Monday, March 31, 2008

My very own miracle...

Today, my baby is TEN! I cannot even believe that I've been a mom for TEN YEARS. I remember how stressful those first few weeks were! Here is my baby, only a few hours after her premature birth. Maddie was born 8 weeks early, and weighed in at a whopping 3lbs, 11oz. She spent a total of 14 days in the hospital, and came home on my birthday, April 14, 1998. My best birthday ever. When your preemie is born, nobody can tell you what you want to hear. That your baby will be fine, and that your baby will be going home from the hospital on XX date. At birth, she was breathing on her own, but during the night, she suffered an episode of apnea, which automatically meant a likely 10 day hospital stay. She needed to be off the apnea meds for 7 days before she could be released. Thankfully, there were no more apnea episodes, and each day she grew stronger, and more feisty. See how she is on her side? The NICU nurses would lay her on her back, and she would fuss, and cry, and wriggle around until she was on her side. STUBBORN. She was the talk of the NICU. OH YEAH - this was only the beginning, lol. For the 14 days in the hospital, each day, I was prepared by the staff for the many different scenarios that come with a pre-term birth. There are many, many health issues that can arise, but I am happy to report, that this girl - this 32 week preemie - has had exactly ONE visit to the doctor that was not a well child check. SERIOUSLY. ONCE in ten years. Not too shabby, Maddie! What do you think of this vintage point & shoot photography? It's actually not too bad, but I wouldn't want to try to enlarge this snapshot scan, lol. A lot has changed in 10 years, not the least of which is my camera!

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Here she is in Kindergarten. Can you almost hear her giggle? OH MAN - this girl is BUBBLY! LOOK at the curls! LOL. I know this is just a standard "school portrait", but it makes me smile when I look at it. In kindergarten, everything was fresh and new and OH SO EXCITING. I remember thinking "I can't believe my baby is in KINDERGARTEN!" Isn't she cute with her little glasses on? Maddie has had glasses since pre-school, age 4. I remember feeling devastated at the time, wondering if this was my fault, for not carrying her to term, but the reality is, she is farsighted, and that actually is common in my husband's family. Her cousin's Nick and Cassi each had glasses when they were toddlers. I think she first asked for contacts at age 7, roflol.

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And finally, here she is now! I know you've all seen a few pictures, as I work on my photography and digi scrapping, but this weekend, when I was practicing with the camera (and thinking about Maddie's birthday), it really struck me how much this girl has accomplished. My miracle baby. We are so blessed! Happy, happy birthday sweet girl!



I hope you all have a FABULOUS MONDAY, and maybe even your own miracle today! And I know you all are wondering where the curls went...WELL...she *hates* them, so she brushes them out each day, while complaining loudly about how she really wishes she had thin, straight hair like all her friends.

SIGH. If you look carefully, you can sort of make out the thick, natural waves...

13 comments:

Victoria said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Maddie! Congratulations on your lovely "Miracle Baby". She looks like such a wonderful young lady!

I haven't met anyone who likes their hair. I always find that a funny thing. :)

debra said...

Awww... what a sweet non-doctor going child! She looks so tiny and fragile there as a preemie, you must have been a mess and scared to death as a new Mother... How do they say it, "You've come a long way baby!".. Happy 10th Birthday Maddie!

Anonymous said...

Happy, happy birthday!!! Isn't she just beautiful?? Wow, she does resemble her mama!!! Have an awesome day, and see you tomorrow... :)

Leigh said...

she is a beautiful girl! What a great smile she has! Endearing!

Anonymous said...

Ang, tell Maddie that she is absolutely fabulous and that she comes by it honestly. Happy birthday and you're far too young looking to have a child that old! Where does the time go?

DawnMarch said...

Happy birthday, Maddie! Wow, she is such a beautiful young lady!


[I was thinking the same thing about that NICU photo -- pretty darn good for having been taken in a NICU 10 years ago!]

Kookie said...

Happy b-day Maddie!
OMG Ang, she was tiny! Reminds me of "Gabbie" the teeny tiny little girl Kole shared his NICU room with when he was born. Feisty and full of personality! Nothing wrong with that.

Anonymous said...

Aw, this was a wonderful post! Happy Birthday to your miracle girl! I have a preemie kiddo too, but we were lucky to only spend a couple days in NICU. I hope you all have a fun birthday day!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Maddie! Stay beautiful and enjoy life!

Teresa said...

Oh I love this post! What a miracle and precious gift!!!! She is gorgeous and soo happy to say Happy Birthday!!!

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhh, Fab!!! You are so right! Maddie has jumped the preemie hurdles, accomplished the "maybes", and is a beautiful and fabby young lady!! Methinks she must get this from her fabby Mom!

I'll show this to Jessica when she stresses about her early Eli! I KNOW this will help!

Thanks, Fab!
~Tex

Anonymous said...

I always wondered why they didn't celebrate the "birthday" for the moms, after all they did all the work. Hoping that your lil April Fools baby has a wonderful day and you enjoy it too. You deserve it.

Heather McNally and Melissa MacDonald said...

Fabbie - happy Belated birthday to Maddie! She is GORGEOUS, like her Mama!!!!! She was definitely a miracle!