Thursday rolled around and Patrick, Shelagh and the children made their way to dinner, without too much fuss. Letting themselves in the children ran for the kitchen, greeting their grandma and grandpa with cries of glee. "Alright munchkins, settle down. Grandma has the hob on full blast, its hot please be careful!" Shelagh made her way to her mother and greeted her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, being careful of the sleeping babe in her arms. "Hello mum, smells delicious." "Thank you darling, Patrick lovely to see you too!" Julie released her hug, and turned to give Patrick one as well. Shelagh's father walked in with a joyous cry and picked up Angela and Amelia in his arms and spun them around, before setting them back down. "Hello ma darlins! Papa has missed you! You must have grown three inches since I saw you last!" He gave a chuckle and turned to hug his daughter and son-in-law. "Good to see you two as well. My Tim, you look smart, got a girl you're trying to impress?" Rick laughed at the red flush spreading across the young boys cheeks and clapped him on the back. Everyone sat and enjoyed their dinner, talking about their week and the latest news around the hospital. After the adults sat at the table with a kettle of tea while the children played in the next room.
"So mum, I was thinking of doing a short class for the nurses on a few new techniques I learned at that seminar I went to. They are doing amazing things now for pain relief in natural labor. I approached the board and got approval for extra funding to implement new tools to use at our aid for patients. One of them is called a Rebozo, it's a Mexican scarf that is very long and can be used in so many ways! They are using them to aid in gravity work, such as hanging it from a door for a squatting position to help hip flexion as well as it can be wrapped around the mother's belly in an all fours position to aid the mother in gentle swaying movements and ease lumbar pressure. What do you think?" Shelagh was brimming with excitement as she told her mother about the new things she learned. "I think that is a wonderful idea! I'm always for aiding our mothers in a better delivery. You can count me in! Are there other things as well?" Shelagh sat forward in her seat a little further to tell her mother more about the training. "Yes, such as essential oil therapies and acupressure tools. I think it's a marvelous way to assist our mothers in guided pain relief. Every room will have a diffuser running with calming scents that also can trigger hormones in the body to calm and provide pain relief. As well as acupressure combs, roller balls, and I budgeted for three new Tens unit machines. They provide direct electronic stimuli, thus tricking the brains' pathway for pain signals." They continued making plans for the training sessions, as well as talked about when their new tools would arrive for use. And they even figured they could get each L&D nurse a new ward shirt with a fun saying on it. ("Baby Whisperer") The night went on without a hitch and Patrick and Rick stepped out to throw the ball with the kids while Shelagh, Julie and Amelia stayed inside and talked as Amelia nursed.
"She's doing much better today with her teeth. I saw one white cap this morning, and she looks so much comfier now that she's not in so much pain. Although she is nursing a lot more. I think she is growing." Shelagh freely nursed her daughter on the settee, allowing her to eat without a cover making her uncomfortable. She was thankful for the confines of her mother's house, and the ability to nurse without feeling awkward. 'Oh I am so happy to hear that! Poor dear looked just miserable the other day. I can tell she's finally starting to put on a bit more weight." Julie rubbed the tiny foot pointing in her direction, and set a hand on her daughter's knee.
"Shelagh, there is something I wanted to talk to you about. Now that we have a free moment alone." I've been having regular spells of dizziness and tiredness. So I went to see Doctor Hoffman in neurology. I had a few scans done and some routine tests." "Mum are you okay?!" Shelagh was visibly worried now, turning a bit more towards her mother. "I'm fine, but he did tell me that I have vertigo. Likely caused from deterioration of my ear drum. So they put me on a new medication to control it and hopefully treat the problem. He is hopeful that in time it will heal on its own." Julie watched her daughters shoulders relax a bit after hearing that. "I promise I'm okay sweet girl." "Why didn't you tell me sooner, I am a grown woman now mum." Shelagh reached out her free hand and grabbed Julie's hand. "I know you are, you are a grown woman with several children, a ward to run, and a new maternity project in play. There was no need to worry you until I knew answers." "I suppose you're right. I just worry about you and papa." Julie smiled and ran her thumb over Shelagh's hand. They chatted for a while until the children came inside needing a glass of juice before it was time to head home for bath and bedtime for all. Patrick overtook that responsibility. Shelagh sat on the settee with her feet tucked under her as she nursed Amelia and felt rather spoiled, but enjoyed the moment of calm with her baby daughter.
2 AM rolled around and Shelagh woke to the sound of her phone going off, and Patrick's too. "Patrick wake up and get your phone." Shelagh put on her glasses and answered the call, to find a very panicked Trixie on the other line. "Shelagh! Oh, thank goodness! You and Patrick need to get here as soon as you can, there was a massive wreck on the highway, we have 4 mothers in labor and one more pregnant mother that is coming by ambulance from the wreck. Possible placental abruption. Amy called in, so it's just me and chummy and one other charge nurse tonight." Shelagh was out of bed halfway through Trixie's explanation and getting out her scrubs. "Trixie calm down we will be there in 30 minutes or less. I need to call Sìneag then we are there. Stay calm cool and collected till we get there, you got this." Trixie thanked her and hung up. "Looks like we better get a move on!" Patrick said as he pulled on his trousers. Shelagh called her sister and she was there in record time to stay with the children. They made it to the hospital in ten minutes flat and immediately got to work.
Shelagh waited for the mother from the crash to come in, but by the time they got to her, she was unconscious, and they rushed her to surgery, neither mother or baby made it. Shelagh was heartbroken for the woman and the baby. There was nothing that could be done, she had a ruptured spleen and bled out before they could get her on the table. One of the nurses came in with a small girl looking for the woman who had just passed. "Shelagh have you seen the woman that came in from the crash?" "Shelagh lowered her head a bit and in a low tone let her know what happened. "The little girl came in with her, she has been cleared but has some scrapes and bruises." "Oh, dear. Social services will need to be called. I will keep her up here with me until they arrive, it's much calmer than A&E." The young nurse nodded and Shelagh offered her hand to the small girl. She reached up her arms to be picked up, and Shelagh did so without hesitation.
"Hello wee one, can you tell me your name?" The little girl nodded and replied while burrowing her face into Shelagh's shoulder. "May" Shelagh looked at the girl who could only be about two maybe three at most. She could tell she was "Well miss May, my name is Shelagh. It's very nice to meet you." Shelagh cuddled the girl a bit closer, it was obvious she was very tired and found a place and person she felt safe with. She watched as the small child closed her eyes when Shelagh sat down and rocked her back and forth in her chair. She noticed her long dark hair and soft monolid eyes and rosy cheeks. From the first look she was in love with the little girl in her lap. After May fell asleep Shelagh reached for her phone and dialed her contact with social services. "Diane, it's Shelagh. We had a young mother come in who didn't make it, but she also has a young girl. Her name is May, maybe two or three years old. She's currently asleep in my lap. But with it being so late, do you have a place she can go?" "Shelagh don't worry about the time, let me make a few calls and see what I can do, and I will call you back. Please keep an eye on her until I can either get there or find a placement for her." Shelagh laughed a little at her answer and lightheartedly replied. "Don't worry, I can't really move right now so that won't be a problem." Diane thanked her and hung up the phone. Shelagh sat with the young girl and waited on a call back while she did some paperwork and notes on May's mother.
NEW CHARACTER ALERT!
Hey Y'all long time no write. I know I suck... BUT how could I not bring the sweet little girl into play in this story! Anywho... I have another chapter to go up in a day or two to follow this one, where we will pick up the cliff hanger. Sorry for that haha! Love all of you bunches, and I'm happy to have my mojo back.