Kayden is born!
The last few weeks went by in a crazy flash. Let's see...
I was in Reservist, happily serving the nation in a laisser faire manner, resting after duty the day before. Hazel was having a regular day at work. Then Kayden arrived.
Spotting. Grabbed the preggie bad (made up only the weekend before). Rushed down to Gyni. Hazel arrived shortly. Rushed to room. Gyni says to go to Labour Ward to observe. I went to Pre-Admission for the paperwork. Took me 20 mins. Upon going back to the Labour Ward, I was informed that Hazel will be having a Caeserean section in 15 mins time. I comforted her, and the Gyni & Paediatrician (PD) comforted us. Placenta was coming off & there was a blood clot, which was what was giving Hazel her sore backaches recently. She was wheeled in at 5.15pm. I called family, friends & the army to inform. Within 20 mins & in the middle of a phone call, the nurse frantically waved for me. "Check your baby....Is this your wife's name?...Your baby correct?...Check all his 10 fingers, all his 10 toes, check his ears". OK...ZOOOOOOMMMM he was wheeled away into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Kayden came into the world 26 July (Wednesday) 2006 @ 1725 hours. He was 34 weeks old. He needed to be given oxygen to help him to breathe because his lungs were not fully expanded yet. I was waiting in the ward when Hazel was wheeled in 1 hour later. Dazed, she asked: "Is baby OK? Is baby OK?" I was relieved both baby & her were OK.
Kayden wanted to see the world early. And he did.
******
The most heart-wrenching thing was seeing Kayden hooked up to the ventilator at the ICU. You have seen the soppy movies. You have heard the cliches. You have read the advice columns. But nothing quite prepares you for the sight of your own son hooked up to a machine. Nothing. I felt it, but I never shown it. I was wondering how to tell Hazel.
I told Hazel that Kayden was fine & doing well. I am sure Hazel felt the same strong emotions the first time she was wheeled up to see him. Her tears came. We all felt the same.
Both Hazel & I were recovering from cough & running noses, so we were peeking at him with masks on. We dared not even touch him. We had to learn to deal with not caressing your kid upon birth.
Despite how we all felt, Kayden was a fighter.
******
He stayed at the ICU for a total of 10 days. In that time, we went back home & settled down (tried to). And the hectic-ness of sending over expressed milk to the ICU daily was something that kept us in constant contact with Kayden.
Kayden was allowed home on a Saturday, 5 August 2006. Hazel, my mom & I drove him home. Emil Chau's new song "Yu Ren" (Rain Man) was on repeat in the car stereo, and it became our song for Kayden. The violin intro, the lyrics, the tune....I still don't know what is the connection. It could have something to do with the fact that the song was playing in the car when Hazel was discharged 6 days ago...without Kayden. We were leaving him behind, but we will be back for him.
I was in Reservist, happily serving the nation in a laisser faire manner, resting after duty the day before. Hazel was having a regular day at work. Then Kayden arrived.
Spotting. Grabbed the preggie bad (made up only the weekend before). Rushed down to Gyni. Hazel arrived shortly. Rushed to room. Gyni says to go to Labour Ward to observe. I went to Pre-Admission for the paperwork. Took me 20 mins. Upon going back to the Labour Ward, I was informed that Hazel will be having a Caeserean section in 15 mins time. I comforted her, and the Gyni & Paediatrician (PD) comforted us. Placenta was coming off & there was a blood clot, which was what was giving Hazel her sore backaches recently. She was wheeled in at 5.15pm. I called family, friends & the army to inform. Within 20 mins & in the middle of a phone call, the nurse frantically waved for me. "Check your baby....Is this your wife's name?...Your baby correct?...Check all his 10 fingers, all his 10 toes, check his ears". OK...ZOOOOOOMMMM he was wheeled away into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Kayden came into the world 26 July (Wednesday) 2006 @ 1725 hours. He was 34 weeks old. He needed to be given oxygen to help him to breathe because his lungs were not fully expanded yet. I was waiting in the ward when Hazel was wheeled in 1 hour later. Dazed, she asked: "Is baby OK? Is baby OK?" I was relieved both baby & her were OK.
Kayden wanted to see the world early. And he did.
******
The most heart-wrenching thing was seeing Kayden hooked up to the ventilator at the ICU. You have seen the soppy movies. You have heard the cliches. You have read the advice columns. But nothing quite prepares you for the sight of your own son hooked up to a machine. Nothing. I felt it, but I never shown it. I was wondering how to tell Hazel.
I told Hazel that Kayden was fine & doing well. I am sure Hazel felt the same strong emotions the first time she was wheeled up to see him. Her tears came. We all felt the same.
Both Hazel & I were recovering from cough & running noses, so we were peeking at him with masks on. We dared not even touch him. We had to learn to deal with not caressing your kid upon birth.
Despite how we all felt, Kayden was a fighter.
******
He stayed at the ICU for a total of 10 days. In that time, we went back home & settled down (tried to). And the hectic-ness of sending over expressed milk to the ICU daily was something that kept us in constant contact with Kayden.
Kayden was allowed home on a Saturday, 5 August 2006. Hazel, my mom & I drove him home. Emil Chau's new song "Yu Ren" (Rain Man) was on repeat in the car stereo, and it became our song for Kayden. The violin intro, the lyrics, the tune....I still don't know what is the connection. It could have something to do with the fact that the song was playing in the car when Hazel was discharged 6 days ago...without Kayden. We were leaving him behind, but we will be back for him.
posted by BabeHazeNic at 2:11 PM
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