt when visiting my son in the NICU has pushed me to support other families in that situation. I have celebrated special nurses (nurse's day), special moms (gift bags to mommies with babies in the NICU) and a special hospital. We did the Bronson's Children Hospital walk and facilitated a lovie drive, where we made over 50 tag blankets for children who need comfort in emergency situations.
I was able to help other preemie babies at our NICU and their moms by donating over 16 gallons of breast milk, including 300 oz of preterm milk. This means less NEC, more weight gain, and anitbodies you just can't get in formula.
Due to the emotions and stress of prematurity, I have reached out to an amazing support network of moms who have walked a month or three in my NICU shoes. They are amazing and though I have not met but one in real life, I consider them my friends and support network.
I didn't have a perfect pregnancy because:
The experiencing of prematurity inspired me to do my first March for Babies. Our amazing team raised over $3000 to help fund research to fight prematurity and support families like mine.
The loss and helplessness I felt when visiting my son in the NICU has pushed me to support other families in that situation. I have celebrated special nurses (nurse's day), special moms (gift bags to mommies with babies in the NICU) and a special hospital. We did the Bronson's Children Hospital walk and facilitated a lovie drive, where we made over 50 tag blankets for children who need comfort in emergency situations.
I was able to help other preemie babies at our NICU and their moms by donating over 16 gallons of breast milk, including 300 oz of preterm milk. This means less NEC, more weight gain, and anitbodies you just can't get in formula.
Due to the emotions and stress of prematurity, I have reached out to an amazing support network of moms who have walked a month or three in my NICU shoes. They are amazing and though I have not met but one in real life, I consider them my friends and support network.
So I know, that even though I did everything right and this wasn't supposed to happen because of that, it did because it was meant to be. I was meant to make a difference.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Gunner has been reborn!
Wow, was that fast. Saturday I google prematurity, Monday Gunner is done. This is just crazy. I have to share. He is just gorgeous.
welcome reborn Gunner...
welcome reborn Gunner...
Friday, November 12, 2010
Reborn Gunner
Ok, I may be crazy, but hey. I was searching online for preemie quotes, stats and books to use for Prematurity Awareness Month. When I googled, I stumbled upon an ebay auction for a “reborn” preemie doll. It hauntingly reminded me of Gunner. It was about .4 oz heavier and about an inch shorter, but it held a very strong resembelence to newly born preemie Gunner.
I contacted the maker. She is the mother of twin 33-weekers. She gets me and what I went through and may even understand why I would want a doll to remind me of the hell that I went through. Call me oblivious to be able to almost reflect on my experience with prematurity as something that was supposed to happen, but I sort of feel that it was. I look at my life now and cannot see anything I wouldn’t want to be doing. I have a healthy child, I am being very fulfilled through my advocacy with the March of Dimes, and I feel that I am truly making a small difference in the life of another person.
So I have decided to have Gunner reborn. The baby will be of similar weight and length to Gunner’s birth size. The baby will accompany Gunner and I to all of our March of Dimes events as a measure of how far he has come. The picture pales in comparison to what the finished product will be, but here is why I have to get this doll.
Yes, I am a grown woman who wants a doll for Christmas.
I contacted the maker. She is the mother of twin 33-weekers. She gets me and what I went through and may even understand why I would want a doll to remind me of the hell that I went through. Call me oblivious to be able to almost reflect on my experience with prematurity as something that was supposed to happen, but I sort of feel that it was. I look at my life now and cannot see anything I wouldn’t want to be doing. I have a healthy child, I am being very fulfilled through my advocacy with the March of Dimes, and I feel that I am truly making a small difference in the life of another person.
So I have decided to have Gunner reborn. The baby will be of similar weight and length to Gunner’s birth size. The baby will accompany Gunner and I to all of our March of Dimes events as a measure of how far he has come. The picture pales in comparison to what the finished product will be, but here is why I have to get this doll.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
I'm a statistic
Did you know that between 1997 and 2007, the rate of infants born preterm in Michigan increased nearly 11%. Two thoughts, wow, that is scary and oh boy, I am a statistic! That is 1 in 8 babies or over 12% of all of the live births in Michigan. As a state, we get a D in the status of premature birth. Of course that resonates with me, because I am an educator. I wouldn't want a nurse who got a D in a class or a teacher who got a D in class teaching my children. But that is where we, as a state, fall.
