Home Sweet Home

There aren't words to describe what we have experienced today. The emotions were much stronger than either one of us anticipated. It was extremely difficult to say goodbye to our wonderful nurses. They have given us the greatest gift and we have become very close to them. It is impossible for us to express the gratitude and appreciation that we have for every nurse, doctor and specialist that cared for Drew. Our primary nurses especially devoted so much time and love to give Drew the best possible chance at life, we already miss our nurses and we will always cherish the time that we were able to share with them. At the hospital there is a long hall that leads to the NICU which we have walked countless times. After Daddy saw Drew for the first time he walked out of the NICU and sat down on the bench in that hall and cried for twenty minutes. Early on in Drew's life each time we walked down that hall on our way to visit Drew we never knew what to expect or what new challenges we might learn of upon entering the NICU. After our visits with Drew we would walk together just Mommy and Daddy every night 119 times down that hall leaving Drew behind and we would wonder when and if our little boy would ever leave the hospital with us. As we walked out of the NICU doors and into that hall with Drew it hit us that we were really taking our little miracle home. We felt nervous and excited but mostly amazed at what had taken place at the NICU during the past four months. No matter how many times we talked about Drew coming home it never quite seemed real until that moment when we were walking out with him. We weren't prepared for the range of emotions that came upon us, it was almost bitter sweet. Drew slept in the car all the way home, but the second we pulled into the garage and stopped the car he woke up and Mommy and Daddy just smiled. We showed Drew around the house and most importantly we gave him a tour of his new room. He has seemed a little surprised and out of his environment but as each minute passes he is getting more and more comfortable with his new place. Drew has made sure that we keep the same schedule that he was on at the NICU. He starts getting fussy about every three hours and then demandingly cries for his bottle:) We love our new life with Drew at home, our house now has bottles and diapers and baby stuff everywhere. This is one of the greatest days of our marriage. This experience has been a roller coaster of emotions and a great builder of our faith, we have developed a great appreciation for life and for the miracles that God grants his children. It is hard to imagine how we were able to get through the difficult days during Drew's stay at the NICU (fortunately most of the days were good days). We have spent a lot of time looking at pictures and remembering how little and fragile he was. As we reflect on this experience we have come to the conclusion that nobody could endure such an experience alone. We felt uplifted by each other, our family, nurses and friends. We felt strengthened by God and we believe that he placed wonderful people at our sides to carry us through these four months. God sends his children to help one another and to carry each other through trials. We hope to become the type of people some day that God can send to help one of his children in need. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your love and prayers, and thank you to the IMC NICU for the miracle of life.