The week after

Before I had the Mason, I had thought my week post-delivery would be relaxing. Sure, I'd be tired and sleep deprived, but my mom was coming and I'd just be able to hang out and sleep while she took care of everything. Our first week with Mason didn't quite go that way. He's a happy, easy baby- he sleeps, wakes up to eat/poop, and then just goes back to sleep - but then he decided to take the "October baby" thing a little too far and look like a pumpkin due to jaundice.

His bili was a little high when we we left the hospital, but not enough to cause worry. I went to the doctor just for a recheck on Monday. It had gone up into the range where we needed to do something about it. No problem, I thought. We'll just end up with a home bili-blanket like we did with Connor. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. He was still within bili-blanket range, but our insurance wasn't. Apparently in all of Seattle, there is only one home health agency who does home bili-blankets. One. And they don't take our insurance. We couldn't pay for it out of pocket, - as in the home health agency wouldn't let us. So that meant we had to go to the hospital. Having a baby makes you emotional, but having a baby that you have to take back to the hospital (especially because of stupid insurance reasons) makes you hysterical. I was very teary on Monday. The whole time, too, I was having such an internal struggle. I've done photo therapy on many babies myself. It's really no big deal, not life or death. But still, it seemed totally tragic. Those of you who have had babies in the hospital for other reasons- I can't imagine the emotional toll it must take.

Anyway, we got to the hospital on Monday night, got checked in, got our boy mostly nekkid and sunbathing. His bili went up even higher that night, so it was probably a good thing that we ended up being admitted.

Mason catchin' some rays

Cute boy actually awake

Mommy kisses

Daddy kisses

We only ended up staying for two days, but I was SO ready to be out of the hospital. Like I said- those of you who have more serious reasons for being admitted - I admire your strength. Those 2 days I spent were hard! Some good things did come out of it though. I was reminded yet again that we have a Heavenly Father who does hear our prayers and strengthens us and comforts in our challenges. I'm more grateful for my husband and the way he was there for my hormonally-imbalanced and hysterical self. I'm grateful that even though we had to share a room (not many private rooms on the floor), we were blessed with LDS roommates. I'm grateful that my mom was here to take care of my other kids so I could be at the hospital. And, in some ways, I'm grateful for the time I was able to just sit and watch my baby. It forced us into spending lots of time alone together. :).

Mason came home on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, he had another follow-up appointment, but this one went fine. Then, he got to go get his circ. For some reason, most of the hospitals around here do circs outpatient. Very inconvenient if you ask me. It was a little traumatic for him (and Jake), but now he's doing great.

Bath time- the calm before the storm. :)

Jake and I with Mason

My wonderful mother who kept things going at home. We were very sad when she left.

Ellie has enjoyed Mason. She frequently says, "Mom, I want to pet Mason." We're still working on being soft with the baby.

Connor's in heaven that he has a little brother. He's anxious for him to grow up enough to interact with.

The cute boy. He loves having his hands by his face. He's always asleep like this!

We're just grateful that this week is over- I don't know if Jake and I have ever been so ready for a weekend to come. It's been nice to just stay home and not have to take my poor baby to get poked or prodded anywhere! We should just have one appointment this week. Our fingers are crossed :).