Parent 2 Parent: Keri

How many kids to do you have? I have 2 boys, ages 8 and 3.

How many kids do you have with a NICU jo­­urney? My younger son, Caden, was born at 23 weeks. My older son was full term.

How long was the stay within in the NICU­­? 121 days

Where did you draw strength from while i­­n the NICU? My biggest strength came from my husband, who despite everything going on, he was rock solid for me.

Who ­within your personal network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­? ­Parents, Partner, Friends, NICU staf­f? ­ The NICU doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, lactation specialists, my husband, my older son, my mother and father-in-law

 

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In what way did you feel like you ­were s­upported by them? The NICU doctors included me in rounds, were transparent and honest, didn’t give me false hope, and really took time to explain, talk, and help me understand how I could best advocate and support my son. The NICU nurses became like family – they treated Caden as if he was their own… they hugged me when I cried, encouraged me to keep pumping even when I felt discouraged, and taught me how to care for my teeny tiny son. My husband was strong, solid, and supportive when I felt hopeless, when I couldn’t stop crying, and when I needed to spend 18 hours at the NICU he made sure our older son wasn’t left out and neglected.

Who­ ­within your internet network provided support while you were in the NICU­? ­was there a ­Facebook, twitter, goo­gle plus community or communities? ­Onl­ine forum in what way did you feel li­ke­ you were supported by them? I created a private Facebook group where I’d post daily updates for anyone who was interested. After Caden was discharged, I printed out each and every entry and photograph and created a book to document his NICU journey.

What are some of your favorite tools, resources or gadgets that made your NICU journey easier? Do you have any you would recommend to current parents who are in the NICU now? The number one thing that helped us through the NICU journey was the Angel Eyes camera. We had a live stream camera at Caden’s bedside the entire time we were in the NICU. It was comforting to be able to see him any time we wanted when we couldn’t be there with him. Also, very important to me was my notebook. Nothing special about it, but it held my questions, fears, and triumphs of the early days which were the hardest. I’d use it to take notes during rounds or jot questions down to ask the doctors and nurses.

Can you share with us a good NICU day fo­­r your ­child (a triumph)? ­ What was­ the day were you need extras support a­nd stre­ngth? One of my and Caden’s good days was when he first nursed. There were many days where I needed extra support, but one that stands out was after many infections, many antibiotics, Caden was still very sick and one of the doctors said “I’m not sure what else we can do.” I was crushed by that statement.

If you could share one tidbit with other­­ NICU parents what would it be?ADVOCATE! ADVOCATE! ADVOCATE! The doctor’s know the medical stuff, but you know your child. Ask questions, stay involved, advocate for what you think your child needs most.

 

Is there anything else you would like to share? Everyone’s NICU journey is different, whether you spend 5 days or 121 days like we did. The NICU is a place where the most fragile, but also the strongest little fighters heal and grow. I take pride in how strong Caden was, and is today. He never gave up. But there’s something that sticks with you after you’ve been through a NICU journey. Sometimes when I hear something that sounds like a heart monitor or smell something that reminds me of that NICU smell, or most recently when Caden met a big milestone and started school, really difficult feelings surface and are hard to deal with. Ask for help. Ask for support. Ask for a hug. This is a real traumatic experience that can have lasting effects. Don’t try to do it alone.

 

 


Parent2Parent: Mariann

How many kids to do you have? 1

How many kids do you have with a NICU jo­­urney? 1

How long was the stay within in the NICU­­? 1 month 2 weeks

Where did you draw strength from while i­­n the NICU? I prayed- a lot! I literally had conversations with God.  My leaned on my family for support, strength, and help as well.

Was it a song,­ ­A Scriptu­re,­ ­A quote ? Can you share it with us­? ­ I was told my son would be in the NICU for the rest of that year and to prepare for a long road. So, I created a schedule and everything I did in that schedule, I made sure to do it with a positive mindset and atmosphere. I played worship music, got rest when I needed it, watched funny movies, read the Bible, and just leaned on my family (until they went back home). I tried to make sure everything was “up-beat” and “up lifting.” One of my favorite songs and scripture was “I’ll never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13: 5 And the song “My Promise” By Andre Crouch.

