A VERY surprise homecoming!!!

After 21 days in the hospital, we're thrilled to announce that


Whitley Mary
is FINALLY home!

Born : October 17, 2009
7 weeks early, 4 lbs 4 oz

Home: November 7, 2009
4 weeks before her due date, 5 lbs

Whitley had a really rough start to the week with her feedings, and I was feeling like a failure. It was an EXTREMELY discouraging time. But something happened on Tuesday that shocked us all... I am convinced that Whit simply decided she was coming home--and no one was going to stop her! It was a complete turn around, and she wasn't looking back! Suddenly, Whit went from tube feedings [from being SO tired], to eating everything with a bottle (and nursing twice a day)-- PLUS meeting all her stats [staying warm and breathing well]. It was INCREDIBLE! By Thursday Whit was doing so well that the nurses were telling me we could probably bring her home in 3 days to a week. Time to order a car seat and get the house in order...and QUICK!! I went home and made plans to work all weekend getting ready...buying things, sorting stuff, and 'attempting' to clean whatever I could with my still aching, post C-section body. Friday I showed up for her 8:30 am feeding to hear, "You can probably take her home TOMORROW morning." What...really?! "But I'm not ready!!!", I kept telling the nurse. Not that I wasn't excited to finally bring her home...but how on earth would we ever be ready! I must be the ONLY mom with a NICU baby ever to ask if she could stay "just a few more days...please". So much for cleaning and sorting! Plus, I had to to borrow a really old car seat since ours was still being shipped....we had chosen 2 day shipping, but even that wasn't going to be fast enough!

It wasn't necessarily ideal, but ready or not--our [very] little, Whitley Mary, came home today--exactly 3 weeks (that's 21 days if you're counting...and I am!) after her birth. How wonderful it is to FINALLY have her home and be a family again!!!

Here's Whit's last NICU pic and her borrowed car seat

I think my favorite nurse was nearly as shocked as I was. She had left us on Tuesday with things still not going so well), only to come back on Saturday to see us going home. When they say that the babies just flip a switch one day, they really aren't kidding! We truly didn't even expect to have Whitley home before Thanksgiving. What a whirlwind the last few days have been!!

Here are LOTS of pics of Whitley's big day (Sorry, I can't help it!):

The kids meeting Whitley

Logan LOVED Whit! He wouldn't let go of her. It was like she was his newest toy...and he didn't want ANYONE else to touch her! He giggles every time she moves or makes a sound. And he LOVES to give her kisses!!

Its feels completely different than bringing home all of our other kids. But we're so glad to have her home! After moving 10 times in 10 years (being pregnant or having just had a baby for half of those moves), living overseas for 2 years, and having a baby in a third world country; I think I can safely say that HAVING A PREEMIE (with 4 other kids at home...especially an 18 month old) is BY FAR the HARDEST thing I have ever done!! I have a feeling it's going to be a VERY long road ahead, but somehow we'll make it!