Graduation Day

Payton spent 6 weeks on a ventilator. She had pneumonia once wile still in the NICU, and 2 staph infections. She came home from the NICU on oxygen for 6 months. She was hospitalized for 5 days with bronchiolitis when she was 1 and came home on oxygen for another month. She was hospitalized another time with RSV. She's had pneumonia 6 more times since she came home from the hospital. I've lost track of the number of times she's been to the ER with respiratory problems. She had 2 winters of getting monthly Synagis shots hoping to keep RSV away. We spent 3 winters in lockdown at doctors recommendation.

Tuesday morning she had a follow-up with pulmonology. When the doctor asked if I had any concerns...I couldn't think of any. When Dr. Toni asked how the winter was...I didn't have anything to say. We'd gone all winter without any major illnesses, she's hasn't been to the ER, been on antibiotics or steroids. Payton had a wonderful winter.

Dr. Toni looked at me, teared up, and said she's graduated. We can call or go back if we need to, but otherwise, she's discharged. There were big hugs, a few tears and high-fives all around.

4 years and all that history later...she graduated.

P.S. - She weighed in at 41.5 pounds for her appointment. Exactly 40 pounds heavier than her smallest ever weight. :) Unbelievable.

On love and grief

Friendships between preemie moms is an unusual thing. We are brought together by one of the hardest, worst times in our life. Most of us have never met, but have been connected through our computers, with the hope one day to take some sort of wonderful vacation where we all meet, sit on a beach and drink fancy drinks out of a pineapple brought to us by a cabana boy (hey, a girl can dream). We know details about each other and our kids, we cheer on, pray, get angry, share advice, love and at times grieve. It is a strong bond.

Last weekend we grieved. Sheena, one of our moms, lost her little girl Laiken. After more than a 3 year battle, done with more grace and strength than I've ever seen, Sheena, along with her husband and other daughter, said good-bye to Laiken. I'm not sure how a little girl who's only 3 touches so many people, but she did.

While so many of us wanted to be at the funeral, distance doesn't always make that possible. After Laiken's service on Thursday, Sheena and her family did a balloon release of pink and purple balloons. So, that's what the rest of us did too. Where ever we were on Thursday, we call grabbed our little ones and pink and purple balloons and did the same.

The twins and I headed to one of the highest spots in town after dinner and let our balloons go.

Fly high Laiken!

If you want to know more about Laiken and her amazing family, go here - https://www.facebook.com/LoveForLaiken

If you want to see pictures from people releasing their balloons from all over for Laiken, go here - https://www.facebook.com/events/733817389971667/735094923177247/?notif_t=like

The results are in...

Since we've already passed the first official day of spring, and we've already crossed past April 1st (which will always mean the "end" of flu/RSV season  in my head), I'm going to officially throw this out there....

We went 6 months with NO hospital stays, ER trips, antibiotics, major steroid use or doctor visits outside of a few regularly scheduled appointments.

We had a few colds but everything we were able to manage at home and stay out of the doctor offices and manage all symptoms on our own. More importantly, their little selves were able to handle it all on their own. Even last winter, at doctor's recommendation, we were on modified lockdown for the winter.  This year we we had free reign.

Winter 2013-2014.....SUCCESS!!!