Taking our Snowbaby Home!

Friday morning at 7:00, Rudy got up and got dressed, then went down to the cafeteria to get breakfast. I tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't, so I got dressed and waited for the nursery staff to bring Nola in. Dr. Engemann was the pediatrician on call, so he came by to see her. He told us that she looked a little bit jaundiced, so he was checking that before he would discharge her. The good news: her oxygen level stayed great through the night, so there was no longer a concern for her breathing! (We still have to watch her for it, though. It's not cleared up - it's just not significant enough to warrant any more time in the hospital.) If the bilirubin test came back okay, we could go home!!!

It was mid-morning before we saw Nola, but we got word that everything was fine and we'd be headed home soon. Hallelujah!!! We then waited for our discharge papers with as much patience as possible.

Rudy started loading the car and working on getting it de-iced. It had iced and snowed all night long and the snow was falling so hard that visibility was limited from our window. It took him over and hour and a half to get the car cleaned off and warmed up. We were a little nervous about the roads between the hospital and home, but we were determined to make it - even if it meant driving 2 mph all the way home. Fortunately, it's a short trip - only about 3 miles. Rudy brought the car seat carrier and the stroller up to the room to warm up. I sat and held Nola for what seemed like forever and finally put her in the bassinet and pushed her down the hall to find a nurse. I asked if the nurse would please check on our discharge status. I took Nola for a little stroll down the hall and on my way back down, we saw the nurse with our papers in her hand! We were finally going home.

When I got back to the room, Rudy was there with one of our associate pastors who had come by to congratulate us and pray with us. I visited with her while Rudy got the discharge instructions from the nurse. The nurse cut the security bracelets off and we were free to go!

Once all of that was done, we got Nola dressed, put her in the carseat, snapped the seat into the stroller and we were out of there!!! It was snowing so hard, so we bundled Nola under her Razorback blanket and just had to stop to take some pictures on the way out so we could document the snow on the day we took her home.

We left the hospital at 12:15 and the roads were surprisingly okay. They were snow covered, but not too bad, so we made it home in 15 minutes. When we pulled in the driveway, we were greeted with Caleb standing in the front window waving like his arm was going to fall off! He was beside himself with excitement! Mom, Mr. L. and Caleb met us in the garage and helped get everything in the house - including Nola. Baby Girl was home safe and sound.

We spent the rest of the day watching the snow, settling in and passing Nola from one person's arms to the next. Rudy and Mr. L. took Caleb out to play in the snow for a little bit and Rudy shoveled a path in the driveway. Mom made dinner for us and everybody but Nola and me crashed out pretty early. I stayed up to do a late feeding before hitting the bed myself - where I slept on my stomach for the first time in months and loved it! Nola slept in the pack & play beside our bed. Caleb insisted on sleeping in a sleeping bag on the other side, which was fine since Mom and Mr. L were in his bed.

Nola woke up at 1:45 for a feeding and then not again until 6:00. I was so excited! She actually slept for 4 hours straight on her first night home. She's eating about 2 ounces every feeding, which she typically takes about every 2 hours. Sometimes she gets hungry a little earlier and sometimes she sleeps a little longer, but she doesn't vary too much from her schedule.

Speaking of Caleb - everyone wants to know how he's doing with the transition. We've had a few rocky moments, but for the most part, he has been great. He's getting plenty of attention and giving plenty of attention to Nola. He brings her toys and shows her his funny faces and talks to her all the time. I was holding her at one point and he came over and shook her hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Nola Mae." I cracked up at him! (He also told her that he liked the "coconuts" on her clothes. It took us a few minutes to realize that he was trying to say "polka dots." ) Caleb really likes to help with his new little sister and wants to be a part of everything. He gets sad when he can't help, which amazes me. To top it all off, he's still taking pictures with his new camera that Nola brought him. He will hardly let us take a picture of him, because when we get the camera out, he goes to get his.

It is so good to have my complete family at home. (Having my parents here too is a great bonus.) I love the fact that my husband, son, daughter and I are sleeping under the same roof. We are so blessed to have heat and food and shelter in this snowstorm, but most of all, blessed to have each other.