Jace's 1st Week

The first five minutes of phototherapy.

After a few, stressful hours of phototherapy, I gave Jace a nook to calm him (which I was trying to avoid since I am nursing him).

The new eye shades!

Ahhh, much better!!!

It's hard to believe that Jace will already be 1 week old tomorrow. I wish time would slow down for a little while when babies are this little. The first few weeks, when they are really tiny, always go too fast. Before you know it, you find yourself looking at pictures of their first days and wondering why you can hardly remember the time you spent holding and getting to know your new little one...probably because we mothers are physically, mentally, and emotionally drained after pregnancy, labor and delivery, and sleepless nights!

Well, somehow I have managed to go with very little sleep this last week, as I haven't wanted to miss a moment of my time with Jace. I am head over heals for this little guy! The last few days have been rough and quite emotional for me, however. We got home from the hospital Wednesday and by Friday, we were back at the hospital. Jace has yellow jaundice and is in the high risk range. We were sent home with a Pep Bed for him to lay in until his body rids itself of the bilirubin that could be harmful to him if we don't treat it. He has to lay in the bed and undergo phototherapy continuously, only being removed for diaper changes and feedings. It's painfully difficult not to be able to cuddle with your little one...especially when they are so new.

The first 24 hours were horrible and stressful for him and us. As you can see in the first set of pictures, there was a blue sheet hanging down to shade his eyes from the lights. He hated this thing in his face because every time it touched his cheek or mouth, he would root for food and want to nurse. He was so frustrated and cried non-stop. After several hours, I took him out and cried right along with him.

We returned to the hospital on Saturday in hopes of his numbers being low enough to be done with the phototherapy. Unfortunately, his numbers were still very high so we are continuing with the treatment through Monday. I broke down in tears at the appointment and begged them to send the Wallaby home with us (this is the light system we took home with both Alexis and Logan when they had jaundice) because the Wallaby allows you to hold and interact with your baby since they just wear a lighted belt around their waist. Well, I was told "no." Supposedly the pep bed is "more effective." They did give me protective eye gear so we could at least ditch the sheet hanging down. As you can see in the second set of pictures, he looks like he is sunbathing. This has made it much easier on him and us. Needless to say though, we can't wait for him to be done with phototherapy. I just want to hold my baby!!!

Thankfully I have had the support of my friends and family. I keep reminding myself that it could be much worse. Please pray that his numbers will be normal on Monday when he has his blood drawn again (ouch!).