Have you been back?

[Frenchy]

I was just wondering how many of you have been back to the NICU to visit? We were there for 42 days and got to know the nurses pretty well. We have our 6 month developmental evaluation at the end of this month, and we were thinking of stopping by to say hello. I am pretty sure they won't let us in, but they would make an announcement and the nurses usually come out to see you if they remember you.

They were all so good to us, we want to bring something (it was around easter when they were released, and we sent up huge baskets from gertrude hawk) but I don't want to spend a ton of money. Any suggestions?

[Super Goo]

I really wanted to go back, but I couldn't bring myself to :(

I got gifts for the nurses, some of whom I have known for years professionally. I never delivered them :cuckoo

I wish I had gone back, but the kids are 2 1/2 now :lol

[fire~n~ice]

Food. As a nurse, I can tell you we love food.

[Frenchy]

but I couldn't bring myself to
Do you mind if I ask why?

The only reason I say that is because you might make me feel very normal. I was pretty strong when the girls were in there, I think I was in too much shock to cry. But the other day, I used a new hand sanatizer and it smelled like the stuff from the NICU and I started crying!!!!! I told my husband that I really didn't know if I could go back up there!! Is that horrible????

[Super Goo]

Liz :hug You are normal. I was super mom while they were in the NICU. I slept in the hospital computer room and refused to go home. I did all their feeds, changes and baths except 1 night when they kicked me out to go home. Now just hearing the monitors go on the TV makes me tear up. I used to work in a hospital :shrug go figure. I still cry when I look at the NICU blankets that the knittting club makes for the babies... Hell, I'm crying right now :cry

[Duck]

I went back once. I was terrified to go, but I was at that hospital for the boys recircumcisions so I stopped in. It was really busy and I think the nurses sensed my animosity of being there. So, it really wasn't a great experience. I have wanted to write a letter (I've written tons of them) because I remember hearing the success stories and it kept me going. I just never seem to know what exactly to say. It's like a dream to me now even though it has become more real as time has gone by (is that weird?). I don't think I let myself realize what was really going on while I was there. I don't know if it was that I convinced myself it wouldn't be true as long as I didn't believe, or just that I was so afraid that I wanted to spend good time with them so that if I did lose them, I wouldn't have any regrets as to the time I spent with them. But that was really off the topic. I don't know if I'll ever go back again, but I'd like to to make up for the first time I went.

[Iggy]

No. I gave them a card when we took Dom home to thank them for taking care of him.

[fire~n~ice]

I went back once to donate my preemie clothes, and give them a treat. That was about 1-2 months after the kids wee born.

[Duck]

I went back once to donate my preemie clothes, and give them a treat. That was about 1-2 months after the kids wee born.

OMG, that's such a great idea (donating clothes) I didn't even think of that. Maybe that's what I'll do with my smaller sized clothes that I was just going to take to the thrift store.

[fire~n~ice]

I figured there wasn't a lot of people I would know that could benefit from their preemie clothes, so I gave it to them. They really appreciated it.

[Twintastic]

What a great idea Cath. I'll bet they did appreciate that.

[MelnBal]

We've been back lots of times. The NICU is on the same floor as the pediatrician's office, just a different wing. We always stop by when we are there for a well-baby visit as long as neither one of them are sick. For their 1st birthday, we took a birthday cake and card with pictures to them. They love seeing the babies when we show up.

[YoMomma]

That is a great idea for the Preemie clothing!

[Pop Tart]

Our "reunion" is the weekend of the 21st. We were only in for 5 days, but those women were amazing. We're also bringing all of the girls' preemie clothes to donate.

I've met a few of the nurses outside of the hospital, but none of them remember us :lol

[Free Bird]

I send them pics of the girls every so often and I also gave them all my preemie clothes. I think I actually got the idea from Cathi. :teehee

I've seen the nurses when I went to the L&D for when my girlfriend gave birth to her son and my neice-in-law to her daughter. They all asked me to bring the girls in, but I haven't gotten around to it. I should because those were the hardest and longest 8 days of my life. I owe my sanity to those women.

[my2cutetwins]

I have been back in the actual unit twice. It was emotionally draining. I spent some of the best and worse days of my life there. I am on the Hospital's NICU advisory board. Each Christmas we send cards and pictures and write a message to the nurses and the current parents in the hospital. I found the letters to the parents to be so inspirational on my worst days.