Letters to Noah...Road Trip

Thursday, March 2, 2006

Today Mommy & Daddy were going to be able to take you out of the hospital. Unfortunately, we wouldn't be taking you home right away, but we'd be spending the rest of our lives together.

Today would be a day of many firsts...first road trip, first snow storm, first visit to McDonalds, first time peeing on Mommy, first sleep over :(

We were up early...sleep is not needed when you are this excited! We packed the rest of the stuff you'd need in the car and went to the hospital. We were supposed to meet everyone (the lawyer and Sandra) at 10:00 AM, but we wanted a few hours with you on our own. We arrived around 8:00 AM. You were just getting up and were ready for a morning feed.

Daddy had his first feed with his little man.

As we waited in the hospital, we held you and kissed you and got lots of advice from the nurse on the shift. We did not want to leave. Soon though the lawyer and Sandra arrived and we knew we would have to go soon. The nurse started doing her release paperwork and then noted that you were a bit jaundice and she though perhaps too much to leave the hospital today (YEAH)! She called the doctor to check you out and he order tests to check out your levels. The nurse that came to do your jaundice test was not very nice (or so Mommy & Daddy thought) and she hurt our baby! After she was done, Mommy cuddled you to calm you down...I loved that.

While we waited for your test results, we cuddled and kissed you more. We were hoping for an extra day or two. But when the tests came back, you were ok to leave the hospital. Boo, we would have to take you to Foster Care afterall. We started getting you packed up. The nurse gave us everything out of your crib (because they don't use it twice) and she also gave us some bottles of formula...FREEBIES!

While you were getting packed up, Mommy left the room for a few minutes and got lost on my way back. One of the nurses asked if she could help and I said, "I'm looking for my son, Noah." She said, "Oh, I know where Noah is!" Everyone knew who you were and about 5 nurses came by to say goodbye to you and give you kisses. Mommy & Daddy were so touched. We had been worried because we hadn't been able to see you until you were 2 days old, but the nurses were giving you extra love and kisses until we arrived.

Then it was time to go. It was very cold out, so Daddy warmed up the car and pulled it up to the front of the hospital and we all got in for our drive south. Daddy drove and Sandra sat up front with him. I got to sit right beside my little man and hold your hand the whole way to the Foster Home.

As we drove we listened to the news because there was a bad snow storm where we were going. We had all packed an overnight bag just in case we had to stop. As we drove, you slept. you were definitely going to love the car.

A little while after driving, we decided to stop for lunch and you were starting to stir and wanted to be fed. The first place we came to was McDonalds! Although you haven't been since, we are sure you will visit again. Daddy, Mommy and Sandra were able to get some lunch and you were too. When I changed your diaper, you took advantage of the cold air and peed on Mommy's arm...the first of many of these incidents. I didn't mind though and we got you cleaned up no problem.

Soon after we left McDonalds, it started to snow. It snowed HARD and there was lots on the ground. We had to slow down and we started to see lots of accidents. Daddy is such a good driver and was very careful with his special cargo on board. The other side of the highway had been closed because of accidents and as we drove by it started it to open up and there were bare spots under all of the cars because they had been parked for so long!

Eventually we got through the accidents and most of the snow and arrived at the Foster Home. Mommy & Daddy were nervous about meeting the people (F&B) who would provide care for you until we were allowed to bring you home with us. When we arrived, we visited for a bit, asking about when we cold visit you...ANYTIME!!! F asked about you and your birth.

While F&B ate their dinner, Mommy & Daddy changed and fed you. While we were changing you, Daddy said, "I don't want to leave him." Neither did I. We were very sad about this. It is amazing how quickly we bonded and fell in love with you. It hurt our hearts to think that we would be spending the night with you.

After we fed you, Sandra suggested we see your room and where you'd be sleeping, which I'm glad she did. You were sleeping in a carriage! No crib! Mommy was not pleased about this and vowed to change that as soon as possible!

Then it was time to leave. We kissed you and hugged you and told you how much we loved you. We would be back the next day, but it was so hard to leave. Both Mommy & Daddy tried not to cry in front of F&B. We waited until we got in the car. We would be back tomorrow (Friday), so it was very bitter, sweet.

We had a pretty quiet ride home. We stopped for dinner and talked about you the whole way home. We did a little work with Sandra on the way home and finally around 11:00 PM we dropped Sandra off at her car and went home. When we got home, we downloaded our pictures of the day and sent a note to our family about our day.

Until tomorrow little man.