Back in Madison

Yesterday was moving day for us and we are now back in Madison. Nicholas took his first plane ride in a lear jet, accompanied by his own private medical team. We were picked up by ambulance in the morning and taken to Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland. It was with tears and much sadness that we said goodbye to our friends at Rainbow Babies and Children's hospital. We were so lucky to have been in Cleveland when all this happened and we truly feel it made all the difference in Nicholas's outcome. Denise R. rode with Nicholas on the plane. It was a beautiful sunny day for travel and overall a smooth ride. They landed at Wisconsin Aviation and were again met by ambulance and transported to St. Mary's. It has been quite an adjustment for "the Denise's" settling in at St. Mary's; Nicholas though, is doing quite well. We feel as if we have taken a serious step back in time. We have gone from the Ritz Carlton to the "budget motel." Up until yesterday, we are convinced that Nicholas's "private" room was the NICU store room. The only reason we have rated a "private room" is that we came from an outside facility and he is still in isolation. Our room has space for two wooden chairs and his NICU bed from the Smithsonian. If the nurse happens to come to his room, we have a Chinese fire drill to rearrange ourselves. On the positive side, we hopefully will be heading home soon. Nicholas continues to do well with his bottle and breast feedings and is now up to about 4 lbs. 2 oz. He continues to be neutropenic (more prone to infections) and anemic. Hopefully, that will resolve as he gets older and with the increase in iron they are giving him.

We again want to say a BIG THANK YOU to our family, friends and the outstanding Nurses and NP's/Doctors at Rainbow NICU for all the support and care you have provided to all three of us. We feel like we are finally approaching the home stretch (at least in terms of our hospital stay) and we couldn't have done it without all of you.