Homecoming

Cora and Sutter were discharged on June 2, 2013. It was like graduation day in the NICU. Everyone was congratulating us on the news of the discharge. The nurses seemed very proud of the help they provided to us. We had so much education from everyone over the past 17 days that we were sure we could handle it. We were both excited and nervous that day. We were going to be a family together at home that night.

We were fortunate to have the NICU nurse who was also the hospital specialist on car seats taking care of the twins on Sunday morning before our discharge. We were able to ask him some last minute questions about how to be with them in the car. We also took the infant CPR and Choking class that day. That was a hard class to take, but so worth every moment.  I had been pumping in the NICU Women's room, so I said good-bye to my fellow pumpers. Finally, we told the other mothers in the NICU who became our good friends that we would see them soon...and their kids, too!

Frank carried Sutter and Cora in their car seats down the halls of the hospital. I recorded the whole event, while walking out of the hospital - laughing and crying the entire way. I was so proud that we were out of the NICU in 17 days from their birth. I couldn't believe how strong they had become in such a short time.

In the Jeep I sat between the two of them in the back to be sure they were breathing. I cried, laughed and took about 20 photos and a few videos of them on the way home. It was our first ride as a family in the car. With every bump in the road, I reported to Frank that they were still breathing. We took the longest and slowest route possible through Golden Gate Park.

Upon arrival at home, we let them sleep right away in their Moses Baskets. As luck would have it, Granny Judy, Frank's Mom, had arrived for a week long visit on Sunday. What a great treat for her to meet the babes on their first day home.

Our first night with them was our initiation into parenthood. We decided to have them sleep with us in the room, as that is what most parents do. The pack and play we received was too big for us to maneuver around in the dark. We decided to place them on a set of dining room chairs next to each side of our bed. It was perfect to have them next to us, except that they were very loud. Grunts, groans, small cries all seemed so cute in the NICU. But at midnight, they were making me very nervous. I kept the light on for half the night just so I could understand what was happening in those baskets. Needless to say, we were pretty tired the next day. But we were thrilled to have made it through that first night and congratulated ourselves with a nap the next afternoon.

We've now moved them to the dining room table in those baskets. That way, they are with us all day long and into the evening. At night, we take shifts being with them. I've gone to bed early and wake up at their feedings and my pumping. After two shifts, we swap shifts. Frank takes the next two shifts in the bedroom and I'm in the living room with my little grunters. We'll figure it out...right?

Next up...get out of the house!

xo