#24weekermicropreemie

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Today we wear purple for World Prematurity Day!! Holly was born 16 weeks too soon, resulting in a 138 day hospital stay where she faced challenges that no child or parent should ever have to face. She weighed 1 lb 5 oz and 11 inches long. And yet, we are the lucky ones, because we got to bring Holly home with us. Holly is a fighter through and through, but no baby should have to fight for their life the way that she did. Today we are thankful for Holly’s fighting spirit and strength, the team who took such amazing care of her in the hospital and after her discharge, and the miracles God blessed us with. Our family wouldn’t be the same without her and we are just so thankful for her this World Prematurity Day. #prematurityawarenessmonth #worldprematurityday #littlestfighters #marchofdimes #24weekermicropreemie #hungryhungryholly #MODimagines @marchofdimes @pampersus

[lilbsadventures]

Holly and me with our heroes!!!!! @karlamintus #hungryhungryholly #24weekermicropreemie #prematurityawarenessmonth #marchofdimes #signaturechefsCLE

[lilbsadventures]

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A post shared by Heather Law (@heatherlawblog)

November is Prematurity Awareness Month, but it’s also the month we tend to look back at what we are grateful and thankful for. I’m going to follow @addie.belle ‘s lead and post this month about things I was grateful for in the NICU. My first- Hollys voice. I didn’t get to hear her beautiful voice until she was 8 weeks old- not a single peep because she was intubated the entire time before that. We were actually afraid that she had paralysis of her vocal chords, and we didn’t know if she’d make any noise at all. The first time I heard her cry was the day they successfully extubated her, and I was in her room with my mom. I heard this TINY noise coming from her isolette. I didn’t even know what it was, but as I got closer I realized it was her cry!!! We cried and hugged, and I was, once again, in awe if my little warrior. Now she yells, laughs, cries, and says Mama. I am grateful for her voice. A NICU moment I will remember, and be thankful for, forever. #hungryhungryholly #marchofdimes #nicumiracle #nicuwarrior #24weekermicropreemie #prematurityawarenessmonth

[lilbsadventures]

HAPPY HOLLY DAY!!!!

One year ago today Holly completed her 138 day hospital stay and came home!!! In the past year, she has: -grown 13 inches -gained 13 pounds -had 93 appointments -1 ER visit -graduated from all her specialty doctors- nephrology, ophthalmology, cardiology, physical therapy and ENT -favorite foods: pulled pork, pickles, hummus, bananas, grapes -is taking steps and starting to say a few words, including mama, dada, nana -is in the 50% for weight and 75% for height in the REGULAR growth charts

So, she’s basically rocking the shit out of being a baby, and exceeding every expectation doctors had for her. We miss our Hillcrest NICU crew, but have met new and amazing doctors and therapists that have helped us along the way. We’re SO incredibly proud of her!!!!!

#hungryhungryholly #24weekermicropreemie #preemiepower #nicubaby #nicumiracle

[lilbsadventures]

My girl! Today we saw the eye doc for our 6 month follow up- he took one look and declared, 'well THIS girl doesn't need glasses.' She's got someone important looking out for her, I know that for sure. #24weekermicropreemie #preemiepower #hungryhungryholly #ROP

[lilbsadventures]

One year ago today, nick and I went in for what we hoped would be a normal ultrasound check up. What happened instead was a tearful doctor telling us that I had gone into silent labor and was already dialiating at 19 weeks. Our only hope to save our baby girl was to have an emergency cerclage placed and go on strict bed rest. Thank God our doctor was able to place the stitch to save Holly. Week after week, I laid in bed and we'd go in for follow up ultrasounds, to find that the stitch was holding and Holly was growing. At 23.5 weeks we were told that Holly was finally viable, and everything looked good. At 24 weeks exactly, I had an unrelated placental abruption, putting Holly and myself in mortal danger. Thankfully my doctor was able to perform an emergency c section and save us both. What I learned in the last year, sometimes your worst fears do come true. But I also learned that miracles really can happen, and with the right support you can come out on the other side stronger and more resilient. Sometimes just because the worst thing happens doesn't mean that something beautiful can't blossom from it. Holly- before you could open your eyes, before you could smile at us, before you even had a whisper of fat on your body, you showed us what it meant to be strong, and how even in the darkest of times, if you weren't giving up, we couldn't either. Our introduction to parenthood was a baptism by fire, but we got you, baby girl, and you are an inspiration to us every day. I wouldn't choose what happened to us, but I will say having her was worth every tear. My heart belongs to her, Nick, and every single person who got us here- all the doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, clergy member, family and friends who provided support, every prayer that was said for her. #24weekermicropreemie #preemiepower #cerclage #nicubaby @marchofdimes

