#30DaysofHope Day 11- Aubrey

November 22 marks our 1 year anniversary since we left the NICU.

Evelyn was born perfectly healthy at 39 weeks. We were discharged from the hospital and adjusting to life with a newborn. At 4 days old we rushed her to the emergency room because she was spitting up bile.

Within a couple of hours, she was in surgery where they discovered she had a blockage from her stomach to small intestines, as well as malrotation of the intestines. We thought we would only be in the NICU for a couple of weeks as she recovered.

A couple of weeks turned to a few, and then to many.

Evelyn would make progress, we could increase the amount she was eating, and then she would give it all back.

There wasn't a single nurse in the NICU who hadn't helped clean up after her. Eventually, the doctors and surgeons decided that a second exploratory surgery was necessary. Scar tissue had created another blockage. The second surgery was a success and she began to make progress every day. Two weeks later and after a total of 62 days, we finally got the news we were waiting for, and our baby graduated from the NICU.

The NICU will forever be apart of our lives. Not just with the relationships we made, but for the lessons we learned. Our faith, marriage, and outlook on life were strengthened. 

Evelyn is strong-willed, joyful, and a FANTASTIC eater!