HOME!!

Our miracle baby has come home! Yesterday around 1 PM they checked us out, and we loaded up and drove home. It was a little surreal to walk out of the Hospital with our Baby- 76 days later. We arrived home to a warm greeting of family members and Max. The house on the outside was decorated with 76 Pink Balloons placed around the house and yard, representing the time in the hospital- looked so amazing- Thanks Amy!! There was a great welcome home banner too. Visit http://www.utahmayers.blogspot.com/ for pictures (This is Tom and I have no idea how to add them).

Michele's Sister Stef and Sister-in-law Tiff had really gone all out. They had cleaned our house spotless, put flowers in a vase for the kitchen table, and had balloons placed all over the home welcoming in Gracie. They also had gone to Flour girls and dough boys for some Sandwiches, Soup, and a huge box of dessert for us to eat. They are the best!

The day before, Monday, Stef and Tiff had come over to the home, picked all my weeds in the yard, planted pink flowers all along our front yard, and cleaned our house. Shana and Lezlie had also come over and disinfected the home and cleaned all the floors and bathrooms. Seriously, how amazing are our friends and family.

When we left the Hospital, Gary had taken the day off work to be there with us and helped us out the door and drove my car home for us, meaning he had to take tracks this morning to get to work because he left his car at the hospital. Gary has come to the hospital every day for 76 straight days, and spent all of his nights when he didn't have work the next morning staying and watching Gracie so Michele and I could go home. What an amazing guy and just the best Father-in-Law!

Anyways, so Gracie was fussy and un-settled coming home, and she could probably sense the anxiety we had, and the stress Michele was under trying to organize all her medications, meet with the home nurse, sign for home health care deliveries, etc. etc. Stef and Tiff stayed all evening (except to go home and make us dinner!!), so that helped out a ton! Tiff even helped get Callie and Taylor to settle down in their bed for me.

I was worried about how she'd do at night. I went and got my sleeping pad and sleeping bag and put them on the floor of Gracie's room. Then I took Gracie and laid her down next to me so I could watch her. This seemed to be a good arrangement for Gracie too, and she settled right down and slept most of the night. Michele set her alarm and came in and changed her Milk feeds, administered medications, and even changed her. But I had the privilege of just lying there with my Angel, having the pleasure of looking at her and talking to her and holding her hand most of the night. It was pure joy, even though I'm a little tired from the emotions of it all and the lack of sleep (so forgive me if my posting isn't very cohesive)!!

This morning, Callie & Taylor came in around 6:45 and laid down with me, the temptation to touch Gracie was just to great to resist for them. Max came in around 7:05 and he laid down with us too. It was so fun to have all my kids in the room together just lying there on my sleeping bag.

Connie came over this morning and has been there ever since, she's been an amazing support and with all the stress of ending her School year, she's been there every step of the way. She's the best. Michele said their day has been good, thanks to Connie for helping her, and for Stef for taking all the kids!

Welcome Home Gracie Girl!! Sooo many love you, support you, and have prayed for this day to come! We love you!