All stats are from the MOD website
In An Average Week in Michigan
- 301 babies are born preterm (this would be Gunner)
- 52 babies are born very preterm
- 202 babies are born low birthweight (this would be Gunner and borderline Greyson)
- 40 babies are born very low birthweight
I am a perfect example of doing everything right and still having a preemie. I teach human development; I know what you are supposed to do, I did what you are supposed to do. (No smoking, drinking, take vita mins, get good prenatal care) I still had a full term baby who was lower birthweigth (5lbs 12 oz, down to 5lbs 4oz before leaving hospital) and a preterm baby. I am one of the types of statistics the March of Dimes funds research for.
All stats are from the MOD website
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Lessons in Parenting
I am a two-time mommy. I knew what to expect with the birth of my second child. What I expected was not what happened. After six weeks of hospital bedrest, I gave birth to my youngest at 33 weeks. Everything I "expected" and knew went out the window. One of the things that resonates to me still is that I didn't feel like a parent (in the same way) when Gunner was in the NICU. I felt like a visitor.
I had diapered a child before. I learned to diaper a child smaller than the baby dolls I had as a child. I learned to manuever around the wires to prevent false alarms that still sent a shock thru my being.
I had breastfed a child before. I learned that preemies born before 34 weeks don't eat on their own. They lack the suck/swallow reflex and then when you add remembering to breathe in there, it take much longer. I learned to determine when and if he could handle nursing and for how long so that he may finish a feeding orally as opposed to through a tube in his nose.
I had snuggled a baby before. I learned the benefits of Kangaroo care. Each time I would hold my son all of his respiratory and pulmonary functions regulated. He became one with me. His temperature controlled, his breathing regular, slow and peaceful.
I had woken in the middle of the night to check if my child was still breathing before. I learned that I would call nightly when I was pumping (typically 3 am) to see if my child had gained, had breathing spells, etc. since I had left him in the hospital.
I had bathed a child before. I learned to bathe a child in a bedpan no basin no bigger than a bedpan and still he looked like he was in a kiddie pool. A process that required two people.
I had a c-section and an extended stay at the hospital, taking my son home after 4 days before. I learned what it felt like to leave your heart (child) at the hospital and not take him home for another 6 weeks.
I had flowers, visitors, and baby gifts sent to us before. I learned who was really there for us and could handle this new challenge we were embarking on. They still visited, sent flowers and gifts and treated this as it should be, a celebration, a little early, but a celebration.
The NICU experience certainly taught me that things are out of your control. Even when you do everything right, there is no gaurantee.
I had diapered a child before. I learned to diaper a child smaller than the baby dolls I had as a child. I learned to manuever around the wires to prevent false alarms that still sent a shock thru my being.
I had breastfed a child before. I learned that preemies born before 34 weeks don't eat on their own. They lack the suck/swallow reflex and then when you add remembering to breathe in there, it take much longer. I learned to determine when and if he could handle nursing and for how long so that he may finish a feeding orally as opposed to through a tube in his nose.
I had snuggled a baby before. I learned the benefits of Kangaroo care. Each time I would hold my son all of his respiratory and pulmonary functions regulated. He became one with me. His temperature controlled, his breathing regular, slow and peaceful.
I had woken in the middle of the night to check if my child was still breathing before. I learned that I would call nightly when I was pumping (typically 3 am) to see if my child had gained, had breathing spells, etc. since I had left him in the hospital.
I had bathed a child before. I learned to bathe a child in a bedpan no basin no bigger than a bedpan and still he looked like he was in a kiddie pool. A process that required two people.
I had a c-section and an extended stay at the hospital, taking my son home after 4 days before. I learned what it felt like to leave your heart (child) at the hospital and not take him home for another 6 weeks.
I had flowers, visitors, and baby gifts sent to us before. I learned who was really there for us and could handle this new challenge we were embarking on. They still visited, sent flowers and gifts and treated this as it should be, a celebration, a little early, but a celebration.
The NICU experience certainly taught me that things are out of your control. Even when you do everything right, there is no gaurantee.
It's November....so you know what that means
In November my blog goes from being just about my boys to honoring an raising awareness of prematurity...because of one of my boys! Stay tuned for many rambling posts about what I know about and how we can try to prevent prematurity.
