Laughter

Yesterday marked 5 weeks in the hospital - 3 weeks for Laura in Norfolk General, and 2 more since Isaac was born.  Hard to believe...

It has been hard, tiring, stressful: all the things you would imagine.  There have been tears. But yesterday we laughed.  It was so great.

I was looking at my email and commented that maybe I should have an automatic vacation reply.  Laura said, "well this isn't exactly a vacation!" It lead to a description of our current situation as a vacation.
- A lovely 6th floor view of 2 parking decks and multiple rooftops of medical buildings.
- Fresh linens everyday.  Or whenever you want to walk down the hall to the linen room and get some and put them on yourself.  Fine hospital quality. Mattress firmness questionable.
- Shower conveniently located just down the hall.  Bring your own soap.
- Room furnished with electrical outlets.  Bring your own refrigerator with freezer in case you have breast milk to store. (Yes! Gratefully we have a small dorm refrigerator lent to us by the next door neighbor.  Wow, it has been a life saver!)
- Kitchen just across the hall is helpful, providing large stainless steel sink for those middle-of-the-night pump-washing needs.  Also includes a commercial microwave for warming those gourmet dinners!

- Free "coffee" (on the rare occasion you find cups) - sometimes it is even brown!  Ice and water machine too - sometimes it is brown :(
- Random deactivating of your room key!  Maybe you'll get lucky and it will happen during regular office hours.
- Dining facility has a large sunny window.  Bring your own food and do your own dishes.  TV perpetually shows Divorce Court.  Feel free to turn it down.

- Feel like a V.I.P with your own daily sticker.  Collect them all!

- Want a nice dinner out? Just a short stroll to the Heart Hospital leads you to the Subway Cafe. Elegant decor and actually includes a full-sized Steinway in the adjoining lobby.  (Provide your own pianist).

- Exciting entertainment provided for the young ones, such as these amazing "noisy blue fans" conveniently located in the main hallway following a water leak.

- Toddler William keeps his eye on cleanliness throughout the facility.  "Uh-OH! Uh-OH!" (what's wrong?) "Piece of trash!! ....Clean it up!!!"

We are thankful that we have come to a place where we can feel silly and laugh.