WELCOME HOME!!!!!

That's right folks! After 84 long days in the NICU, Maya Ruth is HOME.

She is a miracle. 

We are struggling to find the words to express how we feel. We haven't slept much, yet there is a sense of peace that only comes from reaching the destination of a long, hard-fought journey- having nothing left and yet somehow everything. Our hearts are expanding.

Today is Maya's due date. This means that we can stop counting in gestational weeks. Maya is one day adjusted and 15 weeks old. The adjusted age will be used for developmental milestones, but her birthday is her birthday. The hope is that she will 'catch up' by the age of 2. Maya has taught us so much already- miss thang is definitely on her own growth curve. 

She's 6 lbs 2 oz. Our home life consists of shuttling between outpatient doctors appointments, working with home nurses and lactation consultants. Pulmonology, ophthalmology, cardiology, ENT, genetics, audiology, urology- you name it, we've got an appointment. She will be followed closely and qualifies for early intervention services. It is very important that she keeps gaining weight, and we have to limit contact with people for the next few months. We are still dealing with some reflux/GI issues, and in general her system is not that of a full-term baby.

Thank you for being part of our journey. It is just beginning. This isn't our last post, but it is one we hoped to write for a long time.

During our extensive NICU time, we felt such wonderful love and support from friends and family. Many of you contributed to our rather last-minute baby registry, sent prayers and good wishes, and some of you came and helped us set up the nursery, including painting the whole room!  If we started shouting out everyone who helped, we would make a very looong list.

Many of you who contributed to our meal train to help keep us nourished. Now we are where many parents would be with their first weeks adjusting to full-time babying. While we want for very little, any additional meal train support would be greatly appreciated!

We are eternally grateful to Maya's NICU team. Claudia, Melissa, and Lisa were incredible nurses who were Maya's primaries. Dr. Handa was there the day Maya was born and the day she got cleared to start the discharge process.

Thanks to Oso for being gentle with his licks, and to Zev for doing no such thing.

Thanks to Maya Ruth for her strength and bravery.

Our journey continues. 

Love always,

Emily and Eric