May 3, 2008 BIG BIG DAY!!!!

We got to the hospital at 9:30, and waited for the physicians to come around. We were so nervous because we knew there was a chance that she would be released soon. Dr. Anwar said that she might be coming home Sunday or Monday if all went well, but I told him that Larry was being baptized at The Living Room on Sunday...and it would be a huge surprise to everyone if we could have her there with us. He said he would monitor her feeds and her temperature, but he said he could probably make that happen. So here come the doctors, and sure enough...they said she could come home!

Amy and Dave Castle came to visit her and they were out in the waiting room when we got the news. Amy was so shocked that they were letting her go...and so were we! Again, we were so excited to bring her home, but SCARED TO DEATH! Larry took them in to visit her while I tracked down security to let me in the room to get the travel system to take her home.

We needed to get the car seat and the stroller put together, and she had to sit in the car seat for an hour with the monitors on to see how she did. Some babies fail that test, and they cannot go home. So we were a total wreck trying to put the stroller together, and then when she was put in the car seat, it was a very long hour of waiting and staring at the monitors. Larry went down to the parking garage to install the base for the car seat and was sweating bullets trying to get it in right. lol. But time went by, papers were signed, bags were packed, and at exactly 2 p.m. we were saying goodbye to everyone. What a feeling! I felt like I was doing something wrong, stealing my baby, or running away from home.

Kaylee rode up front because of her cough, and I sat in the back with Kaydence. Every bump in the road and every red light, Larry would ask how she was doing. Kaydence slept the whole way home...and the bumps in the road made her chubby cheeks jiggle...lol. As soon as we got home, our friends from New York, Jason and Mandi came over to help us. Jason, Larry, some skoal, and a twelve pack of beer went upstairs and put together her crib. Mandi and I talked about breast feeding and she gave me some tips that her parents gave her. She helped me with heating up warm compresses when I pumped and talked about what has helped their 10 week old baby boy. It is good to compare stories with other moms because a lot of it can be helpful.

Tomorrow is Larry's baptism, and we are keeping it a secret that Kaydence is home. It has been so hard to not call our parents, and especially our pastors and tell them the great news that she is home and healthy!!!! It is going to be a really big day tomorrow because we got both my dad, and his family coming to church for the baptism. They have no idea that she will be there with us.

I was hoping that I could have both my girls home for Mother's Day, and God blessed us earlier than any of us could have hoped for. Who would have thought that she could be with us when Larry is dedicating his life to God. I have waited for years for this day to come, and to have both our children there too....I am so grateful!!