The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 92 - The Check Up

Susan got up earlier than she had been on Friday morning and was feeding Melody when her mother came to get her in the nursery.

"What are you doing up?" Mrs. Abernathy asked in surprise.

"We have an eight o'clock appointment with Dr. Bower this morning," Susan answered. "We both have to be ready."

"You know, I forgot about that," Mrs. Abernathy told her. "Are you okay to go by yourselves?"

"I think so," Susan said. "Should I come help you with breakfast?"

"No, I've got it. You take care of the baby and get yourself ready. I'll see to Zackary, Jessie, and Matt this morning," Mrs. Abernathy said.

"Thanks Mom," Susan said with a smile.

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Breakfast and getting ready took longer than Susan thought it would, and although she hurried and her mother helped her, she and Melody were very nearly late for their appointment.

They arrived in Malibu at Dr. Bower's office at five minutes before eight. The receptionist checked Melody in, and showed Susan immediately to an exam room. The usual office nurse Susan remembered from her previous visits there with Zack and Jessie weighed and measured Melody. They started a chart for her, took her vitals and Susan signed forms to allow her records from the hospital to be sent.

Finally Dr. Bower came in to see them.

"Hello there!" Dr. Bower said smiling as he came in. "How was your first week at home?"

"Long," Susan said honestly. "It's hard to get anything else done when we have to feed her every two hours."

"It is a struggle for families to adjust to that kind of a schedule," Dr. Bower acknowledged. "But the up side of that is Melody is continuing to grow well. She's up to five pounds eight ounces today, which means she's gained four ounces since Sunday. That's good, but we'd like to see more. So I'd say keep doing what you're doing for another week at least."

Susan groaned slightly. "When can we go to a feed on demand type of schedule?" she asked.

"Not until she is firmly over six pounds," Dr. Bower said. "And even then I wouldn't want her going more than four hours between feedings, even at night."

"I understand," Susan told him. "That's our next milestone, Melody. You need to get to six pounds so Mama can get some sleep."

"Surely you have help?" Dr. Bower asked. "I understood your mother is staying with you?"

"She is, and she has been a great help," Susan said. "The entire family has, but Melody's schedule has been hard on all of us."

"Have you considered getting help?" Dr. Bower suggested.

"I'm in the process of hiring a housekeeper," Susan told him. "We should have someone by the end of next week, but until then we're on our own."

"A housekeeper is great, Susan. But I was thinking in terms of a night nurse. That kind of help can make a world of difference during the first month or two," he told her.

"I'll consider it," Susan said. "But not just now."

"Very well. Let me know if you change your mind. We can recommend some very good baby nurses," Dr. Bower said. "Make another appointment for next Friday. After that, I think we can go to every two weeks."

"Thank you, Dr. Bower," Susan said. "See you next Friday."

"You're welcome. Goodbye."

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