Chapter 4—Helping Grandma Move Out/ We Have A Problem
December 8th, 1999, 07:45 pm
Adam's POV
We had an early practice again today; the JV team was off playing against Anoka. Gunnar had joined us as the student manager, to keep him involved with the team. That way he could participate but still follow doctors' orders. After practice today Gunnar and I were going to go over to Grandma's to help Grandma finish the packing that she needed to do. The moving company was coming on Friday to move her into her new place. The good news was that on December 1st Grandma's house sold for 150 thousand dollars and the closing was on Monday. Once Grandma was all moved out the cleaning needed to be done and then it was time for the new owners to move in on the 16th. Dad was taking the day off on Friday to help Grandma with the move. Ollie was studying with Annie. He was going to move out of our house after his last final next Thursday. Charlie gave Bella, Gunnar and myself a ride to Grandma's after practice. We wanted to help Grandma get the last of the boxes packed and stacked up ready for the movers to move on Friday.
"Now Michele I want you to be careful with that box. I don't want you to do anything to yourself," Grandma said with worry in her voice.
"I will be fine Mrs. Lebrie, no need to worry," Mom said as she lifted the box.
"Well, if you insist dear," Grandma said.
"Grandma Michele said that she would be fine, stop worrying," Bella said.
"Uh oh," Mom said.
"What's wrong mom?" I asked as I sat a box down next to her.
"I think that my water just broke," Mom said.
"What?" Bella and I said together.
"Vhat does that mean?" Gunnar asked.
"Michele are you sure?" Grandma asked.
"I think so, we have to get me to the hospital," Michele said.
"What do we do? What do we do?" Bella said.
"Grandma can we borrow your car?" I asked.
"Yes sweetheart," Grandma said as she handed me the keys to the car.
"Okay, I am going to go and get the car, Gunnar you stay with mom and help her out to the car?" I asked.
"Ves," Gunnar said.
"What do we do? What do we do?" Bella asked again.
"Bella you need to relax," Grandma said.
"Who's going to drive Michele to the hospital?" Bella said.
"Adam is," Gunnar said.
"Grandma Banks is driving?" Bella asked as she got into the car.
Once we were in the car and on our way to Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Mom started to moan, "It's too soon, it's too soon." With each and every moan I pressed my foot down on the gas pedal, we got there within literally 5 minutes from leaving Grandma's house.
"It's okay mom," I said as I grabbed her hand.
Once we pulled up into the hospital parking lot, Gunnar quickly got out of the car and got a wheelchair for mom. Bella tried calling Dad again and again. But could not get him at all, the calls kept going to voicemail. Each message Bella left sounded more and more desperate.
"What can I help you with?" asked the lady at the registration.
"I'm in labor," Mom said.
"I can see that," the registration lady said.
"But I shouldn't be, I am only 27 weeks. Oh God here comes another one," Mom moaned.
"Here squeeze my hand mom," I said. Gunnar followed suit by grabbing her other hand.
" Ó helvítis guð minn sem er sárt ! (Oh, my fucking God that hurts!)," Gunnar yelled.
"Is there anything that you can do to stop this?" Bella yelled, I glared at her. Who would have thought that I would be the calm one in this mess.
"Who's the father?" The registration lady asked.
"Gordon Bombay, but we can get a hold of him. He is at a training class," Bella yelled.
"Ok, ok relax we are going to get her upstairs to the maternity ward. I need a name and date of birth," The registration lady said.
"Michele Elizabeth Bombay. Date of birth is July 5th Nineteen sixty-FIVE!" Mom yelled and squeezed both of our hands again.
"Insurance?" The registration lady asked.
"Vhy are ve vasting our time, vith vhis, Ms. Michele needs to get upstairs," Gunnar said.
"This is a hospital procedure," The registration lady said.
"Blue cross/ Blue shield of Minnesota," Mom said.
"I need your insurance card," The registration lady said.
"It's in my purse Bella," Mom said.
"I am looking for it, Michele," Bella said.
"Address?" The registration lady said.
"6901 Loran Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417," Mom said.
"Found it," Bella said and handed the cards to the registration lady.
"Alright, I need you to sign and date these forms and someone will be down in a few minutes to get you," The registration lady said.
When mom was done signing the forms we wheeled mom over to the waiting area and Bella took a hard sit on the couch.
"I need to go and move the car. Mom are you going to be okay for a few minutes?" I asked.
"Yes honey, I should be fine," Mom said.
I quickly ran out to the car and moved it to a parking spot and ran back in. By the time I got back into the hospital, we heard; "Michele Bombay?" come out of a nurse.
"Right HERE," Mom yelled as another contraction was coming.
"Hi, I'm Nurse Carlson, I will be taking you up to Maternity. What brings you in tonight?" Nurse Carlson said.
"Well, I am in labor," Mom said.
"That I can tell how far along are you?" Nurse Carlson asked.
