This weeks episode is the FIRST of our NICU series. When Derek and I started family planning, we really had NO idea that our journey would consist of 2 premature babies, and spending over 13 weeks in the NICU.
Before we had Tate we had never stepped foot in a NICU, let alone seen a baby that was covered head to toe in tubes and wires that were physically keeping him alive. We learned very quickly that the NICU was a complete roller coaster that forced us to feel every emotion under the sun. While we were incredibly grateful for a beautiful little boy, we were overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty every single day for the next 7 weeks, until we were finally able to bring Tate home to us.
After undergoing many procedures and a surgery, we were so hopeful that our next baby would be born full term and healthy. After finding out at 29 weeks that I was in preterm labour, we spent the next two weeks trying to be there for Tate, while navigating bed rest, hospitalization, and eventually another preterm delivery.
Our little girl, Reese, spent the next 6 weeks in the NICU, overcoming the many hurdles and obstacles that premature babies face. We juggled life with a newborn in the NICU, and a toddler at home, and felt the pull of having two kids who needed us, but in very different ways.
Join us as Derek and I share what it was like experiencing the NICU for the first time, navigating it again with a toddler, and the rollercoaster we faced in order to create our family.
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This weeks Sponsor is The Sandra Schmirler Foundation.
IG account: sandraschmirler
The foundation was created in 2001, in memory Sandra Schmirler, who was a loving wife and Mom to two beautiful girls. She is a Canadian curling icon who captured three Canadian championships, 3 World Championships and skipped her team to a gold medal at the Olympics in 1998.
They are the only national foundation devoted solely to helping fund the purchase of life-saving equipment for babies born too soon, too small or too sick, just like mine were. They raise their funds through initiatives like curling bonspiels, golf tournaments, online contests, and Crowd Sweeps at major curling events. One of their major fundraiser is the annual telethon on TSN at the Scotties tournament of Hearts that I shared about on our Instagram page while Derek and I answered phones for it this year in Moose Jaw.
You can find the Sandra Schmirler foundation on Instagram, Facebook and by visiting their website sandraschmirler.org
You can donate $5 right now by texting SANDRA to 4578, or by visiting their website at any time.
