21 Weeks

Your probably wondering why I would name a post 21 weeks, why is this so significant? Well 21 weeks is when my water broke and I ended up in the hospital till the boys were born(they were born at 25 weeks). 21 weeks is how long Jonathan(Preston passed away) stayed in the hospitals neonatal intensive care unit. And 21 weeks is how old Leah is.
I never realized how long 21 weeks really is, it seemed like forever when we were in the hospital but 21 weeks have flown by with Leah. 21 weeks almost 1/2 a year, a half year I missed bonding with Jonathan. Leah was born 5 weeks early but the bonding started right away as she was pulled out and we heard her cry o.k scream she was placed on my chest. What a feeling a feeling I missed with my boys a feeling I longed for. Leah came home with us and fortunutly no nicu time. We co sleep with her, she lives in her baby bjorn attached to me most of the day I know her cries I try to know her wants before she cries, some call this attached parenting I call it "normal" For the last 21 weeks I have been able to kiss, love, and snuggle with Leah. I play with her and will just look into her blue eyes that are looking right back at me and think this is what its suppose to be like, this is how all moms(dads too) should be able to bond with their babies. My bonding with Jonathan didn't really start till he was home. Yes I was able to hold Jonathan and kiss him in the n.i but its not the same you have nurses watching you, some thinking why is she holding him so tight, why does she kiss him so much. (I can tell any of you, you will never know what its like to have a micro-preemie and I pray you never will have to know what its like!) A nurse actually had the audacity to tell a social worker she was worried about Jonathans safety because I cried a lot, WHAT? My little boy fought for his life. I seen him get poked, bagged, surgry at 2 lbs, My baby boy Preston passed away after 6 hours, I cried a lot? I would love to tell that nurse guess what I still cry for all 3 of my children, Jonathan because I see just how far he has and is going for Preston because I miss him so much and Leah because she is just growing up so fast, too fast!I am just overwhelmed with joy for my 2 PERFECT living children. I still kiss and love on Jonathan I just wish the bond would have started from the begining with BOTH my boys!

This story is true and it represents a fair share of mothers out there that have premature babies. Nobody should have to see their baby suffer from premature birth and in my case a death too! YOU can help prevent premature births by donating to the MARCH of DIMES. By donating the money raised for March for Babies you will be helping:


...support all-important research offering preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects

...educate women on things they can do to increase their chances of having a healthy baby

...provide comfort and information to families with a newborn in intensive care

...push for newborn screening and health insurance for all pregnant women and children.


The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

If you would like to donate please go to http://buckleytriplets.blogspot.com/ and on the right hand side you can click to donate! I love this family we have become very good friends they have triplets that were born 14 weeks to soon and they are doing amazing!
We walked last year however this year we will be leaving April 23 to north carolina for a month to try HBOT hyper baric oxygen treatment for Jonathan! We will be donating to this cause and hopefully next year we can walk again!