Jude's NICU journey

Jude was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for a total of four weeks and four days. The first month of his life was spent in a hospital, instead of his home. Several of his firsts were shared by nurses instead of us. It was a long and difficult journey, but one that we'll never forget. It had it's hard moments and it's sweet moments. We made so many precious memories with our preemie son there... ones we wouldn't trade for anything. So here it is, Jude's first month of life, in photos:

Jude on his first day, July 31st, after he got settled in the NICU. He only needed oxygen (just 35%) for about a day.

Day 2: All settled into the isolette and no longer on oxygen.

Look how skinny he is. His hiccups looked so violent. :(

The tube down his throat was to drain any excess fluids in his belly. At this point, he was getting nutrients via IV. I hated this tube because he would repeatedly gag on it and it was scary.

The famous monitor. It was so easy to obsess over Jude's stats and worry if they were too high or too low. The top number is his heart rate, the middle his oxygen saturation, and the bottom his respirations.

Just a few days old, Jude was treated with light therapy for jaundice.

The next day, he had a new, better light for his therapy.

Jude's temperature had to be taken every 3 hours to see if he was learning to regulate his body temp.

A feeding tube was put into his nose, taking place of the one down his throat. This is when his tube feedings began. I was then able to pump so he could have breast milk. The velcro on his head is for the little light therapy shades.

Daniel doing kangaroo care with Jude. It's skin to skin contact, with the baby down your shirt, just like a kangaroo. We loved doing this.

Feeling Jude's warmth and closeness was so special.

Our little boy all stretched out in his isolette.

Holding him was always the best thing, though all the wires made it difficult.

Jude graduated to real diapers, in preemie size.

So beautiful. Look how big a small round band-aid looks on his hand.

One of my favorites.

Jude was finally allowed to get dressed! What a surprise to come in and see that day!

Jude wearing one of his own outfits for the first time, and I got to dress him.

So small even in a preemie size.

I just love his little legs in this photo.

One of his first times using a pacifier. We couldn't get over how big this preemie sized one was compared to his face!

Jude's cord stump fell off!

Feeding him his first ever bottle.

Learning to eat by mouth was one of his biggest goals so he could go home. He was a very sloppy eater.

Tube feedings in between his bottle feedings.

Jude in his new bed for the first time!

So tiny in Daddy's arms.

One of my favorites. Starting to get some chubbiness on those cheeks!

Since his first week, Jude smiles in his sleep like crazy.

We love his silly faces.

His nurse one night changed his feeding tube while we were there so we could see him without it for the first time since he was a couple days old.

Working on his eating!

Finally, his tube is out for good and all feedings are by mouth! (8.29)

On 8.28, I was admitted to the hospital with blood clots in my lungs. I was finally able to visit Jude on my second night. It was an awful experience, nearly ruining the joy of Jude's pending discharge. :/

Jude's last photo as a patient of the NICU. (8.30)

And here he is... all dressed and ready to go home! (9.1)

Jude's stay was long and emotional. It's so hard to leave your baby somewhere for strangers to take care of. To not bring them home and cuddle them like you want to. To not be the one in charge of your baby... Some nights, we would leave the NICU really late and I would just cry kissing him goodnight. I ached for the long nights of feedings and having him in our home to care for and love on at last.

Though those four weeks were difficult for us, we are very blessed. Jude did well and only improved the entire time. We didn't have a lot of reasons to worry. So many NICU experiences are not this way. Sometimes it's a back and forth journey where the baby is worse some days. Jude never did that. He only thrived and got better. We were also blessed that his stay was shorter than it could have been. We were originally told 4-6 weeks and he was only there for four weeks and four days. He was released a whole month before his due date. Home before he was even supposed to be born. My heart goes out to the families whose babies had to fight for their lives and struggle, and especially the ones who didn't get to come home. As hard as this was for us, we know it could have been so much worse.

This was an experience we'll never forget along with wonderful nurses we'll never forget. Thank You, God, for bringing Jude home safely. That's everything we prayed for.