This is the day that the Lord has made

Discharge:  To relieve of a burden.To release from confinement, custody or care. How incredibly telling.  Today, Gabriel will be discharged from IU North Hospital at 11:00am.  We have been fighting for his life for 101 days in the NICU, and when we wake up tomorrow, it will be the first time in 131 days that we won't have to come to the hospital.  I knew when the day came that I would be excited, anxious, overjoyed.  I didn't know it would be at all bitter sweet.  Although I usually don't "put myself out there" to meet and get close to new people, almost losing my son made me do just that.  Gabriel's primary nurses became a haven of friendship, Dr Edwards was a reason to smile each day.  It will be odd not to see them every day, but I know this is the progression of life...I just didn't expect myself to feel any sadness, but then again these people did save my son's life.

Trent and I spent the last few days deep cleaning the entire house, making arrangements, getting prescriptions, having oxygen delivered, being trained on the apnea monitor, etc.  I couldn't sleep at all....I was as anxious as a child on Christmas Eve, going on pure adrenaline.  The house looks amazing - probably for the last time for the next 18 years...but my friend Jami told me I have to just let it go and allow it to be less than perfect so that I can spend time with the ones that really matter - my family.



Gabriel's last NICU bath



Another friend, KWall texted me congrats about today, followed by, "I can't believe you are a mom."  Sometimes I can't either.  I have been so focused on what I need to do so that Gabriel would survive that I forgot to celebrate that Trent and I brought a life into this world....a very cute one at that!  I thank the Lord constantly not only for proving all of the doctors and modern medicine wrong, but for the simple yet completely complex process of creation....it really is overwhelming and miraculous and such a blessing.  A blessing we would have missed out on if we had listened to the first doctors advice and "Just got it over with".  Its like Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over till its over". Amen!

Door decoration from Gabriel's primary nurses