I do this because 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely, including my son. Did you know that The Empire State Building will light purple on Wednesday, November 17, in recognition of the March of Dimes 8th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day? During November, Prematurity Awareness Month, March of Dimes focuses the nation’s attention on the serious crisis of premature birth (birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy). A special Web site – www.marchofdimes.com/fight – includes the 2010 state-by-state and national Premature Birth Report Cards, information on the importance of the last weeks of pregnancy, and ways you can help premature babies.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, www.marchofdimes.com or www.nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
I do this because 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely, including my son. Did you know that The Empire State Building will light purple on Wednesday, November 17, in recognition of the March of Dimes 8th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day? During November, Prematurity Awareness Month, March of Dimes focuses the nation’s attention on the serious crisis of premature birth (birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy). A special Web site – www.marchofdimes.com/fight – includes the 2010 state-by-state and national Premature Birth Report Cards, information on the importance of the last weeks of pregnancy, and ways you can help premature babies.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, www.marchofdimes.com or www.nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Gunner's Walking!
Gunner took his first official steps on 10/8/10. On 10/10/10, caught it on film. Today, 10/30/10, he has been spontaneously walking all over the house. No hand holding, no cruising, just picking up and walking. Not just a few steps, but walking from one side of the room to the other.
2011 Ambassador Family
The greatest honor that I can think of (short of being the mother of a preemie) is to tell his story. Our family has been asked by the Kalamazoo chapter of the March of Dimes to be 2011's Ambassador Family.
What does this mean? It simply means, I get to tell Gunner's Story. I get to tell it at the March for Babies event, Signature Chef's Auction, and Prematurity Awareness Events. The hope is that his story will motivate and inspire people to help the March of Dimes in their mission to help every baby get their full 9 months.
Honestly, my first thought was "are we the best choice?" Do we deserve such an honor? Is there another family that had a more inspiring story (read: harder NICU road and developmental struggles)? Really, Gunner is a 33 weeker. He was for the most part a feeder/grower. But then I have to remind myself, I will **never discount anyone's experience with prematurity** including my own.
I was quickly reminded that even though Gunner didn't have the hardest road to travel, there were reasons why we may be a great choice:
What does this mean? It simply means, I get to tell Gunner's Story. I get to tell it at the March for Babies event, Signature Chef's Auction, and Prematurity Awareness Events. The hope is that his story will motivate and inspire people to help the March of Dimes in their mission to help every baby get their full 9 months.
Honestly, my first thought was "are we the best choice?" Do we deserve such an honor? Is there another family that had a more inspiring story (read: harder NICU road and developmental struggles)? Really, Gunner is a 33 weeker. He was for the most part a feeder/grower. But then I have to remind myself, I will **never discount anyone's experience with prematurity** including my own.
I was quickly reminded that even though Gunner didn't have the hardest road to travel, there were reasons why we may be a great choice:
- I first gave to the MOD when I was 17. I was working at KMart and March for Babies was called WalkAmerica, I was young and didn't know what the mission was, but it was promoted as a good thing. I donated in the form of payroll deduction.
- We embody the mission of the March of Dimes, from following to Dr's advice given in routine prenatal care (based on research funded by the March of Dimes) to learning about the possibility that my preterm baby may need surfactant to help his lungs stay inflated (More MOD research at work)
- Gunner could have been a 28 weeker...but I rested in the hospital for 6 weeks, letting him bake longer AND it was MOD research that aided in the treatment of my pPROM
- I planned on doing a walk with each of my pregnancies, because by then March for Babies had a personal meaning. With Greyson I missed it because of graduation, with Gunner, I missed it because my water broke (more than 3 months too soon)
- As a mom who has been there and an educator who has to talk to people daily, I can do the job, which is speaking from the heart and inspiring forward movement of the mission.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
More allergies...
Greyson has informed me that he, in addition to being allergic to milk, he is allergic to girls. In his words, "they make me sick" How funny is that? Out of the mouths of babes.
Guess this means he is growing up! He has hit the "girls have cooties" stage.
Speaking of growing up, he had his first overnight sleepover last night. Yes, I am that mom. I took pictures of him with his overnight bag, with his cousin (who was also sleeping over) and of him in the car (even though he was not looking, he was already on the way!)..sigh. My baby is growing up.
Guess this means he is growing up! He has hit the "girls have cooties" stage.
Speaking of growing up, he had his first overnight sleepover last night. Yes, I am that mom. I took pictures of him with his overnight bag, with his cousin (who was also sleeping over) and of him in the car (even though he was not looking, he was already on the way!)..sigh. My baby is growing up.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Allergies suck, part 2
Today, we had another delightful (smell sarcasam) trip to the allergist. As Gunner is allergic to eggs and they grow the flu shot in eggs, he has to have it administered there. Here was a run down of the fun:
9:10 pick up pediatric dose of flu vaccine
9:35 arrive at allergist
9:45 meet with allergist (who speaks english, but is very hard to understand) explaining to him why we are there
10:00 test for serum reaction
10:15 check for reaction. ok to do a partial injection, inject 1/5 of the shot
10:30 check for reaction
10:45 check again, administer more of the injection (poke 3)
By this time, Gunner has figured out when 2 nurses walk in, he is getting poked. And he is NOT happy.
