Today was another BIG day with amazing outcomes! We started bright and early and headed to the hospital to see Logan. We arrived just as her 8am feeding was finishing up, at which point we met with a representative from Option Care about her feeding pump (the Kangaroo Joey - if you know, you know). We were surprisingly proficient after having used a similar pump for the past week to administer tube feedings in the hospital. As we finished with pump training, the NICU photographer showed up to take some newborn pics. Little miss was quite smiley and cuddly throughout the quick shoot.
Following the photographer's visit, we set up Logi's 11am feeding and the we headed over to the birth family's house to load up on frozen breastmilk and other items they were sending home with us for Logan. We stayed there for a little while- connecting and saying goodbye for now. Birth mom gave us a necklace with a key that is a 'pay it forward' message she gave to us as a thank you for doing something nice. Packing the rental car was like a complex game of Tetris in the close to 90 degree temperatures.
Back to the hospital to be discharged... that was the plan- we thought we would be on the road quickly, however we learned discharge is not a quick process. Logan got the go ahead to leave the NICU... wow- what an emotional time this was for us.
Amy kept asking - 'so, we just leave with her?'- like 'just walk out of the NICU?' yes... yes the nursing and support staff said-yup you are released. The staff took turns holding Logan and saying goodbye to her. They truly fell in love with Logan and wanted more snuggles.
We both carried the car seat down the hall and when we reached the door- the staff all said goodbye and hugged us. Amy cried - and we both said thank you over and over again- this staff welcomed us with open arms, taught us all the things they could, and helped us in ways that we can never really understand. The barriers the case manager and social workers worked thru are incredible to help our little family transition home.
We walked out the hospital and let that Logan experience that sunshine for the first time - hear the birds for the first time- and begin experience all the new things.
So- here we are- I am driving -Amy in the back with Logan - and out of this town we go to the border to attempt some sleep and see what are plans are for the next day.
We were good until.... well until we had to stop twice. Amy was trying the first 'in car gtube feeding' and- it did not go as planned. See the gtube is meant to be pretty much 'air free' - however in this case air got in the tube situation - meaning we had to pull over, disconnect Logan and prime the pump and try it again... off we go again - but wait, Amy asked for me to pull over again, because we were not using the science of gravity to our advantage and air got in the pump again. This time I got Logan totally out of the car seat and Amy is priming the pump again to get things ready to go. This is when the state trooper joined us in the parking lot because, well, someone should check on us with how we were looking.
Amy told the state trooper we have a newborn and are just trying to figure things out...he laughed and said he has a 30 year old and is still trying to figure things out. Off we went again - smooth sailing to Danville, Illinois (aka, the border).
Upon getting to Danville, we quickly realized all the things we needed to bring inside- so many things- so many. The entire luggage cart was filled for this 1 night.... is this our new normal???
Our first night with Logan alone, here in Danville, Illinois... oh what an adventure this is going to be.