Home

Joey is home. Praise Jesus. I cried walking out the door. I took lots of pictures with the many wonderful people I've gotten to know for the last year-the doctors, nurses, front desk people, random staffers, respiratory therapists, PT, OT, palliative care, and all the amazing people that have helped us get to where Joey is today. These people at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital have been like a second family. I love them, but I really hope that we don't see them for a long time, unless we are visiting for doctors' appointments! Many of his doctors came to say goodbye-some of the same doctors that were there when he was born. I know they were so proud to see him go home. All throughout this journey, God has put the right people in Joey's little life. The head respiratory therapist at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital was someone who I took my first statistics class with in 2004. She literally was the first person who taught me what respiratory therapy was as she was just starting her career, and here I run into her almost 15 years later and she is helping me find parts and pieces for Joey's respiratory regimen. Now that is complete God thing! Joey's first home PT appointment is tomorrow morning at 8 AM. His physical therapist lives down the street from our house! She literally could walk to our house. God is so funny at times! 

 I can already tell that Joey is a totally different baby being at home, and it's only been half a day. He has enjoyed seeing all of us-I know he is ecstatic to be here. He spent all afternoon rolling around in his huge bed playing with his toys. It felt amazing to be at home on a weeknight at 5 PM eating dinner with my husband. Usually, we are sitting in a hospital room. I am so excited to wake up and actually be able to look over and see my baby-I won't have to drive 30 minutes to to see him. I'm happy to be able to be at home again with my teenagers, and getting back to being Tiger Mom in their lives again. They may not be happy about this, but oh well. Ha. 

 The room that Daniel organized is AMAZING. Joey has all kind of neat gadgets and technology engineered by his dad to achieve ultimate functionality of comfort, space, and fun. We put so much work and thought into this anticipation of bringing Joey home-that I am overwhelmed and filled with so much joy just thinking about it. John 14 says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." The preparation and thought that has been put into bringing this little boy home reminds of the same love and anticipation that God puts into preparing our place to be with Him. He yearns so badly for us to be with Him. I know this yearning and I know the excitement that I felt for Joey to come home. I know this is how God feels about us coming home to be with Him, except a million times more because He is God. I am ECSTATIC that Joey is home. I pray that he can stay home for a long time, and I feel so incredibly blessed that I have taken this journey with my sweet, beautiful boy. Now tomorrow, I may venture outside for a walk with Joey. I will never take these simple things for granted.

Snuggles in our house-not the hospital!

Claire was surprsied to see Joey home when she got home from volleyball practice!

The team who started out with Joey when he was first born.

My hair is crazy, I know.

Charlotte with Spiritual Life. I have enjoyed all the conversations we have had the past year!

Joey slept the whole way on the way home. Marit gave him a special outfit he wore home, and held Amara's bunny on the way home. (Marit and Amara are his trisomy 18 friends)

Enjoying my thumb at home!

Dr. David Brooks who walked Daniel from labor and delivery to the NICU the night Joey was born.  We have had so many late night conversations about the best places to eat in Nashville!

This is Joyce who works the front desk. She is one cool lady. We talk about EVERYTHING!

I had to get a picture of Erick. He is one of the kindest souls I know.

Joey rolling around in happiness in his new bed at home. His bed is so amazing-I may crawl into that thing.

Ms. Crystal who loved Joey so much.  She was also another friend's primary prior to Joey's birth, so it was extra special that she took care of Joey.

Ms. Scarlett-who I went to Lipscomb with, but we didn't cross paths until Vanderbilt. I have spent almost every weekend with her for the last year, and she is so near and dear to my heart now. She always made sure that Joey had some extra play time with his toys, because Joey loves to play!

I wish I had taken a picture of Joey's night nurse, Ms. Terry. Joey was so lucky to have her. She was very regimented and structured. She tried to put us on the right path with home care, and we are so grateful to her. I could sleep at night in peace because I knew she was taking care of Joey when I left the hospital for the evening.