Who ­ ­within your personal network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­ ? ­Parents, Partner, Friends, NICU staf­f?  ­My mother, my godmother, and the NICU staff. Once my mother and godmother went back to our home town, my best friends flew in to help me as well.

In what way did you feel like you ­were s­upported by them? Waking up every morning and hearing my mother and godmother in the other room, brought me comfort. Their cooking, cleaning, shopping, and being there gave me strength when I wanted to sob. The NICU staff loved on me! They talked to me, laughed, gave me advice, encouragement, and most of all – cared for my son as if he was theirs. Knowing you have people who are dedicated to taking care of your baby like that gives you a different kind of peace.  A peace that no one (in addition to God) can give you.

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Who ­ ­within your internet network prov­ided su­pport while you were in the NICU­ ? ­was there a­ ­Facebook, twitter, goo­gle plus community­ or communities? ­Onl­ine forum In what way did you feel li­ke­ you were supported by them? No one online (I didn’t know or had the mind to look up any NICU groups). There wasn’t a site or network that gripped my attention. But at the same time, I didn’t know or think to look up a network. I didn’t post anything on social media because he was so tiny and fragile.  I wasn’t ready to share with the world that side of my son.

What are some of your favorite tools, resources or gadgets that made your NICU journey easier? My Bible, discovering crafts (JoAnn’s Fabrics & Michaels), my mother and godmother.

Can you share with us a good NICU day fo­­r your ­child (a triumph)? ­ ­What was­ the day were you need support and strength?  Our triumph was coming off of room air.  The hospital gave me steroid shots when I was admitted in hopes to help make his lungs better, since I was going to deliver early.  So, when he was born, he didn’t need oxygen, but just room air. He would go up and down with it; sometimes hold his breathe and completely forget to breath. So the day he came completely off of it, I burst into tears, because I knew that was a big step for him.

The day I needed support and strength was when he had to take a few steps back. He was placed back on room air, and all of his feedings went back to the tube.  Earlier that week, he had busy days. He had his eye exam, hearing test, a shot, his first bottle feedings, and a bath.  That was a lot for him! So by the end of the week, he was back on room air, sleeping all the way through his feedings and only being fed by tube.  To overcome the little things, make huge leaps, and then go all the back was heartbreaking. Because you pray for those big steps and success so you can finally go home. I need my family and thank God they were there.

 

If you could share one tidbit with other­­ NICU parents what would it be?! Take each day and each moment one step at a time. You’re going to want to jump through the hurdles quickly so you can go home and enjoy your baby; and you will. Worrying, stressing, and being negative only breaks down your body and mindset. You must take care of you in order to continue the journey. In due time, you will bring your baby home. But for the time being, don’t stress, focus on pumping, taking care of you, getting rest, being positive, creating positive memories, and taking it all in. Just one step at a time.

Is there anything else you would like to share? Out of our journey an experience, I founded my nonprofit organization that is totally geared towards assisting NICU families.  From pregnancy to the NICU, and being discharged, I was unemployed. It was hard. Trying to pay bills and focus on your baby in the NICU was overwhelming.  So, I founded Maison Alexander Support Group Inc. – we specialize in assisting neonatal families in need during their time in the NICU.   MASG INC. understands the NICU journey can be overwhelming.  From the constant hospital visits, to transportation, breast pumping around the clock, adjusting with existing family in the home, to medical issues, bills and more.  MASG INC. provides our very own “NICU Buddy Program” along with our “Pump, Eat & Sleep” brochure, gas cards, food cards, premature clothing, infant items, and additional searches for different venues to provide for the families in need.


5 Month Anniversary…. I Miss You

Hello!!

