A Crash Course in the NICU

Jacob was looking great after the birth. JJ had some issues (I need to go back and try to remember what exactly it was) but they had to put him in the NICU. If you've never been in a NICU, you'll understand when I say it's a shocking experience. First off, only parents and grandparents are allowed in. Actually I thought it was only parents but then I saw a picture of my dad in there...may he just snuck in!? Ha. There is very high security and there is also a wash/scrub down area you must go through before entering. I had never stepped foot inside a NICU, although I had seen pictures of tiny babies. Nothing can quite prepare you for what you see. Tiny, tiny babies...feet and hands the size of pennies. I didn't even know they made equipment that small. Thankfully this NICU was top rated. I was able to shuffle myself down the hall to go and see JJ and try to nurse him. Walking baby steps down the hall post C-section was crazy painful in and of itself. But once inside the NICU, you realize just how lucky/blessed you are to actually have a healthy baby.

These tiny little human beings, some of them weighing merely ounces, all looked so helpless. There was a very somber feel there. I have a new found appreciation for anyone whose child is there and all of the amazing nurses and doctors who care for these little lambs. Some had been there for months and months. JJ was there for just one day. He weighed 5lbs13oz and looked like a giant compared to the other babies. I'll never forget that Sunday when we were getting ready to take JJ home. Sundays are busy days there because that's when the parents have time off to come in and see their little ones, because no person can stay in the NICU 24-7, it's not even allowed even if a mother wanted to do so. There were so many parents there visitng their babies. I felt so much guilt leaving there with our son who only had to spend 1 day there. It was just a super sad and humbling experience.

It is a great reminder how precious life is and how much can be done to grow a baby outside the womb, even after 20 weeks, for example. I am so glad JJ only had to be there for 1 day. We were so blessed to get to take him home when we did. We were able to reunite him with his twin brother Jacob. What a happy, rainy Sunday afternoon that was!