Buh Bye "Billy"

Hip hip hooray! At about 1:15 pm, we got the word from the doc that Gray's Bilirubin level had dropped to 10, and we could take him off the the blue light. His fifth heel stick was the final one. And tomorrow, we don't have to go ANYWHERE. We can sleep til noon tomorrow if we dang well please. So today is a big day anyway, but we got a little more exciting news...Old, crusty umbilical cord decided to fall off too. Additionally, his pee-pee seems to have almost fully recovered from the circumcision. We were told 2 weeks for the cord to fall of and 2 weeks for complete healing, so our little guy is over-acheiving already. We are so proud of him!

We just swaddled him into bed for the first time in two days, and he's sleeping pretty hard. Check out the latest pictures. He changes so much every day. Thanks for your prayers on the juandice. I promise video at the next post.

Jaundice Schmaundice

Good news on the Bilirubin level for little Graylon. It thankfully went down from 17 to 14 after today's report from Dr. Aldridge. That means that hopefully the "Billy Bed" days are nearing an end. With the Bilirubin coming down, we were told to drop the strict formula-only diet and return to breast milk. We do have to go to the hospital one more time tomorrow for one more heel prick. That means that after tomorrow, Saturday will hopefully be the first day of Gray's life that he won't have to see the inside of St. Mary's hospital. He'll get his perfect little heels pricked for the fifth, and hopefully final, time. I know he's missing recliner time with his daddy. That is top on my list of things to do as soon as we get rid of that blue light bed. Talk to you all real soon.

Billy Bed Gray

We got a phone call from our pediatrician, Dr. Aldridge, and she informed us that Gray's Bilirubin level was still a little bit high. His jaundice was not high enough for her to tell us to go to the hospital, but it also wasn't low enough to do nothing. The compromise was for the bed used to help flush the jaundice, the "Billy Bed," to be set up at our house. Graylon is going to have to lay on it until the doctor tells us otherwise. More than likely, until some time on Friday. We can take him off of it for feeding and changing diapers, but the more time he's on it, the quicker we can get that Bilirubin level down. A separate firm delivered the bed, and we were able to set it up in his pack-n-play. I'll let the video explain it further, but all is well. The man that delivered it explained that once we are told to take him off of it, to please call them for pick up due to the high demand for the beds. That made us feel better. This at-home procedure is a little more common than Mommy and Daddy originally thought. Once again, Gray seems to be content in his new situation. He's already been in it, out of it to feed, and back in it again...and now asleep. Say another little prayer that he gets over this fast. We go back to the hospital lab AHHHHGAIN tomorrow for another heel prick, and hopefully we'll get a good report and be through with this. I'll keep you all posted.

Sleepy-head Gray

Well when we last left you, Gray had been sleeping A LOT! Little did I know exactly how much sleep he would do. In hindsight, it all adds up: Heel prick, jaundice, heavier feedings from the formula, a warm bath, night time lavender lotion. Mommy was really getting worried because he was sleeping through feedings even after our attempts to wake him. We would strip him naked and use a wet cloth all over him, and he was still asleep. Eventually around 11 pm, he was awake and stayed awake. He gobbled down a few more ounces of formula, and was wide-eyed but content. Because of this 24 hour period of formula, I insisted that Heather lay down in our bed and get some good quality sleep, and I would stay awake to change him and feed him in the living room. Around 4:15 am Grandma Sharon relieved me, and after Mommy checked him out, we both went to bed.

This process did wonders for me and my "daddy radar." The first night I felt the need to check on him after every peep he made. Because we were suppose to wake him for feedings every two and a half hours for the day due to his slight jaundice state, I stayed awake to watch the clock and give him a bottle. Doing this, I was able to see what sounds meant something and which ones meant nothing. We are still waiting on word of the newest set of blood work to see if we can go back to breast milk today. Keep your fingers crossed.

On our way home from the hospital today, Heather needed to stop by her office to get a few things, so we got to show him off to her co-workers. They all seemed to love him. Coach Landers said we had dressed him in a clown shirt, (It was a simple red and blue striped shirt.) so he called him "Bozo." He thought he was funny. We've now made it back home, and Graylon is sleeping easy in his bouncy chair.

