Just the Two of Us: Rush's Homecoming

I told you that I would have another story to tell about a happy day! October 6, 2008 is the day that our sweet Rush came home to be with the rest of the family. I was especially excited to have Rush come home because it was a week overdue. See, he was actually scheduled to come home BEFORE Sydney Frances. I went to the hospital to visit the babies one day, and the doctor told me we could room-in with Rush the next day. Sydney Frances had been pushed back a little because of some tummy trouble she had toward the end of her stay. We had our BAGS PACKED to stay overnight with the little man. I should mention that one of the requirements is that all babies in the NICU go for seven full days without a bradycardia (heart rate drop). Rush was on DAY 7! At 6pm, I got a call from his sweet nurse, Sandy. She didn't want to tell me, but it had happened. The worst thing that I could imagine at that point. My heart was so set on going to pick him up, but that wasn't meant to be. He dropped his heart rate... in his sleep.. and he didn't recover on his own... all things that the powers that be in the NICU feel very strongly about. I immediately burst into tears. Sandy said, "Pleeeeaasse, don't cry!! You will make me cry!" But I cried, so she cried. I was very sad. I called Phil and told him hysterically that we couldn't go. He tried to reassure me that it just meant he wasn't quite ready to come home, but I didn't care. I knew it was true, but I didn't want it to be true. All I could think was that he now had to go 7 MORE days without a drop. Seven more days literally felt like eternity at that point. I had recovered somewhat by the next day, so I went to the hospital to meet with the doctor. Sandy had told me there was a chance that he might let him go. Well, it turns out that Rush's doctor felt pretty strongly that he should stay for another seven days to be SURE he was ready to go home. So, we waited. In the meantime, you know that SF came home. Poor Rush had to stay at the hospital, and he really was just hanging out. It broke my heart leaving him there, but thanks to my Mama coming to stay with little Sydney Frances here at home, we still went to see him every day. He was so sweet (still is) and quiet, so it was hard to leave him. SF was always the loud one. She had a little reputation! Rush was the quiet one, and I always worried he would be forgotten about when I wasn't there. Of course, I am sure now that he wasn't, but I couldn't help but feel that way at the time. So, the day finally arrived. They said they would call us. The doctor would have to do rounds and discharge him. So, we waited.. and waited... and waited. I began to panic. Maybe we wouldn't be able to take him. Day became night...and at that point, if they had told me I had to wait any more time, I don't know how I would have reacted. Finally, the call came. We drove to Montgomery, talked to Rush's nurse, dressed him in the cute blue preemie outfit and bonnet (much to Phil's dismay). We literally brought him home in the dark of the night finally arriving home around 10pm. I remember a friend of mine telling me that when she went to pick up her own child from his lengthy NICU stay, she was so afraid they were going to chase her down in the parking lot and make her bring him back, so she said she didn't look back and just walked really fast. We had the same experience with Rush. It was too good to be true. I was SOOO excited to have that sweet boy home with us at last!! It was another wonderful day!!