Lessons of 2011....

mybb

Hey ladies,

 Since today is the last day of the year, I figured we could share our biggest lessons learned in 2011!

Of course, the one we all (or most) have in common is that things don't happen on our time, so we need to know how to roll with the punches if something (or someone) comes earlier than expected.

Another lesson I learned in 2011 was to ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS place a new diaper under the diaper you're about to change, because babies poop at the drop of a hat!

Last one i'll share (for now), is that I learned I am a lot stronger than I ever thought I was. Having a preemie is no easy task...to see them in the hospital hooked up to all of these wires, unable to hold them the very second they were born, or even breastfeed right away is hard, but I've learned how to deal with it, and come out stronger. A preemie's mom, isn't an ordinary mom...we don't take anything for granted!

What lessons did you learn in 2011?

jenmikw

To be more forward. If I don't understand something to ask, ask, and ask again.  This is one thing that I regret about my pregnancy.

Sometimes the simplest things are the best.  Owen got lots of fancy toys from relatives but his favourite thing to naw on is still his hands.

Don't over research.

 

JeepersWife

I learned that it is ok to not always have the answer or to be in control. Having Declan taught me that!

JakesBride07

I learned who my real friends are...some don't get it and don't respect it, and have grown furthur apart, others have been amazing pillars of strength and support and have grown closer.

I also learned what unconditional love is, how strong our marriage is, and that nothing comes before your children.

kelkel09

I have learned never to take anything for granted. I am so lucky for every minute I get to spend with my babies after everything we have been through!

mybb

Wow ladies,

 Thanks so much for sharing! All of these lessons are SO true! It has been a year of learning that there is REAL love out there, that people really DO care, and that your situation isn't as bad as someone else's, so make sure to take the time and appreciate the things you have...because someone out there is hoping to have them and can't!

I've learned that you have to advocate for your child/children and not be scared of what the outcome may be; at the end of the day, you tried!

I learned that asking questions is just fine to do, whether it was to a dr or a nurse. I did it and grew some great relationships with nurses by doing so. Some of them actually like to be challenged or provide a detailed insight on what they know.

I've learned that no one else will ever understand what it feels like to have a baby early unless they've gone thru it, but that there are people there who are willing to listen and show you love as if they did. They may not empathize, but they surely do sympathize.

I learned that my husband is one of the hardest working men that I know (well i kind of already knew that part), and i love him deeply for it. I've seen our marriage grow in depths this year, our communication get better, and our attentiveness to one another be superb! It's a great feeling to know I married my soul mate :-)!

Here's to a New Year filled with new lessons to learn, and love to give out!

kelly321

Great post!

As others have said, I learned that there are things that I can't control no matter how hard I try. 

I've learned that children have their own timetables for when things are ok. One week DD would scream if I put her down for more than 2 minutes, the next week she was ok for 20. Tried sleep training for naps once and failed miserably, but it worked like a charm 6 weeks later.

I've also learned that I need to be my own advocate with doctors. I should have switched OBs at 26 weeks when mine was a jerk, but I didn't until 33 weeks - 5 days before I landed in the hospital. I really wish I would have switched sooner.

AlwaysSunny925

CurlingRocks:

1) You don't know who your friends are until you go through a crisis; then you know without a doubt.  (Turns out I have a lot more friends than I thought I did, yet some people I've always thought I could count on since I was a baby turned out to be the least helpful/loving.)

2) No matter how big my problems are, someone else really does always have it worse.  And a lot of people who have it better can't see how good their life is.

3) My husband really loves me.  (Ok, I knew he loved me before I married him, but after 6 months of bed rest, I really know how much!)

4) I do not have to follow other people's advice.

5) My son loves me.  (I was very unprepared for just how much a baby loves his mother...)

6) The pain of child loss really does ease with time.

This.

And, nothing is more important than family.