Today is Prematurity Awareness Day.
When I became pregnant I never imagined that my little ones would be born early. I thought I would have a normal pregnancy, things don't really ever go wrong. Right? My pregnancy was a complicated one. I was sick from day one until I delivered at 32 weeks. At my 24 week appoinment we learned that Jeret was considerably bigger than Colten, and from there I was refered on to a specialist. I never in my dreams imagined I would be associating a specilaist with my sweet boys. Just a few weeks later my world came crashing down and flipped upside down on December 18th, 2006 when I learned I was 80% effaced and almost a one, we were immediatly taken to Topeka for better care! 8 weeks early!! It was devastating and scary. We sat at the hospital for 5 LONG days and awaited word on our babies to be. With it being so close to Christmas nothing else seemed to matter. We just wanted what was best for our little one's. That Friday (December 22nd) the doctor came in about 10am. We were fully expecting to be sent home to wait out the final few weeks. WRONG. We were told that Dr. Evans felt as though if he did not deliver later that day that Colten would be born a still born. WHAT? Was this really happening to us? Just a few weeks beofre we were having twin boys and on top of the world. How could this be? At 4:14 that afternoon Colten was welcomed into the world at 2pounds 15ounces, and at 4:16 that afternoon Jeret was welcomed in at 3pounds 7ounces...that was my BIG baby. That afternoon
I was thrown into this world of doctors, monitors, illness, complications, and sadness surrounding my sons in the NICU. It is a scary place and far from what we had expected or wanted.
When I became pregnant I never imagined that my little ones would be born early. I thought I would have a normal pregnancy, things don't really ever go wrong. Right? My pregnancy was a complicated one. I was sick from day one until I delivered at 32 weeks. At my 24 week appoinment we learned that Jeret was considerably bigger than Colten, and from there I was refered on to a specialist. I never in my dreams imagined I would be associating a specilaist with my sweet boys. Just a few weeks later my world came crashing down and flipped upside down on December 18th, 2006 when I learned I was 80% effaced and almost a one, we were immediatly taken to Topeka for better care! 8 weeks early!! It was devastating and scary. We sat at the hospital for 5 LONG days and awaited word on our babies to be. With it being so close to Christmas nothing else seemed to matter. We just wanted what was best for our little one's. That Friday (December 22nd) the doctor came in about 10am. We were fully expecting to be sent home to wait out the final few weeks. WRONG. We were told that Dr. Evans felt as though if he did not deliver later that day that Colten would be born a still born. WHAT? Was this really happening to us? Just a few weeks beofre we were having twin boys and on top of the world. How could this be? At 4:14 that afternoon Colten was welcomed into the world at 2pounds 15ounces, and at 4:16 that afternoon Jeret was welcomed in at 3pounds 7ounces...that was my BIG baby. That afternoon
I was thrown into this world of doctors, monitors, illness, complications, and sadness surrounding my sons in the NICU. It is a scary place and far from what we had expected or wanted.
The next day we lost our precious Jeret. We still don't know exactly what the cause of his death was but do not it was largely due to the fact that he was under developed due to his prematurity.
Over time we learned to cope and except our journey and in the midst of chaos, we bonded with this little miracle. Being a preemie does not end when you leave the hospital. We still are on a long road of doctors, follow ups, and possible complications from Colten being born early.
I am so grateful for my boys and the medical staff at Stormont Vail. With them and the work the March of Dimes does my son survived a possible fatal infection, blood transfusions, being intimated, and an irregular heart beat. Not to mention just being early and less than 3lbs. He is truly my miracle boy.
For six weeks we were surrounded by premature and sick babies all day while in the NICU. It's amazing how common it is, 1 in 8 babies. We have experienced a true miracle and a happy story, and have also experienced death and deep sadness. This is a cause I intend to keep fighting for. I would not take our journey back, it brought me Colten. I look forward to a day when all babies are born full term and healthy!
Until then we will keep fighting for the ones who can't.
Until then we will keep fighting for the ones who can't.
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