Last week was a pretty good week. I finally made a decision on a matter that I have been wishy washy about for a year. I had a wonderful Easter with family(I brought the lamb, I will share recipe next week).

DISCLAIMER:  I actually wrote this post yesterday (04.11.12).  I was sitting at one of my favorite sushi restaurants, eating my new FAVORITE sushi roll, trying to get my emotions together so I could finish out my work day.

This last week has been an emotional roller coaster for me.  I am not sure what triggered my mind this week, but all week long I have had the overwhelming realization that I am suppose to have a six month old child.

That there should be a small little person gazing up at me. There should be little tiny little fingers touch me. that there should be toys and blankets sprawled across my clean floor with someone crawling around and playing with them.

I want to read mother goose stories and talk about the “car goes vroom” I desire to be frazzled with the business and care of someone other than myself. And songs, all the songs that I wanted to sing and make up on the fly.I long to be making baby food out of my fresh finds from the market. and I crave to hold my sweet boy in my arms.

But this week, it hit really hard, the during my attempt to recreate some sort of normalcy to our lives that there is something missing. Though, we try to make sure that the house is not too quite, and that we have activities to do while we are home so we do not sit and dwell on these thoughts but this week it did not matter what I did all thoughts, actions and activities lead my mind to my precious one.

At the moment there are not cries of  “pick me up” or “you are not paying me any attention” in my house, only tears of hope deferred of what we thought life could of, would of and in our hearts should have been.

Yesterday, I realized why my emotions have been fragile this week.  Tomorrow marks 5 months our little man has been gone from us. Even, though I am learning how to move forward, I miss him dearly.  I so looked forward  to helping him develop into a wonderful young man.  I wanted him to enjoy his childhood, while we enjoyed watching his wonder and excitement for life.  I looked forward to the first time I saw him roll, his first smile. I would sit back and imagine seeing him in his walker, walking around the morning room and into the kitchen.  I wanted to see him crawl down the all; turn, sit up and look back to see if I was watching him.

04.12.12  I had lunch with one of my girlfriends’.  The last time we actually got to spend time together I was pregnant. And over our “Pad U See” she tells me she is  preggers, and that I am one of the few people who know.  While she is telling me that, I am truly happy for her, all the while my heart is hurting.  Then, within breaths of her telling me she was pregnant, she tell me while i was pregnant she had a miscarriage, while I was pregnant.

At that moment I felt a little bit of hope rise within in me, that maybe, I can allow myself to hope.  And just maybe I can move forward.

Day by Day and Moment by Moment,

Estella

Ps.  the lamb


Easter Egg Hunt Canceled Due To Aggressive Parents

Hello Everyone,

I posted the link for the article on 3.27.2012, but did not add any thing to go with it, so here we go! http://n.pr/H3UXBB

This was truly funny to me,   I have had the privileged to work a Easter Egg hunt for a community event, and  would love to say that parents are BRUTAL!.

Actually  I have worked several events that involve children and their guardians and have come to  the conclusion that the aggression has NOTHING to do with Easter and every thing to do with parents.  You can call it Helicopter parenting, you can call it over protective, you can call the need for parents not wanting their kids for fail and anything.  What ever you want to call it, is it is a crutch and a handicapper to our nations kids.

Is it not amazing, that the fun little Easter memory that many  of us share, hunting for eggs (hoping  all the while that you found the plastice eggs not the  real ones),and then  comparing them with friends and family to see who actually got the best ones,  has turned into a parental brawl to ensure “their baby”  gets the best eggs, or enough eggs or an egg?

During the event that I worked I lost count of the times I was cursed out for telling parents they could not enter the egg hunting zone. Nor can I count the amount of times that parents came back to get more eggs for their kids.

I hope that the day of the  family Easter egg hunt returns; where children with eyes of wonder and amazement as they discover the egg under the bush.  Or when one giggles in pure happiness that they got the chocolate egg.  All the while, family sits on edge as the 2 year old finds their very first EGG.

Wonder. Dream. Be.

Estella