After a long 15.5 month slog, Sam has finally managed to say the one thing that every mother longs to hear: "Mama". For months (and I mean months) I have listened to Sam call me, the wall, Peter, his books, well, everything, "dada". I coached, I cajoled. I did everything I could to get that boy … [Read more...] about How one word can brighten my day
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Those three little letters every preemie mom fears… RSV
As a preemie parent, you have the fear of RSV drilled into you from the moment the season begins. We are told in that first year of life not to take our preemies into crowds or indoor public locations from November to May. We go every month to get our $1500 Synergist shots. We wash our hands … [Read more...] about Those three little letters every preemie mom fears… RSV
How to train a baby?
I have read all the books out there on sleep training, and I have to say I am at a loss. Don't get me wrong, Sam is a pretty good sleeper overall. Most nights he will sleep around 12 hours. So, you may be asking yourself, what could I possibly be complaining about? Well, two things really. … [Read more...] about How to train a baby?
It must be the holiday season
The past few weeks around the Harris-Odum household have been filled with people, good food, amazing developments from our anti-preemie and a big fundraising drive for the Alta Bates NICU. First- to the family updates. Thanksgiving this year was especially special for us as it was the first time … [Read more...] about It must be the holiday season
Paying it forward
Sam and I stopped by the NICU today for a quick little visit with some of our favorite people. It's always nice to bring Sam to the NICU and the staff that work there. I sometimes forget how nice it must be for them to see one of their former babies looking like such a big, healthy … [Read more...] about Paying it forward
World Prematurity Day
Had you asked me last year if I knew there was such a thing as Prematurity Awareness Month or a World Prematurity Day, my answer would have been a resounding no. It would never have occurred to me that premature birth was something that needed to be paid attention to- especially here in the US. … [Read more...] about World Prematurity Day
A little on the sad side today
The past year has been one of so much loss and so much pain. I am starting to realize that through all of this, the thing I have lost the most is myself. I have spent so much time focusing on the needs of everyone around me... friends, family, Sam... that I have lost me in all of this. I have … [Read more...] about A little on the sad side today
I’ve been a bad bad blogger
My in-laws pointed out that since Sam's birthday almost two months ago I have written nothing. Not a word. They had diligently checked every morning, just in case I might have posted an update. Every morning they were disappointed. I wish I had a better excuse than "I have two kids and a … [Read more...] about I’ve been a bad bad blogger
Sam’s Birthday Party
On September 17, we threw a major birthday party for Sam. In many ways, this was less of a birthday party and more of a celebration of all the people that helped us get to this milestone. I think we invited the entire NICU and almost all our friends and family. In all about 80 people came out to … [Read more...] about Sam’s Birthday Party
Separation Anxiety
I knew this day would come. Eventually we would have to address separation anxiety. I mean, eventually I would need to get back to work (or at least sort of). Little did I realize that the person having the most trouble would be ME! I think Sam is having more fun with the two different nanny's … [Read more...] about Separation Anxiety
One year ago today… A letter to my son
Dear Sam: It was on this day one year ago that you entered our lives. You were... shall we say... early. Really really early. We were not expecting to meet you until January 4th, but you just had other plans. The six days prior to your arrival were hard and scary. The 95 days you stayed in … [Read more...] about One year ago today… A letter to my son
One year ago today… (part 6)… and Happy Neonatal Nurse Appreciation Day
One year ago today, the euphoria of reaching 24 weeks started to wane as my contractions started to increase. Then, in the blink of an eye, the euphoria was gone as it was discovered I was leaking amniotic fluid and was now in danger of having my sac rupture with just the slightest movement. The … [Read more...] about One year ago today… (part 6)… and Happy Neonatal Nurse Appreciation Day
One year ago today… part 5
One year ago today, as I lay in trendelenberg, suffering from headaches and back aches, I celebrated. For it was on this day one year ago that I crossed the magical 24-week mark, and my baby went from having almost no chance of survival to a 40% chance of survival. For 4 days, I lay in my bed … [Read more...] about One year ago today… part 5
One year ago today (and yesterday)…
Its funny, as I get closer to Sam's birthday, things are getting a little easier. Who knows, maybe my roller coaster will follow the path in I took in the hospital last year. My 2nd and third full days in the hospital were probably my best. My back and hips only ached a little, my contractions … [Read more...] about One year ago today (and yesterday)…
One year ago today – part 2
I meant to post this this morning...alas... One year ago today, I woke up in a hospital bed, tilted at a 30-degree angle, being pumped full of magnesium sulfate, with all the blood rushing to my head, so overwhelmed that I didn't even realize it was 9/11. As I lay there, listening to the sounds … [Read more...] about One year ago today – part 2
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