A Hospital Stay

I wish I was posting this from somewhere other than the hospital. I've been trying to remind myself of the reason I'm here and trying to thankful it's not for anything more serious.

Okay, back up to yesterday morning. Another midwife came to the house yesterday to weigh Kyle. He hadn't gained anything since Friday when he was 8lbs 1oz, even though my milk had come in and he'd been eating really well. Add in that he was looking quite yellow and my midwife and I agreed I should bring him to the Outpatient unit at the hospital to have his bilirubin levels checked out for jaundice. Both Shaun and Ian had a touch of jaundice when they were around the same age so I wasn't worried. Ian's numbers were actually bordering on whether he should be admitted or not so I'm quite familiar with this territory.

I ended up heading home after the draw because Shaun had to be picked up at school. Around 3:30 the phone rang. It was my midwife saying Kyle's bilirubin numbers were a little high and the consulting doctor was going to admit him for phototherapy. Basically, he needs a bit of a suntan.

So now we're here. Kyle's so cute with his little sunglasses on and sitting under the blue glow of the lights in his toasty little incubator. I'm really trying to be positive and remember that he's here for a very common, very minor problem. But it's still hard to see him in there. I'm allowed to take him out to feed him and I make sure to talk to him and snuggle during that time as much as I can. Other than that he needs to stay under the lights.

It's helping. He was admitted yesterday with his bilirubin levels at 350. Doctors tend to get concerned when levels start to creep over about 320. A level of zero is ideal. So he wasn't all that much higher than where doctors start to be worried, and by his blood draw this morning he was down to 296. Dr. DiGravio is the head of Pediatrics here and is Kyle's doctor. He spoke with me this morning and told me Kyle will be here at least for the remainder of today and most likely tonight. I'm missing home and desperate to see my boys. But it's better to stay here an extra day than be sent home only to come back in a few days for the same problem.

Craig is bringing the boys to visit and bringing me some food. I can't believe they don't feed me here. Kyle's admitted, he's allowed food, but obviously isn't eating anything. I'll eat his share!!

I've been taking a ton of picture of my baby under the lights and of his various nurses. Everyone here in the Pediatrics Unit is friendly and the kids are pretty curious why there's a grown-up staying with them. Oh, and Kyle got a roommate last night. His name is Bryce and is under the lights too. Misery loves company and Bryce's mom, Katrina, and I have had a good time chatting and commiserating together.

I'll update when he gets his next blood draw.