It is defined in Webster's Online Dictionary as:
1. a place of residence
2. the social unit formed by a family living together
3. a familiar or usual setting: congenial environment; also, the focus of one's domestic attention
4. a place of origin
at home----
1. relaxed and comfortable; at ease
2. in harmony with surroundings
3. on familiar ground.
I am sure you are wondering why I am giving the definition of the word...because this is where we are this weekend...home.
In our room, there was a piece of dry erase board. I would write different information on that board such as Cory's weight, when we started therapy, when he was able to take his first bath and when he started going to the restroom on his own. I also wrote the date and how many days we were in the hospital...as of January 19th, Cory was there for 92 days....
Our current attending physician saw the board and asked about it and I told him what that number represented. He couldn't believe it...he said we are going to do everything we can to get you home. I debated whether this was the right thing to do seeing it was cold and nasty outside and I didn't want to push our luck with Cory getting an infection but God knew better...He kept whispering in my ear it was.
Monday, the wheels started turning to be released on Wednesday. By the end of the day, I was completely overwhelmed by the huge responsibility it would be. I had to learn how to administer meds by Cory's g-button and how to care for his PICC line and give his anti-fungal as well. The button meds were easy, fill a syringe, open his button, give med, give a flush with sterile water and close. The IV...not so much. The stress of dealing with his IV, which is an opening to his vein, is extremely overwhelming and something I do not like dealing with at all but I suck it up for Cory. I do it because it is what is best for Cory...
Tuesday evening was spent packing our stuff and loading two vehicles...yes, I said two...I can't believe the amount of stuff you can accumulate while in the hospital but I will spare the boring details and just let you know after five loads we had it completed.
Wednesday morning, while we were waiting for our discharge papers, I noticed the date...January 19th...exactly three months from the day we entered Texas Children's Hospital. Kathy Ware, who works at the hospital and is a good family friend, came to tell us good-bye and we started talking about our stay. I told her it was exactly three months and the 19th wasn't such a good day and she said that now it is, we are going home.
We drove up the driveway and I helped Cory out of the car. He walked up the sidewalk laughing and smiling and could not get up the steps to the house fast enough. He remembered his way around the house...that told me it was the right thing to do...thank you God for reassuring me it was the right thing to do...