NICU Photo Shoot X2!

Please enjoy our inspirational photos and consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. Our programs include an online support group, the gift of photography, group events and meetings, information, and email support. Our mission is to connect parents and let them know they are not alone. We thank our supporters, volunteers, and donors for allowing us to touch the lives of NICU, preemie, and angel families. 

We pray these special memories will help the parents to remember how strong they were in overcoming a crisis situation.

A note from Mom:

"On Sunday, November 3rd, our boy/girl twins were born early at 29 weeks. Our little boy River, was born vaginally and weighed in at 2 pounds 12 ounces. And our sweet girl, Riley, came out via emergency c-section at 2 pounds 2 ounces. They are in the NICU at Winnie Palmer and wil be for the next few months. But they are doing SO well and breathing on their own with no health problems. They just need to grow. We visit them every day, twince a day to have "hands-on" time where we get to change their diapers, take their temperatures, weigh and clean them. We also do Kangaroo Care with them as often as possible, which not only makesthe babies calm and content, but is the best feeling in the world for mommy and daddy too."

Volunteer Photographer:

Cassandra Chang - Orlando, FL

A note from Cassandra:

"I got to visit briefly with the Hayman twins, River & Riley, today as well as Mom.  What a sweet set of twins who are very lucky to have not only Nicole as a mom but the sweetest set of Grandparents that came to visit while I was there.  Daddy was at work and the babies didn’t have their usual nurse so we didn’t get to remove feeding tubes or leads as mom had thought so I told her I would be happy to visit them at home (hopefully in a couple weeks)."

Offering Support To NICU Families During Christmas

Christmastime is an especially hard time for families to face the NICU journey. It's a time when they long to be home snuggling with their newborn baby and instead the realization of a cold hospital stay rings true. Although they know it's exactly where they need and have to be - every family is longing to be home with their baby. It's a time when bringing warmth to NICU families - even in a small way - is all the more needed.

Christmas In The NICU

A plate of cookies

a cake

a card to show you care

an ornament

an extra prayer

or just a listening ear. 

A handmade item

a photograph

any gesture you can do 

to share your love this Christmas

with someone in the NICU.  

The joy of brightening other lives,
bearing each others' burdens, 
easing others' loads and 
supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts 
becomes for us the magic of Christmas.

Every year we do something special for NICU families. Two years ago we donated special handmade quilts last year we sewed specialty NICU positioners with Christmas fabric and this year we sewed special NICU outfits with Christmas fabric. We also hosted a holiday get together for families, volunteers, and friends. We had an ornament exchange, and shared a festive potluck meal. Together we packaged up all of the Christmas NICU Gift Bundles and got them ready to donate to our three local NICUs. 

Over the next week we dropped off a donation to St. Joseph's Health System, The College Station Medical Center, and Scott & White Healthcare NICUs. We know these special outfits, giraffes, burp cloths, and cards will share hope with families this holiday season. 

Please join Preemie Prints on Thursday December 4th from 6:30-8 for our annual NICU family pot-luck get together at Scott & White Hospital in Bryan College Station.

Christmas donation drop off to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan TX

Christmas donation drop off to The College Station Medical Center

My Gift by Alice Porembski

I am a stranger to you now, but let me walk with you for awhile. Because I have been where you are, and where you are about to go.

I have no answers. I offer instead my hand, my heart, my listening ear, my time, and my experience... so that one day, you can turn to another and say:

I am a stranger to you now, but let me walk with you for awhile. Because I have been where you are, and where you are about to go. I have no answers. I offer instead my hand, my heart, my listening ear, my time, and my experience... so that one day you can turn to another and say........





Little Miracle 

As I love you through the glass, the hours seem slow to pass.

I stroke your skin and hold your hand, this isn't exactly what I had planned. 

I cast my eyes up to the sky and say a little prayer...
that the Lord will hold you up in His arms and keep you in His care. 

So sleep and grow my baby, and dream of clouds of foam, and I will love you 
though the glass until you can come home. 

Ashley Diamond Siegert of Fig Mint Photography hosted a picture with Santa even last year. Here are a few adorable pictures of Santa with a few Preemie Prints NICU Graduates!

 Please remember to think about & pray for the families in your local NICU.

If you can offer up a few minutes and do something small for a family know that it will be appreciated. 

If you are a family in the NICU...

We're praying for you. 

Take as many pictures as you can - this is your baby's 1st Christmas  :) 

Take some time for yourself to spend with family

Read The Night Before Christmas to your baby 

..............

Little Natalie's NICU Grad Photo Shoot

Please enjoy our inspirational photos and consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. Our programs include an online support group, the gift of photography, group events and meetings, information, and email support. Our mission is to connect parents and let them know they are not alone. We thank our supporters, volunteers, and donors for allowing us to touch the lives of NICU, preemie, and angel families. 

