NICU Reunion

A little background to this story: I was in labor for quite some time and pushed for two hours trying for “little Hector” to be born. After those two hours, I couldn't push anymore and reluctantly opted for a c-section. Right around this time I spiked a fever and so my doctor said that was probably a safe bet as they didn’t know what caused the fever but worried it might get passed on to Hector. So in the operating room, we had a neonatal doctor ready to check Hector out as soon as he was born and put him on some antibiotics. Because of this, Hector was also admitted into the NICU just as a precaution. In actuality all of that was probably not necessary, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and I’m sure the hospital just wanted to avoid any possible medical malpractice suits. Although Hector had a crib/cubicle, whatever they call those things in the NICU, he spent most of his time in our room. (Well technically it was my room, but during the entire FIVE days we spent there, Chris never left, so it was more like OUR room). Still, he was techniacally considered a NICU baby.


Let’s fast forward a year when I receive, well Hector receives, an invitation to a NICU reunion to be held in November. It said there would be games, food and prizes so I figured what the heck, we should go! Well, Chris had to work and my parents couldn’t make it so it was just me and Hector. I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant to go at first, since as I mentioned even though he was technically a NICU patient, I felt that he didn’t really belong there. And I felt that even more while at the reunion where I saw tiny babies and other kids with obvious health problems and I heard parents talk to doctors and nurses about their kids and how they were doing now. I didn’t know anybody there, but figured I would just make the best of it. Well, Hector loved it! (Well, he definitely loved the balloon he got there). It was funny because they had a ton of games and crafts but as soon as we walked in, he saw a balloon and wanted nothing else. One of the workers noticed him and said he could take one. I tied it loosely on one wrist and he held on to it with the other hand and we just walked around and around and he was the happiest little boy. He is still a little unstable while walking (definitely, "toddles" around) I held onto one hand while we walked and he was just the cutest things ever especially since  he would smile at everyone he saw. One of the photographers asked me if he could take his picture at least 3 different times. (I don’t know if he realized it was the same person each time, but maybe he couldn’t help wanting to capture his cuteness!). Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera with me, so I didn’t get any pictures =(.  Oh well, it was still fun and I’m looking forward to next year when Hector will be older and able to participate in more of the games and crafts.


A few days after the reunion I got my monthly bill for Hector’s NICU stay and I had a sudden realization.. it's a year later we are STILL paying for his stay in the NICU, so I think that definitely makes him a NICU baby and therefore he totally deserves to attend any future reunions. Right? I’d say we’ve definitely paid our dues!