So Why FireIslandSalsa? Back when we didn't know what having kids was like, my husband Xavier and I dreamed up all different kinds of ways to make a living. X was constantly thinking of ways to run his own business and make enough money for us to spend more time together. Hence, Fire Island Salsa. Just as it sounds. We were going to make gourmet salsa and coin the name from the infamous Fire Island, NY. We even had labels designed. The Hot salsa was a man carrying a beach chair, umbrella, and pails scorching his feet on the burning sand. And the Cool salsa, was a laid back woman in a bikini floating in the ocean. But, then we became pregnant. And then we had our baby girl. And fireislandsalsa took on a whole new meaning...
Daisy Grace Ross Born: June 18th, 2007 at 4:25pm Weight: 2 pounds Age: 28 weeks Admitted to the NICU: June 18th Arrived home: August 23rd at 5 pounds	Luke Paul Ross Born: November 7th, 2008  Weight: 6 pounds, 14 ounces Age: 39 weeks (full-term)
Dealing with the days and nights of not knowing what will happen to your child leaves you heartbroken, angry, sad, distraught, and completely unraveled. Sharing information was hard on us. Some news was too difficult to talk about. My only therapy was to write about each day. And that was how Fireislandsalsa came to be.	Daisy With our first pregnancy, I was admitted to LIJ hospital in New Hyde Park on May 29, 2007 for severe pre-eclampsia and IUGR (our baby was under the 10th percentile in weight). I was told at 24 weeks that our first born was not growing and I needed to be monitored. I spent 21 days at the hospital under vigilant care. I was committed to bed rest to control the blood pressure and swelling. This was a difficult time for us, but we had such love and support from family and friends that each day passed by and we were incredibly grateful to keep the baby inside growing stronger. Pre-eclampsia effects 3-8% of the pregnant population and its cause is still unknown. It was frustrating trying to figure out why all of this was happening. Our days and nights were filled with questions, living day to day with this condition. On Monday morning, June 18th, after a weekend of high blood pressures and a weight gain of 2.5 pounds/day,  I was approached by two physicians. I was so scared at what they had to say. They explained that it was best for the baby and me to be delivered today. I phoned my family. And I was taken to Labor & Delivery. The blood pressures were up to 180/130 and we knew the time had come to meet our baby.   I cry thinking about that day.  Our beautiful baby girl was born at 4:25pm with dad next to me. We got to see her bundled up for 5 seconds before she was taken away to the NICU. She was so beautiful. Her cry was soft yet powerful. Our Lives were changed at that point.  Although the happiest day of our lives, I am also met with anguish over questioning if I could've held on longer and given Daisy a better start in life. I pray for her happiness and strength everyday. We love her to no end.