NICU Reunion

There were times while Audrey was in the NICU that I thought she would NEVER get to come home.  The thing that kept me going day after day was looking forward to the milestones she would have in the near future...coming home, her first Easter, first Mother's Day, etc.
One of the milestones we talked to the nurses in the NICU about was the NICU reunion.   The nurses told us that it would be in July this year.  I remember thinking that Audie would be nearly 7 months old by the time we went to it.  It seemed like SO far away!
I have mixed feelings when I think back to the time we spent in the NICU.  There were times of fear and overwhelming saddness, but they are really outweighed by the excitement, pride and true love we felt as well.  The reunion served as a wonderful way to have a sort of closure to one aspect of our stay there and to celebrate all of the good that the doctors and nurses brought to our lives.  We saw many of the nurses there who helped us throughout our stay and who took such wonderful care of our little babies...(Ben included!)
Ben, Audrey and I went to the reunion this morning and it was perfect!  Ben was recognized, too...since he is also a 'NICU grad'.  It was so cute...they had a jungle theme:

"We're WILD About our NICU Babies".

Cute little giraffe

They had face painting, games, bubbles and balloon animals.  (Of course, Ben got Harry Potter's scar on his head from the face painters and a sword balloon from the balloon lady!)



Today was a day to celebrate.  We caught up with a few of the nurses we had become so close to.  They remembered Audrey because she was one of the four babies in the NICU over Christmas.  We cannot put into words how much we appreciate these ladies!

Nurse Debbie

Daisy, Cindy and Kathy

We even ran into two of Audrey's old 'roomies'...twins Bella and Levi.

Ironically, their mom, Shana, and their big brother, Isaac, used to live down our street.  Ben and Isaac used to play together in nothing but their diapers in our front yards.  They didn't remember each other, but they were inseparable at the reunion.  I think Ben has made a new best friend!