Discharged

  When you are getting married, so many people tell you to take some time on the day of your wedding  to breathe it all in because it goes by so quickly.  I think they should tell you the same thing when you deliver a baby.  We were in the hospital for four days and it felt like the blink of an eye.  As I reflect back on the weekend from my couch, I almost can't believe Lucy is 4 days old.

  Our daily routine consisted of a meal, pumping, a visit to the NICU, a nap and repeat.  Our room constantly had visitors: from our nurses checking my vitals, to the MFM OB's, the doctor who delivered Lucy, fetal cardiologist, pediatric cardiologist, lactation specialist, case worker, Chaplin, I could go on and on.  The staff at Advocate Christ was amazing and as much as we were in a hospital, they really made me feel somewhat at home.  We usually would visit Lucy about 3 or 4 times a day, but only for about ten to fifteen minutes at a time.  She really is in great hands with NICU nurses.  They would sit with us and answer all our questions, provide updates on her check-ups and explain all the monitors and tubes running to and from our baby (we counted 14 tubes hooked up to Lucy!).  We don't do a lot when we are with her but stare as she looks so peaceful and sleeping is when she is working the hardest to get strong.  Over the course of four days she has gained 4 ounces.  The one thing all the nurses said was she is a really good baby unless your try to mess with her (ie.  her checkup/tests), then she's feisty as no other.  We are sure in for a ride when she comes home, but I'm hoping, just maybe, she'll have learned to sleep through the night (I know, wishful thinking).

This morning as we planned for discharge, we waited to hear from the Ronald McDonald house about an open room.  Unfortunately there were no rooms open Sunday.  I was heart broken that we would have to go home and be so far from the hospital.  I thought not being able to hold Lucy would be the hardest thing, but leaving the hospital without her was much harder.  I know we will be back everyday to see her, but we're just hoping she gets to come home with us soon.

   We also would like to thank our friends, family and my hubby for bringing in several meals.  I could have lost all my pregnancy weight if I ate only hospital meals.

  We ask that you pray specifically for a room to open up at the Ronald McDonald House, for Lucy's strength and God's hand over the doctors and nurses that are treating her.

Here is a shot of her full set up!  So many monitors....