We're home finally!!

To recap yesterday's VERY exciting day:

I went in to feed Jeshua at 8:00am yesterday morning and Dr. Walker came in to check Jesh out right after I arrived. He said that Jesh looked great and was feeding so well that I should be nagging the nurses and Doctors to get out off the NICU. 2 minutes after he left the DISCHARGE nurse came to talk to me about all the equipment I would need to go home. She then asked if I would like to room-in with Jesh on Friday (*side note* "rooming-in means that parents stay with baby in the hospital with no monitors and minimal help from nurses. We would need to handle all the feedings, changings and care of baby. I think the whole process is to grade the parents!) Of course I said yes, and of course I started to cry, because this step would be our last step on the way home. The last we had heard we wouldn't leave until Monday, but this meant that we would be leaving Saturday. After the discharge nurse came in Dr. Walker came back and told me that he wanted me to room-in that night! WOOWOO! And go home today, Friday. All the nurses were going crazy, they couldn't believe how fast Jesh recovered and how fast we were able to go home! Our little boy has been doing so amazing in his recovery and is so strong, we are very blessed.

I fed Jesh and immediately went back to the Ronald McDonald House to clean and pack up. In between feeding Jesh I was able to get all the checkout complete and went to the hospital to stay with my baby. When I got there Jesh had been moved to the intermediate nursery because all his IV's were gone and he no longer needed the "Intense" care of the NICU. I fed him one last time in the nursery and was shown the room we were to stay in. Tyson arrived shortly after and we smothered our little man with more hugs, kisses, and love than he had seen in his short life. We made it through the night with no problems (have to get used to no sleep again!). Dr. Walker visited our room with the discharge nurse and the ostomy nurse. They wanted to check out the colostomy and wanted us to change the bag. Ty held the baby down and I changed the bag all by myself! I was shaking so bad. There were people there grading my performance! They were pleased with how I did things, the ostomy nurse said she never felt so comfortable sending a patient home as she was with us! That gave us a boost of confidence.

The last thing we needed to wait for was the final checkout by the neonatologist. They told us to not expect to see him until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Around 11:30 Dr. Bodenstien knocked on our door and told us he was not on our case but the other Dr. was so far out from seeing us that he grabbed our chart and came to check us out. Jesh passed with flying colors and we made it out of the hospital by 12:20.

We got home around 1:30, Aaron was so excited to see his brother and Leah was napping. Grandma (our awesome babysitter again) stayed just long enough to hold Jesh and welcome us home. After she left we really were on our own! The kids sure love their brother. Leah has been a little mother to Jesh and sits next to him when ever she can. Aaron loves to hold Jesh, but unfortunately he started throwing up this afternoon and we have to keep them apart. He is so sad.

It is so good to be home with my family. I sure missed my kiddos and being "normal." We sure appreciate all who helped with our kids and helped in other ways. We are so grateful for all your help. We look forward to this short time together before the next surgery, but can't wait for Jesh to be "whole" again. We have been blessed so much.

We will post some pictures when we grab a free minute, which truthfully, may not be for a few days as we enjoy being a family again!

Thanks to all, we will keep the blog updated with our family happenings and progress with baby Jeshua.