"27 weeks," Mom said.
"First baby?" Nurse Carlson asked.
"My second, I have a 19-month-old at their grandma's house," Mom said.
"Any complications?" Nurse Carlson asked.
"No, it's been perfect so far, I don't know what happened," Mom said.
"What happened this evening?" Nurse Carlson asked.
"I was moving boxes for their Grandmother and all of the sudden my water broke. Oh God here is another one," Mom said.
"Ok, relax we are going to try and stop the delivery," Nurse Carlson said.
"That would be great," Mom said.
"Who's your doctor?" Nurse Carlson asked.
"Dr. White," Mom said.
Once we arrived at LDR 5223, Nurse Carlson said; "So who's coming with you?"
"Vot me I am squeamish," Gunnar said.
"I don't think that I can take this," Bella said.
"Fine, I will go," I said.
"There is a waiting room at the end of the hall. I need you to wait outside, while we get your mom into a gown and set up," Nurse Carlson said.
"Fine," I said.
Within 5 minutes, I was pulled into the room.
Gordon's POV 09:10 pm
We had just gotten out of training, and I had turned my phone on, and I saw I had seven new voicemails, all from Bella, all concerning Michele. I had to quickly get to Abbott Northwestern Hospital from Washington County Law Library, in Stillwater, MN. It's supposed to take about 34 minutes. I made it in like twenty. I rushed up to floor 5 and when I got there I heard, "Coach," Come from out of Bella.
"Hey, what's going on, have you heard anything yet?" I asked.
"No vot vet," Gunnar said.
"Where is Michele?" I asked.
"In room 5223," Bella said.
"Ok where is Adam?" I asked.
"He's in the room with Michele," Bella said.
I rushed to Michele's room and knocked on the door. I quickly went into the room.
"Oh Gordon, Thank God you are here," Michele said.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I went into preterm labor when I was helping move boxes at Mrs. Lebrie's house," Michele said.
"Is there any way that we can stop this labor?" I asked.
"I am afraid not Mr. Bombay, your wife is already at 5 and the bag of waters has ruptured completely, you are having this baby tonight," Dr. White said.
"What are the compilations?" I asked.
"Uh Jaundice, Kidney problems, infections, breathing problems, heart problems, brain problems. Long term problems, Cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, Dental problems, behavioral problems, impaired Cognitive function, chronic health problems, bigger risk for SIDS and of course death. Mortality rate is 1 in 10 for baby's at 27 weeks gestation. The baby is going to have to spend probably a good couple of weeks in the NICU," Dr. White said.
"Gordon, I'm scared," Michele said.
"It's okay baby we will get through this together," I said as I rubbed my wife's shoulders.
"I know, I am just scared," Michele said.
"Me too," Adam said.
"I know Adam, look why don't you three go back to Eden Hall. It could be a long night," I said.
"What about Hans?" Adam asked.
"What about Hans?" I asked.
"Well, I mean he is at Grandma's house, right now. But to be honest, she isn't prepared to have him over for the night," Adam said.
"We did leave quite quickly, Oh GOD HERE IT COMES!" Michele said.
"Breathe sweetheart, Breathe,' I said as I led her through a Lamaze exercise. After it was over, 'Adam is there any way that you and Gunnar can watch Hans tonight? I or Grandma MacKay will be over in the morning, to pick him up before school, Ok?" Mom was on her annual Girls trip/Pre Christmas cruise to the Bahamas, and she was coming back in a few days.
"Yeah I guess so. Good luck I love you both," Adam said as he hugged me and then attempted to hug Michele.
"It's okay sweetie, Thanks for hanging in there with me, even though you didn't know what you were doing," Michele said as she patted his cheek.
"Your welcome mom," Adam said.
"Thanks Son, love you," I said.
"Goodnight, guys," Adam said as he left the room.
"Wow already?" I asked.
"I know, Gordon, we are nowhere near ready. We don't have names picked out or any of the furniture bought, Eden Hall hasn't even approved my maternity leave, Adam hasn't moved downstairs yet, we have no clothing, I haven't decided on how I want the room to look," Michele said.
"Honey it could be a boy, we don't have to worry about clothing," I said with a smile.
"Gordon; get serious. You know that this pregnancy I have been way sicker than I was with Hans. It's a girl I know it is, OWWWWWWWWWW!" Michele said as she screamed.
"Breathe Michele,' I said and then I led her thru some of the Lamaze exercises that I remember from before. Once the contraction was over 'Why aren't you doing it?"
"Because I am not supposed to be doing this now, I was counting on at least 10 more weeks,' Michele said and then she started to cry, 'I am such a bad mother."
"No, you're not, you're a great mother. It's just this one who decided that he wanted to join the party a little early. Maybe he wanted to come for the fireworks on New Years Eve," I started to chuckle as I rubbed her belly.
"Gordon this is not funny," Michele said with a cross face.
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