Giving him a half apologizing smile, she eased up on her grip and fell back against the myriad number of pillows and stared at the ceiling. Yeah, he had fetched those as well. Anything she needed, he did. No one, not even she, could have predicted this happening.
Maybe when they first arrived at the hospital. It had been just the two of them until Matt and her in-laws arrived. She’d figured she had freaked him out so much at the house that he was just scared to be by himself. But when Carol arrived and said she would take over until Jon got there, he freaked again. Adamant he was not leaving her side, he sat in the chair he’d pulled by her bedside and refused to leave. It finally took Jon arriving and some convincing from Nicole that Ari was in excellent hands and that she would be okay if he went down to get something to eat, but he still wouldn’t leave.
As her contractions grew closer together and more painful, so did her agitation with having an audience. Jon finally told him he had to leave. Jake pleaded and begged to stay. There was something in the way his eyes went back and forth between Jon and her that told her he needed to be here.
Against Jon’s better judgement, they allowed it, but under one condition, that when she told him he needed to go, he would, with no if’s, ands or buts. With his parents leaving and Matt going home to his family and Romeo, Jon had called Cliff. Someone needed to keep an eye on Jake when he could no longer be in the room. He had just stepped from the room to update him when another contraction started.
“Here we go again.” Ari gritted through her clenched jaw as Jake took her hand in his and sang. This contraction brought to you by Jay-Z, Empire State of Mind. Something she had lost hours ago and which is why neither of them were paying attention to the opening door.
“How we doing so far?”
If the devil’s eyes were green, then they were staring down the person who just entered the room, with his arms wide open and wearing his iconic smile as if he was standing center stage. “Really, Jon!?”
Her pissy tone went unnoticed by him, but not Dr. Cummings, who followed in behind him. Consulting first with the nurse who was assigned to the room, she then went over to the machines set up at the side of the bed. She’d studied the printouts for a few moments before turning to the young man who was seated to her left and who still hadn't let go of Ari’s hand. Gently nudging his shoulder, she smiled down at him.
“Okay, Jake, you know the drill.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He stood and gathered his belongings off the chair. This was the time he was asked to leave so the doctor could examine Ariana. With every hour and every visit, he knew it was just a matter of time before they asked him to leave and perhaps tell him to go home.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He patted his stepmother’s hand before starting for the door.
“Buddy, wait up.” Jon called for him to stop. “I’m gonna walk him down the hall to Cliff. You okay without me?” The question was directed to both his wife and Dr. Cummings, both who nodded yes.
Gone longer than he expected, Jon returned to the room to find Ari clutching the bed rails so tight he could see her knuckles turning white from the door.
“Hey Doc, you think now you can give her something for the pain?” he asked, running over to her.
“Here’s a suggestion…" Ari huffed. “Why don’t you GO write another song that has this baby OUT OF ME! You haven’t tried the rap genre. Can ya do THAT for me?!”
Jon couldn’t help but smirk. “I may need DJ Jazzy Jake for that.”
Ari tried to laugh, but even that was torture on her back from the constant spasms.
“Her epidural is on its way, Jon.” Nicole matter-of-factly reminded him. They were on her turf now, and his rockstar status meant nothing.
He was just about to say something flippant, but paused as a man about his father’s age, pushing a cart, entered the room. Elena, the L&D nurse who’d periodically came to check on Ari, accompanied him. Usually, the nurse would stay in the room to monitor the patient, but with Ari being Dr. Cummings’s only patient, she did it herself. The three conferred briefly before coming over to them.
“Hello, Mrs. and Mr. Bongiovi, I’m Dr. Rispino, Chief of the Anesthesiology Department and the one who will give you your epidural today.”
Jon stood and extended his hand. “Please, call me Jon.”
“Please call me Ariana.”
Smiling, he shook both their hands and got right down to the matter at hand, explaining in detail the pros and cons of an epidural. He explained step by step how and what he would do. They both had some questions, Jon more so than Ari. Once they were satisfied with his answers, he stepped over to the sink to wash his hands while Nicole and Jon helped Ari into position.
