getting closer

The pics--we took Macy to the beach for an hour to give Gaby a good nap and break from us and get some fresh air. The Florida Marlin came around the PICU to visit the kids and we got a picture and a couple pennants to bring home for the boys! more new pics to the right

Today our interstate adoption paperwork for Gaby began. That is basically some goofy adoption procedure that says we can't cross the state line until Florida sends a bunch of papers to Indiana and then Indiana sends the ok back and then we get a phone call and can legally cross the state line and go home. We already have the ok for Macy, but they need a hospital discharge summary as one of the papers, and we didn't have this for Gaby since she has been in the hospital all 107 days of her life!

We were able to get Dr. Scholl, the pediatric cardiologist that did her first heart surgery, to do her discharge summary early so that we can be ready to get out of town when she is discharged from the hospital. They were talking as early as today, but it looks like tomorrow will be more realistic. We have no idea how many days it will take to travel the 20 hour drive home with two newborns, but are aiming to be home by Saturday sometime, providing we leave tomorrow.

They have changed a few things to just keep Gaby "not rocking the boat" and get us out of here. They want us to wait to oral feed until we get home, and just tube feed right now. They want us to travel with a little bit of oxygen just to make sure she is getting what she needs. We are fine with all of that, and have taken the approach that we just want to get home and then we will work at teaching her breathing and eating on her own there. One step at a time.

Please keep praying for us. We see the light at the end of the tunnel, but that actually makes it harder and the days go slower. We are at the point that we believe we know Gaby better than her health care providers, and that makes it hard to not want to just run out of here to get her healthy!

We are also struggling with missing things with the kids at home. We missed the boys Opening Day of baseball on Saturday. Today was a Mother's Day Tea at preschool for Kayden and last night on the phone I asked him if he knew what was happening tomorrow at school. He said, "Yes, Mommy, it is Mother's Day and you won't be here, but I will sit with Aunt Meghan." While I am ever grateful for everyone standing in my place in Indiana, it breaks my heart to not be there for them. Then Keaton was right after him, and our most stable, laid back child that never misses us or verbalizes much emotion says, "Mom, I really miss you and wish you were here. You have been gone too long." And he was crying. It was hard before, but now hearing that they are sad and feeling our absence makes it even more difficult.

So if you all can keep praying us home, we will get there in God's timing. Let's hope He is in as big of a hurry as us!