8 weeks

Today little man is 8 weeks old.

He's had another quiet day apart from a blood test this afternoon to make sure it's nothing metabolic causing his jaundice. Dr Mary is very happy with him and has noticed a big change since last time she was on. Oh and cuddles with mummy.

After a couple of quiet weeks in here, the place is now busy with lots of new arrivals and parents and relatives wandering around. As we are long term residents here, I have become quite possessive about the place and get cranky when people disturb my routine or the order of the place. I like to express in the parent lounge in the morning while I watch the news, I do not like it when other people think they can come in and use the facilities at this time...... I don't like it when people can't read the 'parents of babies in NICU only' sign in the parent lounge and congregate their whole family in there. I don't like people using our room as a short cut to theirs, I don't like making small talk comparisons about babies. In fact the first conversation was had just yesterday with Jensen's adjoining neighbours after 6 weeks. It's not a place to make friends. I get cranky with people who don't wash their hands when walking into the unit, when it is clearly signposted. I don't like it when people treat Intensive Care like their lounge room on their phones sipping a cup of coffee. I don't like it when people talk about us on the phone saying how they're in a much better position than us. I don't like being asked questions. I don't like seeing the fear on a new mum's faces. I get upset with nurses who are complacent and don't do their research. I don't like the pitiful puppy dog faces I get from the social workers, I don't like being told it's amazing your son has survived all he's been through at 23 weeks gestation. I don't like having to be here at all.

I do love lots of things about this place though. I love the care my son is receiving. I love the kind and caring nurses. I love the amount of training and education the staff participate in daily. I love the amount of thorough information we receive. I love that Jensen is so dear to so many nurses' hearts. I love that the nurses look out for me and Phil. I love that it is so close to home. I love that we can come whatever time we like. I love that it doesn't feel like a hospital. There's a lot more that I love but most of all I will love it when we can walk through those heavy doors with our little boy in our arms.

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