A few weeks ago we got a card in the mail informing us of the 1st Annual NICU Reunion for all of the Mercy NICU graduates. I was so excited about this party and couldn't wait to see Reese's nurses who we grew so close to and who became our heroes. This morning was the shindig, and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day for it. Due to the Razorback game starting at 11, we missed the official group picture at noon, but we spent about an hour checking out the fabulous carnival and catching up with some of my favorite people. Now Reese is napping while we nervously cheer on Arkansas against our old and once again conference rivals, Texas A&M.
A lot of memories and emotions came flooding back while we were walking around the hospital terrace just one year and a day after we took sweet girl home. It was the same terrace where I went out for fresh air, prayed, and had some heart to heart conversations with Wes a year ago. All of my memories and emotions are so dear and special, and I pray that I always remember my thankfulness and appreciation for this hospital and its staff. These nurses made us laugh, encouraged us, guided us as new parents, didn't judge me for being a crazy 1st time mom, and shared with us exactly what was going on with our precious daughter moment by moment. Here are just a few pictures from our wonderful morning.
A very proud daddy taking Reese to the carnival.
Yay! It's Auntie Lauren!
The carnival photo booth. We woke Reese up to come to the party so that we could get back for most of the game...needless to say, she acted like she was still napping the entire time. She would NEVER let us mess with her this much if she was truly awake. However, she would have lit up the entire place with her smile and laughs if she was a bit more rested. Those are her favorite activities these days, and I absolutely love it.
Our hero, Jeri. Jeri was the nurse who got my IV in after seven tries from others, she was in the room when Reese was born and helped her get oxygen and cleaned up, she was the one who put her PICC line in, and she was the one who removed it 7 days later. And I'm sure she was the one who did a lot more than I'll never know. I will never forget her comforting presence.
My sweet, sweet NICU graduate!
On the night Reese was born, nurse Mary watched her in the NICU while she was receiving oxygen and recognized something wasn't right. Her discernment, knowledge, and care helped diagnose our sweet girl early, and I will forever be thankful. She was working today, so Lauren helped us sneak up there to say hi!
Cute photo booth pictures!
3 comments:
Man, what an emotional post... so thankful to the incredible nurses who took care of Miss Reese. So neat that yall were able to go back a year later and see them. I know they loved seeing baby girl!!
What a neat post! Praise the Lord that your on this side of things with a beautiful, healthy girl! And that is so amazing that you're able to see the nurses that played such a big part in Reese's recovery...
Oh, Kate....these words and pictures made me cry as I remembered the love and support and care they all gave all of us during those days. What a wonderful celebration with those special nurses and doctors!!
We have so many things to be thankful for!!
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