A sunbather already...

Joshua had elevated billirubin levels (i.e. jaundice) when we left the hospital and we were told we needed to have him checked on Wednesday to see if it had gone up or down. Unfortunately - they also needed to repeat the WI State Newborn screening test as something went wrong with the paper from the hospital. So my mom and I took Joshua in and he was poked in the foot to get blood for the billirubin test and then his foot was squeezed repeatedly while they filled in all the circles on this piece of paper for the newborn screening test. It is a fantastic test - they screen the baby for all sorts of things like cystic fibrosis, blood/thyroid diseases, etc. But seriously - listening to Joshua scream for 15 minutes (not exaggerating) was HORRIBLE!

Later that day we got a call from the doctors saying we needed to bring Joshua in as his jaundice was too high. So off to the hospital we went. As soon as we checked in they informed us that we'd be staying overnight and likely all day Thursday. Yippee... another night in the hospital! So Joshua was stripped down to his diaper and given some pretty cool shades... and there he laid, under the lights for the next day and a half. I could only hold him when he nursed - and thankfully he did really well still so we didn't have to supplement with formula or give him fluids through an IV. He didn't seem to mind the lights though... for the most part. He screamed whenever the nurses came around -cause there were several more heel pokes to check the billirubin levels.

We were sent home late Thursday afternoon with a billibed. It is a bed that has a little gown/drape that Joshua lies in with just a diaper. The back of it is just a lightweight mesh to allow the light to go through. And then there are little arm holes and a place for his head to poke through. Again - had to keep him on it at all times except when nursing. Which you just pulled the drape of the velcro tabs and pulled him off the bed. So easy! We called him our little gloworm.

Mr. Hilo wasn't too sure about this whole thing. He was very concerned and wouldn't leave the pack ' n ' play. So we eventually put a blanket down so he could stand guard. ha ha! So protective already.

We had another doctor appointment on Friday to again check for the billirubin levels. Joshua was weighing in at 7lbs 5 oz! Already passed his birth weight and only 6 days old! Friday afternoon they called to say we could take him off the billibed and then would need to go again to the doctors Saturday morning to ensure the levels didn't go up too high. We were also told that the Newborn Screening test didn't work for the second time. I definitely raised a stink about it on the phone and made sure the nurse knew this was ridiculous. She agreed that it was a very difficult test and said that it might be best to do this one at the hospital with the people from the lab. AGGHHH!

So Saturday morning Jim and I took Joshua back in to the doctors office. This time - during the weigh in... he peed all over the nurse! Ha ha! :) Way to go little man! The doctor gave us a prescription to go to the hospital to get the blood work done. So off we went. Again, he screamed... but the nurse felt so bad for him he got a stuffed animal out of the ordeal... Please pray that this one works. We'll find out Monday I think.

Also attached a picture of baby Willa and Joshua. Mandy came up this week and we laid them out on the floor... Willa is only 2 months old and so so big! Hard to believe she was smaller than Joshua!