Home, Bittersweet, Home

Randy and I are home. Needless to say, it is bittersweet. Leaving the hospital on Wed. was undoubtedly the toughest thing I have ever done. It was like I was standing outside of myself as it happened. We saw other new mommy's getting helped to their cars, sitting in the backseats next to their baby's, so eager to get their baby home... I just kept thinking, this is not the way it is supposed to be. All I wanted to do was be with my baby, not driving away from him. But I can find solace in leaving him there with so many wonderful people who are taking such good care of him.

Words cannot begin to describe the collection of people who work in the NICU. Maybe they are all being paid huge salaries and that is why they are there but I think it is more likely that each one was hand picked by God to do the job they do. We have made so many friends there and each time we walk in there are more friends to meet. This whole experience has been so overwhelming but I am continuously overwhelmed by the staff over there. They are so patient and answer the millions of questions we have over and over again. They never act annoyed, no matter how many times we call, even if it was not too long since the last call. They listen to our worries and ease our minds... They suggest ways to get good photos and teach us the best ways to touch our baby. They call us mom and dad as if that has been our names forever.... They even dress Ethan in his Carolina hat and some of them are Duke fans.... They are all our angels. They are our family. We appreciate every last one of them.

On to the little man... Ethan is doing great! Yesterday was a big day for Ethan. He had his chest tube removed and is responding well. He is much more comfortable with it out and because it is gone he is on a lot less sedation medicine, which means he is more alert and more feisty. He had an echo on his heart and things look good there too. They have stopped feeding him for now cause he was not responding well, which was probably because he had not gone poopy. But that all changed yesterday too when we celebrated the first poopy! (Ashley, you told me once that we would celebrate poopy! - Heck yeah!!!) So they should start his feeds again today. And best of all, he is ready to be taken off the oscillator and moved to a much less supportive system. So all is progressing well for Master Ethan! Today should be another big day for the little fella.

So please keep us in your prayers this Easter weekend and I will continue to update things here to let you all know how your prayers are working! I cannot believe all the people who have reached out to us, some of you who do not even know Randy or I. I wish I could thank each of you personally and respond to each phone call, email or comment but please know it does not go unnoticed. We are so blessed to be in the thoughts and prayers of so many.

Check back soon for more pictures.. Ethan did have jaundis and has been sun bathing some.. He looks so handsome in his sunglasses!!

Much love to you all-
Arika, Randy & Ethan