“Dear NICU Mama, When it feels like too much, I hope you know that what is new and overwhelming WILL become normal. Lavish yourself in grace, you are journeying the unthinkable with unimaginable strength.

When the grief washes up on the shores of your heart, you are not a bad mom, you’re a human mom. When the joy comes in unexpectedly, I pray it can be your companion without guilt. I am in awe of the woman you are and so proud of you for showing back up in spite of trauma, anxiety, and all the other swirling hurdles.

Remember the power of community, and lean into the arms and care of a few safe people. You were never meant to shoulder every part of this alone.

You are loved abundantly. May you experience unlikely peace in the midst of this storm today.“

Love,

Jennifer

More of Our Journey:

“After 2.5 years of trying to conceive, getting pregnant was a surreal and beautiful experience. Our joy was literally doubled when we went in for what we thought was the beginning of a miscarriage and were told it was in fact two healthy babies! Wonderful whiplash.
Our journey to the NICU began at 20 weeks when our sweet twin A was showing u pas two weeks behind in growth. From there we were followed by specialists for 9 weeks, told that Caleb (twin A) had a 0% chance of surviving and given the awful reality of having to deliver a perfectly healthy Shepherd (twin B) early in order to intervene to save Caleb’s life.
The choice was excruciating, but was ultimately made for us when at 29+1 it was go time, and our miracle baby boys were delivered via emergency c-section. Hearing those quiet cries was one of the most relieving moments of our lives.
Thus began our 80 day journey in the NICU, with the boys stabilizing and strengthening an every day. Our NICU provided milestone beads for everything from “first pee” to “first outfit” and everything in between, and it was truly incredible to watch our sons fight for life and start to thrive.
While I’ll never forget the sorrow of that season, it is equally full of meeting some of the most incredible nurses and doctors, having kindred connections with our NICU “neighbours”, and being in awe of the strength of our babies and the sweetness of our community. Much gratitude and glory to God for sustaining us through the unimaginable and giving us hope in the darkness.”