We're home, We're home, We're home

Hi Everyone,
We are delighted to report that we arrived home this afternoon.Ashling was examined this morning and the Doctor gave us the green light to go home. She didn't have to say it twice; we had the car already packed!!!We spent last night in a parent room which was a room with just the three of us, a warm-up to being at home and it all went well so now we are at home and confident that we can manage on our own....time will tell!!We have been waiting for this day for so long it was very exciting coming home in the car, well for us anyway, Ashling slept all the way! She is finding her new surroundings strange but will hopefully settle in a few days.

We had a discharge meeting with some of the doctors involved in her case and they explained that although she was going home, she is still a very vulnerable little girl. Because she is reliant on oxygen due to her compromised lungs, even something as small as a cough or a cold could be a serious issue for her particularly over the next few months. They have asked us to be responsible parents and not to take her to any busy public places as she is susceptible to bugs that anyone carries. So we won't be taking her to shopping centres etc. The same goes for all visitors and while we welcome a visit from our friends and family once we settle back, we would ask that you please think twice about calling if you are in any way sick or living with anyone who is sick. Just postpone and come another time.This may sounds like we are going to wrap her in cotton wool, but 3 months is enough hospital for our little munchkin.
Anyway, we are delighted to be at home, another big step.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support they have really helped in getting us this far. We cannot thank people enough at the hospital, everyone has been so good to us and some have gone far beyond the call of duty, Caroline and I are deeply grateful for your professionalism and friendship in helping us to get our little ball of joy home. Also everyone at Ronald McDonald has been wonderful and staying there has made our life so much easier over the past 12 weeks.Finally to our family and friends, who have babysat, cooked us dinners, taken us out and come to visit us, thank you all, you have been wonderful and we expect you to continue to be wonderful!!! Only messing!

That’s it for now from a very happy Mammy and Daddy