Today we attended the girls first NICU reunion. We didn't think we were going to be able to make it at first because the girls had been sick earlier in the week with fever but all turned out well and since they are feeling much better (no fever in 48 hours) we went ahead and went over.
I can't begin to describe some of the emotions I had just pulling into the parking lot again. Looking at the hospital where so much took place, where we spent day in and day out for so many weeks. It was so nice to see all the nurses and staff that were such a part of our everyday life just one year ago. Next week is the one year anniversary of the girls homecoming.
The girls were so excited by all the activity and it was really sweet how everything was all set up. Morgan went crazy over all the colorful balloons. This year's theme was Disney.
We arrived and registered and they gave the girls name tags that said "NICU Graduate", their name, and their birth weight. I looked around at some of the other kids and realized that my girls were some of the tiniest ones there. There were tons of people and tons of multiples. We even saw quads. We met up with our buddies the Hurts. They have triplets and we have kept in touch since meeting in the NICU last August.
We all had a really good time going around to all the "stations" that were all set up. We took pictures with our favorite nurses, we took pictures with Cinderella and Prince Charming. We took pictures with Donald and Daisy Duck. Then we headed down the hall where they had pictures of the girls and other NICU graduates on big posters lining the walkway. In a conference room (the same one we took childbirth classes in) they had a weight station set up. Nurses took the girls weight and height and entered it on cute little certificates that said "Look How We've Grown" and had their birth weight and today's weight. Maddy was 18lbs. 11oz. and Morgan was 17lbs. even on their scale (She had a full diaper and heavy shoes on, she was 16.4 at the doctor's office on this past week). Then they got their handprints made in this colorful foam stuff that is supposed to harden. We saw a video with pictures of babies that were the size the girls were when born but looking at it seemed unreal and impossible for a child to survive that small.
In the cafeteria they had a snack station set up and we ran into one of the girls main nurses, Carole. She took Maddy and leaned in to hug me. She said "We were just talking about you the other day". I looked puzzled and she talked about how her and a couple of the other nurses had been wondering how we were doing. She said "You really had it rough here didn't you sweetie" and all I could say was "yes".
She was referring to the girls bowel perforations at a week old and the news that Maddy was gravely sick just two days after her sister was air lifted to the children's hospital and then they were taking Maddy too. The girls had colostomy bags that near the end began to tear their skin off thier little tummies and cause substantial amounts of pain to all of us, but especially them. She was right. I really had it rough, but look what I gained from it. Sometimes I feel like I walked through fire and out came this wonderful life with two beautiful perfect in every way babies. I wonder if all NICU mommies feel that way. You could tell there was a commraderie there between the parents. The way we smiled at each other and celebrated with each other. Like we were members of a secret club that truly understood the happiness associated with the days festivities.
I can't begin to describe some of the emotions I had just pulling into the parking lot again. Looking at the hospital where so much took place, where we spent day in and day out for so many weeks. It was so nice to see all the nurses and staff that were such a part of our everyday life just one year ago. Next week is the one year anniversary of the girls homecoming.
The girls were so excited by all the activity and it was really sweet how everything was all set up. Morgan went crazy over all the colorful balloons. This year's theme was Disney.
We arrived and registered and they gave the girls name tags that said "NICU Graduate", their name, and their birth weight. I looked around at some of the other kids and realized that my girls were some of the tiniest ones there. There were tons of people and tons of multiples. We even saw quads. We met up with our buddies the Hurts. They have triplets and we have kept in touch since meeting in the NICU last August.
We all had a really good time going around to all the "stations" that were all set up. We took pictures with our favorite nurses, we took pictures with Cinderella and Prince Charming. We took pictures with Donald and Daisy Duck. Then we headed down the hall where they had pictures of the girls and other NICU graduates on big posters lining the walkway. In a conference room (the same one we took childbirth classes in) they had a weight station set up. Nurses took the girls weight and height and entered it on cute little certificates that said "Look How We've Grown" and had their birth weight and today's weight. Maddy was 18lbs. 11oz. and Morgan was 17lbs. even on their scale (She had a full diaper and heavy shoes on, she was 16.4 at the doctor's office on this past week). Then they got their handprints made in this colorful foam stuff that is supposed to harden. We saw a video with pictures of babies that were the size the girls were when born but looking at it seemed unreal and impossible for a child to survive that small.
In the cafeteria they had a snack station set up and we ran into one of the girls main nurses, Carole. She took Maddy and leaned in to hug me. She said "We were just talking about you the other day". I looked puzzled and she talked about how her and a couple of the other nurses had been wondering how we were doing. She said "You really had it rough here didn't you sweetie" and all I could say was "yes".
She was referring to the girls bowel perforations at a week old and the news that Maddy was gravely sick just two days after her sister was air lifted to the children's hospital and then they were taking Maddy too. The girls had colostomy bags that near the end began to tear their skin off thier little tummies and cause substantial amounts of pain to all of us, but especially them. She was right. I really had it rough, but look what I gained from it. Sometimes I feel like I walked through fire and out came this wonderful life with two beautiful perfect in every way babies. I wonder if all NICU mommies feel that way. You could tell there was a commraderie there between the parents. The way we smiled at each other and celebrated with each other. Like we were members of a secret club that truly understood the happiness associated with the days festivities.
Here are some pictures of the girls today:
Morgan goes crazy over this big redbird.
She kept laughing and lunging at it. It was so cute.
We got another picture of him holding her and she is all
arched back trying to grab his beak.
Maddy and Ms. Deloris. She was one of our favorite nurses.She always kept me laughing.
Maddy standing around. Having a good time.
Who could resist a picture with Daffy and Daisy Duck?
Not Maddy or Morgan :)
This is Ms. Lori. She was another favorite favorite nurse.
She would always let me hold the girls when I wanted to. I would cross my fingers everyday hoping we would get her!
This is when we first arrived. Maddy was content just sitting back having a bottle. But Morgan wanted to get out and see everything.
She went crazy over all the balloons and colors.
This was Ms. Carole and Maddy at the snack station.
I could always tell she was a really caring person. Today when she hugged me I felt like she really had sympathy/empathy for all we had been through.
A very good nurse.
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