Announcing the big arrival!

I recently came across this holiday card for a NICU unit, which pictures the nativity and baby Jesus in an isolette. It made me smile, apparently the NICU unit sent them out "prematurely" in mid-October to emphasize the point. Brilliant!

When Hope was born, I quickly made up announcements that had full-sized footprints with verbiage to the effect of, "Most parents marvel at their child's smallest of feats...here are two that we are pretty proud of." Hope Levos 15.6 ounces, 10 7/8", November 27, 1996.

Simple.

It is a difficult time at best, and after Hope's birth, I got as many condolences as I did congratulations. I don't blame people, finding the words at a time like that is difficult. With an uncertain future, how do you find the right words to express the mixed bag of emotions that a family is going through?

From my perspective, celebrate the positive, address the negative if and only if necessary. Parents of preemies are often in shock with all that has happened. Processing an entirely different language of medical jargon, and the potential for an entirely different future than they had imagined. This is the time for all of the love and support possible. Congratulate them!

I would love to hear about how you announced your new arrival as well!