Home, at Last!

After 13 days back in the Bend NICU, including a "rooming-in" for the last night, Phoenix was discharged on Tuesday, May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) to come home! Phoenix successfully passed his hearing test (ultrasonic); a car seat study (maintaining at least 90% oxygen saturation, while strapped into a car seat for an hour); 72 hours of eating 46 - 50 ml of milk, by mouth only, every 3 hours; gaining at least 20 grams daily; and finally the "room in" which consisted of Steph and Lisa staying in a hospital family room, overnight with Phoenix, tracking all of his care (ad lib, on demand feedings, burpings, diaper changes, temperature checks... all while making sure he still gained weight) with no probe monitors on Phoenix. In the morning, the neonatologist and the charge nurse did an exam and 29 days after he was born, we were finally allowed to take Phoenix home! We survived the first night at home... after his bath, we were up every 2 hours for his "on demand" feeds and multiple diaper changes. One of our chihuahuas (Nacho) thinks it's his job to notify us if Phoenix makes even a peep or moves a muscle. He is absolutely fascinated with Phoenix and whines if he can't see him or be near him! I think Phoenix already has a furry friend for life (Nacho)! This morning, we sang Happy Birthday to Phoenix, to celebrate his one month birthday! This is kind of funny, since he wasn't even due to be born for another 3 weeks, from now!