Tired but happy. 5/25/12
One should never have an expectation of accomplishment after the birth of a child.
Happily Matthew's predicted hospital stay of up to a month lasted only 2 weeks. He was discharged with only the support of an oxygen machine. The day we left the hospital was, of course, the only day it snowed late in the winter. Bringing home a newborn is stressful enough; add on tentative drivers on the highway and the pressure of an old looking oxygen tank and, well I'm sure you can imagine. Unfortunately the stress did not end once we were home. While the snow continued John left to pick up Will from his daycare. While he was gone, I saw a bright spark near the road accompanied by a loud pop which was quickly followed by darkness. Yes home alone with new baby on oxygen, and no
electricity, fun. Additionally, we were waiting for the medical equipment
company to drop off the additional oxygen equipment. Naively when we first
received the tank, it never occurred to me that we would need more supplies for
home. Yes his D tank had only enough oxygen on his level, to last 4hours. Now
we were sitting in the dark during a mini blizzard and watched as the tank
creep toward empty. Luckily it was not a matter of life and death; I only hope
not a matter of negative impact on his cognitive development. (I might be a bit hyper concerned of this owing to my line of work but I think you'll forgive me for that.) The oxygen delivery was over 2 hours late, welcome home. The poor delivery guy felt
horrible, additionally his car got stuck on the hill of our driveway and had to be pushed out. Not what one would call a welcome home party.
This night was just the beginning of what I will look back upon as crazy time. Every newborn is needy and involved. Add on the additional needs of seeing multiple doctors, regular visiting nurse appointments and coordination with the medical equipment company and it is amazing I had the time (and mental energy) to do some laundry, grocery shop, or sleep. For weeks we have been on this crazy treadmill. Each day was simply a task to get through and not forget to where to go. The second week we were joined by my mother which definitely helped with task management not to mention sleep. Even with three adults, two children, one
with special needs wad still a challenge. Looking back, what I have come to realize and respect the role real stress plays on your life. Prior to his birth I knew I was stressed, but not until later did I realize I was STRESSED! Baby brain nothing, real stress trumps all.
As the weeks have progressed the prognosis has happily improved. Matthew is now free of all tubes. No more oxygen. Not that l won’t miss the looks and low tone ahhs people like to share when they see a baby with an oxygen tube. He at 3 months is just under 16 pounds and is alert, smiling, and laughing.
The appointments have slowed, the VNA has finished, and the oxygen equipment all went back. We don’t see the cardiologist again for 6 months, what will I do with all this time? Our lives have slowed to a normal buzz. That's fine with me. I’ll take it. Give me crazy newborn work, I have my new born.
Happily Matthew's predicted hospital stay of up to a month lasted only 2 weeks. He was discharged with only the support of an oxygen machine. The day we left the hospital was, of course, the only day it snowed late in the winter. Bringing home a newborn is stressful enough; add on tentative drivers on the highway and the pressure of an old looking oxygen tank and, well I'm sure you can imagine. Unfortunately the stress did not end once we were home. While the snow continued John left to pick up Will from his daycare. While he was gone, I saw a bright spark near the road accompanied by a loud pop which was quickly followed by darkness. Yes home alone with new baby on oxygen, and no
electricity, fun. Additionally, we were waiting for the medical equipment
company to drop off the additional oxygen equipment. Naively when we first
received the tank, it never occurred to me that we would need more supplies for
home. Yes his D tank had only enough oxygen on his level, to last 4hours. Now
we were sitting in the dark during a mini blizzard and watched as the tank
creep toward empty. Luckily it was not a matter of life and death; I only hope
not a matter of negative impact on his cognitive development. (I might be a bit hyper concerned of this owing to my line of work but I think you'll forgive me for that.) The oxygen delivery was over 2 hours late, welcome home. The poor delivery guy felt
horrible, additionally his car got stuck on the hill of our driveway and had to be pushed out. Not what one would call a welcome home party.
This night was just the beginning of what I will look back upon as crazy time. Every newborn is needy and involved. Add on the additional needs of seeing multiple doctors, regular visiting nurse appointments and coordination with the medical equipment company and it is amazing I had the time (and mental energy) to do some laundry, grocery shop, or sleep. For weeks we have been on this crazy treadmill. Each day was simply a task to get through and not forget to where to go. The second week we were joined by my mother which definitely helped with task management not to mention sleep. Even with three adults, two children, one
with special needs wad still a challenge. Looking back, what I have come to realize and respect the role real stress plays on your life. Prior to his birth I knew I was stressed, but not until later did I realize I was STRESSED! Baby brain nothing, real stress trumps all.
As the weeks have progressed the prognosis has happily improved. Matthew is now free of all tubes. No more oxygen. Not that l won’t miss the looks and low tone ahhs people like to share when they see a baby with an oxygen tube. He at 3 months is just under 16 pounds and is alert, smiling, and laughing.
The appointments have slowed, the VNA has finished, and the oxygen equipment all went back. We don’t see the cardiologist again for 6 months, what will I do with all this time? Our lives have slowed to a normal buzz. That's fine with me. I’ll take it. Give me crazy newborn work, I have my new born.
