He's home!

Wesley has been home from the hospital now for about two and a half weeks. The NICU decided that if they wait until he is off oxygen before he can come home, then it might take a month or more before he could come home. Therefore, they sent him home on oxygen instead of waiting to wean him off. We have this HUGE ballistic missile of an oxygen tank in our bedroom, and a 25 foot cord that supplies the oxygen. It is so hard carrying him around with the cord. I am constantly getting it caught on things, and almost tripping on it. Oh well...there are so many other things that we are blessed with. He is doing very well, and has gained over three pounds since his birth. He still cant go out in the public yet because his lung tissue is still damaged from being on a ventilator. He is more susceptible to getting sick, and if he does, he might have to go back to the hospital. Kaiser has been sending in home nurses to visit him so we dont have to take him out. Monday is his first doctor appointment at the hospital. I am a little nervous, but it will be nice to finally take him out. Hopefully if he is doing well, he can come off the oxygen, and might be able to start going places.

Adjusting to life with him home was an overall easy transition. The hardest part is the lack of sleep. Having him in the NICU, as hard as it was, may have been slightly advantageous. First, I learned how to bath him, hold him, feed him, and change his diaper with the help of nurses. Therefore, when he came home, I was already comfortable with all of that. Also, he was on a tight schedule in the NICU, and I have tried to keep that feeding/sleeping schedule while at home. Lastly, as sad and as frustrating as it was to come home from the hospital with out my sweet baby, it did give me a chance to heal and get some sleep. I sure did not see the positive a month ago, but I do now. I guess there really is good in every situation, no matter how hard it may seem at the time. I still have a hard time believing I am a mom. When I look at him, I have to tell my self that he is MY baby. I have a kid. Crazy! Anyway...we are blessed to have him, and so grateful for the amazing progress he has made. When I look at the pictures of when he was first put in the hospital, it is hard for me to believe that this now active baby was so sick. You would never guess it looking at him now! He is my little miracle.