Mama in hospital

Mid October, Magnus is 3months old.



After her birth experiences, mama Muna had problems with hemmoroids, and they did not go away by themselves. The doctor prescribed hospital surgery, and suddenly the day was there for the surgery. SCARY! We had received letters in the mail indicating that it was a bigger deal than previously anticipated, but fortunately norwegian law allow for a number of days one can take time off from work without penalty when baby is sick or the other parent is unable to take care of the baby. So I took Thursday and Friday off to take care of Magnus.

The three of us drove together to the hospital, mama was nervous of course. But we were prepared, she had pumped out two bottles of milk so Magnus could get food even without any breasts around.

We had to wait a long time in the hallway because several nurses were sick that day so surgeries were running a couple of hours behind schedule. Eventually Magnus got tired and just wanted to cry, so I took him out to stroll around the hospital grounds and try to get a little nap. Meanwhile mama was taken in for surgery.

A friend, Yusni, came to meet us in the hospital lobby and played excitedly with Magnus for almost an hour, and Magnus smiled and flirted with everybody who walked past. It was fun to observer peoples faces, most people would light up in smiles at him as they walked past.

When we went back to the waiting room Magnus decided that he was hungry, and announced so loudly for everybody to know. Oh my oh my, I had never fed him before !!! It was... interesting. The milk had been frozen so it came in plastic bags. First I put the plastic bags in warm water to get it better tempered, and put the whole thing in a bottle. But whatever I did I could not get the bottle tight, it kept leaking! It was a terrible mess. So half of it leaked out and we had to eat the other milk bag also before Magnus was tolerabley satisfied. At that time there was milk on daddy's sweater, on daddy's pants, on the floor, the table, the chair, on Magnus' sweater, and his gulpling cloth was completely drenched... oh my oh my, not a big success, but at least he was happy. When I was done cleaning up mama came out of surgery, a little pale, but we could go home. All the nurses were excited to follow her out and comment on her very cute baby, they had all heard and seen him in the course of the day.

It was very different to be with Magnus all of the time during the day, mama Muna was sleeping a lot of the time and otherwise unavailable, so except for eating, Daddy handled everything else for Magnus. Although I already feel very close to him by this time, this experience brought me even closer. It is very nice to realize that I understand what he needs and wants and be able to help him, and it is really great in the evening to wash him and put him to bed, sing for him and see him just close his eyes and fall asleep. He is such a dear (with no horns...)

Since Muna was still not doing so well, I had to take Friday off as well, and I took care of Magnus by myself throughout the weekend as well. It felt strange to go back to work on Monday morning again.