[lilbsadventures]

“My little underdog is growing up to be the champion I’ve always waited for.” Nick wrote this amazing piece about his love of Cleveland sports and his love of Holly. . ⛓ in bio! . #clevelandindians #cavs #clevelandcavaliers #clevelandbrowns #clevelandsports #nicudad #nicumiracle #24weekermicropreemie #hungryhungryholly @projectpreemiecle @indians @cavs @clevelandbrowns @nicubeard https://www.instagram.com/p/BpFP-gxgAiB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wciy4nta52lz

https://www.projectpreemie.com/pppconnect/2018/10/18/more-than-a-game?fbclid=IwAR2-V0MmEveP5-MBIVLSxoW9lP-sCO6U6SeVpTj69-o_5Yd4rVXaaizJUHA

[lilbsadventures]

HAPPY HOLLY DAY!!!! Two years ago today our sweet Holly cam home from the hospital after 138 days!!! Since last Holly Day, our girl has: Grown 12” (25” since birth) Gained 15 lbs (28 since birth) Has all her teeth Had 30 doc/therapy appointments (down from 95 last year!) NO ER visits!! Graduated from the NICU follow up clinic Still in 50% for weight and 75% for height on the regular growth charts Is 22x bigger than her birth weight!!! . Holly loves laughing, kissing, ‘bubba and wawa’, swinging, running, climbing, ELMO, pictures of ‘nana and baby’. Her favorite foods are pickles, pizza, milk, spaghetti, crunchies (basically any cereal) and blueberries! . We desperately wish we could@visit Hillcrest today to thank her amazing caregivers, but Holly has the sniffles and we wouldn’t dare bring those up there. . Since last Holly Day, our family has been the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Family, been on the news@for MoD many times, I have joined the Family Advisory Council with Hillcrest Hospital NICU, helped out with the Full Circle NICU support group, and now I will be sitting on the Board of Directors for @projectpreemiecle !!! Holly has opened our eyes to a world we knew nothing about, but are glad to be a part of. We are so proud of our little miracle and love sharing her with the world!! . #hungryhungryholly #nicumiracle #24weekermicropreemie #hillcresthospital #clevelandclinic #projectpreemie #nicuawarenessmonth #forevergrateful (at Hillcrest Hospital) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn6334wAmmh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lsvq00illhgk

[lilbsadventures]

Today marks a very special occasion for our family- today Holly has (finally!) been home longer than she was in the hospital- 138 days in, 139 days out. Time crawled when she was in the NICU but it has just flown since she's been home. It's amazing to see the wheels turning in her little head while she figures everything out. Love our little family, and so happy she's home where she belongs. #hungryhungryholly #24weekermicropreemie #5monthscorrected #9monthsold

[lilbsadventures]

This little goofball is officially and NICU Follow Up Clinic graduate!!! 🙌🎓👑🍼🍾🚀🎊🎉🎀 She passed her last Bayley test with flying colors!! I’m so proud of you, sweet girl- the world has a special place for you!!! #hungryhungryholly #sarabrickphotography #nicumiracles #24weekermicropreemie #nicugraduate (at Hillcrest Hospital)

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Tea for Two! And yes, she is wearing a dress that I wore when I was two. That my mom made. And no, I didn’t make all those tissue paper flowers, I re-purposed our wedding arch! #teafortwo #hungryhungryholly #24weekermicropreemie #kidspartiesareexhausting

[lilbsadventures]

Today we wear purple for World Prematurity Day. Holly was born on May 4, 16 full weeks before her August 24 due date. While that day was out of my worst nightmares, I have witnessed miracles to see her grow and become the little lady she is today. For the first two months she was in the NICU, I wondered why and how anyone could ever work there, but by the end of her stay I did- the nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, receptionists, cleaning crew- they are ALL the most special people who have been called to their jobs. They get to witness miracles every day. Holly changed me, I know the fighting spirit she was born with will do big things to help others one day. #worldprematurityday #24weeker #24weekermicropreemie #hollyathome #hungryhungryholly #touchesoflove