Home at Last!!!

We are so excited that, on a perfect spring evening one week ago today, Eli finally came home. We've had more than a few sleepless nights (okay, seven to be exact!) and we have to manage his home oxygen equipment, a slew of medications and lots of doctors appointments. But it is all worth it. Eli is a real charmer. And we've already started to introduce him to his native town, including taking him out for pizza (he slept the whole time) and strolling through Riverside Park.

It was with tremendous joy that we walked through the exit door of the NICU for the last time, but we would be lying if we didn't say that we would, in some ways, miss our daily visits to the hospital. We learned so much there, not just about baby care but also about patience, strength and trust. And those same doctors and nurses who took such amazing care of our little boy, saving his life and nurturing him to good health, also took wonderful care of us. For that, we are forever grateful.

The Many Faces of Eli

Eli's Homecoming Two Days Away!

This Wednesday, after spending 100 days in the hospital, during which he learned to breathe without a respirator, had laser eye surgery, tripled his birth weight of 1 pound 11 ounces and got the hang of bottle feeding, Eli will be going home.

Barring a hiccup of some kind over the next 48 hours, we'll pack up his belongings in Room 3 of the NICU and nestle him into a car seat. Then we will say our goodbyes to all of the wonderful nurses and doctors who happen to be on duty at the time and, finally, press the intercom to be buzzed out of the unit, with our son in tow.

Here's a photo of Eli resting today in his bed at the hospital; below is his crib in our bedroom at home.

40 Weeks

Today was supposed to be Eli's birthday. It has been a long road getting to this point—almost 13 weeks in the NICU—and although it's been difficult to see our child struggle, in some ways this experience has been a blessing.

Paul and I are essentially in mommy and daddy boot camp now, under the charge of our wonderful nurses. Once we take Eli home, we'll know so much about how to care for him as a newborn, unlike most first-time parents who have to figure it out for themselves. We're especially grateful to Mariamma, one of the assistant head nurses, for the two full days she spent with us this week. She showed us that we could handle our son without fear of breaking him. And she made us feel like real parents who can make decisions about his care.

Another unforeseen benefit of our time in the NICU is that we've made a second family. The doctors and nurses who have lovingly nurtured Eli—and his parents—will always have a place in our hearts. So, too, will the other NICU parents with whom we've shared a spectrum of emotions.

We've also had the opportunity to really get to know Eli before bringing him home. We've bonded with him over these three months and learned a great deal about his personality. It's fun to set up his room at home with such a strong sense of who he is.









So, thank you Eli. Thanks for allowing us to share this journey with you; it's only just the beginning.

Life In Step Down

Eli is finding that being in the step-down unit suits him quite well. After spending 11 weeks in an Isolette, he's now in an open crib. He's taking his fortified mother's milk through a bottle more and more instead of through an oral tube. His parents can hold him at any time.

In fact, step down is as much for the parents' benefit as it is for the child's. Stephanie and I are learning how to hold Eli, how to feed and burp him, and how to give him a bath. We're learning, too, to look for signs, like skin tone and facial expression, that he needs more or less oxygen from his nasal cannula. He's likely to be going home on oxygen, and although in that case a visiting nurse will come once a day, we'll have to know how to adjust the flow ourselves.

None of this would be possible without the knowledge, patience, love and affection of the nurses we've had in Room 3: Mariamma, Anna, Arnite, Mila and Joy, to name only some. Mariama gave Stephanie a tutorial on Tuesday; today, I'm her pupil. That's Arnite feeding Eli in the photo above, before Mommy eagerly takes a turn. Mila is burping him (below).