Homeward Bound!!!! Day 200

Ready for home!!

Tuesday May 27th will forever be known as the day we got to take our baby home from the NICU!!!  After 200 days of walking out those doors and leaving Benton behind each night we finally were able to fasten him into his car seat and walk those same steps that we had watched so many families walk before us - the steps toward home.  After we fastened him into his car seat, checked to make sure his oxygen was correctly attached and that his monitors indicated that he was satting well we waved goodbye to Georgetown Hospital and started for home.  As we pulled away from the hospital I was overcome with emotions and actually burst into tears.  Tears of joy, tears of happiness, tears of relief and tears of apprehension.  Every day for the past 200 days I had been at the hospital at my baby's side, never taking a break, always filled with a mixture of hope and dread - hope for each new day, but dread that the obstacles Benton faced would eventually be too difficult to overcome.  Yet, by God's miracles, we made it through to the other side and Benton was declared ready for discharge.

Going home outfit complete with too-big shoes!

The morning we took Benton home we awoke with tremendous excitement.  Words of "Happy Benton Day" spread throughout our house.  As I called that morning to check on little man and confirm that today was indeed the day, we arrived at a small blip.  The doctors had ordered for Benton to go home with a monitor that also had a pulseoximeter, which measures his oxygen saturations, but the insurance company had delivered us the wrong type of monitor.  So there was a last minute scramble to get the insurance company to deliver the correct monitor to us that very day so we could be discharged.  To say this put my nerves on end is a definite understatement.   Luckily the insurance company was amenable and they said someone could deliver the new monitor by 2pm that very day.  Yay!!!

Joe's Beard Shaved to Honor Benton

We soon headed for the hospital brimming with excitement and nervous energy.  Walking into the NICU for the last time was an unreal experience.  Not only were we excited to see our little mister man, but we had forms to fill out, discharge summaries to review, new monitor training to receive and everyone coming over to congratulate us.  As we looked in Benton's crib for the last time we saw that his night nurse Kelsey had made him a beautiful card signed by his nurses and a graduation certificate.  His nurses Kira and Meghan had also made a plaster foot imprint for us to take home to commemorate the special day.  In addition, all of the nurses, doctors and even speech and physical therapists came over to congratulate us and take pictures with Benton.  Father Joe and Reverend Sharon, who baptized Benton, came by and gave Benton a final blessing.

Mementos from our nurses

Our family was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for our little man and the support we felt from everyone in the room.  Looking around the NICU felt like looking at my friends and family - people I had begun to see every single day for the last 6 1/2 months, people who I saw more often than my own friends in the city.  Everyone was so excited for us and truly amazed at all of the obstacles and challenges that Benton had overcome to get to this very day.  Our NICU family had witnessed these miracles first hand and that created a true bond we had with each and every staff member, from our primary nurses to the doctors and residents to the respiratory therapists and all the support staff; each person made our experience in the NICU what it was and they all had come to celebrate this joyous day with our family.  We couldn't have felt more blessed to have had such special place take care for our little miracle.

Benton with his nurses Kira, Nicole and Kelsey

Benton with his speech and occupational therapists and Dr. Qi

Our friend Nick, a former preemie, came by to wish us goodbye!

As we said our goodbyes we loaded Benton into his car seat and wheeled him out the NICU doors and into the fresh air.  His nurses Kira and Kelsey helped us to parade him down to the car and get everything settled in for the car ride home.  After he was loaded in and everything was shipshape we said a teary, heartfelt goodbye to our nurses.  It was an incredible moment saying goodbye to the NICU - one that I will never forget.  Driving away from the hospital truly felt like we were starting a new chapter - the chapter where Benton is finally home.  With that being said...I will continue to follow Benton's journey as we get our little peanut accustomed to home and share his milestones and victories of our amazing little man.

A final hug good-bye

Love outside the NICU doors

Family photo post-NICU

The Stats:
Days in NICU = 200 days
Born: 1 lbs 0.5 oz (470 grams); 11 1/2 inches long (29 cm)
Discharged: 9 lbs (4090 grams); 20 1/2 inches long (52 cm)

Some pictures of just a few of our amazing nurses.  We love you guys!