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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Bouncing Back

Brielle is doing alot better! We still need to give her lots of stress free visits and cares. No extras so she can rest and get even bigger!! She is now 1 lbs 7.4oz. YAY!!!!! She passed her birth weight!!!! Keep packing on the weight!!!! So excited for her! I was able to hold her for an hour tonight. I will take it. She was buzzing alot so they had me put her back. Her second brain scan came back for no brain bleeds!! Her infection is diminishing so shes off the IV antibiotics but still has the line in just in case since she is a hard poke!
I wanted to share this poem from another NICU mom of a 25 weeker. It kind of helped me make sense of the situation and what we are dealing with.

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen
(Adapted from Erma Bombeck)

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his instruments
for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.

"Beth Armstrong, son. Patron Saint, Matthew. Marjorie Forrest, daughter.
Patron Saint, Celia. Carrie Rutledge, twins. Patron Saint ... give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a preemie."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."

"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just the right amount of selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says 'mama' for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see – ignorance, cruelty, prejudice – and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

4 comments:

  1. Ohhh Myyyy....amazing poem!!! Love you guys!

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  2. That poem was a tear-jerker! Very inspiring! Way to go Brielle on gaining some weight :)

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  3. Amber - that is great to hear she is doing better. I check your blog daily for an update and I pray for you family all the time..

    That is a beautful poem - thanks for sharing.

    Sending good thoughts your way!

    Sara (from babycenter pPROM group)

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  4. This is absolutely one of my fave poems. Makes me cry every single time!

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