Taking Gemma home was foreign, we were in a new world. One of the biggest challenges was having a new team of people to work with, new nurses coming into our home, and a new pediatrician. Everyone that we had known and depended for so long was no longer with us and we really missed our primaries. The first while at home definately made us sleep deprived, worrying about every sound.
A few days into being home and we were amazed just how much more we were learning about Gemma, even from being in hospital from morning till night we still had to leave her there and not be there if she woke in the night or be there for her early morning physio. Greeting her in the morning is one of the happiest moments for us being home, our baby was finally home with us after 307 days and we could see her anytime we want! We were... in charge of her care and finally really felt like her parents.
Soon after being home we even realized what was triggering Gemma's recent hospital de-sats. It was so wonderful being even more in-tune with our daughters needs and knowing how to help her.
Christmas Eve approached a few days after we got home and it was so sureal that Christmas had arrived and that we would be spending it at home with Gemma. We got up on Christmas morning, gave Gemmie some presents to open (more like look at and hold the wrapping paper but it was perfect). Family came over in the afternoon and we brought Gemma out in her wheelchair/stroller in a beautiful Christmas dress, one of the first times dressing her up after being in sleepers most of her life. We took pictures together and had a nice home-made meal, it was so wonderful after such a long time in the hospital and countless cafeteria meals, a day we had waited for a long time.
A Christmas wish come true!
