Run Rabbit, Run

PINKEY

 

He's here. Easter Sunday. Perfect! Will and I are happy to miss church services, not have to put on smiling faces, shake hands with our minister whose hands must be contaminated with skillions of germs. The more often I see him, the less I like him so today is an extra special good one. It has been a difficult nine months for both Will and me. If I never see another Uneeda Biscuit in my life, I won't miss the dryness of them, the mess they make and to my recollection, never took away one bit of my morning sickness.

 

The sun is shining brightly and instead of sitting on a wooden bench with carvings of 'JK L VB, ' 'F.U.', I'm lying in a clean  white bed holding our Easter present in my arms. He's an eight oz. bundle of joy even though he hasn't said a single word yet. Will looks puzzled one moment, happy,  frightened, worried the next.  He's one big mess of bewilderment. 

 

Expecting a son, we have pre-named him, Milton Q. Folsom. Will and I believe the 'Q' will make an interesting, impressive point, make Milton stand out on every list.

 

I don't know the name of the nurse who handed Milton to me. There was no electricity, no warmth. Her attitude was blah, he's just another wailing baby. She won't remember me and I will soon forget her as she hasn't been back. No big deal. William wants me to rest and I want him to hold Milton, touch his tiny fingers, start being his daddy. He just isn't ready and I am content feeling my baby out of my belly, next to my heart.

 

There is a light rap on my private room door. It opens slowly. Dr. Solomon enters. His face beams. He addresses William and me as one.
'Your son is well, strong but seems to have a slight infection in both ears. Dr. Earl Craig, is a pediatrician of renown and specialist in eye, nose and throat problems. He has already seen your son and has taken care of the drops that will be administered for a day or two. Don't worry. It is a minor problem. We expect Mama and baby will go home about noon Tuesday.' Wishing Will and me good luck, Dr. Solomon leaves the new threesome on our own for a short while.

 

Tales my mother has told me many times revolve in my mind. She had to stay in the hospital when I was born, a normal two weeks. My father had to put her on a kitchen chair, get help, just to carry her up the few front steps. A cot and bassinet were waiting for me and mom. My grandmother came and took care of me for a week. After that Mom was captain of making formula, sterilizing bottles, nipples and best of all she could use the stairs, sleep in her own bed, go outside for a walk, if she promised not to over-do it. Baby foods  cost a lot so my Mom bought fresh pears, bananas, mashed them, strained them and I sometimes spit them in her face.

 

The hospital rule is the bill must be paid before I am released. Once done, William will take me downstairs in a wheelchair. I wait outside for him to  pull up. And then I will be free, free at last.  Dr. Solomon's instructions are I can do anything I want at home, within reason. No aerobics, no running, no sex until after my first check up in May. I make him laugh when I tell him I can give up aerobics, never was an Olympic runner, but sex?'

 

Once settled in at home, Milton changed, I notice a phone message waiting, actually five. The first three are congrats and best wishes, welcome home from my friends. The fourth one stopped me in my tracks. Dr. Earl Craig's message is to call him. Before I dial, I see Milton learning sign language, wearing hearing aids. What a miserably sick mind I have.

 

'Mrs. Folsom? The first report is back and your son does have an ear infection called 'otitis.' I jump at him. 'You mean he is going to be deaf?' I'm quite sure he hears the fear in my voice. 'Calm down. You may see him pull on his ear, maybe a little redness now and then, but he isn't going to be deaf or even hard of hearing. In your boy's case, he has already accumulated ear wax. It is not at all unusual. We can wait a week or two for you to bring him in. It can be difficult keeping him still while I probe gently in his ear canal. But I will remove the wax. You are not to use Q tips. That can do more harm than good. Also this will happen again, maybe always but there is no danger. His ears may get a slight pinkish look but it will be barely noticeable, lighten as he grows up.' Dr. Craig surely hears my sigh of relief and asks if I want to make an appointment for my son. 'Yes, of course, Dr.' 

 

I call Will and tell him the report, not to worry. Ha ha! I stand for a long time over Milton's crib and just stare at him, until his barely pink ears look like red bullets. Coming out of my motherly fit, I realize that his pink ears can't be 'otitis'. They are pink because he was our Easter bunny.

 

That makes them loveable and I get on with my daily holding, hugging Milton Q. Folsom.