NICU Day 100 ~ (March 16th)

How do you celebrate day 100 in the NICU?  My first thought was to bake 100 cupcakes for our NICU family to enjoy (Yes, my husband called me crazy.  Maybe I will do that on day 100 of being home!).  My second thought was to take a good nap.  Neither happened, and it was a busy, "normal" day but one filled with grateful hearts for how far God has brought us along in this journey.  It is easy some days to try and look ahead and figure out how much longer this particular part of the path must continue, but this makes us weary in the process.  Days like today make us stop and be thankful for each step that has already been taken and praise God for His incredible goodness to us.  Noelle celebrated today by doing the following things:

~Wearing a pretty outfit from Grandma McDowell (it almost fits her now!) and headband from Chastity...

~Getting her picture taken with Dr. Tatum (the neonatologist who has been the face of comfort for us since before she was born.  We cannot say enough good things about this doctor who has taken such wonderful care of our daughter.  She has not made it easy on him!)...

~Getting her picture taken with her nurse, Jennifer, who was the first one to let Mommy hold her (in her hands for a few short moments) just a couple of days after she was born...

~Taking a bubble bath (which she really liked this time!)...

~And settling in for the night with a bottle...

While today marked day 100 in the NICU, she will actually turn 100 days old tomorrow at 11:27a.m.  We thank God for each day with our precious daughter and look forward to the days He allows us in the future.  Thank you for praying.