I'll let you all know the jaundice situation in my next post. Everyone say a little prayer that it all goes well. We are looking forward to that first day that we don't have to go anywhere during the day. I think we could all use an entire day around the house. Until the next post, please enjoy the video I put together of yesterday's first bath at home. Talk to you all soon.

The First Night Home and Day #3

We set up Gray's pack-n-play in our room, and last night the three of us had our first night together at home. We dressed him in his familiar hospital shirt and some high socks like his daddy used to wear in high school. He ate around 10:45 last night, and then we tucked him in tight and laid down.

Heather and I worked out a pretty good routine. He was laying on my side of the bed, so when it was time to eat or he was fussy, I woke up and checked him out. When it was time to nurse, I would get him up and check or change his diaper. This would get him good and awake and ready to chow down. The first time he got up was around 1:30 in the morning. I was blown away by this first time experience. By the time we got him on the changing table, he was wide awake. He had a dirty diaper, and for the first time in his life, he didn't make a peep while I wiped and changed him. He was a trooper. He ate fine and slept for another 3 hours. Every other feeding went almost like that with a little more fussing during changing, but again, Graylon is what I call a quick fixer. When he cries, all you gotta do is fix it, and he settles right down. He is awesome.

This morning we had to go back to the hospital because he left the hospital a little jaundice. Gray had to suffer through another heel prick, and he cried a little, but Mommy got face to face with him and kept him calm. He once again quieted right down, and the nurse got her blood sample. The entire process was very quick. We then had a couple hours before his appointment with the pediatrician. So we went to the park to try and nurse him. He wanted no part of it. He was only interested in sleeping. A very normal side effect from giving blood earlier in the day. About an hour later he didn't want to eat again. Mommy was concerned, but at least we were headed to the doctor anyway, so we would get the appropriate attention.

At the doctor's office we were informed that his lab results still showed a somewhat high level of jaundice. Nothing to get too worried about, but we'll have to go back to the hospital probably each of the next two days to get more lab work done. Our doctor told us to avoid breast milk and try formula for the next 24 hours. Mommy should still pump to keep the milk coming, and Gray should drink the formula to keep his energy and weight up. He weighed 7 lbs 5 oz at birth...7 lbs 1 oz when we left the hospital...and...6 lbs 10 oz when we left the doctor today. The weight loss is perfectly normal, but we are ready to pack some "L" "B" 's back on him. Once we got home, Gray sucked down 2 ounces of formula in less than 10 minutes and has been asleep ever since. I have a feeling that there will be even more action through the night tonight. Wish us luck!

Enjoy these pictures from last night before bed, today before the doctor, and then back home this afternoon. We'll check back with everyone soon.

Gray Goes to Winterville

Well after getting Heather and Graylon once-overed like 3 times each, the hospital let us wheel them out the front door and into the car. Gray slept the entire car ride which included a drive-thru stop at Zaxby's. Grandma Sharon had balloons tied to the mailbox, and filmed us driving into the driveway. Since he's been home, Gray has slept 75% of the time, ate 20% of the time, and stared at us the other 5%. He seems to like it here at 248 Pine Ridge, and we like him here too.

Gray's Day in a Nutshell

I've kinda had my hands full today, but I've carved out a little video editing time, and took a 45 minute video and cut it down to close to 3 minutes(I know that no one really likes staring at a 3x3 screen for too long.). More video will be made available upon request and in the comfort of our home. This was Gray's day in a nutshell.



Today Graylon survived his circumcision, and he has done a great deal of sleeping. Also, the nurses told us to expect a disinterest in eating today because of the snip-snip, but he has suprisingly ate substantial portions today. His Mommy and Daddy are so proud of him. I've changed 3 dirty tar diapers, and thats 3 more than Mommy. He's done a great job of poopin' up a diaper in the company of nurses so, we've gotten 3 diaper changes on the house. Again son...so proud!

We're hoping to get our walking papers early tomorrow, and introduce Graylon to Winterville. All signs have led to leaving tomorrow, but both Graylon and Heather's doctors have to give the go-ahead before we can. Talk to you all again soon.