It's a Party! (July 3)

Today I get to go to my big boxy home with Mommy and Daddy.



Last night, my parents spent the night with me here in my favorite, cozy room. Mommy "spent" the 1st part of the night in my room while Daddy slept in another room (there is only room for one adult to sleep in my room), then they switched. The whole purpose for this was for me to train my parents on how to care for me at night, mainly by making enough racket so they would wake up and feed me. Well, Mommy didn't actually try to sleep with me at all. Instead, she stayed up until 3:30am hanging out with my nurses and playing with me. Don't worry, I did get sleep! She wanted the last edition of hand and footprints that I would get during my NICU stay, so my nurses Janay, Heather, and Dana went to work getting them. You should see the pictures Mommy took during this fiesta! I sat on Heather's lap with a clipboard as my big girl desk and Dana helped squish my hands and feet against the inky film. It was so much fun that I fell asleep! Mommy's nurse, Mary, came to visit with us later. She was actually able to spend more time than usual chatting with Mommy, my nurses and the respiratory therapist (whom I delighted to say that I never met!). Her patients upstairs must have been sleeping like me and the rest of humanity! Then, Dana scolded Mommy for staying up so late, so after talking to a hundred more people (remember, I can't count very well yet), my Mommy went to wake Daddy and go to sleep.



Next, Daddy had his turn in my room. And he slept! He was a little nervous, but I have a lot of faith in my strong Daddy. He fed me like a pro. He did all the right things to make me trust him, and he was quiet, unlike Mommy, and let me get some more good sleep.



Day shift came, and night shift left. I cried when my funny Janay had to go to her own home. She says she'll come visit me in my new home and I just can't wait!! Thankfully, my nurse Lorna got to spend my last day with me. She's the one who prayed with my Mommy and Daddy when they came to visit the NICU two days before I was born! I got to go on my very first shopping spree in "Gabby's Closet," where I was able to select a variety of items such as clothes, blankets, and a toy! Then, I had lots of visitors. Mommy's nurse, Jill, who helped with the c-section came to visit me and signed my birth certificate. Also, Mommy's day nurse, Kelly, who took care of Mommy and me while we were on bed-rest in the hospital, came to meet me. She had only heard my heartbeat before and seen some of my ultrasound pictures. Nana came all the way from her home in Goldendale to help take me to my new home! My Aunt E came over from work on Rehab to take pictures of me during my last day in my NICU home.

Going home was quite a thrill ride!! At first, I screamed a terrifying scream to let the whole world know that I didn't want to leave (actually, I didn't like being strapped into my car bed), but Daddy did an amazing trick--he made this huge metal thing around me vibrate and make me all comfy. Apparently, this thing is called a car and according to my nurse Erin, I'm supposed to get my very own Corvette when I'm bigger!

Now, I'm home and miss all of my silly nurses who spoiled me rotten. Please come visit me so I don't forget who you are--you mean so much to me and I love you!!

Until I get adjusted to this strange place called home,

Danica