July 28, 2012: WE'RE GOING HOME!!

Today was the day that we thought wouldn't come for awhile.  We got the news that they baby may be coming home on the 27th.  The doctor said that if his stats stay stable for the next 24 hours then he would be cleared to come home.  I really didn't think that he would be home this early.  We would hear rumbles that most babies in Alexanders position and health status stay in the NICU for no less than 2 weeks.  I was prepared for a long stay. Well, as prepared as I could be.  But my little guy kept fighting and fighting and getting stronger every single day.  Once he started to get better, he never had a set back.  The doctor actually called him the "best case scenario." So when the doctor said he needed to stay stable for 24 hours, my nerves kicked it.  I would frantically watch his monitor praying that everything would stay in the good zone.  I couldn't take my eye off of that monitor.  When I left for the night, I couldn't sleep.  I couldn't think about anything else but what his monitor was saying.  I know I drove Kiko nuts that night.
When I went to the hospital this morning, the nurse said "It looks like you are headed home."  I immediately started to cry.  And not just a little cry.  It was one of those ugly, can't breath, face all red and have to sit down kinda cries.  I was overwhelmed with emotion.  I knew this would be a possibility but I had actually prepared myself for him to be staying. So when I hear that he was really coming home, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  Our life could FINALLY begin as a family.  I had done a lot of the education and discharge stuff the day before and set up all of his appointments so discharge as very easy.  By the time the doctor wrote the orders for us to leave, I had packed up and was ready to go. The whole process took 20 minutes.  Normally trying to leave the hospital takes forever.  I lucked out with an amazing nurse (she actually comforted me when I completely broke down after hearing we would really be leaving.)  We just were waiting for Kiko to get to the hospital so we could leave.

Ready to go home!!

Now that we are home, we are all relaxed.  Our little family of four got into a groove very fast. Alexander eats every 4 hours.  It is wonderful. He has a set schedule.  Looks like I will be sleeping!!

She was so happy to finally hold her little brother!

I again want to thank everyone for the support.  It really helped us get through the hospital stay knowing Alexander had so many cheerleaders cheering him on every step of the way.

I will continue to keep the updates going.  Even though we are out of the hospital, our journey is not over.  We still have lots of doctors appointments and mile stones to hit. But at least he is home!! <3