It's THAT Day

One year ago today we finished our journey from this:

Newborn Millie

to this:

Millie making her great escape after 135 days in the hospital.

Poor girl was probably a little scared.

Having Millie home with us is pure joy.

We get to see this: 

Getting dressed for Aqua Therapy

and this everyday: 

Just polished off some chocolate chip cookies for snack

If you followed her story closely, you might remember I didn't give much warning before we took her home.  That was because I was surprised I was convincing enough (maybe too much whining?) to have Dr. Later approve her going home.  He visited us around 8 AM and said Millie still needed more time.  By lunch she was eating pretty good (not by the book amazing yet), and by late afternoon he reluctantly said "okay."  I was very pushy.  I'm not normally like that with doctors (family?  maybe) but we were all so tired of being there.  You do strange things when your name becomes Mom.

I really wish we took a better family picture of us leaving the NICU, but honestly I ran out of there as fast as I could.  I was genuinely scared something would come up, or someone would decide Millie wasn't quite ready.  Our sweet nurse let us prance around the NICU (nursery A, with the less healthy babies) to tell all of our favorite NICU staff goodbye.  I didn't know her that well, but I will always be thankful for that little parade.  After being there so long and gaining this new "family" I felt like we deserved a special goodbye.

It was a hassle having to move her around the house attached to oxygen and a monitor when we got home, but it was so much better than visiting her at the hospital.  Carting her and all of that to visit Dr. Later was a nightmare, but still a bazillion times better than having her in the hospital.

I love having Millie home.  She might drive me crazy with pulling the DVD's off the shelf constantly, finding a way to get into the toilet, always wanting me to hold her, and managing to get food in her hair at every feeding, but I love it.  I wouldn't trade this time with her for anything.  I love her.  Her personality is contagious, and I miss her even during her naps.

So today we're celebrating Millie's Homecoming.  That yucky April evening one year ago today when I snuck her out of the hospital.  And we've never looked back.

If you're feeling nostalgic, feel free to read 135 Days Later again.