Prematurity Awareness Month

I know Ava wasn't as premature as some of her NICU buddies. But it was still a trying time. She was born at supposedly 35 weeks, but when she was born she plotted out to be a 33 weeker. She was big, 5 pounds 14 ounces. I am suspecting i had a touch of diabetes.

Anyways, to see my baby blue and purple, when i was not expecting it, was not fun. I think I was in shock? In denial? I did not know what to think. After 2 horus of not seeing my baby, i began to wonder if that was normal? I thought shouldnt i be bonding with her? I hear the couple down the hall, and their baby is crying and everyone is laughing and having fun. Then the news that she had to be transferred to Pittsburghs, West Penn Hospital. I was still in shock..this whole team came in a mobile NICU to get my baby. They wheeled her in to me in this huge glass type thing, with all these wires..i had to tell her bye. I just met her and already had to tell her bye.

The next morning was when i finally lost it. They had told us we had to watch this video about what to do when you take home your baby. So we put it in so we could leave asap. My mom then called and said that we could hold her when we got down there, ( she was with her!! ) and i told frank..and he started crying..well if he was crying, then something was wrong. my mind just wasnt right..i lost it. Thank goodness the dr let me go...he came in and tried to talk to us, and the nurse plopped out that video and told us we shouldnt of put it in.

And we were off. I was never in so much pain, with 50 plus stitches i could hardley sit. I just wanted to see my baby. So that night we make it to the NICU. I felt like a lost little girl looking for own little girl. We scrubbed up and walked in...Frank went to the wrong baby, he thought it was Ava! We didnt even know what she looked like, He got "Scolded" for that and we told them we were sorry that we didnt know which was ours. Finally i got to see her, she was laying there looking peaceful with her heart monitors and IVs. She had the normal preemie problems, Bradys, apnea, feeding issues, jaundice, couldnt hold her body temp and RDS..she had a lot of fluid on her lungs. The nurses took such good care of her. It was a scary and trying 2 weeks..( yes only 2 weeks , but 2 weeks IS 2 weeks...) Frank and I totally grew up in those 2 weeks. At first I didnt even want to be there, everytime her monitor would sound i would leave the room. I couldnt deal..then I got to hold her for two hours one night, and no alarms went off. It was a turning point for me. They tested her for downs, and waiting for those results were hell. I still get comments that she looks like she has downs? I dont know, ALl i know is my 16 month old baby girl is my best friend ..we hang out all day together. I am so proud of my girl. I worried so much that first year..she doesnt do this, didnt do that...nothing was "on time". we still worry, and are probably facing speech therapy. But she is healthy and happy..thats all that matters...here are some nicu pics . before and after !