The Odyssey Ends.

Penelope is almost five months old.  It's hard to believe that this amazing, emotionally exhausting, life-changing and somehow incredibly rewarding journey began so long ago.

When Trent and I chose the name "Penelope", we named her for Odysseus' wife in The Odyssey but we had no idea how fitting the name would become.  Odysseus' Penelope was patient, strong, faithful and brave as she waited for her husband to return to her.  Developing those qualities got us through this experience.  And,  just as Odysseus battled forces larger than himself to get home, our little Penelope defeated the conditions under which she was born and finally came home.  

We made it to back home to Houston on August 14.  Two weeks later we were reunited with our pets, Harold and Rufus, who had stayed with my parents since the end of April, and finally our little family became complete.  We have reconnected with our family and friends and Penelope has met so many of the special people in our lives.  

Penelope is doing so well and is just thriving.  She now weighs over 9lbs and is developing and changing every day.  She has started to smile and coo and (sometimes) sleep through the night.  Often, Trent and I are overwhelmed when we look at our beautiful little girl and reflect upon how far she has come.  Essentially all of her prematurity-related health problems have dissipated and now she is just like any other baby.  However, she will never be just like any other baby to us.  

So now Penelope's odyssey ends, as does this blog.  Our little one finally made it home to Texas.  And while Texas may not be Ithaca, which scholars believe was in the Greek isles (although some of my fellow Texans will argue that Ithaca may not be Texas),  we couldn't be happier.

This first phase of our life as a family closes.  We never could have made it without the overwhelming support, love and friendship of all of you.  

And so, Trent, Penelope and I say...