Saturday, June 5, 2010

Burger King Comes through in a pinch!

If you haven't already heard, WE ARE HOME! Sophie got discharged on Wednesday. I think you'll appreciate that we have had our first big adventure and we understand completely why people with babies are always late!

We were surprised when the doctors said we were going home Wednesday. We were expecting Thursday because Sophie's blood pressure stayed up a little too high Tuesday night. Wednesday, they were comfortable enough with it to up her med. just a little and send us home. So...we got to packing. We had it all planned out to leave just after we held them up after their 2:00 feeding. (They both have reflux pretty bad and have to be held upright for 20-30 minutes after they eat.) By 2:00 we were just about ready to go, fed the babies, held them up for a while. I ran to the pharmacy in Children's and took the last load to the car while Amber got the girls ready to go. Unfortunately, that's as far as we got before our brilliant plans for a calm car ride went awry. Sophie's prescription had been faxed to the pharmacy so it would be ready when we got there. Apparently, the handwriting was illegible. They told me it would be about a half hour before it would be ready...and they needed Sophie's social. Being the forward thinker that I am, I asked them to go ahead and fill it while I ran to the car to get her social security card and ran one last errand. They agreed....although I'm not sure what they thought they agreed to, because once I got back and gave them Sophie's social the lady said, "ok, great that's all we need. Now we just have to fill it. Shouldn't be much longer."

So, instead of leaving at 2:30 we left at 4:30. The girls are supposed to eat at 5:00. Rush hour is from 4-6. The girls aren't supposed to be in the car for more than an hour at a time. Needless to say, shortly after we finally go on I24 it was time to stop and stretch at 5:30. Burger King was the first place we found.

Now try to picture a Toyota Matrix (same build as a Pontiac Vibe) that has two infant car seats in the back seat which means my knees are in the dash. Amber is smashed (literally) between the girls in the back so she can watch them. And the back end is full to the brim of diaper bags and our things from living at or near the hospital for 2 months. Somehow we changed both girls' diapers in our laps and thankfully they didn't blow the dash off like they've been known to do. I ran in to get hot water for their bottles. I'm sure I looked half out of my mind asking for a cup of hot water, but they knew what it was for and obliged...in a hurry! We finally got home around 8 and it was time to eat again. I'm sure that's the first of many adventures.

Yesterday was the first check up with the pediatrician here in town...and of course we ran late. We started getting ready as soon as the girls ate and somehow still couldn't get them in the car on time. Sophie blew her diaper open just before we left so their outfits didn't get to match like Amber had planned. We changed their O2 over to the portable canisters and fought wires and monitors all back into the car and somehow got through the appointment without the girls going crazy for not eating for an hour after they were due.

They are finally starting to sleep a little in their cribs, but I'm afraid they've gotten spoiled to being held after they eat and tend to grunt and squirm and finally cry until they are picked up again. I realized this morning that I slept better for the hour and a half with both girls on me than I do when they are in their cribs and we're worried about them breathing, and refluxing, and spitting up, and everything else! (I also realized that I couldn't remember which girl was on which side and had to really sort it out and finally decided based on weight who was whom!) It looks like we'll be sleeping in a recliner and a pull out chair in the nursery for a while! We're tired as all get out and overwhelmed...but loving every minute of it...the daytime minutes are just a little less stressful. :) I'm just glad Amber's mom is here to feed us and pick up our messes. Otherwise DCS might take the girls if they saw the state of our house!

Looking back on our stay at the NICU, it became more and more easy toward the end to complain about stuff going wrong and longing to come home, but we have so much to be grateful for.
1. Neither of the girls ever really got an infection which is pretty uncommon from what we understood at the beginning.
2. Neither of the girls had to have surgery while there. (We've still got checkups on eyes, but aren't that worried about it.)
3. While Mattie got out a few days earlier than Sophie which was difficult, I'm pretty sure a lot of twins go home at very different times. I have no idea how we would have survived with our minds in tact if that had happened.
4. If Sophie hadn't choked last Tuesday and scared us half to death while the nurse was working to get her breathing again, she would have been discharged on Thursday or Friday along with Mattie...in which case, they wouldn't have noticed her high blood pressure. While it wouldn't have caused immediate problems, it could have caused serious damage down the road if left unattended.
5. The girls won the "best dressed award" in the NICU. (I'm not sure if that's a real award but it was the head of the Neonatal department that made that comment, so I figure it bears some weight) The catch is that Amber and I have maybe bought one or two outfits for the girls. Everything else they wear are gifts from you. Between clothes, cards, gift cards, and money to help with gas and expenses, and more than anything else reminders of prayers on our behalf, we have felt more love in the past few months from God's people than we've ever experienced before.

