I’ve been working on my blog a lot lately, and trying to grow my readership. It takes a lot of work, but when I think back to the reasons I started writing, it makes it all worth it. For those of you that are just joining me, or even if you’ve been here since the beginning, I wanted to share my very first blog post.
Even if I can just reach one other mother struggling through a NICU stay or a complicated pregnancy, I have succeeded. So, I hope you’ll continue to join us and share with your friends!
Now, for a little flashback….
Hello!
About a year ago, I started a CaringBridge web page for my twins. CaringBridge is a website for people going thru a “Health Event” as they say on their site. Basically, it is a way to keep family and friends aware of events as you are going through medical problems or a hospital stay. Our twins were born prematurely at just 25 weeks and 5 days, so they spent a lot of time in the hospital. 91 and 93 days to be exact. I used the page to tell family and friends about the twins’ progress, as well as an emotional outlet for myself. It was extremely helpful for me, and I think (I hope) people enjoyed reading about our experiences (and maybe learned a thing or two.)
Since we are no longer in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for you lucky people who have never had to learn those initials) and have been home for 10 months, I decided to leave the CaringBridge and start my own blog. Not only do I want to keep tabs on the twins’ progress, but I also want to share my everyday experiences about having preemies, as well as a very energetic 3-year-old. All boys. Yes. All boys.
While my boys have been very healthy, and we have been very lucky, we still have issues lingering from prematurity, such as weakened immune systems. Just because you get released from the hospital, it does not mean everything goes back to normal. We spent the entire winter in isolation to avoid the dreaded RSV (respiratory virus) and flu. In children with fully functioning immune systems, these illnesses can be very harmful, so in someone with a compromised system, they can be deadly. We also our behind in our physical milestones, but are making great progress for their adjusted age.
Things like “adjusted age” and initials like “RSV” or “PDA” or “TTTS” have become very familiar to me, but many people probably have no idea what I’m talking about. I want to use this blog to educate people on both prematurity, as well as fetal conditions/disease. My twins experienced TTTS (Twin to twin transfusion syndrome) and SIUGR (Selective Intrauterine Growth Restriction.) There are great support groups and foundations for these conditions, but more awareness, research, and a cure are needed. If I can spread a little awareness, give someone hope, or just connect with someone else going through one of these issues, then I consider my blog a success.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to spread a little joy. I want to share my children’s milestones, funny stories, and of course, pictures of my cutie pies. All three are my beautiful, messy, silly miracles that I am so thankful for everyday. Even though sometimes I may be pulling my hair out (or coloring it to get rid of the grey they’ve given me) and even though I get just as frustrated, exhausted, and starved for adult conversation as the next mom, I always remember how lucky I am.
A friend once posted on my Facebook page a picture that said:
Boys = Dirt + Noise
I definitely know that is true, and I hope you will follow along with me on my dirty, noisy journey.
This is such a special post for such a special family! My son was late, but he still had to be in IC for a ten days. And he was also born with Down syndrome, luckily that did not cause him any health issues (he’s ten now)!
Thank you Lisa! I’m so glad your son doesn’t have any health issues!
I loved this.. I had no idea about most of this stuff! Thanks for the flashback!
Thank you so much Lauren!
i love reading about why people blog and i think your story and journey is a great one to share and be heard! i will continue to read on!
Thank you so much!
I love learning the unique stories that lead blogger to blog. The struggle, the joy, they all make it worthwhile. I’m not sure when you published your first post, but congrats on sticking with blogging! You have a beautiful family!
Thank you very much!
I loved reading about your boys, and more power to you for all boys! I must say I did not know about TTTS etc. and I thank you for sharing. Sounds like a lovely family cant wait to see more!
Thank you so much Alex!
What a beautiful post. I love dirt and noise and all your boys. 🙂
Awe. Thanks Desiree!
what a beautiful story and thank you for sharing ♥
Thank you Tianna…and thank you for reading!
Beautiful post – and your children are miracle blessings! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Clare!
Thanks for sharing your story! I hope that other mothers going through the same thing have been able to find support by reading your story!
Thank you Audrey!
Such a great post, and I love your reasons to keep on sharing!
Thank you Jessica!
I love blogs that share both a life journey and help educate people at the same time. You have done just that with this lovely post.
Thank you Kristin. I appreciate that!
Hi Shann! It’s always great to reflect back on where we came from and how far we’ve come. Best wishes on your continuing journey!
Thank you so much!
I love the reason(s) why you started! I was lucky to have a healthy baby, but I know many moms who had to spend time in the NICU with their babies and they didn’t have many outlets for asking questions or areas where they could find other people going through similar situations!
Thank you so much Shannon. Please feel free to pass my blog or info along…I’d love to help anyone not feel so alone.
You do an absolutely amazing job of spreading some joy and sharign your life with three boys! I totally understand that your blog can help both you and your readers feel less alone.
Thank you Astrid!
So glad others have this blog to turn to! What a wonderful thing to offer and to also tell your story. So inspiring!
Thank you so much Karen!
Thanks for sharing this flashback post! I learned a lot about a topic I knew very little about!
Thank you for visiting and reading. I hope you come back and learn even more 🙂
What a wonderful post! It’s always so amazing to see how a blogger started or why the started in the first place. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Thank you for reading! 🙂
This is so great! My cousin and his wife had their first child prematurely, so I’ve got a little bit of an idea of how stressful it can be.
xo, Caitlin
And Possibly Dinosaurs
Thanks Caitlin!
WOW, you go girl for having the strength to go through all of this and share it publicly! I can’t even imagine staying in isolation all winter and being afraid of all of these crazy diseases and ailments. How are they now??
cominguprosestheblog.com
Thank you! They are doing great now…3 years old.
Wow, what a wonderful reason to blog! I’m glad your boys are doing well now 🙂
This was a great post, Shann. The immune weakness is horrible. We thought our daughter was doing awesome at 4, and she was, then when she started kindergarten it was a nightmare. She literally missed 30 of the first 45 days of school. She was so sick, with every germ possible, we considered homeschooling.
At 10, she’s much better, though she still gets slammed by seemingly small illnesses now and then 🙁