Sojourn ~ Day Six

10:45 am- My youngest sister Stephanie is in town this weekend for the arrival of Miss Caroline so she and I headed up to the hospital this morning. Amy was going to meet us there as well. We got there just as Caroline was waking up and ready for her bottle. Kathy (nurse) is with her today and not my favorite nurse, I must admit. She is a bit snobby and doesn't like it when I ask questions. She mentioned Caroline had one episode last night around midnight but that was it. I am praying hard that with her second dose of caffeine today that these will stop. She has to go 3 days apnea-free for her to stop treatment. Going up there twice a day is getting expensive with gas prices. She is worth every penny, but I pray she comes home soon for many reasons- one being the gasoline. She didn't eat as good today, she only took 40 cc's of formula and went right to sleep. I held her until noon and then went home for a nap.

I am going to spend some much-needed quality time with my 2 other precious angels and will not go back up to the hospital tonight. I have to spend my time equally between Caroline, Landon and Madeline. It's hard, but they need my attention as well. They haven't seen me much since Sunday and Landon is very clingy when he does get to see me. It's been a hard week for him- I am sure he is quite confused. He knows Caroline is not in my tummy anymore, but has only seen her once in person. I show him pictures of her but I think he wonders why she's not home. He asks me when "Tarawine" is going to sleep in her bed. It's heart-breaking but I tell him very soon.

So, why "Sojourn"? By definition a sojourn is a temporary stay and we know that this time in Caroline's life is temporary in the grand scheme of things. This is her present sojourn and we know it's temporary. It doesn't make it easier to bear, but it makes it seem as if the end is right around the corner. I have to look at that way...

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4