Parenthood is an adventure for all of us. Today’s guest knows this adventure well. Lena Young and her high school sweetheart husband are the parents to nine beautiful children including a set of twins and a set of quadruplets born nearly 8 months ago. Lena is a stay at home mom sharing her family’s adventures through her Instagram page - "Raising our Youngs." You can follow Lena at @raisingouryoungs.

On this episode you will hear:

• Lena's multiple NICU experiences from premature to full-term;

• Lena's advice for families going through the experience of being the parent of a full-term child in the NICU;

• How the experience of welcoming a full-term baby might differ from welcoming premature children into the world;

• What it felt like going back into the NICU after having had a prior childbirth experience; 

• Lena will discuss what is feels like taking one step forward and 2 steps backward in the NICU (Lena will share advice on how you can get through it); 

• Lena experienced a miscarriage, and she shares her perspective from that experience with you;

• We always say “You can cry as much as you want!” when sharing your NICU experience; today - nearly 12 years later, Martha still cries at times; Lena shares how she worked through her emotions during her NICU journey; 

• Lena shares her experiences breastfeeding multiples;

• When you graduate from the NICU, you can feel like you are going into this whole new “easy” chapter, but that is not always the case - Lena talks about her family’s chapter post-NICU; 

• Lena talks about the transition home with her older kids;

• Lena talks about the follow up appointments she has to have now that her children are are post-NICU; and,

• Lena shares the biggest piece of advice she wants to give others about parenthood.

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