Chapter 8 - Visiting Hours
It had been 3 days since little Mia, Mia Rose being her forename and middle name combined, had been born. She was even more beautiful than the day before. Jonah had spent the night at home, without Cesca or Mia, it was a painful night but he knew they all needed there beauty sleep if they were to function well the next morning. Jonah was so lonely without Cesca; there was a cold spot, where Cesca should be lying. Jonah got up earlier and quicker than any other day, he needed to be with his Cesca and their baby Mia, but just before he left he was sure to check the nursery, which was a neutral dark cream in colour but had recently been made more colourful by the ever growing baby supplies, all being a different shade of pink. Jonah had been out the night before and completed the supplies with a very quirky and very bright buggy, bright pink and orange in fact, detailed with a flowery hood, pink and orange foot muff, complete with another flower, he was sure that Cesca would love it, but was slightly apprehensive despite her asking him to choose and buy one. He gave one last check of the nursery rubbing his hand across the white stained furniture that had been bought for all Mia clothes, it finally felt so real, Jonah was so happy, he was going to protect Mia, he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. He loaded his car up with the bag of clothes Cesca had requested him to bring; on top of the bag was the gorgeous bear coat that Ruth, who was now “Auntie Ruth”, had bought for her. He fixed in the car seat, checking it and double checking it, after all his precious little girl was to be the one sitting in it. He started up the car and drove to the hospital with a huge, proud smile on his face.
Cesca was back at the hospital and rudely awoken by the sounds of people running in and out, she sat up in panic, “What’s wrong?”, she looked around, not quite sure what she was looking for, until she noticed, Mia had gone! She wasn’t there and neither was the tiny plastic cot provided by the hospital. “Where’s my baby, Where’s Mia?” Cesca screamed, she was all a flutter, her body was in complete panic, where was her daughter, and most importantly what was wrong? “Mrs Kirby, she has been taken to intensive care, she is having trouble breathing, we really need you to calm down, we will keep you informed of her progress”, Cesca instantly began to bawl her eyes out, the Midwife had chosen to ignore her, Cesca felt like an utter failure, everything was going so smoothly, for the first time in months and now it was all about to go belly up. Where was Jonah? , she needed him, Cesca reached out for the tiny pink rabbit that Jonah had bought for Mia the night before. Cesca remembered little Mia's face, despite being only days old you could tell she loved it. The tears continued to flow, Cesca held the rabbit to her face, smelling Mia’s innocent aroma waft from her tiny favourite pink rabbit. The door opened, Cescas head immediately turned, it was Jonah, this made her cry even more, he ran over holding her so tightly, almost as if he were to never let go. “Ces, what’s wrong? Where’s Mia?”, Ces couldn’t get the words out, she was all choked up, she had woken up to the fact that her baby had gone, she took a deep breath in “ They’ve taken her” a tiny tear began to roll down her cheek, Jonah instantly began to wipe it away, “What’s wrong with her Ces?” His mood was changing, he was no longer the happy, proud new dad, he was slowly becoming the wreck, he needed to keep Cesca calm and support her, but he too was feeling the stress of it all. “I woke up and she wasn’t here Jonah, the doctors have taken her”, she breathed in trying to calm herself down as she did so “She is in intensive care Jonah, She is finding it hard to breath”, Cescas little heart was broken, Jonah could hear that in every word she spoke. “Ces, she is going to be alright, if she is as strong as you, she’ll get through this”, Jonah was beginning to kid himself, which was a good thing they both needed a bit of hope and positivity. Cesca managed to break a smile and the tears began to stop, Jonah lay next to her, cradling her, allowing her to stay calm. The doctors came in soon later, “Your baby is settled and doing very well, I’m sorry about the midwife that dealt with you Mrs Kirby, I am sure that she’ll be out soon enough”, Cescas little heart began to become whole again, Jonahs face showed nothing more than elation, but the slight motion of a question that was to come. “So, what is wrong with her?” Jonah asked, not being able to ignore the fact his baby girl was lying in intensive care. “Her chest was clogged up, it happens sometimes. She’s doing great, in fact excellent. She is really fighting”, Jonah put his arm around Cesca who was ever so pleased but he could see that she was still fragile. “Were bringing her out in half an hour, would you like to visit her before”, Jonah instantly replied with “Yes, Yes please”, Cesca on the other hand stayed silent, staring into the distance. The midwife left, realising they needed to talk.
