Where were you 15 months ago today? Do you remember December 31, 2008?
I do, I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was at CHEO (Children's Hospital Of Eastern Ontario) with my one week old, tiny, little baby boy who had been born a month early on Christmas Day.
It should have been a simple trip to the orthopedics clinic to get the first cast on his little club foot. And that in itself was traumatic enough for me - nobody wants their to be anything wrong with their newborns, even something as minor as Liam's club foot. After that, we were to make a quick stop in Emergency for blood work as Liam's pediatrician thought that Liam might be "a little jaundiced".
Unfortunately, that quick stop abruptly turned into a three day stay as Liam's bilirubin levels were VERY high and was indeed jaundiced.
So, 15 months ago tonight, I was alone at CHEO, staring at my poor little baby, in "Bili-Bassinet." I couldn't even hold or cuddle him except when he needed to nurse. Henry had to come home and take care of the pets and my cell phone battery was dead, so I was really truly alone. It was one of the worst nights of my life. And a New Year's Eve that I will always remember.
Liam in the Bili-Bassinet at CHEO, December 31, 2008
But despite his bout of jaundice and being re-admitted to CHEO four days later with a urinary tract infection that required five days of IV antibiotics, my teeny, tiny, born a month early baby is now a full of energy, happy, smart, playful 15 month old little boy! You would never know that he had such a rough start. He is my pride and joy. I can't imagine life without him. I can hardly remember what it was like not to have him around. He grows and changes every day. And although sometimes I think that he is growing far to fast, I love watching him learn new things and develop more personality. Only time will tell what kind of person he will grow into as the days, weeks, months and years go on but I am going to do everything I can to enjoy every minute of it.
Liam, playing at home, March 2010
Oh! That is so great to hear that he is doing so well! What a sweet little boy!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been so scary for you. I'm sure all her remembered was the comfort of your arms. He looks so happy...and I think with the quote on his overalls, "The Moose on the Loose" he is pretty active.
ReplyDeleteKids are so resilience, aren't they?
Liam is a very active boy!! If there is something in his way, he shoves it out of the way and keeps on going! The overalls were sent to us from a relative in Ireland who has never met Liam, so it is funny that they suit his personality so well!! :)
ReplyDeleteFirst time I have commented on one of your posts, but i just love it... Maybe it is the pregnancy hormones and thinking about my own little one soon, but knowing liam and reading the post definately would not have guessed what a rough start he had... definately a precious little boy you got there and a happy one!!!!
ReplyDelete