The Great Escape

Phew, what a day!

I used up so much energy in the night that I fell asleep and didn't make a commotion for most of the day. But I did manage to do a huge, really smelly, sticky pile of poo all over the sheet and sides of the crib. It needed a big clean and complete change. The smell whiffed all around the ward. Mum & Dad kept whispering to me that I was a very good boy for doing that.

Mum was really cheered up when Boobie and Zaida arrived with a huge bouquet of flowers that Dad's group at work got for us. They didn't bring them into the ward but Mum said they were huge and very expensive looking, with lots of real herbs and stuff. They're going to try to find a vase big enough for them back in Potters Bar.



When the nurses checked my bilirubin levels at lunchtime, they'd dropped well below the "safe" threshold, so the nurses took one of the lamps off me for a few hours. They tested me again at about 6pm but the level had risen. It was still safe but only just. They wanted to put the second light on again and keep me in for at least another 12 hours. Mum & Dad were Not Happy about this. Me neither - I was starting to feel sunburnt and my skin felt quite red and dry. I think the nurses were going to try sticking a tube down my nose to put formula milk straight into my stomach for this. Yuck.

Mum & Dad wanted to talk to the senior doctor about me. They thought that I was suffering from too much stress and my delicate skin wasn't up to the UV treatment. I think they were also quite stressed. There was another emergency (when isn't there one?) and no-one came even after 3 hours. Mum & Dad had kept me away from the lamps all that time (which made me feel much better - thanks!) and we ended up deciding to do a runner.

Boobie & Zaida arrived as Mum told the nurses that we were leaving. The senior nurse told us that we couldn't. Mum works in the NHS though and knew all about my rights, so she told them that we could and we would. The nurses weighed me before I left - now 2.2kg so I've put some weight on despite being in hospital. Then Zaida drove us all home and we relaxed a lot.

Dad was a bit anxious for me though, and had to have a large whisky and a long walk with Zaida to make him feel a bit better. Mum was much happier for winning the row with the nurses and being able to cuddle me properly again.

We made Shabbat (although my head's a bit too small for a kippah) and Auntie Roz had brought round some proper Jewish chicken soup, which Mum & Dad really enjoyed. The doctor did phone us and Boobie was really great - she had a long talk to the doctor about why we'd left and how we all felt about my treatment. Boobie pointed out to the senior doctor that during the whole time we had been in hospital, no one had even thought to ask Mum how she was feeling or whether she was OK, not even offering a bath or anything despite her being still terribly sore from the stitches. That was a bit of a revelation to the doctor - the fact that Mum was just four days after giving birth hadn't occurred to any of the clinical staff. Anyway, Boobie promised that we'd come back in the morning for another bilirubin test on me. I feel like a pincushion. I don't know how much blood I have left in my heels, nor how much skin is left for pricking, given the number of times it's been taken. But I'll do it if Mum & Dad ask me to.