Anna is now a week old. I can't
believe how quick this week has gone by. She had an appointment with her pediatrician on Wednesday. When we left the hospital her
bilirubin was at a low risk level so they wanted us to follow up with her doctor to make sure her level was
OK. By Wednesday I knew that she was going to need the lights even before we went to the doctor. She was looking pretty yellow! On Wednesday they told her level had jumped up from a 9 to a 14 but it wasn't high enough to need the
photo therapy yet. So we had to go back to Alta View Hospital on Thursday to get her level tested again. I hate having to get her foot pricked. She screams! Thursday the level was too high and so they ordered the
bili lights. I was so sad. Joseph had the worst
experience with the lights. He just cried and cried and hated just about every minute of it. Anna did
ok. She started getting fussy that night and I was about to lose it. I was ready to just take her out of the lights. I can't handle having an upset baby. I just wanted to be able to comfort her. But David being the great dad he is stayed up with her from about 11 that night
until 3:30 the next morning. He told me to go to bed and get some sleep. The only way she would stay calm was if daddy held one hand on her chest and the other hand had to hold her
binky in. Once David brought her into me to eat I just kept her out of the lights so that everybody could get some sleep. The next morning though when we put her under the lights she did pretty well. Friday her level went down and so we didn't have to put her under the lights but we laid her in the sunlight. This morning we had to take her again to have her level tested and it bounced back up a little. Our Doctor told us to put her under the lights today and tomorrow for as long as she can stand it and then we can return the lights on Monday. This was a huge relief. She's been under the lights for a few hours today but as soon as she gets fussy we know we can take her out. We survived! Joseph has been such a big "helper". He likes to help change her diaper and pat her back to burp her. It's hard to get any pictures of just her because Joseph likes to be right there with her. He's a good big brother. We're adjusting to this new change in our life. We love this new baby girl!
This Anna all ready to go to the hospital to get her foot pricked again!
This is Anna on the lights. This machine was much better than the suitcase that Joseph had to be under. This was a bed that she laid on. It has a gown that we
Velcro her into and then we can cover her with a blanket.
This is Joseph. He had to sit by Anna while she was doing the lights. He just had to keep watch over her!
This was the next morning after she started the lights. As long as she could have her one arm out she was happy and would sleep.
Anna in her swing just chillin'
Joseph making sure Anna is ok in her swing.
I love how Joseph is "protective" of her. He definitely has earned the BIG brother medal. So cute! Hope her recovery keeps going well.
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