What a long, strange trip its been. We're home!

Oh boy. We have a lot to share. I'll start by saying we're home. HOME. With Foster. She's healthy. Drew and I are processing this ordeal. The whole thing happened a whole lot faster than anyone, us and the doctors, could have expected. We were prepared for weeks, if not months, of an ICU situation trying to get Foster healthy enough to bring home. Healthy. Normal. It feels like a dream.

So, quick recap. Foster was born on Saturday morning. Within three hours she was in the operating room having open heart surgery. About four o'clock, the surgeon came in and said her pacemaker was in and everything went well. I still couldn't feel my legs from the C-Section. I did not see her in the ICU for another hour or so. By seven o'clock, they removed her ventilator tube. She never required morphine. They were able to control her pain with Tylenol. Tylenol. She had her breast bone opened and underwent heart surgery. Tough. 

The next day, Sunday, she remained in the ICU for monitoring. By the afternoon they were able to remove all of her internal tubes. She was eating from bottles. No feeding tubes. Weighting 4 and a half-pounds, within 48 hours of having open heart surgery, no pain medication, and eating from bottles. Resilient. 

Monday, less than 48 hours after the surgery, it was determined that there was no need to keep her in the ICU. She was laying there taking up space. That morning the doctor decided to move her to a "transitional nursery" to monitor feeding and oxygen. Drew and I went to get breakfast. Returned to a change of plans. She doesn't need a nursery. We're going to put her in a regular room. Unyielding. 

We moved to the pediatric cardiac floor about lunch time. There was a bed, a chair and a bassinet. We were able to camp out with her, requiring no Ronald McDonald House or Hotel. That was Monday. Foster was two days old. She had been through a premature birth, open heart surgery and the ICU. Beast. 

We hung out, rested, watched TV and snuggled with Foster the rest of Monday. Tuesday morning the doctors told us there was really not any reason for Foster to be in the hospital. Huh? From a cardiac standpoint, she was fine. There was nothing wrong with her. What? They were just monitoring her feedings. We could go home the next day. Mighty.

Wednesday morning we were ready to be discharged. Foster was packed up. Because she is a preemie, we were required to put her in a car seat so they could monitor her oxygen for ninety minutes. Within those ninety minutes, the bottom dropped out and the blizzard of 2O14 began. We watched the news, saw that there was a virtual Armageddon on the highways and started questioning what in the world to do. We decided it was not an option to travel home. The doctor came back in and and we told him the concern. He said that he thought we would be welcome to remain at the hospital, but that we could get a hotel close by. We had nowhere for her to sleep at a hotel. He suggested putting her in a dresser drawer. They've probably done over a hundred thousand dollars worth of medical intervention on this child and he wants us to put her in a dresser drawer. That is awesome. Turns out, we were cleared to remain another night so they could monitor her some more. So we settled in and snuggled and waited out the storm.

We think we're going home. Not.

Waiting it out.

Thursday morning we were cleared to go. I wasn't sure it was going to happen. Foster had dropped her weight down to 4 pounds, 5 ounces. I thought they would want to keep her to continue monitoring the feedings. But they said there's no reason not to go. The cardiologist said we have a normal baby. Take her home and treat her as a normal baby.

We're going to some place they call home. They tell me I'll like it. 

Now for the drive home. Wow-wee. I think it took years off Drew's life. We left around noon on Thursday. We made it with only one slip and slide. It was a slow go. Foster didn't mind. I was so happy to be going home, I didn't either. Drew held it together like a champ. Cars were piled up on the sides of the highway covered in snow where they had been abandoned the day before. Ice was still coming down. We made it home. I want to share more later, including pictures of our homecoming. Just wanted to update everyone that by the grace and love of our awesome God, we're home. With Foster.

This morning. Six days old. Look how good my boo-boo looks. I like this place they call home.

Much love,
Drew & Anna