Monday, November 18, 2013

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."







Friday, November 8, 2013

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!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

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

Monday, November 4, 2013

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 :)"