Charlie undergoes radiation therapy!
Well... Not really... Yesterday, the friendly pediatrician labeled our Baby Charlie a pumpkin. She said his bilirubin blood levels were too high. This is a condition known as Jaundice. The cure is put Charlie under special lights to help his body remove it.
Fortunately we can do this at home! The lights come in suitcase, which when opened look like a infant tanning bed. Because of the blue lights involved, I call Charlie my little blue light special now.
Bilirubin is a natural by-product of red blood cells breaking down after their 90 day life. About every three months, all the red blood cells in your body die, are replaced and the remains of the old ones are broken down by your liver and removed from body. Little Charlie's systems aren't quite ready dispose of the old ones yet. So the remains of the dead red blood cells keep hanging out in his system, turning his eyes and skin yellow. Ugh.
While in the tanning bed, Charlie needs to wear eye protection since his eyes could be damaged by the lights. He looks he's tanning on the Crib Rivera. The blue sheet is an added light barrier to filter the most dangerous blue rays.
The only thing Charlie hates more than not being held is being naked. Charlie hates being put under the lights and has easily set personal records for both volume and length of screaming. It's a hard thing to do to the little guy.
When can we get back to the loving?!