11:00 check for reaction...at this point he has super flushed cheeks and is hot and kinda wheezy
11:15 recheck
11:30 recheck...asked how close we lived to a hospital and if we had an epi pen..reassuring much?
So at 11:45 he zonks out. Sleeps until 2:40..needless to say with the question we were asked on the way out, I was checking on him about every 30 minutes, very similar to the newborn neuroticism that is even more intensified when you have a preemie, you know...the breathing checking? fun. yeah, fun.
The one bright moment of the appointment was when the nurse was going to poke him and she notes "At least he has meaty thighs!" To the mom of a 33 week preemie, it was the one good thing I heard.
9:10 pick up pediatric dose of flu vaccine
9:35 arrive at allergist
9:45 meet with allergist (who speaks english, but is very hard to understand) explaining to him why we are there
10:00 test for serum reaction
10:15 check for reaction. ok to do a partial injection, inject 1/5 of the shot
10:30 check for reaction
10:45 check again, administer more of the injection (poke 3)
By this time, Gunner has figured out when 2 nurses walk in, he is getting poked. And he is NOT happy.
11:00 check for reaction...at this point he has super flushed cheeks and is hot and kinda wheezy
11:15 recheck
11:30 recheck...asked how close we lived to a hospital and if we had an epi pen..reassuring much?
So at 11:45 he zonks out. Sleeps until 2:40..needless to say with the question we were asked on the way out, I was checking on him about every 30 minutes, very similar to the newborn neuroticism that is even more intensified when you have a preemie, you know...the breathing checking? fun. yeah, fun.
The one bright moment of the appointment was when the nurse was going to poke him and she notes "At least he has meaty thighs!" To the mom of a 33 week preemie, it was the one good thing I heard.
Marketing FAIL.
So I go to the mail today to get the mail. Whatever do I find in there? An American Girl catalog. Do I look like a mom who needs an American Girl catalog?
Uh, nope. I have no girls, will have no girls, so why do I get this catalog? However, it does make me wonder, do moms of girls wonder what it would be like to have a boy? Or want a boy? Honestly, I have always said I wanted boys. I guess I got my wish. But, when you are told you are having a girl (that lasted less than 24 hours mind you) and in that time frame already have a name (since you are told that baby is coming TODAY) I think it is natural to wonder. What if? Or what would it be like. I would not trade Gunner for any girl in the world, unless of course he really was a she, little Jillian Elyse. That was what we planned on naming him (her) when my water broke on May 6th.
Disclaimer: This is the bored musings of a mother to boys who has been with them all day and now most of the evening as we enter deer hunting widow-dom.
Uh, nope. I have no girls, will have no girls, so why do I get this catalog? However, it does make me wonder, do moms of girls wonder what it would be like to have a boy? Or want a boy? Honestly, I have always said I wanted boys. I guess I got my wish. But, when you are told you are having a girl (that lasted less than 24 hours mind you) and in that time frame already have a name (since you are told that baby is coming TODAY) I think it is natural to wonder. What if? Or what would it be like. I would not trade Gunner for any girl in the world, unless of course he really was a she, little Jillian Elyse. That was what we planned on naming him (her) when my water broke on May 6th.
Disclaimer: This is the bored musings of a mother to boys who has been with them all day and now most of the evening as we enter deer hunting widow-dom.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
"Mom"
Mom is a role, a job, and an honorary title. Mother (egg carrier) does not equal mom. I honestly do not think one grasps what Mom means until they are one. Once that happens, your world changes; you are now the protector supreme of someone more important than you. You live, breathe, and would do anything to support or provide for that child. I believe, this position in life transcends all others. I know that regardless of wherever my children are or however old they are or how strained my relationship may be with them I will always feel this way. I will always be there if they should need me. Forever their Mommy I will be.
Last summer I was in a position that was the most helpless and frightening that I have ever experienced in my entire adult life. I was in a place where my role as mom may have changed or even been taken from me. Spending six weeks unsure and unaware of what would happen to my child, confined to a hospital room, alone most days for 23 plus hours, taught me who was there to support me when I needed it most.
