The other adventure begins

Hi all,

This is the adventure that more of you can relate to! It's about time, right? I have a few minutes of computer time, so I am between feeding/pumping/changing/cleaning/throwing away food from July? Gross/cleaning toilets (how do they get so dirty without anyone using them?), and yada yada yada..

If you were wondering, when we called in yesterday morning to the hospital, they told us O hadn't gained any weight...We were more than bummed. He really needs to gain weight to help his shunt work the best it can. Also, he is behind in weight, although he started big. That was the only key factor that was keeping us hospitalized. Chris and I were getting pretty frustrated with this being the final kicker. I know appropriate interventions for an underweight kid, and we both have proven to be successful at the ng feeds. And we were hearing "He's going to do so much better at home" and "We aren't doing anything that you can't do at home" multiple times a day. So we were thinking..duh..send us home and let us give it a go!

As we were thinking this the social worker came up to us and asked us how we were doing. I started to cry (a third hormones, a third exhaustion, and a third impatient) and told her our shared bathroom person at Ronald's was up again twice last night blowing his nose and making other gross booger noises. He also took two long showers which were really loud. So, Chris and I both didn't get much sleep. Of course the snot dude and I couldn't coordinate his rockets with my pumping date.... The social worker did her job well and listened to us and was our advocate. We also discussed our frustrations and competency.

She took our appeal to the discharge rounds and next thing you know the cardiologist was there to do a stat echo, and then a 12 lead ekg, and then he got his sutures cut out, steri-strips removed from his sternal incision, (which looks beautiful!) and we were so overwhelmed with the thought of actually going home. Chris left to go to Ron's and I stayed and held O (who has been improving with his nippling each day, he takes between 45-60ml now every time, and quick too. He also kept down all but one spit up since 2 days ago!)

Anyway, long story long, we made it home and it was amazing to walk into your home and smell those smells...I dunno...house smells... and we set up O in a little box thingie between us and we went to bed. We did not sleep much. Every move he would make every sound he would make we were looking at him. I pumped when he finished with the bottle then Chris would finish the rest of Owen's feedings on the pump that we have from the hospital.

We did well through the night and he has been on a good routine for the most part of the day. We are having to adjust to everything. We did not know where half the stuff we needed was and were just exhausted but excited at the same time. The rent to own program just matured. We have him with us and we are responsible for everything. Crazy!

It is so wonderful to be at home with him. This is the first time that we can just walk around with him and not have anything attached to him. Sleeping with him is great. Last night was the first time that we have ever been with him through the night. Things are crazy but they will settle out with time. We will keep you all posted.

-Chelsea