We pray these special memories will help the parents to remember how strong they were in overcoming a crisis situation.

A note from Mom:

"Prior to being born, Natalie was under careful watch from our perinatologist. Natalie had "bright bowels" and was measuring small for her age. At 34 weeks, she only measured the size of a baby at 30 weeks. Our perinatologist sheduled a csection for 37 weeks, as soon as she could be considered full term. She was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction and they expected her to grow better outside of the womb. She was born screaming, but stopped breathing in the operating room. After a few scary minutes and several doctors and the NICU team working on her, she started breathing again. She was 4 lbs 14 ozs. She spent 16 days int the NICU working on breathing and fighting jaundice."

Volunteer Photographer:

Lindsey Adams - Schertz, TX

A note from Lindsey:

"When I first started chatting with Natalie's mom I told her that we could wait just awhile so that when we take her pictures she would be able to sit up all by herself.  So, a few  months later we had her session, and of course it was chilly the day of Natalie's session, but she rocked it in her darling hoodie!!  She is so tiny and sweet, she stole my heart.  I'm so glad her mom found Preemie Prints and that I could do this session for them."

Prayer Request: Preemie Quenten ~ 1 lb 13oz

Requesting strong prayers for Miracle Baby Boy Quenten Kelly Jr - born November 6, 2013 at 12:18am in Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in Houston, TX - Baby Quenten was born three months early, weighing only one pound thirteen ounces - He was born breathing on his own, eyes wide open, wiggling and fighting strong. We pray he will continue to develope and grow strong daily and that Baby Quenten will be home with us to celebrate the birth of our Lord on Christmas Day - A Grandma filled with hope and trust that all will be well with with Baby Quenten - Thanks for your prayers - Be Blessed!

Houston NICU & Preemie Support Growth

We reached 50 members

The Houston Chapter of Preemie Prints is growing! We reached 50 memebers during September in our private Facebook group. There are still many many more families in the Houston that don't have the support they need. We are pleased to announce the begining of our Facebook page HoustonTexasPreemiePrints. Please help us spread the word so we are able to reach more families.

We had several families come from Houston including the "Houston NICU Heros" and "Piper's Party"

 that participated in the College Station Walk. We also had a virtual walk that took place on November 2 for those that couldn't make it to College Station. We thank everyone for their participation and support not only of The Houston Chapter but of Preemie Prints and our mission to reach out to NICU and Graduate Families. 

We are continuing to work on a sewing chapter to reach out to families currently in the NICU. If you would like to help with a donation of fabric/sewing items, or would like to donate your time in making our sewing chapter a reality please email Jeanna@preemieprints.org

A Preemie's Journey

A Preemie's Journey

I remember the first time I held you-
I can still feel your soft warm skin.
Your fragile little body was so tiny and so thin.
Thinking about that moment still takes my breath away.
I can’t believe how much time has passed -
It still feels like yesterday.
The commotion all around me -
It was like I couldn’t breathe.

One last time I hold my stomach for in a moment you will leave.
The needle is in -
I close my eyes –
It will be my only relief.
Two pounds two ounces your daddy says as I wake up from my sleep.
They role you in to see us –
And your daddy strokes your hair.

Then a minute later they take you away and we’re left feeling the despair.
Through the night I clutch your pictures –
And ask God for the answer why.
Meanwhile I hold my ears because I can hear another baby cry.

Two days later we drive to Children’s Hospital –
My feeling of intimidation is extreme
As I lay my eyes on the place that keeps you alive –
It looks like the biggest building I’ve ever seen.

For four months the NICU will be your new home.
The clear plastic box you lay in is your new high tech womb.
I’ll never forget that feeling as I look around the room –
Sick babies laying everywhere fills my heart with gloom.

Then your dad points to you –
And to your bed I creep.
Underneath those bright warm lights - so peacefully you sleep.

The nurse hands you to me –
And we lay there skin to skin.
I feel your little body wiggle on mine just like it use to within.

I stroke your head so softly.
You are so tiny and so frail –
But as you snuggle in so tight to me –
I finally exhale.

That moment of relief was fleeting.
The ride had just begun.
For the next four months in circles our lives were going to be spun.

“She needs to gain weight and learn how to eat”.
It seems so cut and dry –
But little did I know that every day she’d give me another reason to cry.

She might me up five grams today –
But tomorrow she’ll be down fifteen.
I just sit there holding my baby tight
As her alarms continue to ring.

Is the needle in her hand today?
Or in her head or in her foot?
So many bruises everywhere
I’m almost too afraid to look.

The worse is yet to come –
A nearly fatal disease they find within.
Thank God they caught it early
Or her prognosis would be grim.

