Simply Singer

Rosella just hit her due date and was 2 months old and Steven and I had the time off work due to parental leave, so we decided to take a nice family vacation. Somewhere where the kids can go, or at least Logan can have fun. So we decided SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, LegoLand and SeaLife Aquarium. Logan loves animals as do I and LegoLand is for kids. Day 1 - SeaWorld. A ton of walking (granted that was the whole trip) and seeing all the marine life. Logan absolutely loved seeing all the animals and even more so when they were interacting with him. He was very excited with all the movement of the different animals . Surprisingly he did so well without a nap, but fell asleep the minute we drove back towards the hotel. Logan would run towards the different tanks because the marine life would be swimming around and it would catch his eyes. His favorite words were wow and ohh. He liked to point out all the moving animals, which was mostly everything. As expected Rosella slept most of

So as many of you know, I was asked to guest speak in a medical conference. This conference was about preterm labor and birth as a whole. I was asked by one of the ladies in the hospital staff before I was discharged after having Rosella if I was interested. I said sure that sounds like fun. So we now fast forward a bunch of months and now we are before the holidays. She asks again if I’m still interested. Of course I would love too. I told her I would and I will keep my promise. The beginning of the year I tell her I was able to get the day off work and we are good to go. As the day drew near, and we are about 6-10 weeks away I’m starting to have doubts. Starting to have anxiety about reliving this all over again, see some of the staff that took care of me. I get the email with what she wants me to talk about. Ok that seems simple, just four things. Why I was there and how long with a bit of backstory, positive things I liked and what I wish would have been done differently. So I

So we are going to get a bit personal here, so please don't judge, it is hard enough for me to write it but sharing it will be even harder. I ask not for your pity or anything, you do not need to say anything to me about this post, just know this is how I feel.  Rosella is just over 10 months old. It has been a struggle for me here and there with everything that I went to. Being a strong headed person, I never reached out for help. Always told myself it would get better. Has to get better. Have to be strong and healthy and ok for my family. Well was a dead wrong. Not addressing these issues I have been having, it has taken a huge toll on me. So I finally reached out to Rosella's developmental therapist and told her that I think I need some help. I write this feeling like I should not be but mental health is VERY IMPORTANT. And If yo have doubts, always get help. I am pretty sure I have some form of PTSD from the whole pregnancy, birth and NICU experience but I am not a doct

Rosella spent the first 3 weeks of her life in the NICU . It was very hard on us emotionally and physically. Not only my husband and I, but our families as well. She was born just over 8 weeks early . Everyday we hoped she would grow and not have any issues. It was a long three weeks. Logan was still in preschool at the time so at least I was able to visit her everyday.  Rosella was born 31 weeks and 5 days gestation. Just over 2 months early. She was only 3 pounds 9 ounces. Just a little thing. She was born 3:33 in the morning. I did not get to see her until about 8:30 and I still was unable to hold my baby. Granted I was so drugged up from everything (if you read the Arrival of Rosella's post ). We went back a bit before 2pm and then I was able to hold her.  The rules were a bit strict. To those who never have experienced a child in the NICU, you will not understand how emotional it can be. We could only hold her right after care and feeding and you had to hold her for at le

If you have read my previous posts about how my pregnancy had gone, then you know that with all the issues, you could figure it would be not how I could imagine. Well being in the hospital and monitored (baby's heart rate and uterine contractions) twice a day with access to nurses any time I may have needed one worked in my favor leading up to the birth. When you read thru this, remember that most things I was going thru was considered normal for my pregnancy issues. And that I honestly had no idea I was actually in labor until moments before. So I woke up very early in the morning, around 1 am on May 3rd with contractions but they were not too bad. Manageable and spaced out enough there was no call for concern. But being only 31 weeks and 3 days pregnant with steady contractions, I was administered magnesium. For those who do not know what that does, it is used for neuro support of the baby. It can also help stop false labor. Which when you get it, it feels like you are laying