Freedom!!

As the title suggests, after just over 4 weeks in captivity, MH was finally released from the hospital in Phoenix yesterday (Wednesday) night. Maybe now she'll actually be able to get some true "bed-rest" without nurses and doctors coming in at all hours. Other than being tired and so swollen from the waist down that I have to actually help her pick up her legs she is doing well and continues to make gradual improvements. This progress will be monitored with regular office visits with her doctors at St. Joe's.

Just in time for her release, her dad, Phil (a.k.a. Poppy), who is an episcopal priest, flew in from South Carolina to spend some time with us and to meet and baptize Will and Kate. Part of the service was captured for your viewing pleasure in the videos below. We are planning to have a second service around Christmas time to acknowledge their baptism and to honor their Godparents, Todd and Hannah Sleeper and Jill and B.J. Henkenius.

MH's release from the hospital was definitely a bittersweet experience since obviously Will and Kate remain in the NyICU at St. Joseph's. We are continuing to stay at a condo in North Scottsdale owned by some very generous friends, for which we are extremely grateful. Ben was very excited about having his mom come "home", especially with the added bonus of having Poppy there to join him as well. He couldn't stop talking about how mommy felt better and that "everyone" was going to be home together. It was very sweet and truly showed how much he had missed his mommy through the course of the last 4 weeks despite his great behavior and resilience.

I suppose I'll close this entry by saying how great Will and Kate continue to do in the NyICU. Both of them are growing stronger daily and require less and less repiratory support. They have also both been giving breast milk a try (1ml every 6 hours) with moderate success, which is to be expected given their age. Their bilirubin levels have also been dropping with phototherapy, which allows for intermittent breaks from the foam "goggles" and otherwise blinding lights. Kate has been able to remain at her birth weight and Will, who lost several ounces in the first few days, now seems to be putting some of it back on (as directed by his mother...).

Now its time to get to bed. I hope you all enjoy this update and I'll try to work on another one in the next day or two -

Josh