Strong, yet Fragile Preemies are amazing. They are so tiny, yet so mighty. So tough, vulnerable.They are so strong, yet so fragile at the same time. Premature babies must fight to do things that full-term babies do automatically. Their systems aren't fully developed yet, including their immune system. So, even though they beat the odds that are stacked against them, they … [Read more...]
Scars: When They Start to Fade
Scars Scars on our bodies can come from many different places. They can be a sign of past trauma from an accident, an injury, or in my case, even giving birth. I was sitting with the twins the other day when the topic of scars came up. It's not a typical thing to discuss with children, but the twins didn't have a typical birth or newborn period. Each had a surgery in the … [Read more...]
Twin Comments: 5 Things That Drive Me Crazy
Twin Comments I totally get it. Twins are unique. It's pretty awesome/weird/amazing/crazy when you see two very similar people walking around. You have questions. You want to say something. But, those twin comments? They sometimes drive me crazy. I say stuff too. Before twins, I probably said some pretty silly stuff or asked some unnecessary questions. So, I'm going to … [Read more...]
Healing Touch: Aiden’s Story
Healing Touch As any preemie or NICU parent can tell you, touch is such an important part of their journey to healing. That connection is something that even medicine can't take the place of. When my twins were in the NICU, I wasn't allowed to hold them for the first week. They were very fragile, and couldn't handle very much stimulation. The trauma of the delivery alone … [Read more...]
Hospital Discharge Alone: Lily’s Story
Hospital Discharge Alone When you go to have your baby, you don't expect to have your hospital discharge alone. You expect to bring a newborn baby home with you, and start your family. Prematurity robs you of that experience. There is no celebration, no flowers, and no one trying to sneak a peek of your baby as you're wheeled out. Watching other new families … [Read more...]