Bittersweet Day

We finally left the hospital this afternoon around 1:30 and are home for the first time since November 23rd. So glad to be leaving with my wife, healthy and feeling better. So sad to be leaving my sons in the NICU hooked up to life sustaining machines, without the luxury of walking downstairs to check in.

We saw the doctors this morning and he basically said he had no new news which was great news. Both babies still prefer to rest on their bellies and seem to breathe much easier this way. James was still doing well on the CPAP, no news on the renal ultrasound, and was tanning under the billirubin light. John David was doing better on the ventilator (Doctor says may try to come off tomorrow), and he was also under the bili light.

Dana was able to touch John David for the first time this morning which was special to witness. She said his skin felt paper thin, but he just lied there and let her rub his arm and cheek. He was fidgeting with the ventilator tube in his mouth and Dana asked the nurse if he was trying to suck. She went and got a pacifier and the little guy actually sucked the pacifier with a ventilator tube down his throat. It was unbelievable.

The nurses continue to tell us that John David is "fiesty" and will be a handful. He does not like to be jostled around and lets the nurses know this. On the other hand, James has a laid back disposition and always looks so peaceful when we visit.

Please be praying for my wife as she is home for the first time in 3 weeks for comfort and peace for being away from our babies. As always, I can not be any more thankful for you all lifting our family up in your prayers.