To another family with a child writing their own book,
Kaleb is now either 16 months old or 14 months depending on
how you look at it. Sixteen and a half months ago he entered the world 12 weeks
early weighing 2 lb 2 oz. He is also considered 14 months old as of today since
14 months ago would have been his due date. For a parent of a preemie it can be
confusing explaining the actual and adjusted age of a child. It can also be
difficult as a parent to wait for milestones to happen that many parents take
for granted.
Some days I do better at this than others. Yes, I knew from
the time he was born a very small preemie that it would change things from the
typical baby development timeline. Again I realized this when I learned of
brain bleeds, Down syndrome, heart defect, and his other medical issues. It is a lot for a
heart to take; wondering at their life, their potential. Wondering what
milestones will they reach?
In some ways it gets easier and it some ways harder as they
grow. It gets easier because you get to know and bond with your child. Even
though it doesn’t seem like it in the beginning, you will bond with your child
and their medical file will begin to separate from them; from their personality
and heart. While you will love your child with every fiber in your being, it
gets harder because while you know their development will differ from their
peers. It is still a lot for a momma heart to take as you see it happen. For
myself, it can be the toughest when I see other medically complex children
reaching milestones that I am still waiting for Kaleb to reach.
However, those days… Those days when they do something. Either
for the first time or you watch them do something and it triggers something
inside of you as you suddenly remember those days, weeks, or months that you
worried, stressed, prayed, and cried for them to reach a milestone. It is a joy
that is indescribable. It is a feeling typically parents won’t experience like
we do. Kaleb is pretty delayed in gross motor skills. Yes, that is even tough
to say. He does better with fine motor
skills, socializing, and even communication he is not too so far behind. However,
gross motors skills he struggles. Thank you prematurity, sickness, Down
syndrome, and open heart surgery for that. He has trouble sitting, he can sit
and has been able to for a while but does not like to. It’s been a fight and
battle for a long time. He has rocked on all fours for a couple of months but doesn’t
crawl. He isn’t ready to stand quite yet, let alone assisted walking.
Then today, today I got an email. It was a picture from his
daycare. It was a picture of him sitting. That’s it. Him sitting and smiling. From
his position and knowing him, he was probably wanting to get at the phone or
tablet that it was taken on. That kid loves getting a hold of phones, computers,
tablets, remotes, or anything or everything we tell him not to. I knew he had been doing better and was
sitting more at daycare. Still, something about that picture triggered the
memories; the frustrations, worry, and stress. That picture, brought tears to
my eyes. He is doing it, he is sitting. I have watched at least two groups of kiddos
go through his class and bypass him as they continue on to the next class. I
watch the differences in ages get further and further apart. Today, it doesn’t
matter. Because today, I got a picture of him sitting and smiling.
Right after that email came a text. A text from my mother to
let me know that you and your family are about to welcome your baby into the
world today. A baby who has already made you lose sleep while you
worry, cry, and pray. A baby who will not be a very premature baby or come with
a diagnosis of Down syndrome but will have a medical file of her own. They don’t
think she will be able to walk, and have been worried about several other issues related to her diagnosis.
It will be hard to be a parent of a medically complex child.
Then again, parenting any child is hard. Some days might feel unbearable.
However, there will be days that something happens and you will look at her and
cry. But, it will be tears of joy, while you marvel at her strength and yours.
I don’t know what her future will be. I don’t know what your
NICU journey will be. We had 14 weeks in the NICU, but your journey will be
unique to you and your baby. Each person’s is. However, I do want to say
congratulations on your new miracle. I do know, if you let her, she will teach
you more about this world and yourself than you ever thought possible. You will
fall deeply in love with her. You will marvel as she grows, as she goes through
labs, and endures tests and procedures in the NICU. You will feel this insane
amount of joy as she graduates from the NICU. Celebrate each and every
milestone no matter how small. One day you will look back on it and be amazed
and you will wonder how she and you did it. You’ve got this.
Here’s to parenting one day at a time and the many
adventures in store for both of us.
I can do this. You can do this.
Sincerely,
Another parent of a child writing their own book.
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