Dear Henry, 84 days in the NICU.... so far
Happy 12 weeks Henry! I can't believe how far you have come....
From this... 1 lb 6 oz fetus
To this... 4 pound 9 oz miracle baby!
From a survival statistic so horrifying it need not be repeated to a thriving baby who has changed my entire world, Henry really is a miracle. In his 12 weeks he has done the opposite of what was expected. He survived! He never had a brain bleed. Never any heart problems. Never had any gut issues. No eye problems. He is gaining weight like a champ.
He has been intubated...extubated....on BiPap....on Vapotherm... and now he is officially off the wall on an extremely low flow of oxygen... his next step? Cannula freedom!
He is learning to drink from a bottle and he is breastfeeding!
He is growing up!
I still wake up every morning and get dressed for Henry, I make sure that whatever I wear will be soft on his face. I still spend everyday with him, I am still watching him grow, I am still watching him get stronger.
Today I would have been 35 weeks and 5 days pregnant. I would be doing last minute cleaning. I would probably have my hospital bag packed, just in case.
Instead I was given a gift.... The gift of extra time with my handsome little man. I am watching him do things that are usually unseen, I will alway feel blessed for this time.
So to everyone out there.... Thank you for your support and please raise your glass... I want to toast to you, my friends and family, and to Henry... Here's to the first 12 weeks of wonderful and a lifetime of beating the odds!
-Nikki
