Help me try and understand please.

Our son is in the nicu all I want is to be here with him all the time. No I’m not I go to work from 7:30-3:30 and then come to the hospital and stay until 8 or 9 and then go home and sleep. I’m constantly calling to check on him during the time I’m not here. But it seems like my boyfriend could go days without seeing him. Now do not get me wrong he loves his son and wants him home and I know it is a difficult situation and since it’s our first it’s hard to be a parent when the child isn’t with out like it should be. But I just can’t understand how he can go without seeing him for days at a time. I try so hard to be understanding because I know we need time out of the hospital but when you’re off all day and you can’t pull yourself away from small things to do around the house is that normal?? I guess my question I need help with is, is it normal to go days without seeing your child who is in the nicu?