Gives you perspective for sure! There was a 24 weeker in there at the same time as our eldest, and he didn't even weigh 2lbs or, apparently, have a butthole. I didn't know that was a thing, but apparently it's possible! They gave him surgery and fixed him right up.
babies can have the wackiest shit wrong with them and the NICU nurses are like oh yeah, we see this all the time. there was some kid whose internal organs were all on the wrong side of their body and they were like, oh haha. cool. he'll be fine
I've heard of the inside out organs thing!
It happened at least once during my 8 months as a NICU dad. I sure learned not to be jealous of other babies.
8 months! I'm so sorry your kid(s) had such a long stay.
I'm glad 2 made it home (one after 4 months) and they don't have major disabilities. The NICU is a tough place to be, even for just 2 days of bili lights.