To the Loving Hearts Who Cared For My Premature Baby, I Am Forever Grateful

So God Made a Mother is Here! 🎉

You sat with us during the absolute worst and the best moments of our life.

You fought for our boys to live.

You cried with us when we lost our first son and cried with us when we brought our second home.

You cared for us as if we were your own family.

You fought with me when I felt helpless.

You let me be angry, you let me be sad, you made me smile, you made me laugh.

You reminded me I was doing a great job every minute that passed of keeping him in my belly.

You were a part of every single step from the moment we were rushed in still pregnant with our first son, and still are.

You made sure we always had food and something to drink.

You were by our side to celebrate every milestone.

You sent love notes and prayers from behind the scenes when medications were delivered.

You wiped my tears when we took one step forward and five steps back.

You held my hand when I was scared.

You listened to me even when I didn’t even know what I was trying to say, I just needed an ear.

You checked on our son every single shift, even if he wasn’t assigned to you or you are with Labor & Delivery.

You lifted me up.

You taught me how to care for a human who wasn’t supposed to be out in the world.

You reminded us it was OK that we were not sitting in the NICU 24/7—you were there.

You celebrated bringing our second son home with us.

You cared for and loved my boys—my entire world.

You became family.

To the entire care team on the labor and delivery, NICU floor and behind the scenes, there aren’t words to describe the impact you have made on our life.

Today and every day, from the bottom of my heart and my husband’s, thank you.

Originally published on Instagram

To all the NICU parents out there, we’re praying for you!

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Her View Shop

Justina Oldehoff

Justina Oldehoff is a mom of two preemie boys, Carter in heaven (1/21/19-1/24/19) and Aron born 10/9/2019 who is home and healthy, and a wife of 11 years to Dan. Following the passing of their son, Carter's Cause Foundation was created to honor Carter's legacy and provide resources and support to NICU families, loss families, and support systems.

Dear New Mom, God Is Only a Whisper Away

In: Baby, Faith, Motherhood

New mother holding baby on couch, eyes closed

While we were waiting to adopt, I would wake up in the middle of the night panicky. My mind would wander to the thought of suddenly having a baby. With groggy eyes and a cobwebbed mind, I would ask myself, “Could I get up right now to go soothe a crying baby?” And then the insecurities would flood me as I thought through the difficulty of dragging myself out of bed to give milk to a fussy newborn. I didn’t know if I could. With each application sent to agencies and social workers, the possibility of adopting a baby became more...

Keep Reading

To the Mom with Two under Two: You’ll Make It

In: Baby, Motherhood, Toddler

Toddler girl showing bubble wand to baby, color photo

Sweet friend, I know you feel like your world has exploded into chaos. Two under the age of two feels overwhelming. It’s like raising two babies, but one child gets into one thing after another. It feels endless. The diapers, the crying, the messes. But sweet mama, it gets better . . . so much better. Those sweet babies will grow up feeling like their sibling was always there. Your first will never remember life before a forever friend entered her life. They will grow up together and share sweet memories. RELATED: May They Be Siblings Who Stay Friends When...

Keep Reading

Can You Hear the Silent Cry of Bereaved Postpartum Mothers?

In: Baby, Grief, Loss

Trigger warning: post discusses death and loss The cool air shocked my sweltering face as I walked into the doors of Old Navy. My husband kept his hand on my back to remind me he was still with me amidst the summer hustle that was buzzing in the store. We were there for a shirt. A single shirt. An embarrassing want that I was calling a need. I thought I would actually laugh at the situation once I got out of the house for the first time in a week. Seven days before, I was lying on my back in...

Keep Reading

I Nearly Died after a Routine C-Section

In: Baby, Motherhood

Woman in operating room after C-section delivery

When my husband Dylan and I found out we were having a baby after having a miscarriage weeks earlier, we were ecstatic. Planning, enjoying our oldest son, and taking in the pregnancy, we didn’t understand my mounting fears and anxiety as the due date crept closer. I began having a reoccurring dream of dying on the table. This anxiety only worsened as we passed the point of the possibility of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) delivery, and I began preparing for another cesarean section. The morning of, we arrived happy and nervous. I began to come to terms with this...

Keep Reading

Dear IVF Mama, You Are Not Alone

In: Baby, Motherhood

I had to be pregnant this time. It was our fourth and final IUI. I was late. I was hopeful. I would have moved mountains to avoid the emotional and financial turmoil of the IVF process. Sitting at dinner with friends, I started to cramp. I felt the color drain from my face as anxiety flooded my brain. I stood from my seat. In a mere moment, my hope shattered into a thousand tiny pieces right there on that bathroom floor. I tried to compose myself so I could return to my friends. But the tears kept coming—an involuntary avalanche...

