NICU

I thought we had avoided the NICU experience. Here we were..day after day...night after night. Bola would stay the night, come home after rounds, shower, eat, and go right back to the hospital. I would be home with Tife most of the time until I was well enough to switch on and off with Bola. Here we were new parents and already parenting alone. If he was at the hospital, I was at home and vice versa. We sent pictures to update each other on whichever twin we were with at the time throughout the day. Meanwhile, Waji's first surgery went well and he was healing. There were some ups and downs with him not gaining weight, but that's life in the NICU. He now had a temporary ostomy bag. I was TERRIFIED to learn how to change and handle it when he came home between surgeries. The last thing I wanted was to be the reason he had a set back. The NICU is an emotionally draining place. Its an entirely separate world. All the beeping and hustle and bustle to keep these little babies alive is nerve-racking. It was sad to walk past these rooms every day and never see any family in any of the rooms with some of these babies. I understand that a lot of the babies come from far away and the parents can't come and stay. Waji would only be alone at most a few hours a day between bola and I transitioning. I was grateful my baby was still here. However, I was very much aware of that code blue alarm going off and that not all babies make it out of the NICU. My baby fought to get better. Just when you think you're doing good, a lab comes back not good. This number needs to be up....this number needs to be down....he needs to eat this much...etc. It was always something. The nurses, techs and doctors were all so wonderful! We are blessed to have had such great care. I was EXHAUSTED! Even when I went back home, I was still on duty with Tife.

Bola's first fathers day was bittersweet. Yes, he was finally a father, but his boys were separated. I couldn't put the fathers day shirt on Waji, so I just laid it on him at the hospital and took a picture.

I finally learned how to change the ostomy bag. Once I got the hang of it, you couldn't tell me SHIT! I'm pretty sure I certified myself in ostomy bag maintenance. I now go by Brittney "the ostomy master" Aladegbami. After 3 weeks of ups and downs, terrible food, bad coffee and traveling up and down the highway....Waji got to come home. He would need another surgery to reverse the ostomy, but he was coming home! Just as he was coming home, it was time for Bola to leave for his fellowship in Charlotte. These kids better just eat, breath and sleep for the next couple of years. Momma needs a break! I don't need anymore surprises from them.

Both babies are home and doing great...God is so dope!

Oh yea, Bola finished surgery residency during all of this. He's the real MVP.

Shoutout to my dad and Thelma who helped watch Tife between transitions