Twelve weeks ago today...

I was still in the hospital.

I had my daily biophysical profile ultrasound to make sure things were still progressing smoothly with the pregnancy that had landed me in the hospital for the previous four weeks.

Twelve weeks ago today...

This were not still going smoothly with the pregnancy.

So my daughter was born by c-section just a few hours after she fell short of passing the tests put forth in the biophysical.

Twelve weeks ago today...

Ella was born six weeks early after spending 34 perilous weeks in the womb fighting to grow, fighting to develop, fighting to even survive.

She weighed just 3 pounds, eleven ounces and was a fragile 16 inches long. This put her in the 3 1/2 percentile for size at gestational age.

Twelve weeks ago today...

I watched the doctor pull my tiny baby from my body, the place that was supposed to be her sanctuary for six more weeks, but was instead something akin to a ticking time bomb.

I watched them rush her over to an incubator where several doctors and nurses worked to get her to breathe while they stitched up my broken body.

Twelve weeks ago today...

I caught a glimpse of the strong, independent, fighting lady my daughter will grow into.

I saw her begin to breathe on her own after only five minutes of medical assistance. She burst out with her little cry, no louder than the mewl of a tiny kitten, just as they were beginning to prepare to intubate her.

Twelve weeks ago today...

Ella amazed us all when she first breathed on her own, then was able to regulate her own temperature, and finally was able to feed without the assistance of a feeding tube.

She was the smallest baby ever born at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth that spent no time at all in Neonatal Intensive Care.

Twelve weeks ago today...

This is what my daughter looked like when we tried to put a Preemie size diaper on her...


Or a Preemie size outfit...


Twelve weeks ago today...

She confounded all of her doctors, nurses, and family by being teeny tiny, but perfectly healthy.

After just four days in the hospital with me while we recovered from the C-section and endless weeks of bed rest, she came home to her family.

Today, at twelve weeks old...

She is approaching the size of an average newborn at seven pounds, three ounces and eighteen inches long.

Every time we're out in public people say, "Oh! A brand new baby! She's so tiny! Must only be a few days old!" Boy, are they astounded to learn she was born three whole months ago.

Today, at twelve weeks old...

She still wears Preemie size diapers, but we can buy them in the store now instead of online, which is the only place I could find to get diapers for a zero to three pound infant.

Now her diapers look like this...


And that little pink Preemie size outfit? Fits!



Dear Ella B. -

We call you Ella B. now, because your brother went from calling you "Ella Bella" to shortening it to "Ella B.", and isn't that just too cute for words? So, I hope it doesn't embarrass you too much when your Daddy calls you Ella B. in front of your friends when you're fourteen.

You have brought immeasurable joy into our lives, little girl, and we are so blessed and proud to be your parents! We spent so many weeks worrying over you, praying for you, and living in a general state of hand wringing over your health. I'm surprised you didn't wink at us when you were born, Little Princess Pea, because all of our worries and stomach knots and fears amounted to naught.

You are a fighter. You are strong. You are brave. You are beautiful. We are amazed by you. You will do incredible things in your life; I know you will fly high and reach all of your dreams.

Happy 1/4 birthday, our beautiful girl, our miracle baby.

We love you,
Mommy and Daddy
And big brother too!