I've really been struggling with writing this post today. I'm not sure what's wrong with me, but I'm finding it difficult to rehash the past and explain why prematurity awareness is so near and dear to my heart. I went back and re-read my post from last year. Those pictures (also shown below) break my heart and remind me how truly lucky my family is. I owe everything that I am to the nurses, doctors, the March of Dimes, and everyone else who had a hand in caring for my precious little preemies.
Today is Prematurity Awareness Day.
A half a million babies will be born premature in the United States this year. Some of them can be prevented through quality prenatal care. Other births, like Addison and Alexis', are sudden and unexpected. The March of Dimes is leading the fight for prevention and to find answers as to why.
I’ll never know exactly why, which is something I struggle with from time to time. I always wonder if there was something I could have done differently. And there are times when Addison or Alexis are having moments, and I wonder if this is just their personality or if this is their “preemie” coming through, and making me take notice. Whatever it is, I always notice. That "preemie mom anxiety" is something that never goes away. At least it hasn't for me yet? 
Addison---day 3 still fighting for every breath.
Alexis---day 4 (notice the safety pin? Kinda puts the whole size thing into proportion)
I can’t change the fact that my girls were born premature. What I can do is tell their story, and revel in their development. I can support the March of Dimes and their mission: to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. I invite you to join me to support all the tiny miracles. Help make sure that ALL the tiny miracle babies and their parents can call themselves survivors.
We will be participating in the March of Dimes Walk again next year. I should have the exact date soon. Once I do, I will pass that along to everyone who wishes to walk on our team or to help with a donation.
I am just one of hundreds of bloggers that is taking time today to help raise awareness about this important cause. Bloggers Unite!
4 comments:
Thanks so much for joining us today to spread the word about the seriousness of premature birth. I'm certain this must be difficult for you. I'm sure you never forget that "preemie mom anxiety," even when your girls are doing better every day. We don't want any mom to have to experience that.
On behalf of the March of Dimes, thanks so much for your support.
Thank you for sharing your story. I'm blog hopping today reading the other stories because it is so comforting to read stories of other people who know what it means to be a preemie mom. Blessings on your beautiful girls.
I often wonder, too, if there was something I could have done differently so my son wouldn't have been born premature. At least we're not alone in wondering!
I hope your girls continue to grow, healthy and strong!
I have preemie twins, too, a boy and a girl born at 24 weeks. They turned 19 on November 17th (the actual day of Prematurity Awareness Day!). I know what you mean about that "preemie mom anxiety." It never does go completely away, but we did eventually get to the point where I realized that whatever was going on with them was who they were, and it didn't matter whether it was because they had been born prematurely or not. We spent five long months on the NICU and I am sharing the journal entries I kept while they were in the hospital at Mike&Ollie: 24-weekers Who Beat the Odds. They are happy and healthy young adults now, and we owe that to all the people who cared for them and to the efforts of the March of Dimes.
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