Home

and settling in.

Nobody and nothing between us and life is good.

Your just about miserable. Every time you cough your poor face screws up and you start crying your so uncomfortable. Your incision looks wonderful but the bruises are dark and angry looking. It's gotta hurt like crazy.

According to the Dr's Tylenol is more than enough to control your pain. What a bunch of B.S.

Dad and I are pretty busy just trying to keep you comfortable and we are hoping for a good night.

The camera is out in the car and honestly I'm too tired to go out and get it so I will post pics later.

Home

Home

Saying it is like taking a deep breath for the first time in a long time.

Home

So much weight and so much worry. Gone.

Home

Ultimately home is where my kids and my husband are but there is something to your own four walls. The one place where you can really relax. Let your hair down and scratch where it itches.

Home

For a week today. Almost seems impossible that it has already been a whole week. I wish I could say it has all been light and joy. Most of it has, but there have been struggles too.

But before I get to the current stuff I want to catch up so...

Thursday we found out that the discharge would be happening (baring any major complications) so we started checking off our to do list.

The car seat test. You threw a MAJOR fit. I was terrified that because you were crying so hard you would desaturate and fail the test but you didn't. You stopped crying after three minuets or so then slept through the remaining 3 hrs and passed with flying colors.

Umm attitude problem? Oh yes, I believe so.


Friday morning I got to the hospital first thing to start checking things off our list while Dad packed up and got us moved out of the Ronald McDonald house FOR THE LAST TIME!!

Once your Dad was done he joined me and we learned all the things we would need to know how to do to take care of you at home like your feeding tube, breathing treatments, oxygen canisters, medications, and all the machines that go with them. I wish I had taken more pictures but I was a mad house of learning, phone calls, papers to sign, meeting with the dietitian, physical therapist, medical supply rep, case managers, Dr's, and on and on. My head was spinning with all the information.

Dad practicing the feeding pump

Once we had checked everything off and signed the papers you were all ours for the first time!

Look Ma no monitors!! (well less monitors anyway)

Getting you dress for your home coming!

Your outfit says "Little Bro". Perfect homecoming outfit.

We were so thrilled that we were able to have your favorite day nurse Tania there to see us off. We know we will always miss her but hope to never see her again (unless it's for a party or a visit or the like)

Nichole one of the many other wonderful nurses that we were blessed to have take care of you.

I think I will say farewell here Tania. Not goodbye.

The only one dark spot on the joy of our day was that our darling Gracie is still waiting to go home. Gracie and her mom Melissa became dear friends to us during our last month at CHLA. We can't wait till we celebrate their homecoming day.

You and Gracie your next crib neighbor. Love you Gracie and miss your sweet heart.

Your first time in the car seat for real

Away we go with our cart and bags and bags full of stuff

Almost there

Our waking papers!

Almost a family

About 25 minuets into our drive the pulse oximiter died and you took a really large poop. That's when we discovered we had no wipes. I called the medical supply company while Dad improvised.

After you were all cleaned up you rather enjoyed the ride

Aunt JJ and cousin Lauren decorated the house for your homecoming. Perfect way to welcome you home

You were much more excited than you look here. Look at all the air in your feeding pump tubing. We were such novices then.

Home

Home

That night you got your first real bath. You cried at first but then deiced you loved it. You don't cry at baths anymore. It's one of your favorite parts of the day.

The perfect outfit for a trip to our version of Disneyland. Home the happiest place on earth.

Saturday Auntie T and Uncle David brought us lunch. Love them!

Saturday we enjoyed some time outside while Daddy worked on the backyard. I was sitting here with you watching the wind ruffle your hair when it felt real for the first time and I just started crying. But they weren't sad tears they were happy ones. The first happy ones I've cried in a really long time.
We didn't get Pierce till Sunday morning. We wanted to bring him home to as peaceful of a house a possible and felt we needed a day to get used to taking care of you and to clean before he came home. One of the first things we did was take our first picture as a family of four together.

more shots from the day

My boys together at last!
our beautiful baby boy


love this face so much!
Our sweet neighbor Erin brought us welcome home flowers and a beautiful card signed by her group. She also brought us dinner. We have been so blessed by so many people here to help us and we are eternally grateful.


Look at the name of the flowers...Rosey Outlook

perfect for a homecoming

I really did try...

To catch up the blog. But this is the best I can do for today.


Our first picture of us as a family of 4

I was going to find matching outfits for all of us. Do my hair, fix my makeup, etc to try and get the "perfect" family picture and then I thought no.

I want it to be a real picture of my real family. The pro pics will come later.

So here we are. Pierce is wearing a PJ top because he got mud all over the top he had on and Mason is in mid-cry.

Pierce is cracking up because I set the camera on a TV tray (I can't find my tri-pod) and set the self timer then ran like a mad woman to get into the shot.

The picture is a bit soft because I forgot to re-focus just before hitting the shutter.

George and I are both in sweats because we haven't gotten to unpack our cloths (though the rest of the house is pretty much cleaned up)

I think it may be one of my most cherished photos ever.

Because we are whole. We are home. We are happy.

*************************************************

I have two super long post coming up but I just haven't had a second to work on them. Today it was kids vs. George and I and well...we got our butts kicked!

Mason was really unhappy for most of the afternoon and Pierce was all over the place. At one point (while I was out shopping) George couldn't find Pierce anywhere and ended up running up and down the street trying to find him. Turns out he had gotten out the dog door and was in the backyard playing in the pirate ship!

We took Mason to his pediatrician for the first time and ended up with referrals to 9 different specialist. We got our chart flagged because the Dr said he will have to set aside extra time for Mason whenever he comes in.

I came out of the office giggling to George (who was trying to entertain Pierce) because we got flagged. What can you do but laugh?

Between George and I we had 3o phone calls from insurance, medical supply companies, home health nurses, Dr's offices, and the phone company.

Whew!

Tomorrow is a new day and for most of the day it will be just the boys and I. Please pray they take it easy on me.

It's gonna be crazy and I couldn't be happier.