World Prematurity Day

Today is World Prematurity Day! It's ironic to me because tomorrow is my premies 6th birthday. Why is this day so important to me? Well... You probably don't know this but being in the hospital on bedrest for 2 weeks prior to my Lexi's birth is what kicked off my journey into health and fitness!
At 33 weeks, I went into preterm labor. The hubs and I went to the hospital where they gave me the appropriate shot to stop it and it didn't work. I was not dilating but I was having contractions consistently and it was definitely too early for that. They waited the appropriate time and gave me another shot which still didn't stop my contractions. I was admitted to the hospital and I vividly remember the nurse explaining to me what magnesium sulfate was and that it was not going to be fun. She said "you will want to die for the next 3 days" and I thought she was joking- she wasn't. It took 3 days for my body to regulate with the MAG and then it was just a waiting game. As I sat in that hospital bed missing my other 2 small children who were being watched by my sister in law, all I wanted to do was take a walk. I wanted to be able to get out of bed and MOVE! I told myself that in 6 months I wanted to run down the preserve road (I didn't know the street name) and back! Lexi was born at 36 weeks, she stayed in the NICU for one week on antibiotics for retraction. The hardest thing I have ever done was leave her at that hospital and go home!! We stayed the 24 hours before she was able to come home to ensure that she ate exactly what she needed to be released (the NICU nurses were thrilled to see us go home) and in 6 months I ran my 7 miles and I haven't stopped since.
I think I was supposed to go through the experience with Lexi. I had an ultrasound EVERY DAY and was able to see her progress and know she was ok. She was born premature but I learned so much about her feistiness and her determination even when she was only days old.

At the time, I never would have been thankful for the experience but now, six years later I know that God had a plan for me that those 2 weeks laying in the hospital helped to shape in my life!
Sometimes the situations you feel are the worst things turn out to lead you to things you never thought were possible!
I'm thankful for my premie who has taught me so much about loving life and perseverance. Happy Birthday tomorrow Lu- you have made my life so much better!!