World Prematurity Day

Happy World Prematurity Day to my little superheroes! Entering this world 4 months early, at 24 weeks, and weighing in at just over 1.5 lbs…you have surpassed all the odds. You both conquered more during your 5 months in the NICU than most will in a lifetime. This journey has brought me some of life’s greatest joys and challenges, but we are blessed and better for all of it. I am so proud and extremely thankful for you, Hayes and Bailey. You are a constant reminder of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness in all our lives.

From a fellow preemie twin mama…

“World Prematurity Awareness Day. You can look at pictures, you can read the stories, but you cannot know what it feels like to have a premie until you’ve been there. To not be able to see your babies for hours or longer, to wait days to hold your sweet babies, but then have to navigate the cords and wires that are keeping them alive. To have someone tell you HOW and WHEN you can hold and touch your own baby. To watch the other families week after week being wheeled out and loading their healthy term babies into the car while you return day after day and leave empty handed. To wake up every three hours to pump to feed a baby you can’t hold. The amazing feeling you get when you finally get to bring one home, and then the tears you cry all over again because you are leaving the other. The guilt you feel for all these tears, because God is good and at least your babies will be home one day. The anxiety and utter fear when you have your babies but none of those wires or cords anymore. You’ll never have to deal with these things. This experience that still makes you sick to your stomach and drowns you in tears. You know what else though? You’ll also never get the highs that come when you do finally get to take those babies home. The pure and amazing pride you feel every single time a milestone is met. You don’t think about the tiny doll sized diaper that once was used and be overcome with gratefulness every time you change a diaper. Baby smiles are sweet, but preemie smiles are life-changing. All the tears, all the trials, this crazy roller coaster ride we aren’t even off yet, it’s all worth it. My tiny guys have changed my life. They showed me how strong I am, they helped me love harder, to not take anything for granted, to remember that the plans are His and not mine. I love my husband more, my older children more, and probably even myself a little more. Even though I have so often asked why, or still find myself wishing it would have been different, the truth of the matter is, it was all perfect. It is crazy how much you learn from something so incredibly small.”

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

— Ephesians 3:20-21

For more information on Prematurity or the NICU, check out my NICU Awareness Month post. I hope it helps you or a loved one. I’d love to see a picture of your preemie miracles too.