TIMOTHY IS HOME!!!!!!!!

Last week was a week we have been waiting and praying for since Timothy was born -- we found out at the beginning of the week (after his bronchoscopy went well with no major issues found) that he was probably going to get to come home, and after 11 weeks in the NICU, he was able to finally come home to us last Saturday -- on Jared’s 30th birthday!!!! It was the best week ever!! And since he has been home, he has been doing AWESOME!! He of course still has some little issues left to overcome (quite the job keeping up with all his medicines that he’s on, but of course completely worth it just to be able to have him home!) -- weight gain and his jaundice levels (caused by the TPN he was on so long) being the most serious issues, and he has been doing so well on his eating ever since he has been home!! We just had the most exciting news today at his doctor’s appointment -- he’s finally had a normal healthy weight gain after this week, and the best part -- his direct bili levels went down by almost half!! There is no way to even explain our relief and our joy at hearing that news today. And what an angel of a baby we get to have in our house these days!! He is the sweetest, happiest, and most good-natured little guy ever -- it is the most wonderful thing in the world to get to enjoy him at home now and see him finally feeling so content and secure and being able to make him so happy… Such a gift that we will never take for granted again -- seeing and having him as a normal, healthy baby.

Our first family picture of 6! (Finally!!) :)


So we had to take a picture of this… :) I have been pumping ever since Timothy was born -- hoping to get to nurse him (another exciting event, making last week the best week ever!) But this is a picture of what our crazy freezer has been looking like, storing all this pumped milk… :) And this isn’t even all of it -- we ended up having to buy another little freezer (obviously due to lack of space), plus all the milk I had stored at the hospital as well… But it all ended up being worth it because Timothy is nursing now!! They let him start having breast milk in the hospital last week, and I even got to try nursing him for the first time, and he has ended up being an awesome nursing baby!! (Who knew it could be possible even after being 2 ½ months old and never having nursed before -- another prayer answered for me!) And he is doing so awesome!! Ever since he has been home, he hasn’t been having any issues with throwing up or even spitting up like he was in the hospital! And apparently he is doing good with weight gain on breast milk now as well!! We are just so thankful! :)

Don't you just love that worried look on his face - as if to say, "Am I really expected to eat all of this?" :)

It was such a neat gift for Timothy to get to come home on Jared’s birthday -- of course the best present he could have wished for!! Such a happy day… One we will always remember! :)

Well, Brielle, Samuel, & Colette had only seen their new little brother one time -- the day after he was born -- before the regulations started at the hospital with no visitors allowed under the age of 15 during flu season… So this was definitely a day they had been waiting for -- to finally get to see their new baby brother!! They were so excited to get to see him again for the first time, and they have been having so much fun ever since, having him in our home now!

We just feel so very blessed right now!!! :)