labor story part 2

we were discharged from the hospital on monday 11/23.  we were in no hurry to get out of there, TRUST ME :).  we took our time getting ready, talked to the nurses about what to do when we got home, and took our time getting things situated.  the first night home wasn't as bad as everyone made it sound to be.  brian's parents were in town and his mom was a huge help around the house.  brian and i just worked to get things organized.  i bet we moved things around a dozen times before we found something that "worked'.  we eventually ended up with a bassinet in our room with a little changing table set up in there, and a pack n play downstairs so we have something when we are down there.  she doesn't seem to mind where she sleeps or gets changed! :)

for those few days, we just took it easy, loved on her, and enjoyed time to relax away from the hospital.  we had visitors pop in which was nice, and took things one hour at a time. she was sleeping alot, not fussy, and overall a very happy baby.

wednesday the 25th, we went in for her jaundice check up.  they sent us over to the nursery to get her levels checked and said that if they were too high we were headed to the hospital for phototherapy.  i prayed and prayed this would not happen, but when the dr called me after lunch, my heart broke.  she told me her level was at an 18 and really the only option to help out miss berkley with the jaundice was to be admitted into the hospital for at least 24 hours of phototherapy.  i cried and cried and cried.  my emotions were all over the place.  while i wanted what was best for her, i DID NOT want to go to the hospital again, nor did i want to be away from family on thanksgiving day.  brian and i got a bag together quickly and headed to plano presby because the sooner we got there the sooner we could start the treatment and be done.  little did i know it would be the worst experience EVER.........the registration people were terrible, the first nurse we had was AWFUL, and it was so hard to watch berkley lay under that light.  we could only get her out for 30 minutes to feed every 3 hours.  30 minutes was all i got to hold her!!!!!!  her diaper changes had to be done under the light and she had to wear these goggles to protect her eyes from the light.  i was MISERABLE. she actually seemed content under the light and didn't seem to mind it, so the more i watched, the more i felt ok that she was there.  i could go on and on but there is no sense in getting worked up about it!

bottom line is we were discharged on thanksgiving day about 4pm and were able to enjoy that thanksgiving evening with family away from that place.  we had to go back to the dr that next morning for  check and the dr thought she looked good and was happy with her levels so we didn't have to have her poor little heel pricked again and we were good to go.  the rest of the jaundice would slowly make its way out of her system from there on out.

this brought us to her 1 week birthday and wow, what a week!  i was emotionally drained and brian was exhausted.  who know one little baby could suck the life and energy out of you so quickly :) 

thankfully, brian's mom was sticking around to help me when he went back to work.  i took one day at a time and tried to get in a routine.  brians mom cooked meals for us and helped pick up around the house.  HUGE help, cause i have no idea how i would have done it on my own!  we got out of the house at least once a day which helped, and she helped me with my christmas decorations.

on thursday of that week, i took berkley to the dr because her eye had so much JUNK in it she couldn't open it.  they put her on an antibiotic and cleared it up.  the bigger issue was she had only gained 1 oz in a week.  she was supposed to be gaining an OZ A DAY.  i became super stressed and went to talk to the lactation people at the hospital and they helped me a little.  to beef up her eating, i had to start pumping and bottle feeding....now onto other issues........she is a high maintance eater!!!!!!  we will get there i know, and i'm trying not to be too stressed about it.  there is always formula.......