They were going to try having her sit up first, allowing for a less encumbered area to her back. Dr. Cummings was standing in front of Ari, so she could help support her when Dr. Rispino was ready. Jon was off to her right, holding her hand for moral support, though his eyes were drawn to what Dr. Rispino was doing.
“You okay?” Ari asked.
“Yup.”
“Sure ‘bout that?”
Dr. Rispino ripped open a package and removed a reddish soaked sponge on a stick. “This is going to be cold. I’m just disinfecting the area where I’ll insert the needle.”
At the cool sensation against her warm back, Ari flinched, causing Jon to do the same.
“Dude, maybe you should go wait outside.” She ran her fingers down his arm.
“I’m…” his eyes widened at the sight of the needle Dr. Rispino had pulled out from another package.
“Hey, rockstar.” Dr. Cummings snapped her fingers in his face. “That’s just the numbing needle. If you’re gonna pass out, don’t. I can only handle one patient at a time.”
“Okay, Ariana. You’re going to feel a little pinch and burning. That’s just the numbing medication. Next, I’ll insert another needle. That’s the one with the catheter like tubing I talked to you about. You may experience a lot of pressure. Once it is in, I will remove the needle, tape the tube to your back, and then you can lie back down. If you feel a contraction starting, let us know and try not to move too much. You may also feel a stinging sensation. That’s just the numbing medication. Okay, are you ready?"
Locking her eyes with Jon’s, she squeezed his hand and blew out a breath. “Let’s get this over with.”
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
“Arrrrgh!” Ari snarled in frustration. “You point that camera at me one more time. I’ll shove it so far up your ass it will take Tony a week to find it.”
“Be nice, Crash.” Setting his camera down next to him, Jon brushed a lock of hair out of her face.
“You want nice? How ‘bout we trade places and you try pushing a basketball out YOUR ass?”
Slapping away his hand, she fell back against the pillows. It wasn’t long after she’d gotten her epidural that she was fully dilated and ready to start pushing. Unfortunately for her, she’d been pushing for over an hour and both Dr. Cummings and Jon could see she her slowly giving up.
“You’re doing a great job, Ari.”
“Says you.” Ari answered her friend and doctor but didn’t look at her. She was exhausted. Any minute she was able to close her eyes, she did.
“It’s true. Most of my patients would have given up and asked for a c-section already.”
“No!” She popped up on her elbows. “No cutting.”
This had been a big conversation more than once over the course of her pregnancy. Ariana was adamant about not having a cesarean. Unless, of course, it was absolutely necessary. It was also a major discussion during her and Jon’s interviewing doctors to come on tour with them and why she went with Dr. Cummings. She herself preferred never to cut. Even recommended perineal massages during her third trimester to help with avoiding an episiotomy.
“How’s that massaging going, Doc? Need me to take over?” Jon asked jokingly, trying to ease the tension around his wife’s eyes.
“How ‘bout you stick to singing and let me do my job?”
“But you’re doing it wrong.”
“What makes you think that?”
“She’s not moaning.”
“J…. on!” Ari started to protest but was interrupted by the start of another contraction. Wrapping one arm around her shoulders, he helped sit her up and support her, then he held out his hand for her to squeeze.
“Okay Ari, I need you to take a deep breath and hold it. Just like the last time, we’ll do three counts of ten. Exhaling and a quick intake of air after each set.” Dr. Cummings reminded her.
They had been switching off who’d did what by her mood. Jon was on the receiving end of a bad one lately. She let out a small grunt before taking in her second-deep breath and did her best following the doctor's instructions.
“... 7… 8… 9… 10. Exhale. Again, deep breath and hold it.” Elena coached her. “You’re doing great.”
Ari was fading by the third time but wouldn’t give into it. Squeezing Jon’s hand tighter, she bared down, gritted through a clenched jaw and pushed.
“Thatta girl, one more time.” Nicole encouraged her once more.
