Ignorance and Downright Cruelty

We'll start with an update before I get to the meaning of this post's title. Autumn has been making BIG steps! She's on 1 litre on a heated high flow cannula still, and she requires about 21-23% oxygen. Last night, Autumn's Primary nurse was taking care of her, so I got to do her laundry without worrying... and I have come to the conclusion that I have FAR too many preemie clothes. But they're all so cute! I was so excited, thanks to my mother and a good friend of mine whom I met while I was on Hospital Bed Rest, Autumn has some absolutely adorable little clothes. She got to wear her first dress last night! She was not nearly as excited though, and cried so hard while I was dressing her that her face turned red and she couldn't even make any sound. Poor baby :( I can tell she's going to be a nudist as a toddler... What is it about a clean diaper or clothes that makes babies so flustered? I'm pretty sure she'd rather have a clean butt than diaper rash.

We had a bit of a thrush scare last night (mostly because I'm a paranoid mommy and notice EVERYTHING), but both of our primaries looked at Autumn's tongue and said it's not thrush and looks just fine, since it wiped away. Autumn has finally hit 5 lbs! Gosh, it's amazing how fast she gained weight and how much she's grown in 11 short weeks. I'm so ecstatic she's getting stronger, but part of me is sad to see some of her preemie clothes getting too small for her.

Now onto the meaning of this title. I find it astounding how many people are ignorant and rude about things that nobody ever should be. For instance, I am a recent high school graduate. While I was on bed rest and when Autumn was born premature, I posted on my graduating class' facebook page, asking for prayers for our little girl. I had so much support. So, for Christmas, I updated on how Autumn is doing and posted a few pictures of it. Again, people "liked" the post and showed support. But then one guy (who has honestly been a jerk throughout my entire high school career) had the nerve to post this comment on one of Autumn's pictures... he said "WTF is that?". Really? I wanted to say " THAT is my daughter. THAT is a living, breathing, and beautiful human being, who is stronger (and probably more caring and intelligent) than you could ever be." But I held my tongue, blocked him, and let it be. I have come to learn that people like that are honestly not worth me stressing out or getting upset. I see my little girl fighting for her life every day, and she can continue to smile and snuggle happily. She continues to teach me so much about how I should see life and react to obstacles. It just floors me that, instead of looking past all of the tape and medical equipment in  order to see what amazing little fighters preemies are, some people choose to focus on that equipment like it defines who the child is. It doesn't define them, not for one second. What should say more about them is the fact that, despite all the odds, they're alive. They're still smiling, despite having to fight for their life from the second they were born. They have been through more than ANYONE should ever have to go through. They're strong. They're miracles. They're beautiful.

                                          Below is the picture that this comment was made on.

                                                            Here is Autumn's first dress!