Done Adulting Vol. 2 Ch. 40

Consciousness returned first, a soft awareness of being awake. Jamie liked this feeling, this being awake while his body was still asleep. It was warm and restful. He didn’t want to open his eyes, and when he tried anyway, he couldn’t.

He didn’t hear any voices, but he thought there were people nearby. He felt it was time to get up, to let them know he was awake. He tried to move but couldn’t, tried to talk but couldn’t. Control of his body slowly returned, first with a slight turn of the head.

“He’s waking up,” someone said.

“Hey there, Jamie. You waking up, buddy?”

Sensation returned. Jamie was being held by someone. His eyelids still didn’t want to rise, and he had to will them open, slowly and with effort. He saw a shirt.

“Hello in there,” the person wearing the shirt sang to him. He looked upward, and he saw Amanda, his person. “Hey, Jamie.” She smiled at him. He was too tired to smile back, and he let his head fall back into the crook of her arm. He was swaddled in a blanket and couldn’t move anything else.

Becky turned her chair inward so she was closer to him. “Sleepy bear,” she cooed. “I’ll go get a nurse.”

The sleep seemed to suddenly drain from Jamie, replaced by a tired alertness. “Manda,” he said with a dry mouth. He smacked his lips.

“Yeah, buddy?” He yawned. Amanda loved to watch Jamie yawn, especially when he was this tired; he seemed so small and cute. She could feel his arms and legs and toes tense through the swaddling as he stretched his tiny limbs. He didn’t respond, wiggled his hips back and forth, snuggling into the blanket and nestling his head against her chest, seeking the warmth of her body.

“Such a brave boy,” she whispered. “Do you feel better?”

Jamie nodded his head. He remembered, vaguely, waking up in Becky’s arms like this four years ago and the panic that overtook him. He felt none of that now. He felt relief, love, and security because Manda had him, always had him, was always looking out for him.

“Thanks for taking care of me,” he mumbled as Becky returned with a nurse.

“Hi,” the nurse said cheerfully. “How’s he doing?” She sanitized her hands at the door.

“Groggy,” Amanda said as the nurse held out her arms. Amanda gingerly handed him over, and the nurse placed Jamie in the bassinet.

“He’s not regressed, right?”

“Right,” Becky said.

“Jamie,” the nurse said, “How are you feeling?”

“Groggy,” he replied, “and my belly hurts.”

“How bad does it hurt, one being just a little and ten being severe?”

“Four.”

“You’re gonna be a little sore from the incisions and the gas they inflated your abdomen with. That’ll work itself out. Can I look at your tummy?” Jamie nodded, and the nurse unswaddled him. She looked at the incisions, which were covered with glue. “Okay. The doctor will be in when he does his rounds. Do you need anything?”

“Can I have something to drink?”

“Yes. I’ll bring you a cup.” The nurse folded the blanket back over Jamie lightly and left.

Becky approached the bassinet. “Are you warm enough?”

Jamie’s response was to hold his arms up, and Becky lifted him gently to her chest, carefully supporting him so his abdomen was loose. “Your color is so much better.”

“May I go back to sleep,” Jamie asked.

“Yes, baby. Go back to sleep.” She supported Jamie’s head against her chest and sang, “Sleep my child and peace attend thee, all through the night ...”

The nurse returned with a cup, and Becky silently took it from her with a thankful nod as she continued to sing Jamie’s lullaby. The nurse left, and Amanda took the cup, retrieved a bottle from the diaper bag, and poured the water in. She handed it to her mom, who teased Jamie’s lips with it. He latched on in his sleep and drank his bottle.

“I should call Stacy and let Ella know,” Manda said. She stepped into the hall as Lauren came around the corner with Danny and Samuel.

“How is he,” Danny asked.

“He’s fine. He’s sleeping,” Amanda answered. “Hi, Sammy.”

“Hi, Manda,” the toddler answered.

“I was about to call Stacy. Thanks for bringing that stuff.”

“We won’t keep you,” Lauren said. “We have to be really quiet when we go in, okay, Sammy?” She held a finger to her lips. Sammy gave an exaggerated, toddler nod.

“Hi,” Becky whispered when the three of them came around the corner. Danny leaned forward and gave his sister a kiss on the cheek.

“How are you,” he asked.

“Almost as tired as he is I think. But everything is just fine. He’s just fine.”

“Scary,” Lauren said.

“Yeah. No such thing as routine surgery when it’s your child or your little,” Becky replied.

“Is he okay,” Sammy asked.

“Yes,” Becky said as she folded back the blanket around Jamie’s face. “See? He’s just sleeping.”

“I can take him for a while,” Danny offered.

“No, that’s okay.” She didn’t want to let him go again.

“We brought his bear,” he said as he held up a bag, “and some clean clothes for all of you.”

“Thanks. He’ll be glad to see it. He said he didn’t need it, but of course he does. He’s just a little boy. Of course he needs his bear,” she baby-talked quietly to her sleeping little.

“He really ought to give it a name,” Lauren said.

“He doesn’t want to. I don’t know why.” Becky sat down in a rocking chair.