“C’mon Crash. We’re halfway there.”
Screaming at the last two seconds from either pain or frustration or both, she grabbed him by his shirt, tugging him so they were nose to nose.
“Shut the fuck up, Tommy, and just be Johnny. Got it!”
There was no time for him to react as another contraction washed over her. This one more painful than the last. As Elena shouted for her to bare down and push with all her might, Ari dug her fingers into his forearm.
“Stop pushing.” Dr. Cummings announced and looked up.
“Jon, would you like to help deliver your daughter?” Jon looked at Ari, who was already nodding for him to go ahead. Kissing her on the top of her head, he walked to the foot of the bed. His daughter. Their Lily’s little head was already out and Nicole was removing the cord from around her neck. “Okay, Jon. I need you to put on that gown and come stand right here.” Hurriedly he did what she asked. When he was in position, he watched in awe as Nicole rotated the baby’s shoulders, freeing her into his arms along with a giant gush of water.
“Jon… Jon. Would you like to do the honors?” The sound of Dr. Cummings' voice pulled him back to reality.
“Umm. Wha? Yeah.” Placing his daughter into Elena’s waiting arms, he took the instrument from Nicole and cut where she was pointing.
He couldn’t describe what he was feeling right this moment as he watched the nurse lower Ari’s gown and place their child between her breasts and Lily instantly stopped crying. Skin to skin. Mother and child. He was sure there were tears streaking down his face.
They had waited, Ari had waited so long for this moment. For it to finally be here was indescribable. With the help from the nurse, he continued to watch as Lily instinctively latched on to her mother's bosom. All the time he ever watched her seemed so insignificant compared to this time. His heart was beating so hard he thought it would burst through his chest. She looked so perfect and content.
Sensing he’d want his own bonding moment before the nurse needed to take her, Ari gently removed her nursing daughter and placed her in her father’s arms. His eyes lit up just as they did with all his kids. But she saw something extra. Something that she no doubt was feeling as well. And as she laid there watching them, her heart rushed, and her mind raced through all the hills and mountains it took for them to get to this very moment. She thought of Sal and how proud he would be of her. And Lili, she could just hear her now voicing her opinions in French, no doubt, but still so proud of her. The sound of laughter took her from her memories and back to the right now.
“Okay, Daddy, give her here.” Elena stood in front of Jon, holding a damp towel.
“Your brothers put you up to that, didn’t they?” Jon kissed his daughter before passing her off. “And what are you laughing at?” he brushed a piece of hair off her face.
“Just my husband with baby pee and poop dripping down his shirt.” Ari pulled him in closer. “At least we know who she got that from.”
“Yeah. Yeah.” he said against her lips. His kiss was soft and loving and not long, thanks to a room still full of medical personnel.
“Okay, you two. Break it up.”
Breaking their kiss, Jon ran his tongue along his upper lip and winked at his wife. “Yes, Mom.”
Nicole didn’t respond to his worley response, instead she gave him his walking papers. Instructed him now would be a good time for him to update everyone and to go check on Jake while they finished up.
“I won’t be long.”
“Not like I’m going anywhere.”
“Cute. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Before leaving, he kissed his wife, then walked over to his newly born daughter. Pressing his fingers first to his lips, he touched her kicking foot. “Daddy won’t be long.”
Lily Francis
July 26, 2010
2:34 am
6 lbs 8 oz
I wish I could find the words to express my thoughts.....
ReplyDeleteThank you. Not thanks that is too flip.
Aww I love this chapter, it
ReplyDeleteWas beautiful done! Oh I forgot
That Jake was there with Ariana.
I thought who with Ariana at hospital
Since Jon wasn’t there, oh shit
Jake was. 🤦♀️ I love the whole chapter,
Comedy hour in the delivery room.
Oh Jon got Baptized by Lily Francis!! 😂
Wunderschönes Kapitel,musste weinen 😢Gott sei Dank alles gut gegangen
ReplyDelete