I could think of no better way to start off the new year .....

.... than to bring Zoey home.Yes folks,Round 2 is officially over and I didn't even see it coming.Pleasantly surprised to say the least.Overjoyed actually.After a very,shall we say,disappointing day yesterday,today more than made up for it.Yesterday found me rampaging 4 East.I certainly did not make friends on the floor but then again that is not my goal.My goal is to ensure that Zoey and all the kids up there have a chance at getting off that floor with minimal sidetracking.Meaning,few if any opportunistic outside bugs finding there way to their compromised little bodies.If that means making enemies then so be it.It began with me waking yesterday wondering why on earth did every other room,except ours,have isolation tables outside them.Tables holding gloves,masks and robes.Within an hour the nursing assistants entered to do vitals,all garbed up and we were told that the Norovirus was all over our floor.In layman's terms the Norovirus is a highly contagious stomach flu.As the day progressed,several staff members and other families told me of the virus being present or at least suspected since last Friday.No precautions taken completely until yesterday and by then it was too late.It seems as if Zoey and her roommate were almost solely the only ones spared.Even the staff was being hit by it.The day went from bad to worse as more information trickled in and all I knew was I wanted to get the heck out of there.But with an ANC of 10 yesterday,it didn't seem likely.By shift change,Zoey's night nurse came in and informed me she would not be touching Zoey because she called in earlier in the day and told the charge nurse she had thrown up and the charge nurse proceeded to tell her that unless she had intestinal issues to come in anyway.So she did and I was ticked.Night shift,I think,hates me.I proceeded to grab the night manager and ask her why on earth did the 4th floor not have a more stringent policy on keeping that floor as germ free as possible.I took her to 2 other floors where signs are posted instructing hand washing and sanitizing wipes being used upon entering and leaving the floors.Pretty simple if you ask me for a floor where it is literally a life and death situation for these immune compromised children.She posted some temporary signs until she could find more official ones and maybe just maybe it is a simple and easy step to help the spread of viruses like this one.You can't patrol each and every person but maybe this will bring some awareness.I finally went to sleep and was awoken with our little neighbor throwing up at 4am.Poor thing.Although hers was more than likely due to a chemo push at midnight,it did get me started on figuring out how we could get the heck out of dodge.Blood draws are m-w-fri but I insisted we recheck this morning.The very charming,not,night charge nurse was very difficult and would not accommodate my request until a fellow came in at 8 or 9.I was fuming.I went back to sleep only to be awoken by Zoeys attending saying he looked over her numbers from yesterday and felt very comfortable her marrow was in the late stage of recovery.He said of course we could do another draw and after the next test results came back we were given the go ahead to pack and head home.Her ANC is still low but by looking at different factors in her blood they know her ANC will be taking off in the next couple of days and the risk of keeping her on a floor, where it was probably just a matter of time before she got sick,was not worth the price.So home we went.Surreal at that.24 days for round 2.The exact number of days as round 1.I left with a mix of feelings.Nervous about coming home without the safety net of the hospital but absolutely beyond elated to be coming home.We will have the next 3 days together before winter break ends and routines begin again.I will miss our "family" back at Childrens.I will worry and wonder about all the children I have come to love but I will make the very most of our time together before we head back in a week or so for round 3.I left feeling extremely blessed.To be taking home this child that is healthier then she has been in a very long time.A child with a daunting road still before her but a road paved with the love and support of old and new friends and a family willing to walk to the ends of this earth to lift us and carry us when we need it.We are so lucky to have doctors and nurses and staff members to make themselves available to us.To make us feel secure,in most moments, that they too will do anything and everything for us.For Zoey.I may not always agree with some of the decisions or the protocols in place but I do know that in the end,we are in the very best of hands.So tonight my baby sleeps in her own bed.Cozy,warm and safe.And although I have no idea what this new year will hold for any of us,I do know that this very first day of 2009 was magical.Zoey came in the house and turned to each of her brothers and sisters and gave them individual waves.It was precious.She is precious and we are so very blessed.