The Eagle Has Landed!

Disclaimer: the following events may or may not be in order, or entirely true. Let's just say that life has been crazy since Friday afternoon. I've tried my best to remember everything.

These are the tips Rhett has been writing down for Abby. I'm not sure she's quite on board yet.

On Friday afternoon we were told that case management had decided to review Abby's case to see why she was still at the hospital - I guess they felt we had overstayed our welcome. :) Our med student told us that there was a good possibility we would be going home before the 11th, the date that we felt was fairly set in stone. We're so funny.

On Monday (around 3:30 pm) we were told that when case management reviewed our case with plastics, they decided that we could go home. The case then went to an internal review board (made up of hospital administrators and the like). They also decided that it was time for us to leave. The last part of the process was to be sent to an external committee comprised of physicians. We were told that we should have that decision by late Monday or Tuesday some time and their decision was final. Needless to say, Rhett and I were on pins and needles waiting to hear, as we would be sent home immediately after the decision went through the system - assuming the decision was to send us home. No news came that night, so we left the hospital a little earlier than usual to make final preparations for Abby coming home. We both felt it was unlikely that we would be at the hospital after Tuesday.

Tuesday came. May I remind you that everyone except the plastic surgeon felt that we should have left weeks ago. Around 12:00 we were informed that the external board had determined that it was medically necessary for us to stay until the 11th. Yes, that's the day we had been planning on since admission to Primary's. Alright, breathing easier now.

Then yesterday happened. Rhett was at work, as we both knew that the day would be very relaxed at the hospital. At 9:30, our med student came in and said that we were going home today. Um, excuse me? Yes. He said that the hospital had decided - after our whole debacle - that cases such as ours would no longer stay longer than one week. I guess that overruled the overruling of the overruling... He said by the time the discharge paperwork was put through the system it would be mid-afternoon. So I called Rhett and my mom to make arrangements. Rhett came to the hospital and we finished up a couple of things. At 11:00 the nurse came in and said that our paperwork had gone through and we were good to leave whenever we wanted. Um, excuse me (again)? Yes. So we packed our car, dressed Abby, fed her, set up her car bed, and left. We were pulling out of the parking lot at 12:15. Insanity.

A nurse who has worked in the infant unit for 16 years said that she has never seen a case like ours stay for so long. I'm glad we can be record-setters...I think.

Thankfully Abby slept the whole way home, we were safe, and she slept for a while when we arrived so Rhett and I could get unpacked. The adjustment has been pretty good so far, thanks in large part to my mom being here to help with nighttime so Rhett can sleep in order to function at work the next day. We've already been able to get into a better routine that will help. Unfortunately she hates diaper change time and just buckles her legs to fights against it. Hopefully that improves when she can be on her back.

Speaking of the transition to her back, that can happen at her 6 week mark. This whole time we've been planning on moving her to her back after 4 weeks. Just another thing that we'll have to change expectations for. The plastic surgeon took half of her back stitches out on Monday - every other one. Her incision is still looking great and although it was irritated for a bit that day, it's cleared up again. We're thankful she's a strong healer! He said that after the 4 week mark, April 11, they still prefer her to be on her tummy as much as possible, but it won't be as stringent. Whatever he means by that. We'll go in to get the rest of the stitches out on Monday and we'll ask very specific questions about what we can and can't do. :) We're glad that her tummy time is winding down as she's already rolled onto her back once and threatens to do it every day. Such fun! We have blankets rolled up to prop her up on both sides to try to avoid that.

The remaining stitches.

Abby still prefers laying on the right side of her head, where her shunt is. I was worried she wouldn't like to lay on that at all but it doesn't seem to bother her at all. When we try to switch her head position, she fights us. We've resorted to doing it while she sleeps because if she's awake, she'll be stubborn and will just lift her head and look forward. She's definitely got some spunk.

Her first real clothes! This may have been more exciting for me than for her.

Leaving!!

Car bed time. She took it like a champ.

The cute banner my mom put up - welcome home indeed.

So, all in all life is good. Appointments have been made for the removal of her stitches, a newborn pediatrician visit, and casting with Shriner's. I'd like to say that we know for sure what's going to happen over the next few weeks, but I've learned that we just can't say things like that around here. :) I will say that it feels good to be home!