The Tale of Two Preemies: One Year Ago Today,

Thursday, February 19, 2009

One Year Ago Today,

Pat's pager went off with news of a bus crash just south of Cottonwood. We figured it was an overreaction since it was a school bus. Little did we know... When Pat returned I asked if it was bad. Yep. Are people dead? Yep. Then the dreaded question. Are any of them kids? At least 3.

One year ago today, a bus accident ended the lives of 4 children and forever left a mark on the lives of everyone involved that day. It brought a community to its knees. One year ago today, rescue workers pulled their children and their children's friends from a bus turned on its side. One year ago today 3 families were ripped apart. One year ago today, a community responded and pulled together to overcome the tragedy that now defines it.

So today say a prayer for the families of Hunter and Jesse, Emilee, and Reed. Today, give your kids a hug before you send them on that big yellow bus to school.

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Cole's Story

Cole was born at 30 weeks 3 days, much to our surprise, in 2006. I went in to the hospital because I wasn't feeling well and was afraid I'd get dehydrated. I ended up being air lifted to a larger hospital where Cole was born 24 hours later. He weighed in at 4 lbs. 2 oz. and was 17" long. He had some developmental delays, mostly due to acid reflux. He also had positional plagiocephaly and was in a remolding helmet for 6 weeks. At 14 months he underwent a cardiac catheter procedure to close his PDA. At 25 months he tripped getting out of his kiddie pool and broke his femur. He was in a cast from his hips to his toes for 4 long weeks. He also broke his shoulder at age 5 1/2. His latest medical drama has been a cyst in his left ear. He's had his adenoids removed and another surgery to remove the cyst. He'll have a second surgery in August. He's been through the ringer, but you'd never know it. He just rolls with the punches. He's 100% farm boy. He wants to know how everything works and why. He loves the farm. Farming is definitely in his blood.

Tate's Story

Tate was born at 34 weeks 2 days in 2008. Since I had a previous premature delivery, I was on high alert for another one. It didn't help. We had ultrasound after ultrasound and everything looked great. Tate, however, was not patient. I was admitted to the hospital with preterm labor. He held off for a couple of days, but was still born early. He weighed 5 and a half pounds and was 19" long. Fortunately he had no problems and was released from the hospital 3 days after he was born. He was born the middle child. He desperately wants to do what his big brother does, but has his own interests and wants Cole do to those with him. He's my trouble-maker, fit-thrower, and snuggle bug.