It seems like every December, I have a long list of New Years' resolutions. As the weather gets colder and the holidays start rolling around, I start getting lax with exercise, junk food, my budget - just about everything!

If you're pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, then taking steps to reduce your risk of premature birth is a great resolution to add to your list. Some of the risks of prematurity can't be prevented, but many of them can. You can reduce your risk if you:

• Quit smoking: Quitting at any time reduces your risk of premature birth, and quitting before the end of the first trimester reduces your risk to that of a nonsmoker.
• Get prenatal care: Visiting the doctor early and often greatly reduces a woman's risk of premature birth.
• Eat well and exercise: Staying healthy can reduce your risk of PIH and gestational diabetes, both of which increase your risk of preterm birth.
• Visit the dentist: Women with healthy gums are less likely to go into preterm labor. Treating gum disease during pregnancy doesn't reduce the risk of preterm delivery though, so women who are planning a pregnancy should visit the dentist before conceiving.

Bringing your preemie home from the NICU is a joyous experience, but it can also cause a lot of worry! Managing apnea monitors and oxygen tanks, introducing baby to family life, and making sure that he or she is getting enough to eat are concerns that many families must cope with. Share your stories about bringing your preemie home and how you spent the first weeks, and read others' stories about bringing a preemie home.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, stars of TLC's 18 Kids and Counting, welcomed their 19th child on December 10, 2009. Josie Brooklyn Duggar was born at only 25 weeks gestation after Michelle Duggar developed preeclampsia and had to undergo an emergency c-section.

Born weighing only 1 pound 6 ounces and 15 weeks early, Josie is expected to stay in the NICU for quite a while. Although it's hard to predict when a premature baby will come home from the NICU, she'll need to meet certain milestones before she's ready for discharge. I wish baby Josie the best of luck as she grows and matures!

Retinopathy of prematurity, also called ROP, is a disease that affects the retina of the eye. Did your preemie suffer from ROP? Was it severe enough to require treatment? Sharing your stories with other parents who are coping with ROP can help them know what to expect.