Good Bye Fiji...Hello Mom and Dad!

Avery visiting "Fiji'

Little Avery had a case of jaundice pretty intensely. The day we were released from the hospital, a nurse came and delivered a "Bili" bed for Ave to sleep on. We liked to call it Fiji to make it sound a little more enjoyable. We were instructed to keep her in this straight jacket looking tanning booth at all times unless we needed to feed her or change her diapers.

Nick an I were a little sad because all we wanted to was snuggle our little love bug. The first day was hard. I was worried she was uncomfortable all the time. (Even though she really didn't seem to mind.) We went to the doctor EVERY day last week except for Friday. We had to keep getting her little feet poked at to check her bili levels. On Monday it was 15.4 and by Thursday it had jumped to 17.8. The pediatrician told us we HAD to keep her under the lights at all times! No excuses. :( We sadly sent her back to Fiji to work on her tan a little more. We did good though, and actually followed the doctors orders.

On Friday, the doctor called and said we could interact with her a little more, but still needed to keep her there. By Saturday morning, her color looked well. She was released from Fiji and finally reunited with her mommy and daddy.

Her weight had plummeted pretty fast as well. When she was born she weighed 8.1 lbs. By Wednesday, she was down to under 7.5 lbs. But, by Saturday we had gotten her weight up to 7.11 lbs. Yay!

I also had to go see a lactation specialist. The lady I went to went to Stanford and really knew her stuff. She taught me the proper way to have Ave latch on. We are still learning, but I am not crying every time I think of nursing. When I was released from the hospital, I was already bleeding, blistered and bruised. No joke. It was the most painful feeling ever. I still have to pump because I produce so much. I literally can pump 8 ounces in one sitting. Holy Cow...I am a cow!

Funny story.... I chose a pediatrician by chance and a referral from my OB. When we met him at the hospital, Nick knew the guy. They had grown up together playing baseball. So, I know I can trust this doctor with my daughters life. He even told the lactation specialist to take really good care of us.

So all in all, Ave is looking great. We are still working on our night schedule. I was up from 1 AM to 5:30 AM. My poor baby girl seems to have a cold today. I keep checking her temperature, but she is only registering at 99 degrees. So, if I am a little hard to get a hold of, no worries. I am going full steam ahead trying to nurse Avers back to her healthy self and trying to catch up on my sleep whenever I can.

Thank you everyone for all of your help. Thank you for the dinners, words of support and endless love you have shown our little family. We are so grateful!

Farewell Fiji, hello Mommy and Daddy!