“Ces, don’t you want to see Mia?” Cesca stayed quiet until her face slowly broke into tears once more. Jonah leant in for a more passionate hug, she needed him right now, she kept thinking about their tiny baby with tubes and wires coming out of her, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to see that right now, she didn’t want bad memories of Mia, she was her beautiful baby girl, she couldn’t bear to think of anything like this happening to her. “Ces, are you alright?” Jonah asked in a very calm and sensitive tone. “Jonah, how can you be so sure about seeing her?”, “what do you mean Ces, she is my daughter, of course I’m going to see her”, Cesca was beginning to feel bad, did thinking about not seeing her baby girl in a bad way, make her a bad mother? “I” Cesca managed to get the first word of her sentence out before starting to panic, “I just don’t think I could see her with tubes and wires coming out of her, I’m not ready for that” , Jonah kissed her cheek, “Ces, it’s alright to be scared and nervous, I don’t want to see her in that way either, but it’s the position were in, we need to be strong for Mia, help her get through this”, Jonah reassured Cesca who was slowly but surely bracing herself for what was to come.
The midwife arrived with a wheelchair, Jonah slowly helped Cesca out of bed after all she had only just had a baby and in the circumstances was willing to accept the help, which made Jonah laugh which was answered with a smile on Cescas part. He wheeled her through the big heavy double doors and down the corridors following the midwife. They reached the door; they took a deep breath and walked in. There were lines and lines of cots, so many small people all in one room all very ill or in Mia’s case on the mend and doing great. They knew instantly which one was Mia, they could hear her squirming away, there little fighter. They both looked in with smiles on their faces, she seemed her normal self, everyone was commenting on how strong and brave she was. “Aw Mia, you’re so strong, just like your mummy”, Cesca reached out, holding Jonahs arm. “Were happy with her progress”, cried a low deep voice of a highly trained doctor “she has been a little star, responded to treatment in half the time of a normal baby placed in her position”, Cesca and Jonah simply looked at each other, they already knew their little girl was special, but hearing it from someone who knew what they were talking about reassured them immensely. “We are happy for her to be discharged”; “you mean she can come home?” Jonah asked with a hint of excitement in his voice. “Yes”, the doctor laughed, looking at Cesca who was also in a state of laughter. The doctor carefully detached the wires and patches holding the wires in place, Jonah leant forward to hug Cesca who was clearly finding this part of the process tough. “She’s are little star Ces, she has done it, she can come home” Cesca turned her head giving Jonah a kiss, she was then handed her tiny baby and they wheeled back to their room, Jonah went and got the car seat out of the car, giving Cesca and Mia more bonding time, Cesca loved her daughter as much as she loved Jonah, but this was a different type of love, this was unconditional. Cesca thanked god for everything she had, the perfect man and a gorgeous healthy baby girl, nothing could be better. Maybe Jonah was right, maybe they really were made for each other, and maybe they really were as strong as Jonah kept telling her they were. She picked Mia up just as she was about to start winging, “Okay, Mia”, she said to her tiny little winging baby, “its okay, shh, were going home soon, daddy is just bringing your car seat”, she felt proud to be referring to Jonah as daddy, after all that is what he was now.
Jonah returned carrying a gorgeous navy and white polka dot car seat that they had both bought and chosen together, he placed it on the bed where Cesca could begin to place her in it. Jonah clipped her in, making sure the straps weren’t too tight but weren’t too loose. Jonah began to rock Mia, who was now slowly falling asleep as Cesca tucked Mia’s baby pink blanket around Mia and placed Mia’s favourite bunny who she had now named Flopsy into the car seat with her. She looked adorable, all cosy and warm. Cesca no longer needed to imagine her baby in the warm fluffy bear coat that Ruth had given them; she could see her daughter as cute as a button wearing it. Cesca beamed, Jonah put his arm around her whilst the both gazed at their tiny sleeping baby taking every second of silence for granted.
