Almost Home

 Ellie has had a great week so far.  She passed her hearing test with flying colors, got her Hepatitis B vaccine (and stopped crying immediately after it was over), and tonight has taken her car seat test.  The doctors have been very pleased that she has not had any more desats, as have we, and they told us today that we are maybe, possibly, HOPEFULLY, going home on Saturday!

They increased the calories in her milk today in hopes that she can take less bottles and nurse more since she nurses so well.  Sadly, we cannot do that all of the time right now because she needs the extra calories to grow.  We may have to stay here a few days longer if they need more time to adjust her feedings so that she can go home with the right plan to help her continue to gain weight. Tonight she is 5lbs 7oz.

Ellie's stay here in the NICU has been exactly what they told us it would be: a roller coaster ride. We, and Ellie, have had good days and bad days, ups and downs.  When I was younger, I used to wish that I had lived at a different time.  A time perhaps when castles were inhabited instead of popular tourist destinations, or when you found a Jane Austen novel in the New Features section of a book shop instead of the Classics.  Of course that changed drastically when I went without air conditioning in my dorm room freshman year at Carolina.  And now, more than ever, I can't imagine living in any other time than this - when the great medical technology exists that gave Ellie's scary and traumatic birth story a very happy ending.  We have come such a long way in these past 7 weeks. Heaven's hand has been with us the whole time.  Through the blessings of my parents coaching, nurturing, and supporting us through this challenging time. Ellie's sweet and fantastic nurses loving, caring, and cheering her on. Wonderful meals provided to us. Being able to heal physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.  Wesley and I felt bereft of a more "normal" birth experience, but we have mourned it, accepted what happened, and are now simply grateful of the outcome.  We just can't wait to get home and have our happy ending become our happy beginning.