Our Finest Hour.....

MFH and I roomed in at the PICU for the last time on our fifteenth wedding anniversary. It surely topped going to see a cheesy movie, or eating at some random restaurant that likely wouldn't even be in business ten years from now. But we will always remember spending that night with our daughter, and preparing to bring her home. When we arrived, we were both already clearly, visibly exhausted. The days before that one were filled with all-nighters as we disassembled our house, room by room, sterilized every crevice to within an inch of disintegration, and reorganized absolutely everything with Little Bird in mind. Marie warned us months ago. We were essentially bringing the PICU home with us. Turning our house into a hospital. And that's exactly what we did. Losing a few nights of sleep? Pffft! It would be sooooo worth it in the end.

We were also two big balls of nervous energy. We had to make certain that every little aspect of this transition was perfect for her. If we pulled this off, it would be our proudest accomplishment. Ever. Nothing we will ever do will top it. The best way to describe it would be to say that it was very much akin to planning a wedding, and taking care of last minute details. Or, awaiting the birth of a baby. In essence, our entire family was about to be reborn. This was our labor. Our biggest push. Our family's finest hour.

When The Road Gets Dark

And You Can No Longer See

Just Let My Love Throw A Spark

And Have A Little Faith In Me

When The Tears You Cry Are All You Can Believe

Just Give These Lovin' Arms A Try, Baby

And Have A Little Faith In Me

That Friday night was so bittersweet. Little Bird sleeps like a tiny champion, and as she did, MFH and I took turns pacing. Listening to her breathing pattern. Suctioning her whenever she needed. Watching the monitors. Making coffee runs. And every so often, staring out the windows, at the view of the midnight mist across the parking lot below. A feeling like the change of seasons. That first warm day before Spring officially arrives. That moment when you can feel it coming, in your bones. Something so amazing was about to happen. We were only hours away....



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