Jonah let Cesca get dressed and ready to leave, she couldn’t wait to get out of her pyjamas, they just reminded her of mornings and Cesca hated mornings. She grabbed her stuff and headed to the toilet to get changed, Jonah began to sing lullabies to their sleeping baby whilst rocking her gently. Cesca soon appeared, looking as stunning as ever. “You look gorgeous”, Jonah said, surprised he could even get the words out of his mouth. Cesca grabbed the bags and bags of stuff that they had bought with them, whilst Jonah carefully carried Mia to reception where they were to sign the book to confirm that they had been discharged. They reached reception, Cesca put the bags down, picked up the pen and confidently signed her and her baby out of hospital, Jonah put his spare arm around her waist as they walked out of the hospital as a family, no longer just the pair they were a few days ago. They reached the car, Jonah fastened Mia into his little ford whilst Cesca got in to back, watching her little Mia the whole way home, Jonah got in started the ignition and drove home at a snail’s pace. “What’s up with you Granddad”, Cesca joked; he loved her sense of humour and sneakily sped up to a safe but faster speed. They finally returned home 15 minutes later than it would have been if Mia wouldn’t have also been in the car. Cesca reached out holding little Mia’s hand, that quiet snugly fit around one finger. “I love you Mia” She whispered trying not to disturb her little sleeping beauty. Jonah unloaded the car and Cesca got out of the car and went to unfasten Mia, she quietly took her out of the car and slowly walked towards the door, watching her every second, as if she was just going to fly away suddenly. Jonah brang up the rear arriving with the door key and the bags he let his wife and daughter in and went to place the bags in his newborn baby’s room. Cesca had placed Mia in the corner of the living room and was sat watching her on the floor, her back against the sofa, Jonah soon joined her. They sat their gazing at this gorgeous sleeping baby who kept wriggling as if to say, you’re still looking at me. They both giggled, it was probably time that Mia tried out her cot it had been a long and eventful day for all of them, Cesca walked up stairs first, followed by Jonah with Mia, Cesca hadn’t seen the nursery with everything in it, it was perfect. “Jonah its lovely, I’m sure Mia loves it”, Jonah carefully put her car seat down unstrapped her and took off her bear coat that she had been wearing home. She was already wearing a baby grow and was ready for bed, Jonah carefully placed her in the cot, being extra supportive towards her head. Mia took to her cot instantly and seemed to being falling into a deeper and deeper sleep. Cesca held on to her baby’s cot watching her wriggle and slowly get comfortable, Jonah placed his arms around Cescas waist from behind, she looked up at him giving the most content smile he had seen in a long time. They were all so happy; they apprehensively left Mia to sleep though they could have easily stayed watching her all night. Cesca was worn out and Jonah was happy to catch an early night. “Sleep well Ces”, Jonah blissfully said good night to his gorgeous wife, who was slowly dozing off, Jonah fell asleep with the biggest smile on his face. The pair were calm and content, blissfully unaware of the nights ahead.
Cesca was back at the hospital and rudely awoken by the sounds of people running in and out, she sat up in panic, “What’s wrong?”, she looked around, not quite sure what she was looking for, until she noticed, Mia had gone! She wasn’t there and neither was the tiny plastic cot provided by the hospital. “Where’s my baby, Where’s Mia?” Cesca screamed, she was all a flutter, her body was in complete panic, where was her daughter, and most importantly what was wrong? “Mrs Kirby, she has been taken to intensive care, she is having trouble breathing, we really need you to calm down, we will keep you informed of her progress”, Cesca instantly began to bawl her eyes out, the Midwife had chosen to ignore her, Cesca felt like an utter failure, everything was going so smoothly, for the first time in months and now it was all about to go belly up. Where was Jonah? , she needed him, Cesca reached out for the tiny pink rabbit that Jonah had bought for Mia the night before. Cesca remembered little Mia's face, despite being only days old you could tell she loved it. The tears continued to flow, Cesca held the rabbit to her face, smelling Mia’s innocent aroma waft from her tiny favourite pink rabbit. The door opened, Cescas head immediately turned, it was Jonah, this made her cry even more, he ran over holding her so tightly, almost as if he were to never let go. “Ces, what’s wrong? Where’s Mia?”, Ces couldn’t get the words out, she was all choked up, she had woken up to the fact that her baby had gone, she took a deep breath in “ They’ve taken her” a tiny tear began to roll down her cheek, Jonah instantly began to wipe it away, “What’s wrong with her Ces?” His mood was changing, he was no longer the happy, proud new dad, he was slowly becoming the wreck, he needed to keep Cesca calm and support her, but he too was feeling the stress of it all. “I