focus on life–week 21–reminisce

This Sunday Averleigh turns 3.  Based solely on the word Reminisce – the moment I saw that prompt arrive from Sally – I thought man, how did she know! How did she know I would be thinking a lot on the recent past this week.  Last year when she turned 2 I wrote a bit about her birth here.   In even quicker words, she arrived way early, way tiny, way dramatic and way beautiful.



I thought I’d share some of the unusual things in her little memory box of things.  Averleigh weighed 750g about 1 lbs 10oz and was less than 13 inches long.  It’s hard to really convey how tiny that is.  The diaper on top is like a maxi pad, it had to be folded down twice to allow room for her umbilical line [rather than an IV if they are quick about it they can use the vein and artery in the umbilical cord remnant instead].  Sitting on top of it is one of the hospital “bracelets” she had on her ankle that slipped off.  Then there is the cork from the Champagne we popped on her zero day.  The day that was my due date we celebrated with a very small party.  Just cake and balloons with the Grands and one of my brothers and sister-in-law (her guardians).  Underneath you can see a set of leads, these would be changed routinely so at some point a nurse stuck a set on, what seemed at the time, a massive diaper (small). 

I never did get a blood pressure cuff, she went through a couple of sizes of those. That seems odd to say but the cuff itself stays in the isolet with the babe, they each get their own.  There are other odd memories, like weighing her diaper.  I recall fetching one back from the trash when I didn’t know she was back on a diuretic, the nurse was just about to update me but I had been too quick to get my time with her.  Premature babies really need dark and quiet so you aren’t allowed to bug them.  Averleigh was feed every two hours at the start but you could only touch her every four.   She was four days old when I held (skin-to-skin for warmth) her for the first time and it was for just about 10 minutes.  I was heartbroken the next day when that nurse wouldn’t let me.   I found out later that first nurse probably just took pity on me as I had to leave the hospital that day.  Normally they don’t let them out to be held until they don’t have that umbilical line, because you cut out all sorts of infection risk if you never need an IV or a central line.  The umbilical line was there to feed her, she wasn’t getting any milk yet then.  I realize the memories are fading a bit since I can’t automatically tell you what day they started – I can tell you it was 1 cc.

Sunday we are having a party in the park with friends.  We are going to play, have a little buffet breakfast with lots of toppings for some Eggos (I cannot remember the last time i had one), lots of fruit, muffins, and of course cake.  It’s rained all week but I’m certain we will get some sun to celebrate our born feisty girl.  I like that every year I get a whole bunch of happy memories of her birthday to edge out some of the originals.

Ok, time to head over to the Studio Sublime and see what Sally Russick and the rest of the gang got up to.

ps.  I promise to share pictures!
pps. I know I kinda cheated, that it's not my childhood - but this is the real focus on life this week!