Preemie versus Full-term

Can I tell you how much easier it is to care for a full-term baby than a preemie?  We didn't realize how very different it would be, but are pleasantly surprised.  Of course, it wasn't Marleigh's fault, and it was worth every single minute, but oh my...... a full-term baby is SO much easier.

Kade sleeps anywhere from 2-3 hours at a time.  It was months before Marleigh EVER slept that long at one time.  For the first few months 30-45 minutes were the longest she would sleep. 

Trying to get Marleigh to sleep was also a chore.  She was easily overly stimulated and most of the time, it would take 45 minutes of rocking to get her to wind down.  Kade is asleep within a few minutes. 

Marleigh would NEVER sleep in her car seat.  She still really doesn't.  Every single little bump or sound would startle her.  Kade on the other hand sleeps like a rock every time he is in his carseat.

We had to be so quiet when Marleigh was sleeping.  She has super sensitive hearing, so we could never talk while she was sleeping.  Kade naps in the living room, with Marleigh playing and laughing, the TV blaring, and Marc and I talking. 

Kade nurses so well. With all of Marleigh's meds, she was bottle fed.  It is so much nicer to be able to nurse him, instead of pumping, then bottle feeding, then having to wash the pump stuff and bottles. 

Poor little Marleigh was constantly spitting up.  I mean like every few minutes.  We went through so many outfits and burp rags.  We are so thankful that Kade has only spit up a handful of times total. 

Marleigh was also a challenge to burp.  I can vividly remember many nights crying from being tired, and trying for 45 minutes to get her to burp in the middle of the night.  Kade burps like a champ!  :)

Marleigh was on a monitor that had to be plugged in for the first few weeks she was home.  So it wasn't all that easy to just pick her up and go into another room.  With Kade, we are all over the house.  He likes to go into Marleigh's room and watch her play. 

We were scared to death of Marleigh getting sick.  I didn't take her anywhere for fear of her catching a bug and winding up back in the hospital.  She was almost 18 months before she ever went to Wal-Mart!  Of course, I still wash my hands and am careful with Kade, but knowing he has a normal immune system is such a relief. 

The best thing of all about having a full-term baby?  Not being scared to death that he will quit breathing while eating or having an apnea or bradychardia.

Sometimes I look back and wonder how we kept our sanity.  At the time, we just did what any parent would do for their child.  Looking back, I see how stressed & tired we were.  But then I also remember, that we now have a healthy toddler, and are so blessed.  I'm also incredibly thankful that we got to experience a normal, full-term baby this time around.  Having these so very different experiences, makes us appreciate both Marleigh and Kade even more.