Christmas Poem

Jolly Old St. NICU


‘Twas the night before Christmas, and in each isolette

Little creatures were squirming and getting all set;

Machinery sat by their bedsides with care,

In hopes that good breathing skills soon would be there.



Day shifters were home all snug in their beds,

As visions of overtime danced in their heads;

While preemies on ventilators, and some on CPAP,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap...



When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,

The residents woke up to see what was the matter.

Away from the sink I flew like a jet

To make sure all was well at my baby's isolette.



Some bilirubin lights with their powerful glow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to babies below,

When, there before my wondering eyes, it would seem,

Was an oversized stroller and a medical team.

With a handful of needles with which they could stick you,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nicu.



More rapid than eagles his specialists came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Nurses! Now, Residents! Now, Neonatologists!

On, Social Workers! On, Respiratory and Occupational Therapists!

From the front of the unit! To the end of the hall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"



Up to each baby's cribside they flew,

With the stroller full of toys, and St. Nicu too.

And then, in a twinkling, they stopped at each bed

And tucked in the babies and got them all fed.





As I looked at my baby, and was turning around,

Down our aisle St. Nicu came with a bound.

He was dressed in red scrubs, and I could instantly tell

That his clothes had an obvious hospital smell;

A bag of stuffed animals was flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

A little red pen he held tight in his teeth,

And a stethoscope encircled his neck like a wreath.



He was chubby and plump, with a few extra pounds,

And I laughed when I saw him there doing his rounds.

A turn of his clipboard and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke few words, but came straight to my side,

And running down his face was a tear he had cried.



And laying his hand on the back of my head,

He gave me a nod, and slowly he said:

"Each night you come here you're aware of the danger,

But your baby is loved by the One in the manger."



Then the medical team gave a thumbs-up and smiled

And St. Nicu placed an animal next to my child.

But I heard him exclaim, as they rolled out of sight,

"Merry Christmas, tiny baby, and have a wonderful night!"



Reprinted with permission from:

MOST (Mothers of Supertwins)

Supporting Multiple Birth Families...Every Step of the Way

PO Box 306; East Islip, NY 11730-0306

(631) 859-1110

info@mostonline.org

Source: http://www.preemiecare.org/jollynicu.htm

Accessed: December 20, 2010

Personalized Preemie Santa Hats

Order one of our polar fleece, Preemie Santa Hats and turn it into a treasured keepsake by having it personalized for your premature baby.    Let your preemie celebrate the Christmas season in style with a customized Santa Hat!

Season Greetings from Preemie Proud!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!  Remember to give thanks for all your many blessings including the tiniest of them all.

Christmas T-Shirts for Premature Babies!

We have begun adding preemie Christmas t-shirt to our premature infant inventory.  Please visit our website to view these items.  More premature baby Christmas t-shirt designs will be available at the first of next week!!! Here is a sample of one Christmas design....

Prematurity Awareness Day!

November is Prematurity Awareness Month!  Today, November 17th, is National Prematurity Awareness Day!  Visit March of Dimes to see what you can do to help in the fight against prematurity!

I am in awe of the amount of fundraisers I have seen listed for today in our local area and on the internet.  March of Dimes Chapters across the US are hosting special events as well as businesses and individual families.  The out pouring of support is amazing!!!  Events range from students passing out Awareness Bracelets, to Bowling for Babies, Donating Crocheted Hats to hospitals, Restaurant Fundraisers, etc.  Thank you for your willingness to support such a worthy cause. We wish every event much success!!! May you be blessed for your generous efforts!

If you would like to help make a difference or learn more about Prematurity Awareness Month, please visit the  March of Dimes website.

Merry Christmas!

We are beginning to add our Premature Baby Christmas Products to our website @ www.preemieproud.com . 

Micro Preemie Santa Hats, Preemie Santa Hats, Micro Preemie Christmas Gown Sets and Preemie Gown Sets have already been added.  Be on the look out for Micro Preemie Christmas Receiving Blankets and Preemie Receiving Blankets!  They will be added next!!!

Have a great holiday season!

From you Preemie Friends

@ Preemie Proud

Prayer for Baby Girl - Olivia Rose

We received this prayer request today... 



Please pray for our baby, Olivia Rose. She was born at 34 weeks due to a rupture in the amniotic sac. She has never been on a ventilator, but has problems coordinating eating, breathing and swallowing. We are scared every time we feed her because she stops breathing and the hospital will not release her until she takes all of her bottles with no issues. She also stops breathing when she's sleeping. Please pray for us. We are burdened beyond belief and we have a 17 month old son who needs our love and care, too. We have no one to help us; it's just me and my husband. Thanks.

Please take a moment to remember this sweet baby in your thoughts and prayers.  As many of us know, the NICU is a roller coaster ride and these parents could use our support at this time.