woke up and she wasn’t here Jonah, the doctors have taken her”, she breathed in trying to calm herself down as she did so “She is in intensive care Jonah, She is finding it hard to breath”, Cescas little heart was broken, Jonah could hear that in every word she spoke. “Ces, she is going to be alright, if she is as strong as you, she’ll get through this”, Jonah was beginning to kid himself, which was a good thing they both needed a bit of hope and positivity. Cesca managed to break a smile and the tears began to stop, Jonah lay next to her, cradling her, allowing her to stay calm. The doctors came in soon later, “Your baby is settled and doing very well, I’m sorry about the midwife that dealt with you Mrs Kirby, I am sure that she’ll be out soon enough”, Cescas little heart began to become whole again, Jonahs face showed nothing more than elation, but the slight motion of a question that was to come. “So, what is wrong with her?” Jonah asked, not being able to ignore the fact his baby girl was lying in intensive care. “Her chest was clogged up, it happens sometimes. She’s doing great, in fact excellent. She is really fighting”, Jonah put his arm around Cesca who was ever so pleased but he could see that she was still fragile. “Were bringing her out in half an hour, would you like to visit her before”, Jonah instantly replied with “Yes, Yes please”, Cesca on the other hand stayed silent, staring into the distance. The midwife left, realising they needed to talk.
“Ces, don’t you want to see Mia?” Cesca stayed quiet until her face slowly broke into tears once more. Jonah leant in for a more passionate hug, she needed him right now, she kept thinking about their tiny baby with tubes and wires coming out of her, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to see that right now, she didn’t want bad memories of Mia, she was her beautiful baby girl, she couldn’t bear to think of anything like this happening to her. “Ces, are you alright?” Jonah asked in a very calm and sensitive tone. “Jonah, how can you be so sure about seeing her?”, “what do you mean Ces, she is my daughter, of course I’m going to see her”, Cesca was beginning to feel bad, did thinking about not seeing her baby girl in a bad way, make her a bad mother? “I” Cesca managed to get the first word of her sentence out before starting to panic, “I just don’t think I could see her with tubes and wires coming out of her, I’m not ready for that” , Jonah kissed her cheek, “Ces, it’s alright to be scared and nervous, I don’t want to see her in that way either, but it’s the position were in, we need to be strong for Mia, help her get through this”, Jonah reassured Cesca who was slowly but surely bracing herself for what was to come.
The midwife arrived with a wheelchair, Jonah slowly helped Cesca out of bed after all she had only just had a baby and in the circumstances was willing to accept the help, which made Jonah laugh which was answered with a smile on Cescas part. He wheeled her through the big heavy double doors and down the corridors following the midwife. They reached the door; they took a deep breath and walked in. There were lines and lines of cots, so many small people all in one room all very ill or in Mia’s case on the mend and doing great. They knew instantly which one was Mia, they could hear her squirming away, there little fighter. They both looked in with smiles on their faces, she seemed her normal self, everyone was commenting on how strong and brave she was. “Aw Mia, you’re so strong, just like your mummy”, Cesca reached out, holding Jonahs arm. “Were happy with her progress”, cried a low deep voice of a highly trained doctor “she has been a little star, responded to treatment in half the time of a normal baby placed in her position”, Cesca and Jonah simply looked at each other, they already knew their little girl was special, but hearing it from someone who knew what they were talking about reassured them immensely. “We are happy for her to be discharged”; “you mean she can come home?” Jonah asked with a hint of excitement in his voice. “Yes”, the doctor laughed, looking at Cesca who was also in a state of laughter. The doctor carefully detached the wires and patches holding the wires in place, Jonah leant forward to hug Cesca who was clearly finding this part of the process tough. “She’s are little star Ces, she has done it, she can come home” Cesca turned her head giving Jonah a kiss, she was then handed her tiny baby and they wheeled back to their room, Jonah went and got the car seat out of the car, giving Cesca and Mia more bonding time, Cesca loved her daughter as much as she loved Jonah, but this was a different type of love, this was unconditional. Cesca thanked god for everything she had, the perfect man and a gorgeous healthy baby girl, nothing could be better. Maybe Jonah was right, maybe they really were made for each other, and maybe they really were as strong as Jonah kept telling her they were. She picked Mia up just as she was about to start winging, “Okay, Mia”, she said to her tiny little winging baby, “its okay, shh, were going home soon, daddy is just bringing your car seat”, she felt proud to be referring to Jonah as daddy, after all that is what he was now.
