Olivia is home!!!

ATTENTION: Woops!  I thought i posted this over a month ago!  No wonder I've been getting hassled for not updating the blog! My bad. :)  Better late than never.........

After 2 months and 16 days in the NICU, our baby girl is finally home!!!  Its still hard to believe that she spent the first 2.5 months of her life in the Newborn Intensive Care unit, but, what an important 2.5 months they were.  She went from being born at 1 pound 9 ounces and fighting for her life, to now 5 pounds 13 ounces and thriving!  AMAZING!
We were able to bring her home on August 3, and this is the first chance I have had to be able to update the blog to tell you all.  And, I thought life with a baby in the NICU was busy! :)
Its hard to try to find the words to describe our experience these last few months.  I never thought I would say this while it was all happening, but, it was in fact a very special time in our lives.  This is in no doubt due to not only our support group out side of the hospital, but, inside as well.  We were totally blown away by the care and attention that is paid to not only the babies, but the parents. Seriously, I wish I were friends with these people. In fact,  I consider them friends, and pending on my Facebook friendship request, they will consider me a friend to. HA! :)
One of the nurses who walked Olivia and me to the car told me on the walk out that he was in the delivery room during Olivia's birth and admitted Olivia to the NICU, and, now he was discharging her.  Actually, physically walking her to the car to go home.  He said it was a full circle moment for him.  I'm so glad he shared this with me.  It is an example of the the healthy attachment that these nurses feel towards these babies.  I know that the goal from day one in the NICU is to get the baby well enough to send them home with their parents, however, it was very clear that they were genuinely sad to see her go.  As I was to see them go.  I can't tell you how many times I almost said, "Thanks!  I love you, bye." when I called to check up on Olivia.  It was almost involuntary.  Its no surprise to me that I feel this way because I can honestly say that I love anyone who I can trust with my child's life, literally.
My cousin Kelley Land flew out from Salt Lake City to bring home Olivia with me and help out for a couple days.  We're so grateful she was here!  She was the best Jeremy stunt devil I could hope for!  The first night Olivia was home went off with out a hitch, other than the fact that we have a little night owl on our hands.  However, the second night, Brayden was sick with a tummy ache, fever, and ear ache.  He did not sleep more than a half hour at a time with out waking up crying.  It was so sad and awful!  At first I was trying to change Olivia's diaper to get ready to feed her while attempting to console Brayden at the same time.   After realizing that this was the perfect opportunity to practice getting better at asking for help, I whimpered out Kel's name who flew in there like freakin super man and was "nurse" to Brayden while I was "new Mom in unfamiliar territory" to Olivia.  Let me say again, we are SO GRATEFUL she was here!!!
Brayden is feeling much better now, although he was put on antibiotics as a precaution and was instructed to not hold or touch Olivia for two whole days since she is so vulnerable.  AGH!  This was torture!  Especially when I'm pretty sure its impossible for any big brother to love their little sister as much as Brayden loves Olivia.   He just told me this afternoon after getting to kiss her on the head again, "I love Olivia.  I'm so happy she did camed home." :)
Now, we just need to get that Daddy home!  He leaves Qatar on Tuesday, and will spend 10 days in Tucson, and then come to SF to get us!  EEKK!  I cannot wait to be a family under the same roof again.  Two years apart is entirely too long.  
Now as one chapter of our lives closes and another opens, I can honestly say that I believe that God doesn't give us more than we can handle.