A Happy New Year indeed
Posted on January 1, 2008Well, it’s official – Toby was discharged from the hospital Monday, December 31!
We “roomed in” Sunday night at the hospital. A hospital room was used like a hotel room and we spent the night with no monitors, nurses, or interruptions. Of course, we could hardly sleep for excitement. Monday came, the neonatologist did one last examination and visited with us, then we hit the road.
We’re getting settled in to a schedule this week, and we’re somewhat sleep deprived, but it will get better when we figure out what we’re doing! (Nothing prepares one like reality.)
Regarding visitors to see Toby, the neonatologist has warned us sternly to keep him away from just about everything – including visitors, for now. RSV season is upon us and doesn’t end until March. (RSV is a highly contagious, very serious respiratory virus.) Since Toby’s lungs are just now getting the capacity to support him unassisted, RSV would put him right back in the hospital and require a ventilator. Even we have to wash up every time we hold or handle him, and when one of us goes out to a public place (Walmart, for example) we toss our clothes into the hamper and take a shower. RSV can hang around on surfaces for several hours. Toby is getting a very expensive shot per month to reduce the severity of RSV if he gets it, but nothing can prevent it but keeping him isolated.
So, for now, we’re asking for no visitors until further notice (probably March.)
WooHoooooooooooo way to go TOBY!!!!!!!!!! So, so glad you got to come home!! Just in time for the new year, too!
Hope everyone is doing well and I hope you all have a super new year!
Love, Annalisa
03.01.2008 19:50
CONGRATULATIONS! Since you guys haven’t posted anything in a while, I assumed that you officially had your hands full! Isn’t it wonderful and exhausting and scary.
I was reading your post, and want to tell you that we did everything you have talked about. After bringing Mckena home she didn’t leave for about 2-3 months, no visitors (except immediate family) for months. We felt like we were in isolation. To this day–out of habit–everyone uses hand sanitizer before holding her! We also had to do the RSV shot. Thankfully insuranced paid for every dime of it for two years during the RSV season.
I also see that you found the monitor that detects movement even as slight as breathing. That will help you ability to sleep as soundly as Toby.
Yall are doing great and everything is as it should be with your “little one” at home.
Continued sucess,
Cameron
10.01.2008 15:02