Every Day Counts

Wednesday 5:05 pm, my phone rings.  I've missed four calls from Michelle within a couple of minutes.  Crap.  I call her, she's distraught, just left work, her water broke, called doctor, on way to hospital, the baby is only 32 weeks, what are we doing with Alex.  Everything after that is a blur.  I pick up Alex at daycare, these guys are great, one of the teachers rides to the house with me, Mom kisses Alex bye and we're off to the hospital.  Michelle is plugged in, nurse says not looking so good, lot of water, steroid shot goes in for baby lung development, have to keep him in the oven for at least two more days, ideally three weeks.  More shots, antibiotics, and things begin to settle down a little.  Parents arrive around midnight, Alex is sleeping.  We're all ready for a rest.

Thursday things are looking up.  The leaking is now but a trickle, contractions are slower too.  Texts and emails are coming in, we're seen by various doctors.  The picture emerges that we'll be more or less living in the hospital for the next three weeks, no matter what... hopefully bed rest, with Michelle on the monitors and me on the bench, worst case NICU which is automatic for any baby younger than 35 weeks.

Daunting at first, but more and more manageable, nice to have the extra family time, kind of an adventure.   Visitors are trickling in.  Alex is enjoying his playtime with lolo, nurses fawning over him, buttons to push.  But he misses his mama.  We're fortunate for all the support, near and far, we're thankful to be in competent hands. 

Today is day four, and the fact that we're still in this room is a blessing.  Four days of baby development, enough time for the steroids to kick in, and the word is the longer you stay the longer you stay.  Seems like we're over the worst.  Confinement is hard on Michelle.  "I want to go to Home Depot with you guys."  That says it all.  We had IHOP for breakfast.  Now it's naptime.