This is a pic I forgot to post. Chris after the boys were born =D
The boys had been in the NICU for almost two weeks. We were doing our last hands on for the night. As I typed that last sentence I realized some of you may be saying "what the heck is hands on?" Well the boys were too tiny for us to hold them. The only contact we got was during feedings. We would change their diapers, check their temp, swaddle them back up, then their nurse would start their feeding.
I cried and cried while I held him.I couldn't believe I was finally holding him. I didn't want to put him down but I knew i was going to get to hold Rea too!
This was how much they ate every three hours at 2 weeks old 6.5 mLs
Ok so now that we know what "hands on" is... 2 weeks in NICU, last hands on of the night, Pierce's nurse was this sweet girl named Raquel. She looked at me while I was holding Pierces hand and said "would you like to hold him" I was shocked, I was told we wouldn't be able to hold them for a while. She double checked and came back with two hospital gowns and two rocking chairs. I was finally going to be able to hold my boys!
Holding Pierce for the first time. I was afraid i might drown him with my tears.
Chris holding Pierce for the first time
I cried and cried while I held him.I couldn't believe I was finally holding him. I didn't want to put him down but I knew i was going to get to hold Rea too!
Holding Rea for the first time and still boohooing
Chris' first time holding Reagan
This was the best night so far! I couldn't help but just cry and stare as I held Reagan. Still in disbelief.
The blankets made them look bigger but they were TINY. I was afraid I would break them. I love these pictures <3
Like i said before, we were staying at the Ronald McDonald house. It was a complete godsend. Chris swept a stairwell once a week and that was our payment for our room. Dinner and lunch were provided every night. I also made many friends who's baby's were also in the NICU. Greta, I love this girl! We would stay up till 3 am sometimes just talking. The sweetest girl in the world. She had twin boys as well that were born a few weeks before R&P. Cole and Hunter. Hunter had to undergo open heart surgery. they had a lot more complications than R&P. Greta story is heart breaking. Her fiance Chris was the same age as my Chris, 25. He was active and healthy and had just found out Greta was pregnant. He passed away when she was only 10 weeks pregnant from a heart attack. She was only 24 weeks when she had the boys.They stayed in the NICU for a long time. We still talk often and meet up for birthdays. Her boys are doing great! Hunter is finally off of his feeding tube and gaining weight. He has a touch of Cerebral Palsy but it doesn't hold him back any. They are HILARIOUS! Greta has found a great man that loves her and the boys. I am so happy for them!
This is all of us 2011 Warner Park Zoo for the RMH Birthday Party
People always ask me how I kept so positive while my boys were in the NICU. Its simple. My boys were healthy. They just needed to grow. I saw so many babies who were so sick. How could I not see my blessing? There was another Mom with whom we became friends. She was getting to go home. We were all very excited. Chris and I walked to the NICU and I saw This mom outside sobbing. Her son had passed away just moments before we arrived. They were supposed to take him home that day. again, how could I not see the positive in our lives. There were babies there whose parents NEVER visited. There was one little boy with brittle bone disease. SIX MONTHS OLD, he was ready to go home, his parents never came to pick him up. I wanted to take him home with us badly! He was precious!
Can we get into some happy now? We were in Pod 3 with all of our favorite nurses(Jenna, Teresa, Brenda, Melanie) for a few weeks when the boys were moved to Pod 1 in a co-bed! Reunited at last!
Thier nurses were amazed. I forgot to mention this story but one day The nurses were standing outside of the Pod. The Pods are long with 10-15 babies in them. The nurses heard a squeaking noise. Couldnt figure out where it was coming from. they check on every baby. finally they reached the last isolet aka: Pierce Bailey. at just 3 weeks old he pulled all of his tubes out, unswaddled himself, taken of his diaper and moved to the bottom of his isolet. COVERED in poo. They said they laughed till they cried while cleaning him up. Babies that premature and that size aren't supposed to be that strong. they called him Houdini, two days later Reagan did the same thing...Only my boys. When they were put in their co-bed they slept so still and just snuggled each other. they missed each other, it was precious
. We were in there a week and had Teresa and a new nurse named Kaci. She found out my birthday was coming up. When I got to the NICU on my birthday i saw this <3
I wish i had a picture of the inside but it said we <3 you the heart was made out of their footprints. Of course I cried :D We still keep in contact with all of their nurses and they love watching the boys grow up via facebook =D
TBC...
Fin Frands
I loved reading this! And the picture of the two of them snuggling was SO precious! We stayed in a Ronald McDonald house in Virginia when my little sister was having a surgery for her cerebral palsy. I remember the whole experience being rad - I had kids to play with, tons of toys and books. I didn't want to leave!
ReplyDeleteMy nephew LOVED the play room! it was HUGE!
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