“Have you eaten today,” Lauren asked.

“No, neither of us.” Amanda came back in. “I promised Ella she could come over after we get him home and settled tomorrow,” Amanda reported.

“Was she worried?”

“Not too much. At least she knew what an appendix is. Did you notice when the doctor said humans have tailbones?”

“But no tails,” Danny asked.

“Yeah. Wonder what they do with them.”

“We can ask him when he wakes up,” Lauren said. “Can we go get you some food? Or I can stay here while you guys go.”

“I wanna be here when he wakes up again,” Becky said, “but you should go get something, Manda.”

Amanda wanted to stay too, but she knew her mom would insist. “What can we bring you?”

“Just a sandwich or something.”

“‘Kay. We won’t be long.”

When they got back, Jamie was awake and getting his diaper changed. Lauren and Danny stayed with Sammy out in the hall to give him some privacy. Becky put the diaper on the counter for the nurses to weigh.

“Can I have some pajamas now,” Jamie asked.

“Um,” Becky said, “I don’t think so with that IV in your hand. It would run up your sleeve. Let’s ask the doctor when he comes in. I do have some shorts for you, though.” Becky retrieved his spare shorts from the diaper bag. She said and threaded them up his legs. Amanda helped him raise his hips so Becky could get them on all the way.

“You can come in,” Amanda called out.

“Hey, look who’s awake,” Lauren said in the same tone of voice she used when getting Sammy out of bed.

“How are you feeling,” Danny asked.

“It’s starting to hurt more, but not as bad as before. Thanks for bringing my bear.” He blushed. He was happier to have it than he wanted to let on.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Sammy said. Jamie had enough practice deciphering toddlers’ accents at daycare that he was able to understand it, though Amanda only got the gist of it.

“Thanks for coming to see me ... Am I allowed to eat,” he asked.

“I ordered you some dinner while you were asleep,” Becky told him. “I can feed you now though. Would you like that?” He nodded. He was shy about little things around Danny.

“We’ll get out of your hair,” Danny said. “You guys must be exhausted.” Amanda helped Jamie sit up, and Danny gave him a hug. “Let’s go do something fun when you’re up to it, okay?”

“Okay.”

Lauren gave him a hug and a kiss. “Be a good boy for the nurses,” she said with a wink.

“I’ll try, Aunt Lauren. Thanks again for coming.” Becky saw them out.

“Oh my god,” Amanda exclaimed. “I totally forgot to call Mel.” She got out her phone. “I did call Ella, though. She’s gonna come see you tomorrow when we get you home. You can call her now if you want.”

Jamie shook his head. “I’m probably gonna be sleepy when I’m done eating. She knows I’m alright, though?”

“Yeah. Mel will come up here if you want.”

“Maybe I can see her tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

When Jamie was done eating both his dinners and after the doctor came in and assured them everything had gone well and Jamie could go home tomorrow, Amanda pulled Jamie into her lap, where he reclined against her, Amanda arms loosely wrapped around his middle.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” Jamie said to them.

“Don’t be sorry,” Amanda insisted. “These things happen ... What happened to your tail?”

“What?”

“The doctor said humans have tailbones. What happened to your tail?”

“Haha ow ha ow! Don’t make me laugh,” Jamie said as he clenched his abdominal muscles against the pain.

“So humans aren’t born with tails,” Becky asked. She was pretty familiar with that end of Jamie. She’d seen no sign he’d ever had a tail.

“He meant my coccyx. The bone at the end of our spines.”

“Oh!” Amanda said. “We have one of those, too. We just don’t call it that.”

“He only has a tail when he’s wearing his bear sleeper,” Becky joked. “And it’s the cutest tail ever.”

“Even cuter than Kazoo’s,” Jamie asked.

“Much,” Amanda assured him.

There was a lull in the conversation. “I really am sorry.”

“If you don’t stop apologizing,” Amanda said, “I’m gonna make you laugh again.”

A nurse came in, a different one than before. “Did he keep his dinner down okay,” she asked as she rubbed the sanitizing foam into her hands.

“Yes,” Becky said. “He was a hungry little bear.” The nurse smiled.

“It’s almost time for him to go back to sleep.” Jamie didn’t object to that. “Mind if I look him over,” the nurse asked Amanda.

“No,” Jamie answered for himself.

“He’s not regressed,” Becky said, “They should really put that on the chart.” They’d had to tell pretty much everyone.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had an unregressed little before,” the nurse said. The hospital saw independent littles, but there were so few. They had their own wing of the hospital, and it only had two beds. She held out her arms, and Amanda handed him over. The blanket fell away.

“Can I sleep in pajamas,” Jamie asked the nurse.

“No, sorry. They could get in the way of the IV. We’ll wrap you up snug again when we’re done. Snug like a bug.” She laid Jamie in the bassinet and pulled his shorts down.

Amanda said, “Could you slow down please? Maybe ask before you start pulling clothes off?”

“Sorry,” the nurse said. “May I please open your diaper,” she asked, clearly amused at her question. Since when do you ask before changing a little or baby?