As I said, the love for a child transcends any other feeling in your life. When your child is in danger, nothing else really matters. As I spent countless of hours in the NICU after Gunner was born at 33 weeks, I witnessed traumatic things I would never wish on anyone. Things that unless you were there and see it you could never understand. Some that are painfully hard to forget include, seeing multiple failed IV attempts over the course of 1 ½ hours, which I could not even bring myself to watch. I would wander the halls, breaking down in tears in the hallway with each failed attempt and a new attempt at insertion, not caring who saw. Seeing and hearing alarms go off whenever his heart or respiration rate dipped because he was too young to remember how to breathe. Feeding him through a tube placed in his mouth or nose, as opposed to being able to nurse or bottle feed him. Calling the hospital in the middle of the night just to check on him, finding out he had spells (of breathing cessation) or had lost weight instead of gained, during a middle of the night pumping session (in which you are doing the only thing that you can to actually help your child). Loosing sleep, pumping every 2-3 hours of the day or night, sleeping no more than 5 hours each night.
Me, as an individual did not matter; all I was concerned with was my child and his well-being; again, a very vulnerable and frightening time in my life, where the health and survival of my child was in someone else’s hands. So during this time, again, you learn who you can really count on. In retrospect, at this point, it meant nothing if someone had visited me or sent me flowers, it was all about Gunner. Just a call or email or recognition of his birth, while not full term and health uncertain, meant the world to me. Or any suport that could be offered for my family that I was leaving behind to care for this fragile child.
If I didn’t get these, I felt I knew what that meant and that was ok, it just wasn’t a relationship that I needed to maintain, or one I could maintain with the effort the other person had exerted. So I concentrated my effort on doing what I could to bring my child home and then once home what I could do to keep him out of the hospital. Essential relationships where someone was able to reach out to me flourished, those that required me to initiate the contact extinguished, as the work of mother of a premature baby is never done. Feeding, sleeping, snuggling and holding are all different, not to mention child care arrangements, doctor type and number of appointments. I did this all while working a full-time (graciously with PT hours) job as I provide the health insurance for the family. So, if someone didn’t make time for me, I couldn’t find time to make for them.
Last summer I was in a position that was the most helpless and frightening that I have ever experienced in my entire adult life. I was in a place where my role as mom may have changed or even been taken from me. Spending six weeks unsure and unaware of what would happen to my child, confined to a hospital room, alone most days for 23 plus hours, taught me who was there to support me when I needed it most.
As I said, the love for a child transcends any other feeling in your life. When your child is in danger, nothing else really matters. As I spent countless of hours in the NICU after Gunner was born at 33 weeks, I witnessed traumatic things I would never wish on anyone. Things that unless you were there and see it you could never understand. Some that are painfully hard to forget include, seeing multiple failed IV attempts over the course of 1 ½ hours, which I could not even bring myself to watch. I would wander the halls, breaking down in tears in the hallway with each failed attempt and a new attempt at insertion, not caring who saw. Seeing and hearing alarms go off whenever his heart or respiration rate dipped because he was too young to remember how to breathe. Feeding him through a tube placed in his mouth or nose, as opposed to being able to nurse or bottle feed him. Calling the hospital in the middle of the night just to check on him, finding out he had spells (of breathing cessation) or had lost weight instead of gained, during a middle of the night pumping session (in which you are doing the only thing that you can to actually help your child). Loosing sleep, pumping every 2-3 hours of the day or night, sleeping no more than 5 hours each night.
Me, as an individual did not matter; all I was concerned with was my child and his well-being; again, a very vulnerable and frightening time in my life, where the health and survival of my child was in someone else’s hands. So during this time, again, you learn who you can really count on. In retrospect, at this point, it meant nothing if someone had visited me or sent me flowers, it was all about Gunner. Just a call or email or recognition of his birth, while not full term and health uncertain, meant the world to me. Or any suport that could be offered for my family that I was leaving behind to care for this fragile child.
If I didn’t get these, I felt I knew what that meant and that was ok, it just wasn’t a relationship that I needed to maintain, or one I could maintain with the effort the other person had exerted. So I concentrated my effort on doing what I could to bring my child home and then once home what I could do to keep him out of the hospital. Essential relationships where someone was able to reach out to me flourished, those that required me to initiate the contact extinguished, as the work of mother of a premature baby is never done. Feeding, sleeping, snuggling and holding are all different, not to mention child care arrangements, doctor type and number of appointments. I did this all while working a full-time (graciously with PT hours) job as I provide the health insurance for the family. So, if someone didn’t make time for me, I couldn’t find time to make for them.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Two days...
