No, it's not a tanning bed. She and I have different blood types that apparently mixed at some point, causing my blood to attack hers, leaving her with a high bilirubin count. High enough that we had to spend two extra days in the hospital with our precious bundle in the bili bed. Luckily, she could still stay in our room, but she had to be naked, in the light bed, with light coming not only from above, but also through the transparent mattress below....
...She also sported a clear diaper, and opaque eye shield...
Her poor feet were turned into pincushions as her blood had to be tested twice a day tracking improvement. We had to feed her every two hours so she could get the stuff out of her system. She could only be out of the bili bed for feedings. Otherwise, we had to leave her under the lights, crying or not, with limited bonding opportunities. It was rough...
...but this morning we got the good news that we could finally go home! I didn't realize how much I needed to get out of that hospital until we were in the car, in the sunshine, returning to normal life (well, not normal as we knew it before, but more more normal than a hospital room).
(No, this is not us in the aforementioned car. I'm not Britney Spears. This is post-first feeding at home in her own nursery!)
We are so happy to be home with a now healthy baby girl. We're making up for the lost hours of contact, introducing her to her fur baby brothers and sisters, and learning to be new parents (changed my first diaper this morning with tutoring from Scarlet Lily's mama!).
You know there are more pics to come! This, I have no doubt, has just morphed into a full on baby blog, at least for a while. Forgive me for the one track mind I have certainly developed with nature's help.
And thank you all so much for all your heartfelt warm wishes! They were much appreciated through those couple of tougher days and nights until we got home. Things are looking much rosier now.
6 comments:
So glad that everyone was finally able to come home! You and baby girl look terrific! I hope you have as calm a night as possible with three cats, a dog and a baby in the house. Kisses!
Oh my god, I don't even know what to say about that picture of you two... it just breaks my heart. Why aren't I there :(
Seriously, I'm about to come unhinged at work looking at those pictures! I'm so happy you're all home together. Enjoy your beautiful little girl!!!
It must have been so stressful to leave her under the lights like that. However, the picture of her with the little blinders on is really adorable. Glad you're home and feeling good.
I also love the picture of you and Lily at home for the first time--that's one of the first pictures of the two of you together out of hospital and it's beautiful. Thank you for sharing all your moments with us!
Can't wait to see little Lily Strong for myself...and spoil her!
Spoil her is right! Haven't been on my computer all week [exhausted, def not like you though :)], but you've been close to my thoughts. She's so cute, and I mean really not in that 'we know she'll be cute when she gets older, but right now she's an alien looking thing' way. She's adorable, I'm uber ecstatic for your both, well you three I mean! Sending love! Racquel
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