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.
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