Drew's News: Happy 2 Year Anniversay!

April 20^th is a very special day to us. It is the anniversary of the day we got to bring Andrew home! The road in the NICU was a very emotional one, and the ups and downs of that time were rough. I remember when I arrived to see Andrew at the NICU I had no idea what I was walking into. Josh had tried to prepare me, but words could not prepare me for the NICU environment and seeing my 2.12 lb. baby. I remember looking around, trying to take it all in. The other babies, who had been there longer, had special name tags made from scrapbooking paper with their names on them. Andrew who was a new patient and very critical did not have his own cute name tag by his bedside. He had an index card with a printed form that said “Vance, boy.” I remember thinking how impersonal that seemed and made me think maybe he wouldn’t have a nametag because he was too critical and may not be there that long. Then I would think I do not want him to have a nametag because that would mean he would be there a long time. He would see the NICU family more than his own grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. That meant nurses would be changing MY baby’s diapers, feeding MY baby (even if it was in a tube), and taking more care of MY baby than me. That meant I would have to step back and let them take care of my baby, so one day I could be the full-time care giver. I quickly realized I was going to have to come to grips with the situation and step back and let them do their work. Even though my mind had realized it, my heart never fully did. My instincts were there and it was always a struggle to sit back and not be able to do anything. All I wanted to do was be a mom and take care of my baby, but I couldn’t. For the first time in my life, I had absolutely no control over the situation. All I could do was pray that God would take care of my baby and sit by my baby’s side. By the time April 20^th arrived, I had grown quite comfortable there; in a weird sort of way. Of course, when you are somewhere 84 days straight you can get that way. We had become very familiar to the nurses and doctors. Workers on every floor would recognize us. Even though we were never just 100% super comfortable there, it did become a second home. Of course, it was the only home Andrew knew. We couldn’t wait for the day that we could introduce Andrew to the home we knew was awaiting him! On April 20, 2010 we said our good byes to everyone at the hospital and placed Andrew in his car seat. He was so tiny we had to roll cloth diapers up to put in between the space between the seat belt and his little legs. The picture below was taken in the NICU shortly before Andrew was discharged. This is a normal bouncy seat, so it gives you an idea of how tiny he was; even though compared to what he was, we thought he was so big! J So even though at the beginning I struggled with Andrew having to be there and having no control over the situation, we had made it. We had graduated from the NICU and were finally on our way home!

 

When we finally arrived home there were balloons, bows and signs everywhere. A lot of people had not even met Andrew yet and were very excited that he was finally home. That night was a very surreal experience. I had prayed for the day I would actually have my baby at home. I prayed so much and so hard for that and when it finally arrived, it was kind of like a dream. Our house was full of family and friends that night and many days after that. I look at pictures of all the people who were there and I can not describe their smiles in those pictures. They are the truest most genuine smiles I have ever seen on people. I look at those pictures and can actually go right back that night and feel the joy that had overcome me. Of course there were many tears along with those smiles. It had been a long journey for all of us.

So tonight, two years later (writing that makes me cringe because time does go by SO FAST!) we spent an evening all three of us at home. A normal week night. I was busy preparing foods for our bake sale tomorrow for our March of Dimes team, Josh watching TV, eating dinner together and Andrew busily running back and forth between Josh and I showing us something or playing something. In that NICU I couldn't picture what the future held, but what a treat to two years later to have a sweet little boy to love on and just enjoy a nice, boring, relaxing night at home! :-)