Dorothy's Blog: Hear My Baby Laugh for the First Time!
Omg you guys!! My 5 month old baby laughed for the first time! It may not seem like much, but it's been quite a little journey for us.
Back in July, my water broke early so I was admitted into Sharp Mary Birch Hospital. The goal was to make it to 34 weeks, but I didn't make it that far. I started developing signs of an infection 6 days after admittance, which would have been very dangerous for my baby and I. So, at 29 weeks Elgin was born via c-section, weighing 3 lbs 3 oz and 17 inches long.
Elgin was in the NICU at Sharp Mary Birch for a total of 2 months and 3 weeks. Any NICU parent will tell you that it can be a rollercoaster of emotions, and it definitely was for us. Elgin would be doing so well and we'd be on the brink of taking him home, but then the day before our go home date he would have a "desaturation event." That's basically when your baby stops breathing and his blood oxygen level dips. It was so scary to see my baby turning blue and hearing all of the alarms going off.
After a few weeks of getting our hopes up and having a set backs, our day finally came. On September 20, 2020 we got to take Elgin home, where his big brother was waiting! (Watch the heartwarming moment below.)
Elgin has been doing really well and is now 5 months old. Hearing his laugh and seeing his smiling face means so much to me. These moments are huge for Preemie Parents!
I'm so grateful that Elgin is healthy. I thank God every single day for him and for the incredible team over at Sharp Mary Birch who took such good care of him in the NICU, and of me while I was admitted. Not only did the nurses take care of Elgin and I physically, but they took care of me emotionally, too. I've cried many times during our stay there, and I wouldn't have been able to stay strong and positive throughout our NICU journey without their support. Special thanks to Elgin's primary nurses, Joann, Maida, Ruby, and Angela!
