Home at last

  We take for granted how the miracle of modern medicine and technology have enhanced our lives. We are so dependent on the technology that surrounds us, that we can't even begin to imagine life with out it. I am simply talking about, electricity, water, housing, not to mention t.v., internet, cellphones, cars, etc. At the risk of sounding too philosophical, we would cease to function as a society if lost something as simple electricity.
  With the birth of Orion, and during our stay in the hospital, my eyes were really opened to how spoiled we are. I watched my son enter this world surrounded by a staff of people specially trained for this one event, in a climate controlled room full of computers, heart monitors, medical equipment, and every creature comfort you can imagine. We had at our disposal, medications and procedures designed to reduce or eliminate most of the pain that accompanies labor and delivery. As soon as the baby comes out, there is a whole team of people waiting to step in if anything goes wrong with the baby. The mother is tended to and doctored up after delivery and is offered pain medications, ointments, and anything else that you can imagine to aid in their recovery. It is nothing short of impressive if you stop and look around the delivery room at all it has to offer.
  I then think about my grand mothers, and great grandmothers, and the conditions that they endured during and after delivery, and the pain that they must have suffered, yet they never felt sorry for themselves, because none of these conveniences were available too them. They did what they had to do to survive and to ensure that their child survived as well.

   Orion developed jaundice after he was born. 20 hours after delivery, his bilirubin count was higher than they like see at this age. The pediatrician made the decision to move Orion to the Intermediate Care Nursery and start phototherapy on him to stave off the build up of bilirubin's and the associated effects of Jaundice. On one hand, you are heartbroken that your baby is going to be separated from you, and on the other hand, you are immensely thankful for the available technology designed to address this very issue. With the use of lights at the right spectrum,  the bilirubin's are broken down to aid the liver in processing and passing them out of the body. Our stay at the hospital was extended by two extra days, while Orion basked in his own private tanning bed. 

  After spending 18 hours in the ICN, they put Orion in an incubator along with his light blanket and light hood, and returned him to our room for the remainder of his stay. We were thankful to have him with us again, even though we could not hold him. He spent three hours at a time under the lights, then we were allowed to take him out for 40 minutes to feed and burp him, and then it was back under the lights. As annoying as this was, the results were undeniable. All of Orion's exposed skin remained pinkish, while the areas covered by his face mask and diaper, had the distinct yellow tones indicative of jaundice. 

  One additional piece of technology that I was impressed by, is the little GPS, alarm bands, that are placed on the ankle of the newborn baby. This allows the baby's location to be tracked anywhere in the hospital. If the band if removed or cut, it triggers an alarm. If the baby is taken near an elevator or stair way, an alarm sounds and security is dispatched  to the infants location.

  Friday morning, Orion was given the green light to return home. We packed our bags, paid our deductible and headed home. Melanie and I were so glad to return home. We missed our family and our bed. We were equally happy to rid ourselves of the nurses that walked in your room 24 hours a day, the minute that you fell asleep.

" I missed you so much"

   I have to say that for myself, the best part of coming home, was being greeted by the sweetest toddler in the world. "Are you home now dada?" Apollo asks. "Yes, we're home now lil' guy"I reply. Home at last.