Somewhere Over the Rainbow
My. very. favorite. song.
I’ll tell you why…
The first time I heard this song, I was very young. Judy Garland sang it…who didn’t want to be Dorthy in The Wizard of OZ? I sure did. I still want to wear her ruby slippers.
I developed a deeper love for this song during the weeks after Izabelle’s birth.
When my daughter Izabelle was born, she was way too early. She was due on December 19th, 2000, instead she reluctantly greeted this world on September 22nd, 3 months early.
I had an emergency C-Section. The doctors had to deliver the baby or I would die. If they didn’t, we would both die.
Izabelle was a tiny 2 pounds 6 ounces. Very small, but she was a fighter.
My husband’s hands held her gently. She was so tiny, look at her fingers. Amazing.
Izabelle stayed in the hospital for 2 months. I stayed for 2 weeks. It was so hard to leave her. How do you leave a hospital without your baby?
I came back every 3 hours for her feedings, even though she was too small to breast feed, I would pump milk and they would tube feed her.
Every night I would have such a hard time leaving her. A nurse suggested that I tape record my voice, talking to her and singing. I did.
The first song Izabelle ever heard was Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Sung to her from me, full of love.
Even after she left the hospital I sang to her every night.
To this day she will ask me to sing to her at bedtime.
Even though I know the answer, I always ask, “What would you like me to sing?” and she always replies, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.
A little over eight years and I have not stopped thanking my Father in Heaven for the miracle called Izabelle.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:52 am
An amazing miracle girl with an amazing mom! That is a wonderful story! And she was so tiny!
It is sad how fast time flies. I watched the Wizard of Oz with my daughter just the other night (speaking of the song) and she was actually frightened by the movie. She loved it, though.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:59 am
You made me cry, my dear daughter. Just remembering what a miracle little Izabelle is in our lives makes me so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven. What “blessings” you both are in my life! Just wish I was there right now to give you each a huge hug and kiss…xoxoxoxoxo Love, Mom
November 18th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Oh, she was sooooo tiny!!!! She is a beautiful little girl Christie with an amazing mom!!! I too had a baby like this, and now he is a strapping 5ft 10inches – LOL! And, the Wizard of Oz is my all-time favorite movie, and I LOVE that song!!! Sniff, I need a tissue now. Love ya! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
November 18th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
What an amazing story. I got goosebumps! What a special song for you and your daughter…she’s beautiful!
I came over from SITS…nice to meet you!
November 18th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
What a beautiful story. I take for granted how stubborn all my children were, not wanting to come into this world early. I don’t think I’ll ever take that for granted now. Thank you for sharing this story with us!
November 18th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
What a great story! And how sweet that you still sing it to her. That must be so special to her!
November 18th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Izabelle is beautiful. I’m happy you had such a happy ending.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
OH I love this post! Your Izabelle is so precious and beautiful! I too love this song, it’s definitely one of my faves! I love the Israel K….. (Hawaiian) version and Eva Cassidy. LOVE IT!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Darling! My third graders sang this at an assembly once. Not a dry eye in the house. What a beautiful girl! Thanks for your bloggy visits. Always so nice to have you over. :->
November 19th, 2008 at 1:43 am
What a touching story. I am so glad it has a happy ending! God bless…..
Cindi
November 20th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I’m really behind on your blog. Glad I am back tracking.
She was so cute and is so cute. My sisters only child was 1lb 1oz. They took him early because he had stopped growing in her. Today he is 11 and still very small. He was under 50 lbs, not sure if he has gained some more weight yet or not. They put him on growth hormones a year ago.
When he was born he had a huge head and a tiny body.
Mercede was 4 lbs 10 oz. Hard to believe that she was twice as big as your daughter at that.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I had no idea…WOW!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Your swet little Izabelle is such a doll! What a touching story. It warmed my heart.
Tammy
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Hi! I’m stopping by from SITS – your giveaway is so generous and so beautiful! This post is so amazing it gave me goosebumps. Your daughter is so adorable, and what a little fighter!
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
My 16 year old son and I just read your beautiful story. We listened to “Over the Rainbow” one of our favorite songs as a family. My daughter who will be 20 on Sat. her name is Brittany sang and sang that same song over and over again.
My best friend of 30 yrs. is named Isabelle, she is French I love the name.
Love your blog and your little Izabelle.
Hugs from Canada
Claudie
January 8th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Wow, you had me tearing up ! My little son was also premature. It was the hardest thing to leave him at the hospital. I’m so grateful that you had a happy ending.