"Never trust a preemie..."

This is the mantra of our pediatrician and words I think are important to share. I think that many people think of preemies as just small babies and that when they get bigger everything develops the same as a full term baby. Sometimes I think people think I'm a paranoid mama and I understand this because Campbell looks chubby and healthy and has actually been very healthy for the most part. I understand that she's a year old and her "preemie" days seem far behind her...unfortunately that's not quite the case.

Robbie and I have struggled this RSV season with finding a balance....Do we keep Campbell at home all the time on "lock down" or do we go about our lives normally? We have spent a lot of time talking to each other, talking to Campbell's doctors, and talking to our families striving to find this balance.

We decided that we couldn't survive "lock down" so we do the best we can to limit Campbell's exposure to germs. We try to go to stores when they are less populated and keep strangers from getting too close. We make sure everyone washes their hands before touching her (this includes her nurses, therapists, and us). We don't allow folks who smoke to hold her unless they've showered and changed their clothes since last smoking. We sent emails to family and friends reminding them about all of this before the holidays and her birthday party...and were shocked when we got a little "flak" about it. Apparently some people look at her and forget how small she was when she was born. I think the statement below from the company that makes Synagis (the monthly shot Campbell gets in case of RSV) is very informative. I bolded the phrase that really struck home with me.

If your baby was born prematurely, you probably already know how fragile preemie lungs can be. And even as preemies start to look healthy and strong, their lungs remain smaller and less developed than those of full-term babies. That's why preemies are at greater risk for a severe lung infection from RSV.

We have been very blessed with Campbell's good health. Her doctor directly attributes this to our efforts to keep her germ-free. When I told him "I'm a paranoid preemie mama" his response was "I always say...never trust a preemie, because you never know what they'll do."

We appreciate all that our family and friends do for us. We had dinner with friends the other night and I handed Campbell to one of them quickly because I had a bunch of stuff in my hands. She said "Eek! I haven't washed my hands...hurry get the hand sanitizer before I touch her skin." I so appreciate the friends and family who understand and encourage our efforts to keep Campbell germ free. We couldn't have kept her so healthy without all of you!

Now let's all begin the countdown to the end of RSV season at the end of March...