Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Never the Same

My Daughters Are Fine, but I’ll Never Be the Same

This article was posted on the Preemie Blog Moms group, and I really found it relevant to the micropreemie experience. It made me cry. But then again, what doesn't?

And just in case it makes you cry too, here's a little something to lift your spirits...



11 comments:

Melissa said...

Billie-
Your posts are always so touching! That article did a great job of articulating what I feel so often. Yes, my boys are going to be fine (although they do both have CP and have a long road full of therapy ahead of them) but their time in the NICU scarred me permanently. It shook me to the core and changed me forever.
Thanks for those adorable pictures! Your girls are both so beautiful, and even more gorgeous when they are being super cute playing together! Eden looks like she is doing a fabulous job in tall kneel! She looks so straight. I wish Riley was that straight in that position! What is she kneeling on? I was looking at it and trying to figure out if it was some piece of equipment that might be helpful for us. Thanks! -Melissa

Billie said...

Melissa,
That is Eden's brand new bath seat, which after a couple of small adjustments, is working out GREAT!

It works in the tub, as a floor sitter, and as you can see, kneeler. It will also be PERFECT this summer for the kiddie pool and the beach, allowing her to be even closer to the ground than her First Years Reclining Booster.

She also recently got the Special Tomato Floor Sitter. I plan to do a post on the new equipment very soon...
Billie

CP and Me said...

Billie,

What brand is the bath seat? I'm looking for something that will be close to the floor for Hannah also; she can sit independently but does have a very rounded back when she gets tired and we hope to have something for the beach. I'm also curious to see what you think of the Special Tomato floor sitter.

RE: the article...thanks so much for sharing that. It really is so true. Something primal changes in you when your children experience life-threatening trauma. It just never fully leaves you and unless you've experienced it, it is really hard to understand or relate.

Also...big congrats on approval for the powerchair: that is HUGE!!!

Krista

Billie said...

Krista,
It's by Columbia...a high-back wrap around support with the abductor. You can see it here:
http://www.columbiamedical.com/default.cfm?display=bathing&action=viewitem&pid=136
Billie

Jamie and Jill said...

Oh yes, it made me cry too!

And...oh my goodness, look at Eden's trunk control. Way to go!

Emily said...

I've already seen the article, but I wanted to say that those pictures are adorable. Almost makes me want to have another baby so Noah'll have a playmate. Almost...

Anonymous said...

Look at how and straight and tall Eden is! Darling pictures, as always. Thank you for the link to the moving article as well--I would not have found it otherwise!

Anonymous said...

Although I have been reading your blog for a while now, I really don't know anything about CP. But seeing those pictures, my first thought was, my how strong Eden is getting. It brought a smile to my face.

Sending hugs and best wishes to you all.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing the other woman's post - it touches home in so many ways. For her (and others), they have the luxury of getting to know their children before the trauma... for me (and others), we have had trauma and crisis from the very beginning. I fear how this has colored my perceptions of my children, and how they will remember me many years from now...
I often wonder if it's greedy for me to be so focused on my family and what's going on. (Primaries? When were those?!) I feel guilty for always thinking of us first when talking with friends, and asking about them second. But I also have moments where I remember that many women have never experienced the loss of a child (never mind 2)... and most families have never experienced the trauma and fear to the extent that we have... and gosh darnnit, I'm pretty proud that I'm able to sleep at night and eat okay and get up in the morning to greet the day! I guess I need more of those moments of giving myself permission. :)

And then there are the moments when I'm on the road and pissed at someone cutting me off... and I remember that there are others out their, wrapped in their own worlds, with their stressors and traumas. And I worry about how can we (as a community, as a world) function when there are so many people dealing with so much sadness and it's hard to look outside our own families to see what's going on for others.

Miranda said...

Beautiful article and beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing :)

Justinich Family said...

What a great article. Eden looks so great in tall kneeling. I love seeing kids doing so well.

Stacy from CP moms