Where OUR Story Begins

The story of many families begins with labor and delivery, and bringing the baby home a few days later. You become a family in a matter of days and the bonding begins immediately.
Our story began a little differently. After Addison was born, we had to leave her at the hospital for almost four weeks. We began bonding as a family unit, but there is only so much you can do when you have to say goodbye to your little girl between many feedings and goodnight every night. I compare it to a petting zoo where you are aloud to hold and feed and play with the animals, but in the end you give them back to the zookeeper for nurturing and care.
And so, it is with great pride and humility that we announce that our story as a family unit really started this morning. We went to the hospital, fed and cared for Addison (or our little monkey or goat if we are still using the metaphor) and waited patiently for the doctors to come for rounds. We had an hour or so to visit with the other parents, and it was actually a very laid back conversation where we all talked about our worries, our excitement, and asked each other questions, and really got to know each other's situations more. It may have been the mood in the air- there were at least three babies scheduled for discharge. When the nurses and doctors came around, they asked each of us if we wanted privacy to discuss our individual children, and we each declined. Like I said NICU parents are tight, and any encouragement from each other is strengthening.
Addison's review was short and sweet and we were told that everything was well with her and that we could take her home! Today!! We had to wait for the discharge, and the nurses gave us a few trainings, and cautioned us about RSV, reassured us that Addison no longer needs probes and monitors, and helped us put her in the car seat, and loaded us up with bottles, nipples, diaper bags, diapers, and a whole host of other things, and walked us out. Jillian said she kind of missed not getting to be wheeled out in a wheelchair.
We said bye to our nurses. Over the last four weeks these ladies and men have been an extension of our family, and I can honestly say that no wage or salary can pay for the love, care, and devotion they give to our children. Addison's nurses knew her intimately- they knew her schedule, her needs, her dislikes, and they were always there for us. We had many long talks about the Tooth Fairy, gardens, snow, skiing, canning, IPods, foster parenting, hometowns, conversion stories, commuting, and other assignments throughout the country. But every conversation returned to Addison. Those nurses adored our little girl, and wanted to make sure that we could become the best parents possible. And strange enough, I honestly feel more prepared to be Addison's father.
And so it's with heavy hearts, but great excitement that we said goodbye to our friends--our family at the NICU, loaded Addison into our car and took her home. Home, where we could finally begin our story.

Gearing up for Halloween.


Nurse Ted


Nurse Susan


Dressed to go home!