Comments on Keeping Up with the Cases: Way Back Whensday

Every once in a while something will trigger a mem...

2009-03-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while something will trigger a memory of that time...a smell, a sound. I remember the little milestones that we three celebrated - weight gain, more ounces consumed, Baylor's incubator being moved next to Jack's - little things, but so important to us and to those precious boys. I remember sticking our gloved hands through the incubator holes and stroking their tiny arms and legs and describing the sweet smell - "he smells like Krispy Kreme donuts!" Those boys captured my heart from the get-go...I am putty in their hands! Little Miss Fat Bottom's, too!

I feel it needs to be pointed out here that not on...

2009-03-12T20:21:00.000-05:00

I feel it needs to be pointed out here that not only were J&B perfectly beautiful newborns, but they are rock-your-socks-off adorable nearly-two-year-olds too. Just so we're clear! ;)

It's hard to imagine those bouncing munchkins were...

2009-03-12T17:39:00.000-05:00

It's hard to imagine those bouncing munchkins were ever that tiny and fragile! I hope I'm as good at being a mommy someday as you seem to be, Christine. :)

Wow! I'd forgotten how TINY they were! But Tara i...

2009-03-12T16:33:00.000-05:00

Wow! I'd forgotten how TINY they were! But Tara is right, they were absolutely adorable newborns!

I don't think I knew that your mom was there with you for that difficult NICU time and I'm so glad to know she was...I can't even imagine how hard that time was...but I'm so glad to see that J and B are big beautiful almost 2 year olds now!

Christine,Okay, you! Way back whensday indeed! I c...

2009-03-12T16:26:00.000-05:00

Christine,
Okay, you! Way back whensday indeed! I can't say that I know what it was like to leave your 2 baby boys like that but I know what it was like to leave one. Naturally, old flower child that I am, I staged a strike. I think to this day they have a photo of me posted in the administrative offices at Carle Hospital and under my face is a big red "Warning! This woman is dangerous! Do not deny her access to her baby boy!". Eric was only there for 10 days but that was 10 days too long (as I know YOU understand). I refused to leave the building when they discharged me. Even the security guard couldn't persuade me. I told them I would camp out in their parking lot if they forced me to leave. When they said they could have me arrested, I asked them just how embarrassing did they want me to make THAT for them? Finally the motel across the road offered me a super cheap room so I was not homeless. I was never much good at pumping so I got to nurse him every couple of hours. During the night the NICU nurses would have the security guard come get me whenever Eric woke up. The NICU staff were just so happy to have a baby who was going to be going home with mOM and Da, they helped me whenever I needed anything. The only other residents of the NICU were not going home and were not getting visits anymore from their families. When Eric would fall asleep, I would always try to spend a few minutes holding one of the other ones. That was so sad and I made a promise that one day when I am old enough to sit still for long periods of time, I will volunteer to rock babies at the NICUs here in town. I'm not quite there yet.
Thank you for the stroller down memory lane, Christine, even though they are hard memories to bear. But don't they leave you grateful?!
Looking forward to seeing you and your wonderful family at church. ;-P

Christine, I have to say that your boys were adora...

2009-03-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

Christine, I have to say that your boys were adorable looking newborns! Their sweet little faces are just wonderful! Thank you for sharing the story. I can't imagine how sad it was to have to leave them at the hospital when you were ready to be discharged, but I am sure that it was one great homecoming when they were ready for the trip themselves! -Tara

Christine, I love this post! I have never heard a ...

2009-03-11T22:55:00.000-05:00

Christine, I love this post! I have never heard a ton of detail about the days after the boys were born - at the time I'm sure you didn't feel much like narrating and afterward you were so busy with them home. I'm sure leaving them there was so sad and helpless and just nothing like you'd envisioned when you saw that positive pregnancy test.

I'm so glad they're here with us now. And, I'm so glad to get to see these pictures again. They are some treasures of mine too - I keep them on my computer because I never want to forget how little and beautiful J&B were in their earliest days. I remember being so excited whenever you sent pictures.

Great Way Back Whensday! You think it'll ever be big enough that I could employ Mr. Linky? One can dream...