Up until this year, my guess is most people had never heard of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). It's not that RSV is new, it's just that unless you were the parent of a medically …
You have gained 110 pounds in 12 years. Usually, this is not something people celebrate... but with you... its amazing. 9/16/2010: 1 lbs 12 ozs. 9/16/2013: 31 lbs. 9/16/2017: 50lbs 9/16/2022: 111 lbs You …
The NICU can be a very isolating and lonely place. I am not saying you are really ever alone in the NICU. How could you be with all the nurses, doctors, specialists, social …
There are so many things that you obsess over when you are in the NICU. Is my baby breathing ok? Is their heart rate OK? Are they gaining weight? Are they maintaining their own …
Graduation Day Congratulations! You have finally made it to NICU graduation day. No matter how long or short your stay in the NICU has been, graduation day is a BIG deal. One to celebrate …
Repost: This was originally published in 2013 on shine.yaoo.com (a site which has since been shut down) Postpartum depression (PPD) has been great fodder for many a sitcom writer. Even in pregnancy and birth …
Welcome to Prematurity Awareness Month... and my book publication month. In honor of these two big events, I have committed myself to writing a new post a week. Say that fast five times. Ok. …
Welcome to Prematurity Awareness Month... and my book publication month. In honor of these two big events, I have committed myself to writing a new post a week. So, you are going to be …
If I am posting, it can only mean one thing.... It's Sam's birthday. That's right. This former One Pound Twelve Ouncer is now eleven. I am not sure who is more excited about this... …
Its hard to believe Sam is now 10, double digits, an entire decade old. For a kid that was given little odds of survival, Sam has done his best to LIVE. And not just …
Who knew when I brought Sam home from the NICU way back in 2010 that my 5 months of house arrest would end up being so useful ten years later. Now, of course, house …
Hear ye! Hear ye! PTSD season is upon us. I don’t mean to make light of a very serious condition – but making light of it is the only way I manage to get …
Since this blog launched, I have always referred to Sam as "Sam, the Anti-Preemie". I am thinking of changing his name to "Sam, the Pre-Existing Condition". When Sam decided to make his early entry …
I have debated writing about my battle with my local school district publicly. What if someone reads this and all my hard work goes down the drain due to someone's bruised ego. But then …
There is one topic I have written about on this site a lot: poop or the lack thereof. From the day Sam was born the one thing he wasn't so good at was pooping. …
Want to know what overwhelmed looks like... well... it looks like me. Since Sam's IEP, I have done what I do best - educate myself. I have read the full IDEA statute. I have …
I "celebrated" my first World Prematurity Day in the NICU. Sam was just two months old actual and was on his second full day of being off oxygen support. A lot has changed since …
When Sam graduated from the NICU, we were lucky. Aside from our pediatrician, Sam only had one specialist, a retinoligist That didn't last long. Pretty soon we added in the developmental playgroup (which came …
This morning was magical. No seriously. Magical. I was in the kitchen getting breakfast made when I first hear it. It was faint and in the distance. Then it got louder. Giggling. Lots of …
Potty training is something many parents fear. Hundreds, if not thousands, of books are dedicated to helping ease the transition from diaper to potty. There are even "How To" videos on the subject. There …
Everyone always focuses on the negatives of an autism diagnosis. Myself included. So today I figure I will focus on the positives of an autism diagnosis. Autism is not a fatal diagnosis. Yes it …
The idea was simple enough. Well, as simple as a hospitalization and surgical procedure on a 4 year old could be. But this is Sam. And he has never - ever - done anything …