Thanks to Life With My 3 Boybarians, I learned that November is Prematurity Awareness Month. She has a beautiful story about all that her youngest has overcome as a preemie. New readers may not know that my big strappin' boy, KJ, was a preemie. He was born 7 weeks early weighing 3lb. 6oz.

After being put on a ventilator, flown to Ft. Worth where he spent 2 weeks in the NICU at a children's hospital, getting a couple of doses of surfactant, and lots of scans; he was flown back to Wichita Falls where he spent another 2 weeks in NICU at the local hospital.

28 days after his birth, KJ was finally able to come home where he starting packing on the pounds.

KJ had a tough first couple of years. We had to make regular and frequent trips to see a pediatric pulmonologist in Ft. Worth. He spent most of those years on Prednisone and getting 4 breathing treatments a day. Once KJ hit 2 though, his health slowly started improving. He was still more sickly than his peers, but he never let it get him down. One of the reasons I started homeschooling was because a doctor had told me that KJ would stay healthier if he were NOT in public school.

KJ has obviously overcome his health issues. He is a fun-loving, intelligent young man with a zest for life. He makes me proud everyday.

Premature births can happen to anyone. I was not a teenage mother. I did not smoke, drink, or take drugs. I had excellent prenatal care, gave up caffeine, ate healthily, took my vitamins, and even went to a Mom-E-Robics class.