Being home never felt so good! We were finally able to bring Maddie home from the hospital Tuesday, December 14th. Just one day before her two month birthday! Monday, I was at work and got a call from one of our primary nurses saying that Maddie could go home the next day as long as she tolerated her feedings and everything went well. I let her know the seriousness of what she was telling me and if she was joking we would no longer be friends! She let me know that although she would miss Maddie she was serious! Casey and I have never been so stressed out about a babies eating habits! We called the hospital every three hours through the night to make sure Miss Maddie had eaten her food. Sure enough she had. We could go home! Tuesday morning when I walked into the hospital and saw Kiser written ont he discharge board I couldn't help but cry. We finished our CPR training, got the car seat ready for her car seat test, showed the nurses we could dispense her medicine, and off we went!
Once home it was first things first, we had to introduce Maddie to Wakesha. Wakesha is our family plant we have had since the first summer we were married. (Yes, we are weirdos who name our plants or more properly our love fern!) Thanks to having the best sister in the world I was able to stay up and watch Maddie sleep throughout the night on our video baby monitor. It is the coolest thing! Night vision and everything! But after having monitors on your child at all times letting you know she is breathing and her heart is beating you become kinda neurotic. But needless to say she made it through the night. We did it! We are offically parents! I will say this... once a NICU mom you will always be slightly crazy. Things I worry about: since I have seen our little baby literally turn blue in the hospital I worry constantly about her breathing, her ability to poop, eat, sleep, her hernia, the size of her belly, if she is too cold, her constant grunting... and the list goes on. So yes, I know I am a crazy mom. Thankfully we have a ped doc who recognizes that this happens with most NICU moms and she lets me know that its ok, and normal after everything we've been through.
Our first doctors appt. was two days after being home, they monitor babies who have been in the NICU very closely (thankfully, this helps to calm my nerves!). We got her weight and size... our baby girl at two months old is in the 25th percentile for newborns!! To everyone else she is still a peanut but compared to her orignal 3 lbs 2 oz her now 6 lbs 14 oz makes her a chunk!! But we are so excited for the holidays at home with our baby. Casey and I just have to get used the the not sleeping thing and we are all set!
So Merry Christmas from the Kisers who are all at home!
17 comments:
Julie, I am so happy for all of you! We have kept you all in our prayers, and will continue to do so. I am so excited you get to have Christmas with your beautiful daughter at home! Congratulations! (and do let people help, bring meals, etc...this will be a big adjustment)
JULIE, I'm so excited for you! Congrats on making it through a tough couple of months, and you all handled it like champs. I bet it is so nerve racking being on your own, but hopefully you get the hang of it soon and can relax a little more. Babies are hard, but so rewarding. Don't expect to omuch of yourself :) Happy holidays! HOoray!
I have been waiting for this post and was so excited as I was reading it! I am so happy for you! Maddie is so cute! I hope everything goes well at home and please let me know if you and Casey ever get used to the "not sleeping thing." If you ever do, I could use some tips! ;)
Merry Christmas!
Yay! That is so great! Isn't it nice to be home? I am so glad Maddie made it in time for Christmas. -- Jamie (Lily's mom)
Ummm whoops. Deleted my comment. Anyway, so happy for you. But once she hits 10 pounds we'll have to fix the "no-sleep" thing and I'll convert you to babywise. Best thing ever.
I couldn't think of a more perfect Christmas gift. Welcome home baby Maddie.
YAHOO!!! I'm so happy for you. You definitely deserve it! Merry Christmas.
Maddie is beautiful and sitting there in her infant seat she is the picture of wisdom and patience. But don't let that picture fool you.
Congratulations Mom and Dad. Your prayers, and ours, have been answered.
That's the best Christmas present! So glad that cute baby girl is doing well. Congrats! Merry Christmas!
I am so happy for you! What a relief to have her home and healthy! I would love to come meet her :)
Baby Maddie is the toughest baby around. I can only imagine how she'll be as a 2-year old!
OH JULIE! I am beside myself of excitement for you! She is home! I cried reading this. You all made it! What an incredible journey (and would you believe me if I said having a kid only gets harder from here...) :) Congrats and WELCOME HOME!!!!
Love the picture of you cradling Maddie in the chair. There's nothing like a mother-child relationship. We are thrilled she is home with her Mom & Dad. And it is such a relief to know that you don't have to leave at 6:30 PM. We can't wait to see her!! Dad is chomping at the bit!! Love you all so much!!!!!
She's so adorable. I don't think you are crazy at all I worry about all of that and I have never had a NICU baby. I still worry about it with my 7 year old:)
So happy for you guys. You have truly had a crash course in parenting these first wild two months. Though nothing in comparison to Maddie, I'll tell you what my pediatrician told me after spending a week in the hospital with newborn Treyson. Once you've, been through this, everything else will seem like a cake walk. It's been very true for us. So glad you're all home. And Jules, you will ALWAY worry. I still check Trey's breathing....and he's two. Go figure.
congratulations on bringing her home! you sound and look like a natural with her. i know youll enjoy every second! -Karen Haddon
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