Home calls the Heart

The roads and the valleys

Live in my dreams

The curves and the views

Make up my seams

All the times I go wandering

All the times I depart

I always return there

For Home calls the Heart

-SgA 2/18/22

Sometimes I flex my writing muscles, and little bits like this are left behind. I've written several little pieces over years that have stuck around in my head and with special people. I hardly ever share them, but Home is on my mind lately. 

Last week I was hitting a wall. Isaiah was doing so well and was starting to take some of his feeds via bottle. The only thing keeping us up at OHSU has been his feeds. Then one day, our primary nurse (whom I adore and am going to miss so much) asked what was stopping us from going home with the NG tube. The doctors all looked at each other, shrugged, and said "nothing." So yesterday I was officially taught how to place the NG tube, they're getting all the discharge stuff settled, and we will get to go home in a few days!! 

I have kept several things to record our stay, but my favorite is The Sticker Bag.

Visitors at OHSU get a sticker when they check in. I have one for every day, except for the three or four days I was an inpatient. I might ask the people at check in if I could have a few blank stickers for those days, haha. 

We are still figuring out logistics of getting home, but to be at this stage is so exciting! Today is my last day riding the aerial tram, since it's closed on Sundays and Monday for Presidents Day. 

Today and tomorrow, we will be getting the last few things done. This includes the Car Seat Test. I brought up his car seat, and the NICU has a little sling holder it sits in. Isaiah has to tolerate and maintain good oxygen levels in the seat for two hours to pass and be cleared to drive home. It's normally an hour test, but since we live more than one hour away, they are increasing it. They tried last night. Apparently he threw one of the biggest fits the night nurses had ever seen him have. So after ten minutes they pulled him out. We'll probably try again today at some point.

Thank you all for your prayers and love! We couldn't do this without you! ❤️