A few things I never thought I’d say: “James, don’t bite your arm.” “James, don’t drag your head across the floor.” and my favorite, “James, don’t lick the tree, (short pause) or the telephone pole!” Our latest challenge continues to be addressing James’ sensory needs. He has a variety of them, and they seem to … Continue reading
Category Archives: Life After NICU
In Appreciation of All You Do, Our Amazing NICU Nurses
I’ve thought about writing this post many times. I haven’t been able to do it yet for a few reasons, mostly because I know it will be impossibly hard to say in words how much James’ NICU nurses mean to us. There are no words to describe how amazing they are, or explain the impact they had on our lives. This week is … Continue reading
ECI to PPCD, The Transition Process is Underway
A day late because sometimes life happens on it’s own schedule, not mine. For 11 years I worked with Early Childhood Intervention, assisting families with the developmental delays of their children, and helping them through the transition process as their children neared the age of three. I’ve talked families through the steps of being referred to the Preschool Program for … Continue reading
Preemie Babies 101
Part of keeping my sanity through our NICU journey and beyond has involved finding online support groups to draw strength from. It is incredibly comforting to know others have been where you are and survived. Not to mention how helpful it is bounce questions off people with experience and insight. Sometimes I feel like they know me better than … Continue reading
Lessons From James, I Love What He Teaches Me
I wasn’t going to publish a blog today. There is so much happening in the world that makes anything I have to say seem trivial. But James isn’t trivial, and some people have told me that he gives them hope. I think we need a whole lot of hope, goodness, and love during times like these. Maybe James … Continue reading
Sensory vs. Personality, Helping James Learn to Navigate His World
We each have a unique perspective on the world around us. That’s part of what makes our world so interesting. We can look at the same thing, but what you see may be completely different from what I see. Thank goodness for those differences. If we didn’t have them it would be a very robotic … Continue reading
How Young is Too Young? Pushing the Limits of Viability
How young is too young, and who is it that makes that decision? You are the person I want to talk with. You are the person who needs to meet James. Had the NICU team attending James’ delivery known his correct gestational age, they would have done nothing. The NICU team would not have been … Continue reading
“Naaa” and “Ssss,” Music to My Ears
Most of our days start the same way. James comes pitter-pattering down the hall at some point; sometimes it’s 1 or 2 AM, sometimes it’s 6 or 7 AM. Either way we snuggle for a while (hopefully a long while if it’s 1 or 2). He announces when he’s ready to get up by sitting … Continue reading
Relieving the Stress of Feeding and Poor Weight Gain
When James saw his pediatrician last week for a monthly weight check we discovered he lost 100 grams. Nothing big and not concerning to his doctor, but a little disappointing to us as we work so hard each day getting him to eat. His doctor told me not to worry about his weight gain (or … Continue reading
On Being a Stay At Home Mom
I love it! I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to stay home with James for a while. I think we both need this time together. There is an amazing healing that comes from just being together, and after the start he’s had, we could both use a little healing. I couldn’t stay home with … Continue reading