Life at Home with Three Under Two

Three kids is a LOT of kids. Turns out, three kids is way more than two kids. But everyone is still alive! (Shout out to Izzy and Bubby for taking our dog - no way we could be responsible for keeping one more thing breathing right now).

We've started to get into a "routine" since Stella came home on Thursday. To the naked eye it probably looks like chaos - but I like to think it's an organized chaos? Humor me. Stella has absolutely thrived living life outside of the hospital. She loves being held all the time, is tolerating feeds from her NG Tube like a champ, and has steadily gained weight and maintained good O2 stats daily. Honestly, I didn't think the transition could be this smooth.

Girlie still refuses to drink a lick from the bottle. No way, no how. She seems rather confused why I'd even offer her a bottle when the milk magically appears in her belly every 3 hours - so she isn't stupid. We will work with the speech therapist to get her there, but for now, are letting her call the shots and set the pace.

The twins have mixed emotions about their little sister. As predicted, Connor is a total sweetheart and wants to help all day long. He says "Bebe" and takes her toys and snacks constantly. Meanwhile, Ellie has barely acknowledged her existence - breezes past the crying baby as if she knows this kiddo will wear her hand-me-downs and steal 33% of her parents attention on a daily basis. Again, our kids aren't stupid.

The first morning we all woke up under one roof was a long one. Everyone wanted to be held/cry/poop/not eat. Adam and I looked at each other like "what have we done?!" ... and then, I thought about all the families still sitting in the Cardiac ICU. The mom I met on the day we were discharged who had been there 8 weeks and had finally got her daughter listed for a new heart. The little boy down the hall who was 11 months old and had never left the hospital. Or the little girl who waited 4 months for a double lung transplant. Turns out, we are the lucky ones.

Now that we are home, Stella finally feels like she is "mine" ... I don't have to ask permission to pick her up or worry about strangers walking into her room at all hours of the day to care for her in ways I wish I could. She is SO chill. Maybe it's because she has been through so much, but nothing gets to her. I think I have a few things to learn from my 4 week old. She has started to smile, loves being pushed around the house in her stroller, and likes a good late night party from 3-4 am :)

We just continue to praise Him for her remarkable recovery. It is going to be a long road - no doubt this is just the start. But Stella has already been such a blessing and witness to so many, we rejoice in her success and will continue to seek His will in her suffering. We pray for weight gain, quiet days (and nights!) and smooth sailing until her second surgery. Thank you all for loving our little girl so much - there will never be words to express our gratitude!

And finally, some hi-lights from home!

Dinner time for the Stacy 3 

Ellie hijacking Stella's new ride

First trip to the pediatrician

Bubby's 60th Birthday - he ordered a Stella since she couldn't be there :)