Home Sweet Home...A Dream Come True

I have imagined this day for years. I have imagined placing a beautiful child in a car seat. I have imagined taking LOTS of pictures. I have imagined smiling from ear to ear until my face hurts. I have imagined walking through the hospital lobby looking around at all the people oohing over MY baby. I have imagined loading that precious one into the car and climbing into the backseat to ride home. I have imagined feeling that unbelievable feeling of, "I'm a mother." That day came true today. February 10th and February 20th, 2012 will be such important days for me for the rest of my life. One is the day my precious little angel was born and the other is the day she came home! This post will mainly be pictures! I will give a little info in between but for the most part I will be posting all the pictures I took to remember this day. We are home now and doing great. I think Hank wonders who she is, but he is going to be a great big brother! This morning the nurses came in and told us that the discharge paperwork was being processed and that we were going home today!! I barely left the room at all because we had so many people to talk to. All of the nurses and doctors had to sign off on everything so it was a long process!

My Mom (GiGi) came in to town last night!

My photo shoot in her going home gown :)

M perfect angel

Can you tell I'm proud???

Gift from Mommy and Daddy..my blankie

Ready and waiting to go home

Me and my girl

So happy!!

Car seat check :)

She's so little :)

Our little family

We will never forget our NICU stay! The nurses were amazing!!

Walking out

Waiting for daddy to get the car.

February 20, 2012...Such a gorgeous day to be taking our girl home from the hospital!

My first ride in the car. Mommy rode in the back with me ;)

Our precious miracle :)

We had to make a stop at Clinton Drug Store to pick up her medicine. She will remain on the Pheno. for a few more weeks. Then we will be completely off of it :) She had several visitors at the Drug Store!! Pam, Jim, Bekah, Braxton, Selinda & Kelly all came out to the car to see our sweet baby! They couldn't get over how sweet and little she was. She was getting hungry so we got home and I fed her. Hank has been very concerned when she makes any little noise! When we pulled into the driveway there were balloons out front that said "It's a girl!" I found out my sweet friend Meredith put them there wanting us to have a nice coming home surprise! Then just a little while after we got home we had some visitors! The Woods family brought us some balloons too! They said somebody must have beat them to it!! Thanks Meredith!! Isabella wasn't sure what to think about Delaney! She kept saying.."I not touch her." :) How funny!!!

Welcome to your nursery Delaney!!

Bella boo visiting Delaney

The Woods family. Such precious friends...LOVE Izzy's face

Love being a mommy!!!

First diaper change at home ;)

Allen's parents came over tonight for dinner. We have had a really nice evening with our little family.

 I cannot tell you again how much we appreciate all of the prayers!! We are so excited that our baby girl is home. We are looking forward to what God is going to do in our lives in the coming months and years. I will continue to update on legal issues and of course to post pictures of the most adorable little girl!! We cannot believe the amazing gift God has given us. She is such a treasured jewel. We love you Delaney Jane!!!

Meet Delaney Jane!

We were so excited this weekend for some of our close friends and family to get to meet our sweet baby girl! Friday afternoon Allen's sister, and brother in law came to the hospital. We can only have 2 people back at a time, so Allen and Vanessa came back first. Vanessa was just amazed at how beautiful and sweet she is and said the pictures don't do her justice!! We agree :)

Adam came in next and got to hold her. We are so glad Delaney got to meet one of her Auntie and Uncles!! Friday was a good day. She responded well to the medicine and they told us they would start to wean her off of it the following day. Her scores were so much better and we were so glad! Friday evening Allen's mom cooked fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls and brownies!! YUMMMMY!! First home cooked meal in a while :) I can't wait till we are home so I can start cooking and not eating out so much. It's already getting old. Lunch in the cafeteria every day hasn't been the greatest either ;) I feel like I'm back in high school or college, walking around with a tray, trying to find somewhere to sit!! We came back Friday night and helped bathe her and hung out until around 11.

Saturday morning we got up and cleaned the house a little bit. I know it really doesn't matter, but I just can't stand for things to be everywhere.I haven't had a chance to organize her nursery either and I am dying to do it! She has stuff everywhere!!! When we got here yesterday they said they would be taking her off one medication, and watch her for 24 hours. If she did well, then we were looking at possibly leaving Monday! I am not getting my hopes up too much, but it definitely seems hopeful. We will still have to give her the Pheno. medication at home, but will slowly take her off of that over the next few weeks.

Yesterday afternoon Allen's family came back over to visit :) They just can't get enough of this sweet little girl!

Our beautiful daughter

Allen, Delaney and Nana :)

Delaney got to meet some dear people to us last night, Joel and Kendra, our youth pastor and his wife, or as Delaney will know them; Papaw and Meemaw!! When our friends Tina and Shane had their sweet little girl, Isabella, they started calling Joel, Papaw to her, so the name has stuck. Joel will be Papaw to Delaney and Kendra will be her Meemaw. She definitely has a lot of people who love her already!!! They were so excited to visit, and brought us some cute clothes, a collection of Max Lucado stories, and a Baby's first year calendar that I can use to document things. They are so sweet and we were so glad they were able to come visit!

Papaw Joel loves her already!

We just got word from the nurse practitioner that she should go home tomorrow! We will have to continue the Pheno. med but other than that she should be good! I won't know what it's like to be at home instead of this hospital room. I can honestly say though that this has been the best home away from home...In a way I will miss these sweet nurses and this room. This was sweet Delaney Jane's home for the first week of her life and I want to always remember everyone who helped in her recovery process. The nurse practitioner said that the best thing for babies like her is to be held and loved, and we have been here every second we could doing just that. We have faith that our sweet precious miracle will be just fine! Stay tuned for pics of our departure!! She has an absolutely adorable going home outfit!!! Can't wait to see her in it!! And I am excited for her to meet Hank!!

1 week old!!

Our sweet Delaney Jane was a week old this morning at 10:22! We weren't at the hospital yet because we had the preliminary hearing. Until April 20th nothing really happens. We just continue to be her mommy and daddy and love her to pieces!! At that time there will be some legal decisions made and possibly terminate the birth parents rights if they continue to not be involved (which is what we want). After that, we will start the adoption process. It's a very stressful and long process but it is worth it!!! Look at this sweet face ...

We are hoping to come home very soon! We got news today that they are already weaning her off one med. If her scores remain low, she will be completely off of that one and we can actually be discharged and go home on the other med. She just takes it in her bottle twice a day! She is so precious. I seriously didn't know babies could be so sweet. (I know all of you mommies out there are telling me.."Just wait..." I'm sure she will be rotten and we will have rough days and nights, but I just know she is a precious gift from God and I am so excited about what He has planned for this little girl and our family. I know I love her more every day!!!

Love her ruffly butt! Not sure who got this for her..if its you, claim it ;) She's so cute and little!!

Wide awake and alert after bath

Allen's sister is coming over today and I can't wait for them to meet her. I will post more pics tomorrow. Please continue to pray that Delaney responds to the medicine and that we can leave here really soon. I am ready to be at home with my sweet little girl!!

I have dreamed about this for years...my sweet baby and Allen asleep...a dream come true for sure!!!!