As a "preemie mom" I am not sure if her birthday will ever get easier, it tends to bring back a flood of painful memories from the day she was born. Facebook reminded me that just a few days before she was born I traveled home from Brazil and I am so thankful I was back home in the US but I think like most preemie moms we live with heavy guilt and question every activity and preventative measure I could have taken on the days leading up to her unexpected birth. I remember not feeling very well the evening before (sort of an unexplainable yucky feeling, tired and had a back ache) and in hindsight I was probably having contractions and didn't know it. I remember everything about the day like it was yesterday- calling the nurse line, rushing to labor & delivery, the expression on the doctor's face when my water broke and her saying "I am so sorry", the long ambulance ride to Mpls and I can still feel the discomfort of not being able to move without her heart rate dropping and my chapped lips from the oxygen mask. There were a lot of nurses, doctors and drugs, but I can clearly picture the scrubs being thrown at my husband and the rush to my emergency C section and I remember the slight sense of relief I felt when the neonatologist said something like "look at me, look at nurses calmly working on your daughter through the glass window, she is alive and breathing and we are going to take great care of her". This was the beginning Morgan's long and challenging journey but a miraculous one that we thank God for every day!
On a lighter note, Morgan is PUMPED for her 7th Birthday! She is ready for the treats, gifts and attention that comes along with it, the steak and mashed potato dinner she picked, and very excited for her mermaid pool party this weekend with friends & cousins :)
I measure her every year and mark it on a growth stick in her room so we did that this evening and quite honestly was surprised she only grew an inch this year at best. Growth has been an ongoing "watch" item and we might have to take up again with her doctor and eventually see an endocrinologist like they have suggested. She is tiny (only 37 pounds with shoes & orthotics on) but up until now has been growing at a steady rate (~ 2 1/2 inches) annually even though in the lowest percentile so we haven't been overly concerned. We have the week off of therapy due to vacations & staff changes so they suggested some exercises and an app called "Cosmic Kids" which I think is yoga like for her we need to try out! One huge accomplishment in the last week or so is her ability to walk up the front steps without assistance or railing! We got her school supply shopping done and she is excited to find out who her 1st grade teacher will be tomorrow also!