Keep Reading

You’re the One I Want to Raise My Babies with

In: Baby, Marriage

We didn’t realize the far-reaching effects of having our first child. We dreamed, planned, and imagined what our future life would be like with our daughter. What we couldn’t begin to understand is how much time would be taken away from us as a team. Our love of hiking still exists. Our love of travel still exists. Our love of quietly watching a movie still exists. But our priorities have shifted to spending as much time with our baby as possible. RELATED: Having a Baby Changes Everything in Marriage Parenting can be all-consuming. It takes every spare breath, every bit...

Keep Reading

A Vasectomy Fail Wrecked Me in the Most Beautiful Way

In: Baby, Motherhood

Has life ever thrown you a major curveball? The kind you wonder how you’re going to work your way through, yet you survive and come out the other side changed and transformed? It was 2019—we had a house full of three growing little boys (ages 5, 7, and 9). We were out of the sleepless nights, terrible twos, and diapers. I was finally able to enjoy watching my kids play sports (without chasing a toddler), and I was about to turn 40. I was ready for growth in my career, ready for more traveling with our kids, and staring at...

Keep Reading

When These NICU Days Are Over

In: Baby, Motherhood

Mom and nurse with baby in NICU, color photo

I’ve been where you are. I’ve been in a hospital bed, striving to keep my baby in for one more day as if concentrating hard enough would stop the contractions. I’ve been there while NICU doctors told me about survival rates as I stared at the hospital ceiling, looking at the beaming fluorescent lights, trying to fight the tears until they left the room. Thinking to myself, please God, keep him in one more day. And when one more day didn’t come, I sat in the dimly lit room filled with machines, incubators, and cords, so many cords. I’ve watched...

Keep Reading

Postpartum Rage Is Real

In: Baby, Motherhood

Husband, wife, and four children, color photo

Growing up, I always fantasized about my life with my children. I never thought I would be the mom who yells or curses at her children. I envisioned I would be the gentle parent who always reacted calmly and never shamed my kids for accidents. Then while in the midst of being postpartum with my fourth baby, it hit me. “Did I really just curse at my child for spilling their milk?” This was not me, this was not my parenting style. I felt so ashamed and worthless. Those feelings were enough to help me realize I needed help. Overcoming...

Keep Reading

There’s No Hard like NICU Hard

In: Baby, Motherhood

Three women and two toddlers, color photo

To the mamas and daddies navigating the NICU: There’s no hard like NICU hard. Seeing your spanking-new beloved placed in a glass bassinet and rolled away from your aching breasts and empty arms—it’s the absolute hardest. No one who hasn’t been there can possibly understand. But many of us out here get it. We understand your emotions—the tangled and tied-up ones that unraveled in that bassinet’s wake. Fear, anger, frustration, helplessness, sorrow. You feel like a failure. You feel completely undone. Defeated. But you’re not even one of those things. You are parents, and parents are practically superhuman. You have...

Keep Reading

Teenagers and Toddlers Are More Alike Than Different

Motherhood

Teenagers and Toddlers Are More Alike Than Different

My Daughter Thinks I'm Beautiful

Motherhood

To the Loving Hearts Who Cared For My Premature Baby, I Am Forever Grateful

You fought with me when I felt helpless.

You wiped my tears when we took one step forward and five steps back.

You became family.

To all the NICU parents out there, we’re praying for you!

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Her View Shop

Justina Oldehoff

Dear New Mom, God Is Only a Whisper Away

To the Mom with Two under Two: You’ll Make It

Can You Hear the Silent Cry of Bereaved Postpartum Mothers?

I Nearly Died after a Routine C-Section

Dear IVF Mama, You Are Not Alone

You’re the One I Want to Raise My Babies with

A Vasectomy Fail Wrecked Me in the Most Beautiful Way

When These NICU Days Are Over

Postpartum Rage Is Real

There’s No Hard like NICU Hard

free email bonus

5 Ways to Connect with Your Kids

A National Bestseller!

Order So God Made a Mother

To the Loving Hearts Who Cared For My Premature Baby, I Am Forever Grateful

You fought with me when I felt helpless.

You wiped my tears when we took one step forward and five steps back.

You became family.

To all the NICU parents out there, we’re praying for you!

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Her View Shop

Dear New Mom, God Is Only a Whisper Away

To the Mom with Two under Two: You’ll Make It

Can You Hear the Silent Cry of Bereaved Postpartum Mothers?

I Nearly Died after a Routine C-Section

Dear IVF Mama, You Are Not Alone

You’re the One I Want to Raise My Babies with

A Vasectomy Fail Wrecked Me in the Most Beautiful Way

When These NICU Days Are Over

Postpartum Rage Is Real

There’s No Hard like NICU Hard

Previous Post

Next Post

You May Also Like

5 Ways to Connect with Your Kids