Jonah returned carrying a gorgeous navy and white polka dot car seat that they had both bought and chosen together, he placed it on the bed where Cesca could begin to place her in it. Jonah clipped her in, making sure the straps weren’t too tight but weren’t too loose. Jonah began to rock Mia, who was now slowly falling asleep as Cesca tucked Mia’s baby pink blanket around Mia and placed Mia’s favourite bunny who she had now named Flopsy into the car seat with her. She looked adorable, all cosy and warm. Cesca no longer needed to imagine her baby in the warm fluffy bear coat that Ruth had given them; she could see her daughter as cute as a button wearing it. Cesca beamed, Jonah put his arm around her whilst the both gazed at their tiny sleeping baby taking every second of silence for granted.
Jonah let Cesca get dressed and ready to leave, she couldn’t wait to get out of her pyjamas, they just reminded her of mornings and Cesca hated mornings. She grabbed her stuff and headed to the toilet to get changed, Jonah began to sing lullabies to their sleeping baby whilst rocking her gently. Cesca soon appeared, looking as stunning as ever. “You look gorgeous”, Jonah said, surprised he could even get the words out of his mouth. Cesca grabbed the bags and bags of stuff that they had bought with them, whilst Jonah carefully carried Mia to reception where they were to sign the book to confirm that they had been discharged. They reached reception, Cesca put the bags down, picked up the pen and confidently signed her and her baby out of hospital, Jonah put his spare arm around her waist as they walked out of the hospital as a family, no longer just the pair they were a few days ago. They reached the car, Jonah fastened Mia into his little ford whilst Cesca got in to back, watching her little Mia the whole way home, Jonah got in started the ignition and drove home at a snail’s pace. “What’s up with you Granddad”, Cesca joked; he loved her sense of humour and sneakily sped up to a safe but faster speed. They finally returned home 15 minutes later than it would have been if Mia wouldn’t have also been in the car. Cesca reached out holding little Mia’s hand, that quiet snugly fit around one finger. “I love you Mia” She whispered trying not to disturb her little sleeping beauty. Jonah unloaded the car and Cesca got out of the car and went to unfasten Mia, she quietly took her out of the car and slowly walked towards the door, watching her every second, as if she was just going to fly away suddenly. Jonah brang up the rear arriving with the door key and the bags he let his wife and daughter in and went to place the bags in his newborn baby’s room. Cesca had placed Mia in the corner of the living room and was sat watching her on the floor, her back against the sofa, Jonah soon joined her. They sat their gazing at this gorgeous sleeping baby who kept wriggling as if to say, you’re still looking at me. They both giggled, it was probably time that Mia tried out her cot it had been a long and eventful day for all of them, Cesca walked up stairs first, followed by Jonah with Mia, Cesca hadn’t seen the nursery with everything in it, it was perfect. “Jonah its lovely, I’m sure Mia loves it”, Jonah carefully put her car seat down unstrapped her and took off her bear coat that she had been wearing home. She was already wearing a baby grow and was ready for bed, Jonah carefully placed her in the cot, being extra supportive towards her head. Mia took to her cot instantly and seemed to being falling into a deeper and deeper sleep. Cesca held on to her baby’s cot watching her wriggle and slowly get comfortable, Jonah placed his arms around Cescas waist from behind, she looked up at him giving the most content smile he had seen in a long time. They were all so happy; they apprehensively left Mia to sleep though they could have easily stayed watching her all night. Cesca was worn out and Jonah was happy to catch an early night. “Sleep well Ces”, Jonah blissfully said good night to his gorgeous wife, who was slowly dozing off, Jonah fell asleep with the biggest smile on his face. The pair were calm and content, blissfully unaware of the nights ahead.
