We are HOME

• Full Circle

  Written Sep 14, 2012 11:24pm
  Over a month ago we welcomed Logan Gene Bensinger into this world. That morning I walked into my doctor's office for a "check up" and Logan was born shortly after. When he was delivered, the NICU doctor who helped save Logan's life at Missouri Baptist was Dr. Anna. A few days later when I was wheeled into Children's Hospital for the first time, Nurse Kerry Guy was the first person I saw outside his room.
  God orchestrated everything to come full circle for us. On the day Logan was discharged, Dr. Anna was on rotation at Children's and was able to write our discharge papers. Nurse Kerry Guy was our nurse and got to sign the discharge papers and "shoo" us out the door. And today I visited my doctor again for my followup visit. Even though every day this past month has gone slow, I will admit, the month has gone fast.
  We are now home. The adjustment has been wonderful. We are sleep deprived, the house is a mess, there are bottles/wipes/diapers/tiny clothes everything, we are in survival mode...and it is wonderful.
  We came home with the feeding tube and although that, in itself, it rather simple to use, the concept is very complicated for me. Every time I feed Logan (which HAS to be every three hours), I have the option of nursing and guessing how much he is taking, giving him a bottle if he is awake and alert, or putting milk in the ng tube if he is too tired. On our first night home I attempted a bottle at 3am and he only took half. So I got everything ready to use the ng tube. However, as I was pouring the milk through the syringe I realized that I had failed to actually connect the syringe to the tube and I was pouring milk (aka "liquid gold") all over the floor. At the 6am feeding I was so tired that after I fed him and began pumping milk, Bill asked, "Aren't you supposed to attach bottles to collect the milk?" I was literally pumping onto my lap. Night two went a little more smoothly and today he has taken 9 full feeds in a row without needing the tube. He also gained 4 ounces since coming home!
  To top off all the craziness, our cat decided to be sick this week too. We received a really cool "lucky" bamboo plant from my brother and his wife. It appears that Sparkle, our cat, has been eating it, and lucky bamboo can be poisonous to cats. On Tuesday, the vet told me to take the cat to the ER. We decided to let her use up one of her 9 lives, as our lives were a little too hectic to visit the "cat ER" this week. After day 4 of continuous vomitting, I took her to the vet today and the vet thinks she is "stressed", gave her fluids, anti-nausea meds, and some bland cat food for the next week. One thing (of many) that I am slightly neurotic about is dirty floors. We spend so much time playing on the floor that the idea of sitting where the cat puked, does not put pleasant pictures in my head. So, on top of coming home Wednesday, we tacked the job of shampooing all our carpets too. This is what I call my new normal....and I love it!
  We thank every one of you who has taken time out of your day to follow our caringbridge site. I won't be updating as often, but will add sporadic entries as Logan grows, so that you too can rejoice in his accomplishments and celebrate answered prayers. I hope you will continue to keep him in your prayers for quick removal of the feeding tube, health throughout the winter months, and progression of his developmental skills.
  With that, I will say that this is the final chapter of Book One. Stay tuned for the upcoming sequel. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good!
  
  

  

  This is our "thank you note" to all the nurses, along with 200 cake pops!!

  
  

  

  Rene was our awesome, very patient, OT at SLCH. 

  
  

  

  Andrea was one of our favorite nurses while in the NICU :)

  
  

  

  Little Bubs in his "going home" outfit

  
  

  

  This is the first time Logan left his room....going on!

  
  

  

  WE ARE HOME!

  
  

  

  Lexi was all over Logan - wanting to show him all her toys!

  

  
  
  

  

  Lexi has all her toys out for Logan. 

  
  

  

  Look who wants some attention!

  
  

  

  The "girls" are admiring baby Logan.