Spring Adventures

In the three weeks since we’ve had RSV restrictions lifted, we’ve had a sneak peek of the summer adventures ahead.

So glad we could give him the healthy start RSV isolation afforded, but venturing out as a family is pretty awesome. Last night my husband needed to buy a gift for work, and we just picked up and went as a family after dinner. Too fun.

I’m sure the novelty of family outings will fade with time, but I hope we can always remember the joy of getting to venture out together as a trio.

Some of our April Adventures:

At work with Mommy

1st Trip to the Zoo

1st swing at the park

Discovering “nooks”

 

I will confess that I used sanitizing wipes on the swing before I’d let Gammy put him in it. Once a preemie mama… 🙂

Alone No More

This week I am so thankful for a brave mama in my area who decided to start up a local support group.

I was usually at the NICU during the day, so I didn’t run into many other parents. I definitely had my moments of feeling extremely lost the past year as none of our friends or family had ever had a NICU experience.

That’s something the preemie internet community definitely provides as we share our stories and support each other, but it’s nice to know there’s someone close by that you could invite to coffee if you wanted to.

That’s all I’m going to say about that for now as it’s a small, private group. Anyone in the Cincinnati area is welcome to join who has experienced a NICU stay with their child though so feel free to message me if you’d like to be pointed in that direction.

I had two reminders on facebook today of WHY we have endured RSV isolation for most of his first year. My bout with Influenza A was a scary reminder, too, but these images make my heart stop and are keeping me up tonight.

One was a post on my college band alumni page about a couple who graduated a bit after me that lost their son at only 13 months old after a brief illness. The second was of one of my college roommates full-term infant son with a breathing treatment mask on due to RSV.

So even though the long, cold winter is drawing to a close and spring can be felt in the air. I will not be lazy or forget exactly WHY we are doing what we do. It’s so tempting to go ahead and take him with us on errands, but we have worked so hard to be healthy. He has worked too hard.

And my heart just aches for these families dealing with loss and illness….

Flu Strikes Back

We followed all the instructions we were given. We got our shots. We avoided large gatherings. We washed, washed, washed and went through gallons of sanitizer, but it still happened.

I started getting worried Thursday night. I had a kind of throat tickle so I pulled out a medical mask and put it on. The next morning, I knew I was sick. I was achy and feverish. When two doses of Tylenol did nothing to break my fever, I called my doctor and then headed to urgent care.

2 hours and a flu test later, Influenza A was my diagnosis. Say what? But, but I did everything right. Apparently, I won the flu lottery.

Now, I’m going to go back to napping and praying that my fellas don’t get it. Daddy did an awesome job cleaning and taking care of things until grandma was able to take D out of this germy house.

Please, please let him stay well.

Curing the Winter Blues

I read back over my last few posts and there is a distinct sound in all of them.

A WHINE

I think I’ve reached that stage of RSV isolation where I’m just stir crazy and whining. The lack of sleep recently as we get through our first teething adventures isn’t helping much either.

Luckily, I have a ton of reports to do for my work from home/work from work 1 day a week job to keep me busy.

Drake was born in February smack dab in the middle of a serious RSV season in our area. We ended up being in isolation until mid-June at our pediatrician’s recommendation, so we only had a very brief time out and about until going back into hiding when October hit.

Today, as the wind blows 30mph and it’s 27 degrees outside is a day for summer dreams!

1. Zoo Trips – Gammy gave us a season pass to the Cincinnati Zoo for Christmas. I love our zoo, and CANNOT WAIT for long summer days visiting all the animals.

2. Vacation – We are determined to at least take a mini 3-4 day trip this summer. ROAD TRIP. We’re operating at about half income with my part-time status, but we should be able to make it happen somehow.

3. Swinging – For his first birthday, we got Drake a toddler swing to hang off our swing frame in the back yard. He loved his infant swing and I can’t wait to introduce him to the joys of flying through the air.

4. March for Babies – Late April is kind of hit or miss in our area. I’m hopeful it will be a beautiful spring day and we can participate in our first March for Babies as a family. It takes place a day after the anniversary of our original due date. A poignant reminder.

Happy, Healthy cold/flu/RSV season to all! I hope your summer dreams are just as sweet.

 

Moping

Yesterday was a rough day for me. I had plans to go out to dinner with 3 of my friends while my hubby took baby duties over for a night. However, one of the girls came down with a cold and another was just getting over a cold so I had to say no to attending.

As I sat at my desk feeling a little sorry for myself, I thought back to the last time I went to our favorite restaurant with these ladies in February. It was the Friday before my water broke Sunday night, and I either haven’t had the time or someone’s been ill so I haven’t seen them since. We’ve chatted over email, the phone and facebook. Just feeling a little lonely and isolated over here in preemie land.

I’m so glad my mom and dad are coming in for Drake’s surgery at the end of this month. I need some people who are “mine” desperately. I love my hubby’s family and friends, but it’s just not the same as having the people who have known you since childhood around…

A friend posted her 30 weeks pregnant picture today. I’m so happy for her, but it makes me weepy, too.

I’ve been so busy with work from home and Drake’s increasing ability to move around and need to be entertained that I thought I was over the “dumps”. Time to make a conscious effort to shake it off and keep moving forward.

 

 

Happiness

I haven’t had a lot of time for posting lately because I have been blessed with a very active, very clingy almost 8 month old. Drake is trying desperately to crawl. He lays on his belly and pinwheels his arms. Then he’ll give up and just roll around the floor for awhile. Watching him play and smile and reach out for me makes my heart sing.

I still have anxiety over the threat of RSV season and the looming shadow of his surgery on the 29th (at a Children’s Hospital during cold/flu season yuck!). But I realized something today, the shadow of the NICU is starting to fade a bit. I don’t feel that oppressive anxiety all the time.

Thank you, God.

I want to feel like me and be the best mommy and wife I can be. Thank you for letting me heal and realize how blessed I am to have such an amazing son.

I had the most wonderful conversation with the lay eucharistic minister for our church tonight. She offered to bring communion to us at home since we are trying to be very careful with Drake until after his surgery. I started in on our rules about colds and sniffles and she UNDERSTOOD. No arguments and she shared a story about a friend’s child.

It’s the little things that matter. 🙂

Also, found out a good friend is 4 months along today with her second little girl. So, so happy for her!!! Looking forward to a dinner with my girls next week after my birthday (ugh 35!).