August 15, 2011

August 15, 2011 was a day we will never forget and one that I hope to celebrate in the years to come. The days leading up to it were filled with anxiety and even frustration, but all of those feelings were forgotten the day we brought our daughter home.

Veronica has been home for two days and all is well.  It feels as though everything is the way it should be now, all of us home together.  But we can't help but still think of the NICU - especially all of the wonderful, amazing people who cared for Veronica on her journey.  Saying goodbye and thank you to them was difficult and emotional to say the least.  When I think about it now, I still get tears in my eyes. I know I have said this before, but we really cannot begin to express how grateful we are for all that the NICU staff did for Veronica, and for us, over those 119 long days. 

I'm not sure how often I will update this blog from here on out.  But several of the nurses have asked that we keep in touch with pictures and updates on how Veronica is doing. So that will be my inspiration for continuing the blog - even if only one of them visits occasionally, it will be worth it.  It is the very least we can do. 

Here are some pictures from that wonderful day - August 15, 2011: 

Last temperature check.  She had her temp checked  8 times a day for her entire NICU stay - so it was checked approximately 950 times.



Last exam by the attending neonatologist, Dr. Mohamed. Dr. Mohamed described Veronica as an exceptional baby since the beginning of her NICU stay.



Flying!

Dressed in her going home outfit. No more wires!  

Getting snug in her car seat.

Proud parents.

Some of our favorite NICU nurses.  And there were so many more.

Saying goodbye to Dr. Macri, the doctor who delivered Veronica in the middle of the night on April 18.

Jenny - my nurse the day I delivered. She followed our journey along the way. 

Loving the car ride from DC to Rockville.

The kids decorated the house with the help of our friend , Maria.

You wouldn't know it from this picture, but the kids were thrilled to have Veronica home. I will never forget turning onto our street to see them jumping for joy.