Today is the anniversary of the homecoming of our boys! They had spent 2 weeks in the NICU and when I arrived that morning, I was surprised to find the room buzzing with activity. They were getting their hearing tests done and passed with flying colors. When the gal was done testing she congratulated me on going home. As of the day before we still had not been told that it was time for them to go home. I called my husband to make sure that he was aware of the possibility and attended the Rounds at 10am. The NP gave their daily report and the Pediatric Doctor asked what the next step was and if they could go home. He was told that because I was involved in their every day activities and knew about all of M’s feeding/brady issues, there was no reason they couldn’t both go home that day. The doctor looked at me and asked, “Well, are you ready?” I replied that we were more than ready for them to go home and almost cried right then and there.
We were fortunate that they had only been there for 2 weeks, but the time had worn me down and I was functioning on a very perilous survival level! I had already come to my emotional end once the weekend prior to their homecoming and wasn’t sure how much more of this routine I could endure. I hated leaving them each night, but understood that without rest I would lose it completely.
Their nurse and I began the long but happy process of unplugging my babies. All of the pads and wires were finally off of them for good! I was able to dress them in their own fun clothes for the first time since their birth. They were mine finally, just mine! Yes, they’d been mine since the beginning, but when so many medical issues, staff and procedures are involved – it isn’t the same! We waited around for the paperwork to get signed and delivered, and also for Daddy to finish things up at work and come get us.
Early that afternoon, hubby arrived and the final odds and ends were tied up and we were escorted out of the Hospital – two babies with all of their things in tow! It was exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time. I felt like I could breathe for the first time since their birth – they were mine! As we pulled out of the area tears came to my eyes as I looked at my babies safe in their little seats – I felt like a weight was lifted off of me and I leaned back in my seat next to my boys and breathed deeply. They were still so small and fragile they barely fit in their car seats even with blankets rolled up all around them for support. But they were mine and they were going home!
When we got home we were welcomed by my mom who had tirelessly and selflessly put in 2 weeks caring for our 2 year old and getting the older boys home from school and cared for until their dad got home from work each night. The result though was that we could not have come home at a better time – my mom and my brothers were coming down with a bad cold and they too were exhausted. I’m so thankful for the love and help that they gave us during that time though, we couldn’t have done it without them – truly!
The boys were elated when they got home that day and the babies were home. There was so much excitement and energy – it was all we could to to keep it somewhat contained. After all, the babies were used to the NICU environment, we needed to break them in easy to life with 4 other brothers! Never have 2 babies been more loved and doted on. I do have to say though that because they were so little and fragile and susceptible to illness, the older boys really didn’t get a chance to hold them much until the babies had been home for a couple of months. This seems a little sad since they had waited for and prayed for these babies for so very long, but we wanted to give them the best chance to stay as healthy as possible!
Well, that’s their homecoming – they are daily my blessings. They are walking and very vocal, they interact and have very definite opinions on what should be going on! I love and cherish every second I have with them! Remembering their time in the NICU only makes that stronger!