Four Years Ago Today

**nitefly5150** · 12.24.06, 09:30 PM

Four years ago today my oldest son came home from the hospital. He was born 12/2, about seven weeks early with some of the usual breathing issues that come with being a premie. He was intubated briefly, looked REALLY scary, but most of the scary stuff passed pretty quickly looking back on it. He was 4pounds 5oz at birth, and stayed in the hospital about three weeks and left on Christmas Eve 2002.

I was planning to write the whole story, but honestly it'd seem a little overly dramatic since everybody is ok. My wife's blood pressure came down from the rather insane 200/??? that it was right before he was born (pre-eclampsia started the whole thing), and he came home for Christmas. I have fond memories of having both our families over to a tiny little apartment and everybody waiting for him to wake up.

Today he's a cute, rambunctious four year old. Smart as a whip, and has a memory that is a little scary sometimes. We are blessed (literally - sometimes I lose site of that when they're in the backseat screaming in stereo).

So - if your wife is pregnant, or is planning to be - read up on the signs of pre-eclampsia. We had no idea how precarious a situation she was in. She was literally hours from something terrible happening - and I let her drive

.

And of course Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, (any holiday I forgot), and Happy New Year to everybody here. I don't post that much considering how long I've been here, but I read a lot, and really do feel that I know some of you.

**Nostalgia Act** · 12.24.06, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by nitefly5150

Four years ago today my oldest son came home from the hospital. He was born 12/2, about seven weeks early with some of the usual breathing issues that come with being a premie. He was intubated briefly, looked REALLY scary, but most of the scary stuff passed pretty quickly looking back on it. He was 4pounds 5oz at birth, and stayed in the hospital about three weeks and left on Christmas Eve 2002.

I was planning to write the whole story, but honestly it'd seem a little overly dramatic since everybody is ok. My wife's blood pressure came down from the rather insane 200/??? that it was right before he was born (pre-eclampsia started the whole thing), and he came home for Christmas. I have fond memories of having both our families over to a tiny little apartment and everybody waiting for him to wake up.

Today he's a cute, rambunctious four year old. Smart as a whip, and has a memory that is a little scary sometimes. We are blessed (literally - sometimes I lose site of that when they're in the backseat screaming in stereo).

So - if your wife is pregnant, or is planning to be - read up on the signs of pre-eclampsia. We had no idea how precarious a situation she was in. She was literally hours from something terrible happening - and I let her drive

.

And of course Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, (any holiday I forgot), and Happy New Year to everybody here. I don't post that much considering how long I've been here, but I read a lot, and really do feel that I know some of you.

Awesome bro. I have three kids myself. They are the blood in my veins.

The one thing i wasn't prepared for? They want to eat EVERYDAY.

**nitefly5150** · 12.24.06, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by hagarfn

Awesome bro. I have three kids myself. They are the blood in my veins.

The one thing i wasn't prepared for? They want to eat EVERYDAY.

Heh, I'm sure that will be an issue eventually. Right now, as far as I can tell, my four year old survives on about 38 calories a day. I can't make him eat. But with a four year old and a one year old I am making special trips to Sam's for milk since its about $1/gallon cheaper there and I am going through 2 gallons or so a week.

**Nostalgia Act** · 12.24.06, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by nitefly5150

Heh, I'm sure that will be an issue eventually. Right now, as far as I can tell, my four year old survives on about 38 calories a day. I can't make him eat. But with a four year old and a one year old I am making special trips to Sam's for milk since its about $1/gallon cheaper there and I am going through 2 gallons or so a week.

Oh yea, that definitely will change. In a few years you will find yourself stopping off at the local fast food joint and inhaling a #3 before you get home
only to hear " daddy, you smell like french fries" as your wife stares daggers into you.

er... ah... so i've heard.

**vhrocker** · 12.24.06, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by nitefly5150

I am going through 2 gallons or so a week.

My 12 year old step son is the same.

**jetguy5150** · 12.25.06, 02:51 AM

I am glad everything worked out in the end!

Very scary stuff. When my son was born we had about what seemed like 20 people in the room. In actuality it was 7 but they were there because they were worried about the fluid in his mouth and throat and they knew he wouldn't be able to breathe on his own right away. The greatest concern was that if he swallowed it would go into his lungs. So needless to say we didn't here a cry out of him until the respiratory specialist did his amazing work and cleared the air passage. It took about 15 seconds for him to clear the fluid but that felt like an hour while I was waiting to hear a noise out of him. But in the end, all good!

Merry Christmas to you as well.