The Long Awaited Day!

Monday morning:  Just like every other morning before, I called to get a progress report on Miss Marlo.  The day before we had started letting her decide when and how much to eat, so this report was of utmost importance.  The news was not what I wanted to hear.  She "only"  nippled 91%.  Hello!  Only?  That was fantastic in my opinion, but not good enough for the attending physician making rounds that morning.  We were back to eating every 3 hours and they ADDED to the amount she had to take.  I was in tears, out of sheer frustration. 

I pulled myself together and headed to the hospital on a mission.  I needed to talk to the Doctor.

Monday Afternoon:  As I sat holding my sweet girl, I was overwhelmed with tears.  She was exactly 4 weeks past her due date that day.  I couldn't help but think how about how tiny she was when she came so soon, just 17 weeks before.  She laid on my chest a 7lb 2oz healthy baby that morning, one that was still in the hospital...because she wasn't eating enough.  She had lost 6 grams that day, which is 0.212 of an ounce.  Not much of a loss.  She had stooled that morning, a LARGE one, that she had held onto for 4 days.  Considering that, such a small loss of weight seemed of no worry to me.

When the Doctor made it in so we could talk, she asked me how I was doing.  More tears.  What a bawl baby.  I am a hold yourself together kind of girl.  Just not on Monday.  I had hit a wall.  The kids school was supposed to be starting this week, and I wasn't ready.  The grades hadn't even been turned in from the end of last school year.  My priorities had been on Marlo, and just getting through each day.  17 weeks of Marlo in the hospital, 2 weeks before that of me being in the hospital, and lets not forget the bed rest I was on for weeks on end before all this transpired.  It had taken it's toll.  My whole family needs me home, and it was feeling so endless.  I know it wouldn't have been, but every day was becoming more and more difficult as new obstacles arose.  I voiced some of my concerns to the Doctor.

My ending thought with her was this:  Could she come home with the NG tube, since we have home health care benefits?  I knew they didn't like to do this, especially this hospital, but I also knew it's not a definite "No".  Her reaction surprised me.  She had no problem with the suggestion.  Our only problem was, she was only on for one more day before the attending doctors changed over.  She told me she would talk to the incoming Doctor and we would see what we could do.  I was happy she heard me, and happy she would pass on the information, but skeptical that anything would come of it.

20 minutes later:  She was back, (the doctor) and called the nurse (our primary, thankfully) into the hall.

"Oh, Marsha."  I heard from the hallway.  "Do you want to go home today?"

Holy tear fest, batman!!  I couldn't control the sobs, to the point where they wondered if I didn't want to go home.  Oh no, that was quite the opposite.  I couldn't believe those words!  My heart was soaring, and my mind was racing.  There was so much to do, and there was just one me to do it.

Marlo still had to pass a car seat test.  UGH, we were back to the car seat dilemma.  I had to run home to get one.  On my way home, I called the kids and asked them to disinfect the house, and clean everything from top to bottom.  I was relying on my teenage children to do something I only trust myself to do, and it didn't bother me one bit!

I called and woke my dear hubby from his slumber as he is away in a foreign country, to deliver the long awaited news.  Such wonderful news to be greeted with after being woke up.  We both cried together.

A whirlwind of a day.  Had to buy her an outfit to come home in, and decided to complicate my life by making the decision to buy a new car seat.  Couldn't bring myself to use either one in the garage.  Had my oldest come with me to help out with the journey home, thankful I wasn't on my own with this endeavor.

Ready to go home after passing the big test!

Finally, in the car on on our way home, talking to Daddy on the phone

Monday Evening 8:30:  On our way home!  We said goodbye to our wonderful primary nurse earlier, and got our gear together....and Marlo left the hospital after 17 weeks, on the third floor.   What an amazing feeling. 

Exactly 4 weeks past her due date.  A precious miracle, so full of life, finally able to go home. 

To be continued....