Back in the hospital

Jonathan has been struggling a little bit with life outside the womb. So we took him in to the pediatrician yesterday, and they ran some tests. Turns out he has pretty severe jandice. We had noticed it coming on on Friday, but when we went into the hospital to meet with the lactation consultant who was also a labor RN, she said it looked okay. But then over the weekend, his eyes started turning yellow. So yesterday, we went into the pediatrician to have her take a look. And after a blood test, she confirmed that he is pretty severe jaundice. A normal level is about 15, and his was about 21. At 25, there is risk of hearing loss or brain damage, so we were asked to immediately check him into the hospital for some UV light treatment. So here we are with the little guy under the blue lights for two days. I think in parenthood, there is always something to worry about. So we are looking at a lifetime of concern. But as I watch him across the hospital room in his little purple eyeshields (to protect his eyes from the treatment) under the bright blue lights, I think about what his life will hold. He is so full of potential, and our job is to cultivate him and protect him until he becomes the person that God intended. It is so hard to watch him unhappy and uncomfortable. On the bright side, it seems that his feeding and fussiness problems are related tothe jaundice, so perhaps we have a more relaxed baby lurking deep inside of one who was just not feeling well.