The Life and Times of the Littlest Rabiola: An Ode to Dad

Dominic is a lucky boy and I am a lucky lady. D has a wonderful daddy and I have a wonderful husband. This entire experience has made me realize just how lucky I am. When I was on bed rest Nick spent every single night at the hospital and he would come by on his lunch hour everyday. He washed my hair for me when I couldn't do it, when I had to pee in a "bedside commode" he would wake up and empty it for me, everyday before he left for work he would fill up my water and make sure I had everything I needed within arm's reach. They wanted him to leave the room when they gave me my epidural, but he wouldn't. He stayed with me the whole time!

Since D was born, he has continued to step up. He has let me cry, yell and sit in silence as I sort through my feelings. He made me go home so I could sleep in my own bed, but when he saw that was making me feel worse, he completely supported my decision to basically move back into the hospital. When I wasn't eating he reminded me all the time how important it was and would go pick up any random food I could bring myself to eat. He has even made 2 trips to the maternity store to buy me nursing bras! He is an active part in D's care. He changes diapers, feeds him, helps me bathe him and gets up in the middle of the night. And, he hasn't complained, not once!

When I was on bedrest everyone always asked how I was doing and now that D is here, everyone always asks how he is doing, but not many people think to ask Nick how he is coping. I am just as guilty as anyone of this. I take for granted how stoic he is. I am sure he has felt sad, angry, confused and frustrated, but he has never shown those feelings to me because I believe he is too concerned for my well-being.

I have a seen a side of him I haven't seen in the years we have been together. I couldn't make it through this without him. I know he will teach Dominic how to be a good person. Some people may say he needs to turn in his "man card" because of some of the things he has done recently, but I would beg to differ. Doing all of the things he has done is what makes him a man...and a good one at that!

My other man is wonderful as well! He is still gaining weight like a champ and is up to 5lbs 5.2oz. He is eating 50ml at each feeding with no problem. And, he passed his carseat test today! I had to run some errands so the nurse did the test then. I walked in his room and there was my little man, just hanging out in his carseat. It is so hard to believe my little man is now able to sit in a carseat. As a preemie we will be celebrating milestones that term babies don't, but that is okay. We will celebrate anyways!