Marching for Maura

This picture was taken just a week before Maura was born. It was a beautiful week before Easter and we were finally enjoying the sunshine after a long snowy winter. We travelled for Easter to East Stroudsburg, PA - Just short of 2 hours away. Never did I realize that a week later, a month from my due date, I'd be meeting Maura.



Of course, when she came out, we were concerned. She was a 36 weeker. 36 weekers have a good prognosis. The most I could expect? Respiratory problems. Miraculously, she was fine after a rough bump for the first few hours! This picture was taken of Maura on her second night. This was before our life changed. This was when things were normal.



Our lives changed dramatically just 36 hours into her life. I remember that night...we walked out of the NICU. Joe cried. I looked at him in the eye and said that it was "just for a few days". Little did we know that we'd spend more than a few days in the NICU - We'd spend 35 days!



The last 9 and a half months have been spent worrying about her. We had a great streak for a while, and hopefully we'll have more of those! But it's been a difficult journey to say the least.




This year, just a week before Maura's birthday, Joe and I along with some of our closest friends will be walking for March of Dimes. We are doing this not just for Maura and all the help and support that we received during our preemie experience, but for all the babies yet to come. The NICU experience is not one that I wish on anyone, but if we can give someone hope in that fearful time in their life, we'd sure like to try!

If you'd like to join us, we'd LOVE to have you! If you'd like to make a donation on behalf of our team, we'd be forever grateful!

Make a Donation Here!


Thank you so much for all of your support. We couldn't do this without you!

Seizureville

With every seizure that happens, I hope it's the last. That hasn't been the case lately. We aren't very much enjoying this extended stay in Seizureville. It sucks. Really, it does!

After two seizures this time, I dragged Maura up to the pediatrician's office to have her weighed. I was convinced she had grown. She feels heavier - especially in the middle of the night when I nurse her. Sure enough, in a mere two and a half weeks, the girl has gained a pound and a half! Seriously child, what are you eating?

Oh wait..never mind...breastmilk...and food, her latest trick!

Of course, we adjusted her meds and hopefully they'll stick for a while. But every time this happens, it forces me to look deeper at our life...deeper into the future...thoughts - rather nightmares - about going back to work eventually and this happening then. The money we don't have...the anger I hold towards a family member who wronged us when we could certainly use a bump right now. I also look grimly at the past. You know, like 9 months ago when people tried to reassure me, "Just think, in a year you'll look back on this and it will all be a fuzzy distant memory!" They meant well...We all hoped it was so...but 9 months in...in the thick of it...it doesn't feel so good. Does that make me angry at them? Certainly not. Those are the things I still wish for...and maybe someday, we'll put the cap on the bottle of meds and she'll never have another seizure. Will I ever forget? Will I ever not worry that they are there lurking...just waiting for us? Probably not.

This time I came close...5 months was a long time! It fooled us good. This beast called epilepsy won't fool me again. I'm watching...and I can always hope that she never has another seizure.

A Year in the Life

It's my birthday today. Today I turn 36. I don't usually like to make a big deal out of my birthday, and this year is no different. It was actually quite nice to spend the day with my children and another little one I'm looking after this week. We went to the playground this morning and it was quiet. My friend Marla brought me one of my most favorite things in the world today - Yogurtland. She called me from the store to tell me the flavors, and I told her what I wanted. Then she showed up with Speculoos filled chocolate bars! Two of them! It doesn't take much to please me. It was so sweet of her! I had dinner and cake with my family and then I headed off to knitting to show off my new little gadget that Joe so kindly gave me!

So today I say goodbye to the last year. I don't think I've had another year where I feel like I've aged so much as this one. At the start of my year, I found myself pregnant, at just about 20 weeks. I was told I had placenta previa. Never did I realize what my year would really become. I am a different person today. We are a different family. Maura has changed us in ways we never realized.

Hopefully this year will bring good health and prosperity. And while I'm sure there will be bumps in the road, I'm absolutely sure it can't be any more difficult than this last year has been for us.