I am trying my best not to publicly proclaim it, but it is 5:30am and I still have TWO sleeping boys. Two sleeping boys that have been sleeping since about 9pm. Yes, two nights in a row, KNOCK ON WOOD, do not jinx it, Gunner has slept through the night. Oh my. My body doesn't know what to do with this surplus of sleep....guess I will use it to blog about my boys.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Special days
October 15th and Novemeber 17th are special days to me. Special to the mission of the March of Dimes and to me as a parent. October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day and November 17th is Prematurity Awareness Day.
These days touch my heart as I cannot imagine a greater loss than that of a child, regardless of age or gestation and I cannot imagine a struggle more bittersweet than that of parenting a baby born prematurely. So, on Friday night I lit a single candle to remember all who have loved and lost as my private celebration of the moment.
As we approach November 17th, I will be attempting to raise awareness for the day that truly touches my heart and that of my son. If you should want to join me, please do. I took the following from the Blogger's Unite website, but all is true of my own situation.
Every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick-half a million of them in the U.S. November 17th is when we fight!
Do you know a baby who was born too soon, too small, unable to breathe or nurse on their own? With 1 in every 8 babies born prematurely, you probably do. While medical advances give some babies a chance of survival, for many babies premature birth is a life-or-death condition. Babies who survive can face serious health challenges and risk lifelong disabilities.
If you are reading this blog, you do. My son Gunner, born at 33 weeks. He is the picture of health now, but 16 months ago, he too was fighting for something...his life. He too was unable to eat on his own or able to control his temperature. He had to be monitored 24 hours a day, just in case he forgot to breathe on his own.
The rate of premature birth has risen more than 30 percent since 1981. In half the cases, we simply don’t understand what went wrong. The March of Dimes is leading the fight for answers. And, ultimately, preventions.
This is our situation. We have no idea why my water broke at 28 weeks. I did everything right, I teach devlopment, I know what to do and what not to do. But it still happened. The March of Dimes funds research to help figure that out, so that maybe another mom won't know the undue stress that having a baby too soon brings.
November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis. Take 3 steps to help fight premature birth:
1. Visit marchofdimes.com/fight.
2. Put a badge on your blog to help spread the word.
3. On November 17, blog for a baby you love and to help others.
We need to fight ― because babies shouldn’t have to.
As we approach November 17th, I will be attempting to raise awareness for the day that truly touches my heart and that of my son. If you should want to join me, please do. I took the following from the Blogger's Unite website, but all is true of my own situation.
Every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick-half a million of them in the U.S. November 17th is when we fight!
Do you know a baby who was born too soon, too small, unable to breathe or nurse on their own? With 1 in every 8 babies born prematurely, you probably do. While medical advances give some babies a chance of survival, for many babies premature birth is a life-or-death condition. Babies who survive can face serious health challenges and risk lifelong disabilities.
If you are reading this blog, you do. My son Gunner, born at 33 weeks. He is the picture of health now, but 16 months ago, he too was fighting for something...his life. He too was unable to eat on his own or able to control his temperature. He had to be monitored 24 hours a day, just in case he forgot to breathe on his own.
The rate of premature birth has risen more than 30 percent since 1981. In half the cases, we simply don’t understand what went wrong. The March of Dimes is leading the fight for answers. And, ultimately, preventions.
This is our situation. We have no idea why my water broke at 28 weeks. I did everything right, I teach devlopment, I know what to do and what not to do. But it still happened. The March of Dimes funds research to help figure that out, so that maybe another mom won't know the undue stress that having a baby too soon brings.
November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis. Take 3 steps to help fight premature birth:
1. Visit marchofdimes.com/fight.
2. Put a badge on your blog to help spread the word.
3. On November 17, blog for a baby you love and to help others.
We need to fight ― because babies shouldn’t have to.
How does your preemie grow so well?
The boy eats. And eats. And eats some more. Gunner is pretty much a bottomless pit. The running joke at dinner is that he eats Greyson under the table. Just last night he had a tray of food, but he was absolutely begging for my food. If this doesn't say it all....
Note: this WAS Greyson's hamburger...
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Fall fun picture post
It had to have been one of the very best fall weekends for color and weather...I took it all in with my boys! Here is the fun we had!
Maybe I went overboard...but I love those boys!
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