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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Oddly familiar...

My blue-eyed babies

Last week, Mark called me from work and told me to get on the computer and watch a video he was sending me.  The video was of a news story about a couple who were keeping their twins in a yearlong quarantine.  As I watched the video, I cried because their story seemed strangely similar to ours.  I guess, in a way, knowing that some other couple out in the world had made the same decision that we made somehow made me feel better.  Is that crazy??  Their twins were given an 85% chance of survival, where, our sweet Henry was given no chance at first.  I somehow want to contact these parents and just to say, "Hey, you're not alone!!"

This yearlong quarantine for us is almost coming to an end.  At times, it has been very tough.  Like, when you have a construction crew working on your house and you're stuck in one room for 4 days, but that's a whole other story for another time! Ha!  There have been times this year, when I have felt extremely isolated myself, and sometimes just plain lonely.  But, please don't get me wrong.  I wouldn't take back this year for ANYTHING!!  For every moment I have felt isolated, God has blessed me with twice as many moments of just pure joy.  I think the first year for any new mom is hard.  It's an adjustment that you really can't prepare for, even if you have a perfectly healthy child.

We all feel like once Henry and Harper receive their last RSV vaccine, it will be safe to get out and about this summer.  And boy, are we planning on getting out and about.  Outside of doctors and medical staff, and of coarse Mark and me, my parents and Mark's parents are the only people that we have felt comfortable letting come freely and visit with the twins.  (As long as they're well, of coarse!)  So, we've got lots introductions that we need to make this summer.  Mark and I started talking about their first birthday party and trying to make tentative plans.  I have a feeling that it will be on the "ridiculous" side, but I really don't care.  If there was ever a time to celebrate, I think their first birthday party would most definitely be that time! ;)

As I watched this video below, I was also struck by just how supportive and loving our friends and extended family have been.  I know there are probably some people who think we are CRAZY for not getting the twins out, but you know, I'm sure those people have never had truly sick children, and I pray that they NEVER do.  We have been blessed with such sweet encouragement.  I am so very grateful for our loving family and friends who get it, and have supported us 100%!

For some reason the video won't post to the blog, so to watch it, you will need to copy and paste the link in to your address bar above.

Below is the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtT4nEtGGo&feature=youtu.be

If the one above doesn't work, try this link...
http://www.wgal.com/r-video/30443912/detail.html

2 comments:

Courtney from Georgia said...

you dont know me, but Ive been following your blog for a while now, and I saw that family's story, and thought of yall. I wanted to let that news station know that there was another family out there doing the same thing!

Praise God for the health of your precious babies. I look forward to seeing pictures of the 1st bday! :)

B.J. and Mark said...

Dear Anonymous,
I have debated even replying to your comment, but I feel like I have a few things I need to say.

Until you have a child, and are told repeatedly for 6 weeks that your child WILL NOT LIVE, and then once he's born, you sit helplessly and watch as he fights to live, then and only then do you have the right to judge me.

My son and daughter were born at 31 weeks gestation. The tumor growing in my son's chest, prevented his lungs to grow, therefore his lungs were more like a child's born at 24 weeks. For the first 5 weeks of his life, the ONLY thing keeping him alive was a machine. As a catch-22, the machine was damaging the little lung tissue he had. At 5 weeks old, surgeons were able to remove the tumor, but they also had to remove the largest lobe of his lung with it. RSV is a virus that attacks the lungs, and unfortunately, my son's lungs just aren't strong enough to survive such an attack. We are following DOCTOR'S ORDERS by keeping BOTH children isolated during RSV season. If you've read my blog at all, then you know that as soon as RSV season is over, we plan on getting these babies out as much as possible so they can build up an immunity to other things.

As hurtful as your comment was, I would not wish our situation on you or anyone I know. Having to watch your children fight to live is the most agonizing and traumatic thing that I've ever lived through. I pray daily, sometimes hourly, for God to give me wisdom and guidance. My husband and I feel like we are doing EXACTLY what we need to do for our children because we love them, and want the best for them. I want to give my son's lungs a chance to heal and mature properly so that he CAN have a childhood.

This blog is for our family and friends who love us, and are praying for our family. It's our way of letting the people we love keep up with our babies. Therefore, you certainly don't have to visit it again.

Also, I was taught that if I have something to say, and I say it, then I should stand behind what I say. I think it's extremely cowardly of you to leave such a hurtful comment and then sign it as ANONYMOUS.

B.J. Mazurkiewicz