The Next Best Thing

I'm pretty sure most parents believe that no one can take care of their children quite like mom and dad. Call it parental instinct or maybe just attachment, but parents really do (and should) know their kids better than anyone else. But when your babies are born premature, the parental role expands beyond mother and father. It includes those individuals who spend 12 straight hours with your sons, who feed and comfort them when you're not there, and who take care of them until they are ready to go home to mom and dad: our NICU nurses.

Even though we hate to be away from Tyler and Max, there is no doubt in our minds that our babies are in the best of hands. From the minute I was admitted into Baptist Hospital on January 16th for preterm labor, we have been nothing but impressed with our doctors and nurses at this hospital. As we waited and prayed that my labor would stop, knowing the boys would probably not survive at 23 weeks, the Labor and Delivery nurses kept our spirits up and fought right along side with us. After we made it through the first weekend and settled in for a long stay at the hospital, the Antepartum nurses encouraged us, kept a watchful eye on the babies, helped me keep my sanity, and recognized the sacrifices both Andy and I were making. And especially now, as our twin boys live away from their mom and dad, the NICU nurses have become an important part of our family. Yes, they were trained and educated to help our premature babies grow and thrive, but their care goes beyond that which you can learn from a textbook. They know how difficult it is for parents and children to be separated, and they do everything they can to brighten the situation. From writing cards and making posters to talking to the boys all day and night and answering our million questions, the nurses have really taken Max and Tyler under their wings. They have gotten to know our little guys as well, if not better, than we have! And as much as we wish Tyler and Max were at home with us, it is comforting to know that their temporary "parents" are doing a tremendous job. We love the NICU nurses and appreciate everything - whether it's in their job description or not- that they do for our sons.

Here are just a few of the things our wonderful NICU nurses have done to brighten our day (a couple are repeats):

Early St. Patrick's Day cards for Max and Tyler from Edra, their primary day nurse (everyone already knows how much we love St. Paddy's Day...)

One Month birthday posters with new footprints and weights

"Grammy Awards" to celebrate reaching 1000 grams

Their isolettes are getting crowded!

Max with his Grammy Award

Handsome crowns to hide ugly IVs in their heads

And of course hunting down the one Colts blanket and giving it to our boys (especially nice since no one likes the Colts down here!)