Day 82!!! Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!  We didn't expect to have Nicholas joining us on Halloween this year, but it was the best treat we could have asked for!  Of course we only wished that Joseph could have been with his brothers today as well, but next year we'll make up for it!!!  

Nicholas had his first doctor's visit with his pediatrician today, and everything looks great!!!  He is continuing to adapt to his home, and big brother Vince is really taking an active role in helping out.  He doesn't quite understand everything that's going on of course but he knows when to lend a hand to Mommy and Me!!  I can't wait to see his face tomorrow when we bring home another one!!!  Joseph is still on schedule, and I'm going to spend some time with him now, for his last night in the NICU!!!

As we prepare our home for having both boys home together, Kalleigh and I have reflected a lot on this whole situation.  We didn't know what to expect, and didn't expect to have it go as well as it did!!!  As we get ready to say our goodbyes to the care givers who have done what they would call their "job" for our boys, we see it a whole lot different.  We cannot begin to describe the amount of appreciation that we have for each and every one of the people in the NICU who have made these past 2 1/2 months as easy as possible for us and our family.   Our boys have received the best care around, and I truly believe that they progressed ahead of schedule because of the love they felt from the people taking care of them.  I'm not going to lie, it's going to be hard to say our goodbyes to the people we have come to know rather well over the past 82 days, and having the long conversations about not only our lives, but theirs as well!  Sometimes I think people forget that nurses and doctors are just people like us with the same worries and issues that we all face on a day to day basis, and although they are used to seeing babies leave the NICU on a daily basis, I can't help but think it's hard on them as well to say goodbye to the families who they have spent a lot of their time with.  The NICU is a place I never really thought about, or to be honest even knew about, it's almost like the unspeakable section of the hospital.  There aren't any signs that point you to the NICU, and even the entrance is muted so not to draw too much attention.  But as Kalleigh and I have found out over these past months, the NICU is truly a special place where miracles really do happen!!!  If it weren't for the overwhelming amount of care and attention Kalleigh and I may not have been so lucky as to be bringing two babies home given the condition that they started.  From the specialist who made the decision to deliver on August 11th, to the nurse that will walk us to the car tomorrow with the last of our belongings, our family will be forever grateful of their care and compassion that was shown to us, and we will always have two beautiful reminders with us that are here because of the truly special people who just did their "jobs".

Vince got a special treat with his candy this year!!!