The surgery fixed my baby.
And our angel continued to grow.
Then one Sunday afternoon they said
“Tomorrow she’ll be ready to go.”

That day we walked out of the NICU and never looked back.
Our only reminders of it are the scars that we both have.
The ones on our stomachs –
That the whole world can see.

And the one on my heart that only holding you can ease. 

-------------------------------------------

This is beautiful. I came across this poem and it brought the memories of being in the NICU with my precious twins back vividly. I know the words in this poem will ring true for so many of us. 

Little Adison's NICU Grad Photo Shoot

Please enjoy our inspirational photos and consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. Our programs include an online support group, the gift of photography, group events and meetings, information, and email support. Our mission is to connect parents and let them know they are not alone. We thank our supporters, volunteers, and donors for allowing us to touch the lives of NICU, preemie, and angel families. 

We pray these special memories will help the parents to remember how strong they were in overcoming a crisis situation.

A note from Mom:

"Adison Jae was born last October at 25 weeks weighing 2lbs 4oz....surprisingly a good size. She spent 108 days in the NICU at Mercy in St. Louis. She had a fundoplication and g-button surgery on her due date because of severe reflux causing bradys and breathing issues. She has proved to be such a fighter! She is turning one next month which seems impossible! 

Nothing could have prepared us for the 108 days we spent in the NICU with our sweet baby girl born at 25 weeks. I think the hardest part of our stay was having 2 children at home who were not allowed to visit the NICU and sharing our time with them and our baby. Our Christmas was spent taking turns being with our children at home and our baby in the hospital. Our family and friends were amazing and while it's hard to accept help from others, accept it! People truly just want to contribute or do something to make your life easier, so let them. The meals, donations, prayers, babysitting, they are all small gestures that really make a difference when you are going through this difficult time. We have been forever changed because of our NICU journey and the love around us!"

Volunteer Photographer:

Rachel Demand - St. Louis, MO

A note from Rachel:

"This is a wonderful family and I had a great time photographing all of them. Adison is doing great and it is exciting to see how well she is doing when she entered this world soo tiny.  She is full of spunk and she has two older sisters that are crazy about her :)"

A Precious Halloween Treat For You ~ NICU Miracles In Costume!

On this October 31, 2013 we wanted to write an inspiring Halloween post dedicated to all preemies, NICU babies, & NICU families! So we asked you to submit pictures of your baby or child in costume and you sure did! Thank you! We also asked for current families in the NICU to send pictures of their little ones dressed up too.

Many of you will spend Halloween and the upcoming holidays in the NICU - it's one of our goals to make that time just a little better by writing posts to share hope with you & bring you simple smiles! We know this post of preemie miracles dressed in costume will do just that!! We pray that next year you are home celebrating the holidays with your little one(s). Blessings to you, stay strong, and visit us when you need a little pick me up. This just may be the most adorable Halloween preemie post ever. Thank you for sharing pictures with us.

A Preemie Mother's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for this preemie God gave me to keep.
So very little, So very small,
I pray you make it through it all.
Each day I hold you skin to skin,
I hope you feel my love within.
You are so brave, you are so strong,
You came early because you belong.
Angels watch over him all through the night,
God keep him safe and help him fight.

Written by, Andrea Green

From a PP NICU Grad shoot. I wanted to share this precious picture honoring Lily who is in an angel in heaven watching over her brothers & sisters... all 4 of them!!

Trick or Treat From A Few Preemies!!!

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE NICU!!! 

 

A PREEMIE HALLOWEEN!!

29 weekers now 10.5 months old!

Zander Lewis, born three months early, now 6 months old. Wearing a bee costume

SO MANY PREEMIE & NICU MIRACLES CELEBRATING IN COSTUME!!

Here's my 31 weeker
He's 11 months old now

This pumpkin was a 34 weeker weighing in at 3lbs 12 oz he is now 8.5 months actual 7 months adjusted and 19.5 lbs

My little pumpkin Jacob! He was born at 24 weeks weighing 1lb 12 oz. he spent 98 days in the NICU and now he is a happy healthy toddler! I am a blessed mommy.

Baby Charly was born at 28 weeks. She is now 7 weeks old and the cutest candy corn just in time for Halloween.

Tanner in his Halloween costume he is 5 weeks old. 5 days adjusted.

Sophia born at 24 w 6d now almost 17months

 

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING PICTURES OF YOUR PRECIOUS PREEMIES WITH PREEMIE PRINTS! WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER THIS INSPIRATIONAL BLOG POST FOR NICU FAMILIES, SUPPORTERS, READERS, AND VOLUNTEERS TO ENJOY! 

HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY HALLOWEEN IN OR OUT OF THE NICU!!

Preemie twins born at 32.5 weeks, now 4. Photo from PP volunteer Lauren Mellisari of College Station.