Introduce your VIP (Very Important Preemie!)

[nkbapbt]

I thought since all the other forums (baby club, toddlers...) have introduction threads why not here?

I will start...

This is Lakai Hamilton Kraft, born on Nov 2, 2008 (due date Feb 16-18, 2009). 17 weeks early or 23 weeks plus 3 days. He was born early due to infection. He has ROP which needed surgery, a Grade IV IVH (to which the doctors urged us to remove him from life support) on the left side which caused minor PVL in the area of his brain the controls movement, hernia surgery, paralyzed vocal cord from his PDA surgery, a g-tube because he aspirates when fed orally...and other minor things. Our NICU stay was long and hard but we made it out the other side pretty much without any of the things the doctors were sooo sure he would have (CP, gross motor delays, fine motor delays....) He is currently 6 months plus a week.

Here he is then and now....

https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v376/101/77/523391637/n523391637_1441811_2149.jpg

This blanket is the size of a WASH cloth..

https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v400/101/77/523391637/n523391637_1505634_1905.jpg

Me fawning over him...

https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1980/101/77/523391637/n523391637_1769991_7149.jpg

Low flow..

https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2313/101/77/523391637/n523391637_1819659_6238.jpg

His first time outside ever...leaving the hospital!

https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2608/101/77/523391637/n523391637_1956960_616551.jpg

At home for the first time...

https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2608/101/77/523391637/n523391637_1971519_4157772.jpg

Now...

https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs149.snc1/5560_109807471637_523391637_2596515_6014538_n.jpg



Two years old corrected update:

Lakai is turning TWO in a day..and is doing SO well. He has zero delays, no issues from his bleed or prematurity. He is walking, jumping, running, climbing, signs, talks (know about 50 plus words and can form sentences, but this is one area he is a couple months behind), loves to read, loves his pets, loves to cuddle, sleep, eat (like a HORSE!), read, colour! He knows a few colours, shapes and letters. He is very interested in counting right now, and knows a few numbers.

Over all he is just awesome!

 

[DonnaBallona]

Hi Lakai!

This is Brooke, she was born January 30th at 32+5 and weighed 2lb 4oz

Having her first ever cuddle with Mummy the day I met her. . .
https://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj150/2Donna1/SDC10077.jpg

She hatched from her incubator after 4 weeks and then went into a Kan-med, then finally into a 'proper' plastic cot like the babies on the labour wards I was soo proud that day!

Brooke came home on March 5th, 5 weeks after her birth-she weighed just 3lb 7oz and I was so, so scared but happy.

Here she is on the 2nd day out of hospital. . .this pic really shows how small she was!!
https://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj150/2Donna1/SDC10465.jpg

Oh,and this is her now. . .so proud of her.
https://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj150/2Donna1/SDC10325.jpg

Well done Lakai-you're so strong and such a fighter! well done you

 

[nkbapbt]

Awe my goodness she is cute. I love the picture of her with the glass....I won't lie I would have been soooo scared if they had let me take him home that small! He was little enough for me at 7lbs!!

Brooke has done so well.

Gosh, aren't preemies so precious, little and such HUGE fighters?!

 

[Bec L]

Hi
Lovely pics girls, what gorgeous little babies.

Poppy was born at 34weeks +2 and weighed 5lb 1oz. No idea why she arrived so early but thankfully she didn't need much assistance other than a little help with her breathing and feeding. She spent 2 weeks in SCBU before finally coming home. Still breastfeeding her - the little monkey loves her milkie
Pics are of Poppy at a couple of hours old, at 1 month old and now, almost 1!!

 

[nkbapbt]

Bec - She is beautiful. I adore her name!

 

[Bec L]

Thank you

 

[Lottie86]

This is Findlay, he was born at 35 weeks due to me having an abruption. He spent just over 2 weeks in hospital before he came home. He's been in and out of hospital since then with some problems but he's currently just escaped from hospital stay number 4 after his latest 3 week stay and is now home with his friend "Roo" the Kangaroo feeding pump. He's such a brave boy and I'm ever so proud of him

His first month of photos are on the other pc so I can't get his first pics right now although one of him at a few days old is my avatar.

3 months old and 6lb 9oz
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/Lottie86Gonzo/Kermit/FindlayThePooh001-1.jpg

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/Lottie86Gonzo/Kermit/July2009013.jpg

With a 2L bottle for scale
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/Lottie86Gonzo/Kermit/2Lbottleforscale-1.jpg

Now (4 months and 7lb 15oz)
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/Lottie86Gonzo/Kermit/FindlayHospitalStay4051.jpg

 

[Dona]

Archie was born at 27+0 on 8th Feb 2009 weighing 2lb 6oz and spent 95 days in hospital. He made his appearance early due to my cervix opening. This was a result of some treatment I had to remove abnormal cells + a biopsy which weakened my cervix. Only 2 months ago the medical professionals confirmed that there is a link between early births and this type of treatment.

