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.

Christmas Quilts For The NICU

We wanted to share a few pictures from our Christmas Quilt deliveries to the Bryan College Station NICUs. These quilts were presented near the end of December to families who had babies in the NICU over Christmas. Thank you to the Preemie Prints Sew & Craft group for putting in so many hours to give these special gifts to many families!

St. Joseph's hospital delivery

Delivery to The Med, College Station TX

NICU mom with her quilt

A NICU Christmas

Photo copyright Preemie Prints & volunteer photographer
Glenna Moss Walker! 

'Twas the night before Christmas, and in each isolette
Little creatures were squirming and getting all set;
Machinery sat by their bedsides with care,
In hopes that good breathing skills soon would be there.

Day shifters were home all snug in their beds,
As visions of overtime danced in their heads;
While preemies on ventilators, and some on CPAP,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap...

When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
The residents woke up to see what was the matter.
Away from the sink I flew like a jet
To make sure all was well at my baby's isolette.

Some bilirubin lights with their powerful glow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to babies below,
When, there before my wondering eyes, it would seem,
Was an oversized stroller and a medical team.
With a handful of needles with which they could stick you,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nicu.

More rapid than eagles his specialists came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Nurses! Now, Residents! Now, Neonatologists!
On, Social Workers! On, Respiratory and Occupational Therapists!
From the front of the unit! To the end of the hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Up to each baby's cribside they flew,
With the stroller full of toys, and St. Nicu too.
And then, in a twinkling, they stopped at each bed
And tucked in the babies and got them all fed.

As I looked at my baby, and was turning around,
Down our aisle St. Nicu came with a bound.
He was dressed in red scrubs, and I could instantly tell
That his clothes had an obvious hospital smell;
A bag of stuffed animals was flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
A little red pen he held tight in his teeth,
And a stethoscope encircled his neck like a wreath.

He was chubby and plump, with a few extra pounds,
And I laughed when I saw him there doing his rounds.
A turn of his clipboard and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke few words, but came straight to my side,
And running down his face was a tear he had cried.

And laying his hand on the back of my head,
He gave me a nod, and slowly he said:
"Each night you come here you're aware of the danger,
But your baby is loved by the One in the manger."

Then the medical team gave a thumbs-up and smiled
And St. Nicu placed an animal next to my child.
But I heard him exclaim, as they rolled out of sight,
"Merry Christmas, tiny baby, and have a wonderful night!"

--For Benjamin, Casey & Danielle, from Daddy, 12/24/05
in memory of Emily (11/4/05-11/23/05)

____________________________________________

Volunteers at Preemie Prints are working on special Christmas quilts that will be delivered to St. Joseph's and The Med's NICU in Bryan College Station on December 22nd. 

Christmas Quilts for NICU families 2011

Picture frames for NICU families Christmas 2011

Holidays With Preemies

Holidays with preemies The holidays can be a fun but sometimes difficult time for the parent of preemies. Smack dab in the middle of RSV season comes a holiday that usually involves celebrating with family and friends. It can be hard to spend holidays without everyone with you and if you are allowed to be in groups, you have to remain ever vigilant about hand washing and any other issues you might be facing with your preemie. Here are some tips and ideas for celebrating the holidays with your preemie and enjoying the season despite the challenges we face.

Keep it small - Even though you may normally celebrate with large family gatherings or holiday parties with friends, don't forget that this is RSV season. Try and celebrate with just your immediate family or keep the gathering very small. For parties, either find a babysitter for your little one or forgo attending parties where you can't control who is there (or how healthy they are).

Celebrate - Even if you are just celebrating with your husband/wife and kids, still create a festive environment. I've talked to several preemie parents who have said "why bother if it's just us" but trust me - you are worth the effort too! Make a special meal, follow the holiday traditions you normally have and still take the time to simply celebrate how far your family has come this year.

Let your preemie be has involved as he/she wants to be - The holidays can be overwhelming for all us but especially to preemies. The lights, the excitement, the people, the noise - it can all get to be too much. Be mindful of your preemies' cues and try to make sure they don't get too overwhelmed with all of it.

Have some fun - Even if you preemie is small and doesn't really understand what's going on - still keep him/her involved in the holidays. Keep your preemie in the room with you while you open gifts. Let your preemie play with the wrapping paper, ribbon, boxes or anything else that grabs his/her attention.

Capture Growth - The holidays are a great time to take an annual picture that shows just how much your preemie has grown. We use a stocking that in our son's first year he could fit inside of and now he just holds it up. A great reminder of how far he has come. Other great ideas are a special ornament, hat, candy cane, decoration or anything else that you have around the house. Enjoy your little miracles!