Nicholas was supposed to be born around May 22, 1996 - but he was just too eager to see the world that he decided to come early. I had one episode of premature labor at 22 weeks - while on vacation in Maui!! (click here to see an ultrasound picture of Nick at 22 weeks) But made it home and to the hospital and they managed to stop that labor. But on Friday night, March 22, 1996 - I felt like water was leaking and my doctor, Cornelia Daly, decided that I should go to the hospital based on my history . They put me on my back and around 12:00 a.m. I went to the bathroom and my water completely broke. They didn't know when I would deliver, but they said I would have to stay on my back no matter how long. Well it wasn't that long - around 6:00 a.m. March 23, I began to have contractions and by 9:00 they were bad. At 11:16 a.m. with no drugs, epidural, anything - I delivered Nicholas. I had no prior knowledge of preemies, or what could possibly happen. They briefly showed him to me and then rushed him away. I never got to hold him until his 3rd day of life when he was taken off his respirator. He was so tiny it was scary. He had wonderful nurses taking care of him day and night and we visited him all the time. He stayed in the NICU for 29 days.

Click here to see a list of Nick's medical problems