“Yes,” Jamie rolled his eyes, sensing the condescension. The nurse untaped the diaper.

“Has he gone poopoo since he woke up,” the nurse asked.

“No.”

“He might need a little help going if he doesn’t by about lunchtime tomorrow.” She changed his diaper and checked the drain sewn into Jamie’s belly. Satisfied it didn’t show signs of infection, she crimped the tube, removed the pouch, and went to the bathroom to empty it.

“We need to take a little blood,” she said.

A lump rose in Jamie’s throat. He turned his head to the side and closed his eyes tight.

Becky took his hand. “You’re okay, Baby Bear.”

“Please get it in one try,” Amanda asked, “He’s afraid of needles.”

“No little like needles,” the nurse said. “We’re gonna do our very best, aren’t we?”

“Mommy,” Jamie whined.

“Shhh. Sing with me.” She began to sing Jamie’s lullaby while the nurse drew the blood, and Jamie sang too, his voice faltering when the needle went in, tears running down his cheeks again. It was over before the song was.

“That’s a very pretty song,” the nurse said, “and you sing it very well.” Jamie used to like to sing in his car, and he knew he wasn’t very good at it.

“My brave boy,” Becky said. The nurse pocketed the vials to take to the lab.

She went to the cabinet above the sink and took out a clean blanket and something else. “Can you give me your hands,” she asked.

“Why,” Jamie asked as he held up his right hand.

“We gotta get these mittens on you,” she said as she started to slide a mitten, thick with no thumb, onto his wrist. It strapped on.

Jamie looked from it to the nurse. “No,” he said as he started to unstrap it.

“You gotta leave that on, honey. Can you give me his other arm,” she asked Amanda.

“No,” Amanda replied as the nurse tried to strap the mitten back on.

“Stop,” Becky said as she got her own hands to Jamie’s wrist and gently batted the nurse’s away. She unstrapped the mitten. “What does he need those for?”

“To keep him from scratching his incisions. You know, like the cones they put on dogs.”

“I am not a dog,” Jamie said.

“He won’t bother his incisions. He’s unregressed.”

“Sorry. Hospital policy.”

“He’s not regressed,” Amanda repeated.

“I don’t want them,” Jamie said.

“It’s okay, baby. You don’t have to.”

“He really does, though,” the nurse said.

“I’m the mom,” Becky declared gently. “If he doesn’t want them, he doesn’t have to wear them.”

The nurse could see this was a fight she wasn’t going to win and graciously, on the outside, acquiesced. “Okay, but they’ll probably put them on him in the nursery.”

“What nursery,” Amanda asked.

“All the littles spend the night in the nursery, where it’s easier for us to keep a close eye on all of them.”

“Mommy, I don’t wanna go to the nursery. I wanna stay with you,” Jamie whined. He was away from home, he was hurt, he was still getting over being afraid, they kept poking him with needles. He wanted his mommy.

“We’re going to stay the night,” Becky told the nurse.

“That’s fine. You’re welcome to stay in here. He’ll be just down the hall. He can even bring his bear.”

“No,” Amanda said. “He’s sleeping in here, with us. Right, Mom?”

“Of course.”

One of those families, the nurse said to herself. “But the bassinet has no top,” she tried to reason with them. “We prefer to keep them in cribs with tops at night.”

“He’s not going anywhere,” Becky said. Becky had resisted the idea of putting a top on Jamie’s crib when he’d climbed out of it a few times. The mental security of it wasn’t enough to do that against Jamie’s wishes. She wasn’t going to let the hospital do that to him.

“Hospital policy,” the nurse repeated apologetically.

“Tough,” Becky said, picking up her Baby Bear.

“The charge nurse is going to insist.”

“I can call his humanologist, and I know what he’ll say,” Becky replied.

“You’re going to have to, I think,” the nurse said. She didn’t relish the extra work of coming into his room every hour and a half to check on him. It was a lot less convenient, and the other nurses would resent it.

“Have the charge nurse call him,” Amanda suggested. “Dr. Bowers. And if he says he has to sleep in the nursery, we’ll call him ourselves.”

“Okay,” the nurse agreed, wondering why some people were so particular about their littles. She understood people loved them, but she knew, or thought she did, the doctors and nurses knew best. Sure, he was unregressed, but he was still a little. Hospital policy didn’t distinguish between regressed and unregressed littles, just dependent and independent ones. “Can I get him wrapped up,” she asked. Becky nodded, and the nurse swaddled Jamie again.

“Are you too warm,” Becky asked.

“No,” he answered. It was cold in the room. “Thank you,” he said to the nurse. He felt a little sorry for her. She didn’t ask to have an unregressed little in her care or his protective bigs to contend with.

“I’ll let you guys know what the doctor tells the charge nurse.”

“Thank you,” Becky said. The nurse left.

Amanda scowled when she was gone. “No one is putting my Jamie Bear in a cage or those stupid mittens.”

Becky lifted him from the bassinet and wheeled the IV stand over to the rocker to sit down with him. “You’re sleeping right here with your Mommy and big sister.”