Pictures are of Archie on day 1, him ready to go home and now age 4 months corrected.

I would not swap him for the world....he is my world

 

[LucyEmma]

This is Joshua he was born at 30+5 weeks weighing 2lb 8oz he is now 11 weeks old or 1 week 6 days corrected!
He was born early due to pre ecylampsia, growth problems and placenta problems. But is now 6lb 10oz!!!
Well done to all the other premmie babys they have all done so well! xxx

 

[butrfly]

such a heart-warming thread! well done, babies & mommies!

 

[jadesmama]

I don't have a preemie but I just wanted to say all your babies are adorable and I am glad they are all doing so well!!

 

[highlandlassi]

these are my twins...kingston and phoenix. they were born at 34weeks, two day after my water broke. he weighed 4 lbs 13 and she was 4lbs 10. they did really well, and only needed to be in the isolete for a few days to mantain body temp. trying to get them nursing now after bottle feeding ebm is our major challenge.
all your babies are so adorable, and such strong little things.

 

[x-Rainbow-x]

Everyones babes are sooo cute!!

Heres Alexander (Alex) He was born at 35+0 , my waters went at 34 weeks the hospital done a scan and saw there was just about no water left and could see cord round his neck so started me off . He was 5lb 3 born but lost weight and went down to 4lb 11ozfor a while.


https://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/rainbowprincess83_2009/P160409_1037-1.jpg

https://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/rainbowprincess83_2009/IMG_0689.jpg

https://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/rainbowprincess83_2009/P190409_0944.jpg

Alex now

https://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/rainbowprincess83_2009/DSCF0706.jpg

 

[nkbapbt]

This is Findlay, he was born at 35 weeks due to me having an abruption. He spent just over 2 weeks in hospital before he came home. He's been in and out of hospital since then with some problems but he's currently just escaped from hospital stay number 4 after his latest 3 week stay and is now home with his friend "Roo" the Kangaroo feeding pump. He's such a brave boy and I'm ever so proud of him

His first month of photos are on the other pc so I can't get his first pics right now although one of him at a few days old is my avatar.

Awe he is perfect!! We are on the Roo too! But via a g-tube. If you have any questions Ive been using ours for months!!

 

[nkbapbt]

Oh my goodness everyone's babies are perfect. I have to admit before having a preemie, I had no idea about preemies what so ever. I felt so badly for ones I saw in pictures, they always looked to fragile and weak. Man did I ever learn that was WRONG!

Bless everyone's little miracle! We are all so lucky.

 

[Bec L]

Hear hear. And hey, how lucky are they having us as their mummies

Love seeing all the pics, they are all so beautiful xxx

 

[Samemka]

All of your babies are absolutely gorgeous!!!

 

[nkbapbt]

Pinksnowball and highlandlassi...your babies are so precious and perfect, thank you for sharing!

It does my heart good reading this thread....come on other preemie momma's post up your babies! Let's not only show what our babies are made of, but show other momma's in the NICU what they have to look forward too....NOT to say momma's with babies in the NICU cannot share as well, you most certainly can!

 

[AP]

Alex jumping into the world at 27+4, weighing 2lb 4oz.

We never found the real reason for her prematurity but I'm sure stress did not help!

However she has come a long way since then(two months ago) and she is everything to me - nothing else matters but her. Excuse me while I hog half a page!

https://file047a.bebo.com/14/large/2009/07/06/07/6180163721a11170951972l.jpg
https://file049a.bebo.com/10/large/2009/07/08/09/6180163721a11185084168l.jpg
https://file047a.bebo.com/1/large/2009/07/09/18/6180163721a11194106840l.jpg
https://file049a.bebo.com/11/large/2009/07/14/20/6180163721a11227714769l.jpg
https://file049a.bebo.com/17/large/2009/07/27/11/6180163721a11307709619l.jpg
https://file051a.bebo.com/4/large/2009/08/26/20/6180163721a11495083350l.jpg
https://file051a.bebo.com/2/large/2009/08/23/10/6180163721a11474195318l.jpg

 

[bumpsmum]

such a great thread, all the babies have come on great and soooo cute.

This is Matthew born at 33+4 via emerg c section due to pre-eclampsia. He is now 24 weeks ands last WI was 12lb 4oz, cant imagine life without him now. The last pic was taken this morn x