I'll put pics and videos up soon to let you see some more of their fashion. I'm finding that being at home with them leaves even less time for blogging than being at the hospital. For now, from Burger King and a hot cup of water, to Natchez Trace, to friends and family, to people we've never met, thank you for giving us your strength and reminding us of God's strength to get through this. Now we'll need that strength to get through the rest of their lives! :)

10 comments:

  1. God Is Great!!! You just treasure each day and know that your family is so loved, and we can't wait to see everyone. Your dad hasn't fired us yet for looking and we appreciate that so much. I personally feel like I have added nieces and nephews to my family and it feels great... Keeping ya'll in our prayers....love ya

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  2. This made my heart so warm!!! I am so happy for you 4. You have been on an incredible journey, one that you will remember and think about every birthday, sickness, milestone, etc... Birthdays are huge in the Danley home, not because I want Clayton to get lavish things but it is my way of showing him how thankful I am that he is here with me. I rejoiced over each milestone he reached after coming home from the hospital. They were later than normal babies his age, but I did not care. I knew I was blessed to have a small but breathing with few problems baby! Clayton is now a wild and crazy 4 year old who is very smart and musical. I say it is all the extra oxygen flowing to their brains right after being born. I have enjoyed your updates about the girls. I checked everyday and thought about you all very often. I hope one day to meet this two precious girls and give you and Amber a hug. It is a connection that we parents of preemies have. We understand one another. You may never be on time again, unless until they dress themselves, but enjoy each crazy minute.
    Hannah Danley

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  3. Josh and Amber, so excited you are back home. the being late thing it's ok you are new parents with primmies. you will learn that nothing you plan goes as planned because the girls will see to it lol. enjoy them, thank you for sharing yor journey with us you continue to be in our prayers and will forever be in our lifes. the Kieffer's

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  4. Amber I somehow stumbled across your blog through another blog that needed prayer. It was so weird it was like i was lead to find your blog! I caught up a little and I just want you to know you and your family will be in my prayers it looks like God is taking care of you and your sweet family. But we know he is GREAT! If you need anything just let me know.

    Maggie Goolsby Hancock

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  5. Schwatzes,
    I'm so excited about the news!! Now the fun begins. I think from the post you have already figured that out!
    Please know the prayers will still be going up for all of you. Try real hard to relax and enjoy the ride!!
    The girls will be fine and all is well.
    Remember, God is in control and people are praying!!
    Love the posts,
    Diann Adkisson Wilkins

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  6. So glad that you are doing. I had to go see Scott last Friday in Henderson. The babies are big topics at the office. Prayers are still coming every day. Love, Overtons

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  7. So happy for you guys!! I know it must feel amazing to be home with your little ones!! I will continue to pray for you guys as you raise these two precious girls!!
    Jennifer Giesemann

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  8. congrats on arriving home with the girls!Can not wait to see the girls! Michelle Bobo

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  9. HI! So glad to see you all made it home safe and sound! You will really be able to look back and laugh at this someday, but for now you just get to stay exhausted. :) I've been thinking about your family and miss seeing the girls in they're old room on 7 South. (I'm having to work much harder now that you're gone) Haha. You both did such a wonderful job with Sophie and Mattie. They are truly blessed to have parents like you and I was lucky enough to cross paths with you for such a brief time. I'm really glad to see things are going well for you all. Congratulations and God Bless!

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  10. We've had you guys on our prayer lists from the very beginning and know that we will still be praying for you all. The sleepless nights are rough, as you well know, but praise God that your precious children will now be keeping you awake... to eat, to be changed, to eat, to roll over, to eat...you get the idea! We love you guys!

    Sara & Joe Williams

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