A Life In Numbers: The Sweetest Thing....

Yesterday afternoon, another team meeting. Checking in with each other, and keeping up to date in terms of where we stand as we inch closer to the big day. There's been some changes. First and foremost, MFH and I have very recently begun to consider the idea of asking for more time. There have been some issues here at home (which I'll be writing about really soon) that call for our undivided attention. I've always stressed that the other five kids must not be overlooked or forgotten about, and that's been the biggest struggle to date. Having to trust in the strangers, who are caring for our daughter so many miles away, when we can't be with her. In light of recent events, two of the six are now silently screaming that they need us here, and now.

Aside from that, we've been informed that our team of six 'round-the-clock nurses has suddenly dwindled to four. Two have backed out of the job for personal reasons. Both were our night shift back-up's. By all means, we can still function with four once Little Bird is home. It would be tricky, but it could be done. But, if we have the opportunity to allot for the extra time necessary to refill these positions, why not take it? And the hospital is giving us all the time in the world.

And so, yesterday afternoon, and because of the latter, we could sense the staff sort of dancing around the idea of bumping the date. MFH and I spoke up, and asked them to. And when they offered us another week, we pushed for two. For now. If we had to, we could certainly coordinate everything in time for what we were given, but we'd be cutting it very close. I don't want Little Bird's transition to be filled with chaos and uncertainty. When you bring a baby home from the hospital, adjusting is hard enough as it is. Honestly, I would much prefer her last few days in the PICU to be spent properly saying our goodbyes rather than cramming information.

This new date is also tentative. Should we get to the day of and have any doubts whatsoever, we could speak up even then, and stretch it out longer. Or, should we accomplish everything we need to do by say, next week? Yes. It can be that soon. But don't go gettin' all flustered just yet. The odds of that happening are phenomenal.

Little Bird is also phenomenal. She is the healthiest and happiest that we've ever seen her be. She completed the course of antibiotics, and is now free and clear of tracheitis. No more IV's! Her fundo repair site looks incredible. It's just about fully healed now. And she's just so happy. The last three days with her have been like...whoa! Where-is-my-baby-and-what-have-you-done-to-her kind of whoa. MFH is beginning to feel the onset of a bug, and so we opted to both wear surgical masks when we got there. You'd think this would scare the living poopies out of her, considering everything. But I'm starting to think all of these games of peek-a-boo are paying off, because she seems to think that it's what we're playing. She cracked up smiling on the spot, and wouldn't stop. Next time, I'm giving her one to wear herself. And speaking of things she can partake in, she is now also chowing down on lollipops. Her speech therapist started giving them to her in an attempt to help her get back to where she was with the bottle, or so she says. Personally, I think Little Bird popped a boo-boo face on her and she felt guilty. Either way, it's fine by us. I fully intend to bring her a metric shit ton of Dum-Dum's. Every. Single. Flavor.