March For Babies

1 in 8 babies are born prematurely in the United States. Our little Virginia fits into a small percentage of these premature babies that are born at the edge of viability. The March of Dimes has helped lead the way in research and outreach to prevent and treat premature birth, as well as to support those affected by premature birth. As a way of expressing our gratitude for their support during our stay at Yale New Haven Hospital and the life saving measures that their organization's funding helped develop, we have decided to walk in our local March for Babies event this coming May.

If you are local to us in Connecticut, please consider joining our team Go Ginny Go in the walk which will be held on May 5th at 9am at Fairfield Beach.

If you cannot join our team please consider making a small donation to this cause.

For more information please see our team page at:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1844632

Look Alikes

Most people, myself included, think Virginia looks like Heath. Below are pictures of Heath and I as babies as well as photos of all of our nieces and nephews as infants. Who do YOU think she looks like?

Mom

Dad

Cousin Clare

Cousin Shane

Cousin Greyson

Cousin McKenna

Cousin Kyle

Everyone Has a Story

Back in late January, after those super scary days were mostly behind us and we were not so patiently waiting for Virginia to learn how to coordinate eating and breathing, I spent many late nights rocking Virginia next to another mother whose son was exactly a month older than Virginia. After the evening feedings and 7pm nurse shift change things would get quiet in the unit and the two of us would chat as we rocked our babies to sleep.

On one particular night we talked about the wild ride that we were all on and the amazing stories that our tiny babies would have to tell. This mother said to me "you know, this has all taught me that everyone has a story to tell." Those words really resounded with me, because it is so true. This experience was our story, but everyone has a story. Everyone has an experience that has changed them, changed the way they think about the world, changed the way they think about life. Everyone has a story.

I remember walking through the grocery store a few weeks after Virginia was born and realizing that no one knew what I was going through. I was just another anonymous person going through their daily routine, when in reality my world was upside down. I no longer had a pregnant belly, no longer could people recognize that my world was changing but I was living one crazy story. Heath, Virginia and I have a story. We are all forever changed. I like to think we are more grateful, more understanding, and have a little more compassion because now we really know that everyone has a story.

By a series of coincidences I became connected with a family friend that also is living their story. A little girl was born very early like Virginia and coincidentally on Virginia's due date, February 4th. They are in the thick of their story. If you have any extra good thoughts or prayers please send them to their amazing family.

We continue to be amazed by Virginia every day. We couldn't be happier to have her home and really are enjoying our new life together. She is quickly approaching 8 pounds, is sleeping 5 and a half to 6 hours at night and loves to be held and rocked.

Confessions of a New Mom (Post NICU)

Confessions of a New Mom (Post NICU)

-One person CAN watch too much HGTV

-I'm mad that our dog seems mad at us

-I've already started skipping pages in certain books that I read to Virginia

-I pulled off the highway to make sure Virginia was still breathing the first time I drove with her alone... she was breathing and was quite content.

-(TMI) Ive become very good at multi-tasking while pumping... conference calls, driving, bottle making, pacifier replacing... the list goes on.

-I get excited when the mail arrives each day.

-The song the bouncy seat plays is really annoying.

- I no longer wonder (judge?) what the heck moms do ALL day at home.

-I used to worry that the baby stuff would clash with my furnishings ... haha.

-I miss the NICU... well really I just miss the people; I don't miss the crazy schedule, the scary stuff, the bad food or really anything else.

-I will always need MY mom (thankfully she came for a long weekend)

Lots of firsts at home

Virginia has now been home for almost 2 weeks. We have settled into a routine just in time for it to probably change again. Virginia is still on her hospital schedule during the day (eating every 3 hours) but will sleep for a 4-5 hour stretch at night. Her feedings have been going well and she now weighing over 7lbs.

There have been alot of "firsts" since Virginia has been home:

Her first time meeting our dog, Pippi

Her first night in her crib. We realized after the first few nights that she would much rather be in her crib than her sleeper, bouncy seat or swing.

Her first bath at home rather than in a plastic basin in the hospital.

Her first trip to the Pediatrician for a well baby appointment.

Her first time video chatting on skype with her cousins.

We feel so fortunate to have her home and doing all of these normal "firsts."

1/3 of a year

Below is a recap of the first third of Virginia's 1st year

4 days old

1lb 7oz

12.5 in

1 month

1lb 14oz

13.75 in

2 months

3lbs

16 in

3 months

4lbs 10oz

17 in

4 months

6 lbs 10oz

18.75 in

Going through the posts to recap her lengths and weights each month I was reminded that each month was its own rollercoaster of good days and bad days, highs and lows, fears and excitement. Now that we are home I realize that this rollercoaster continues, it is part of parenting. There will always be fears and joys, good days and bad, we just got a crash course in these extremes for the past 5 months.

Our first week home has been mostly exciting, with just a little fear. We are settling into a routine, we are getting some sleep, and we are enjoying life. In the next few days we will add doctors appointments, visiting nurses, and developmental evaluations to our routine. The rollercoaster will continue...

Under One Roof

Virginia is settling into life at home beautifully. She eats every three hours during the day and sometimes sleeps up to 3.5 to 4 hours at a time at night. We are enjoying life with Virginia free of monitors beeping and the hustle of the hospital. We can finally spend quiet moments with her without 10 other people in the room and she seems to be enjoying the calmer environment at home.

This is what life looks like without wires, monitors, hospital linens, metal cribs, and those amazingly wonderful people in the blue scrubs :)