World Prematurity Day...

I have been absent from my blog for a while doing this: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/dashboard
You can take a look at the site but basically I'm trying to write a novel in 30 days - so far I'm terribly behind but being a mommy (and a naturally born procrastinator) will do that to you - but the creative juices are flowing and I'm convinced I'm sitting on a New York Times Bestsellers List book so stay tuned!

I decided though that I really needed to take a break from the fiction scribbling to acknowledge World Prematurity Day. I've spent a large part of today reading stories from other families with preemies and I'm about to burst with all of the emotions within me. My heart breaks for those families who didn't get to bring their babies home and it overflows with joy for those who did. You can check them out on Facebook but you probably should have a box of tissues handy: http://www.facebook.com/WorldPrematurityDay

Our story began on May 31st when I was rushed via ambulance to a hospital with a level 3 NICU when we were just 26 weeks pregnant. My cervix had started to open and there was a very real concern that the little Diva's birth was imminent. A doctor there painted a very grim picture of possible infections for myself and the little Diva - he wanted us to have an emergency c-section that night.

I am eternally indebted to the nurse who comforted me and told me in no uncertain terms, "Don't you DARE agree to a c-section tonight - you are going to be here for weeks still growing your baby". I was an emotional wreck - we all were - but her words were the anchor that got us through that first night.

I went on to spend 2 and a half weeks on hospital bed-rest. We delivered our 2 pound 4 ounce baby girl via emergency c-section at 28 weeks and 4 days. She was the smallest baby we had ever seen. We were terrified. She was so tiny and seemed so fragile that I was afraid I'd hurt her just by holding her.

They say that You don't know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have  and the next 3 months were a true reflection of this quote. We went through the roller-coaster that is the NICU. There were good days and bad days - days I'd like to forget and days of immense happiness. We came out the other side stronger as a family and more terrified of germs that any one should ever be.

We've had our Little Diva home for over a year now and she is doing wonderfully. We (as a family) are forever grateful for each of the doctor, nurses, friends and family members who accompanied us on our journey through the NICU and the days since we came home. I hope that all of the families still going through their NICU journeys are as blessed as we were with a loving and caring support system and I hope for long and healthy pregnancies to those who are pregnant!