March 23, 2007
It’s been two weeks since little Tegan arrived. For the most part, all is well. She has a little bit of jaundice and so we are dealing with that, but she is beautiful and otherwise healthy and very, very sweet.
We got our ambulance bills in the mail yesterday. $1,150 for me, $1200 for Tegan. Thank God for insurance. I don’t know why I was surprised, but I was. I guess I would be willing to pay that much for all the paramedics did for us. I wouldn’t have wanted to do it on our own. Being at the hospital still would be my first choice. I ran into the paramedics at the grocery store yesterday. They totally recognize us and it is sort of embarrassing. I am trying not to be embarrased because I know they don’t care at all and it is just what they do, but it is weird to run into someone who has seen every bit of you like that at the grocery store. At least the paramedic who did everything was a lady. I am so appreciative and I think they are kind of cool, so I am trying to get past the “you’ve seen my naked” part and just be normal.
Tegan is snorting and fussing. I must go tend to her now. I will post a new picture soon. There are some new ones up at Shane’s flickr site.
Comments
Tisra:
It would appear my nudge to post some pics did some good. :-) Such a sweetie. I hope that she doesn’t have jaundice like Ethan- no glow worm lights!
I’m curious about what the paramedics did do for you guys. How did everything play out once she was born? I was there when a friend of mine had a home birth (purposefully) and saw all that the midwife did, but under these circumstances- what is procedure? Did you stay at home a little or did they whisk you away?
March 24, 2007 8:09 AM
Nana:
As the Nana on the scene, things happened pretty fast. At 9:00 in the evening Shane called me to come on over to watch Ethan when they were ready to go to the hospital. I asked if I had a few minutes (like time to gather some things) or did they need me soon. He said they needed me to come now. When I rounded the corner, at about 9:06, my heart dropped to see the police cars with lights going and an ambulance parked in the street. After running to the door they said Erika was delivering the baby. What?! Shane had just called me! at 9:10 one of the firemen came out into the living room and told me I had a granddaughter, and about three minutes later he brought her out all wrapped in beach towels to say hello. By 9:25 everyone was out the door and on their way to the hospital. Erika was sitting up and looked like she was ready to run a marathon. What surprised me was how many people came out of the back bedroom. They all seemed pretty happy. These are probably the kinds of calls they like to get.
March 24, 2007 11:33 AM
Erika:
The paramedics pretty much did everything. Shane was told by the 911 dispatcher to “apply gentle pressure” to keep the baby in. Once the paramedics arrived, they delivered the baby, they cut the cord, got the baby all warmed up and going, and so on. They started an IV on me and wheeled us out. We were out of there pretty quick. They left quite a mess that Nana thankfully cleaned up. They did a few other things to make sure we were ok in the ambulance but they took care of everything else at the hospital…not that there was much left, I guess. But we didn’t hang around at home for very long. It wasn’t too cozy in the tiny little bathroom and they just wanted to get us to the hospital ASAP. I didn’t really want to hang around either. I wouldn’t say I was ready to run a marathon, but I did feel pretty good after she was born…adrenaline and lack of previous pain= happy mommy.
March 24, 2007 8:12 PM
Tisra:
What was the IV for? Pitocin? Just fluids? The whole thing is so crazy and wonderful all at once. Tegan is going to be one to watch out for- with a dramatic start like that, she might be the sort to always command attention or have a trick up her sleeve! And, gosh, just thinking of you guys- I’d be nervous to have third child unless you were planning a home birth. They say labors get shorter each time. (I found it to be true- although not plan altering because I just TAKE SO LONG regardless. Forty something hours with Grant. Twenty something with Dean. 16 or 17 with Lael. Not really enough to worry about delivering at home.) A nice advantage to us bypassing pregnancy this time around.
Again, I am so glad you and little Tegan are healthy and beautiful and home! :-)
March 25, 2007 2:30 PM
erika:
They gave me fluids and pitocin. The doctor said next time, she is sending me straight to the hospital if she checks me and I am as far as I was this last time. So far, Tegan seems like she is going to be very mellow. I think she will just be a person who does her own thing on her own time.
March 25, 2007 11:19 PM
Amy F.:
Wow, how traumatic to have someone see “every bit of you like that at the grocery store.” :)
March 28, 2007 10:26 PM