I wake with voices swimming around me and when I open my eyes, Casper is staring at me from the edge of the couch. He flashes me a brilliant smile and asks, “Mommy, are you feeling better?”I pat his head and nod. “Yes, I’m feeling better. I’m still really sore, but I’m not as tired now. Are your uncles and aunts here?”He quickly nods his head. “But daddy won’t let me in the kitchen, so I came to sit with you.”I move slightly, trying to sit up a little. I furrow my eyebrows together. “Why won’t daddy let you in the kitchen?”He shrugs his shoulders and whines, “I don’t know. They just said it is important.”I push myself up into a sitting position and look at my watch. Dang, I’ve been asleep for hours. Why didn’t anyone wake me up? I move to get up off the couch, and pain shoots through my body. The bulk of the ache is from last night’s activities, but there are muscles aching now which didn’t before. I glance down at the couch and massage the back of my neck. The couc
Well, it is mean to do what we did to Katie, but I want to know. After she fell asleep on the couch earlier, Shane came home, and I asked about her symptoms when she was pregnant with Casper. Shane chuckled and initially asked if I had already gotten Katie pregnant, and I was honest. I told him I didn’t know, and I wanted to find out subtly.He immediately gave me a smile and told me to fix seafood dishes. He said Katie almost immediately hated the smell of seafood, even though it was her favorite food. Of course, I asked mom to help along with Wanda and Izzy when they arrived at the house. Wanda was so excited that Katie might be pregnant again she couldn’t hardly contain her excitement. Luckily, she managed to hide it as soon as Katie walked into the kitchen. Katie still doesn’t know we all did it for an experiment. I’ve also talked to Brenda, and she is going to help us get Katie talked into taking an actual pregnancy test. I have tried talking to her about the possibilit
Casper is still afraid and trembles in my arms when we enter the hospital. His little eyes peek out from my shoulder and dart back and forth, looking for danger, but he is slowly starting to feel better. The trauma from that day is slowly melting away. I’m sure it helps he is carrying a container of cookies for Katie and Shane. My mom also said he couldn’t have any cookies until Katie said he could, so I’m assuming he is a little anxious about possibly getting some treats soon. I kiss the top of his head and tighten my arms around him, trying to wrap him in a protective cocoon. Once we make our way to the cafeteria, I put my wiggling son down as soon as we spot his mother. Like a rocket, Casper bolts towards her. “Mommy!! Cookies!!!” He waves the container in the air. The staff standing next to Katie and throughout the area giggle, and my son’s excitement is contagious. Grins slide across their face as they watch the small boy beaming. Our son holds on tight to the contai
I still don’t know why I agreed to this stupid physical exam, but everyone seemed to think that it is for the best, just in case. I don’t have a clue what the just in case is referring to, but to make everyone happy, I agreed. I do have some time available right after lunch, so why not. Everyone follows me back to my office. Ming, Pha, Beam and Brenda follow me into my exam room. I watch as Pha nods to Brenda and then looks back at me. “Ai’Kit, I will need a urine sample.” Oh, I hate doing this.Brenda turns and gets both Ming and I a small cup and we walk off towards the restrooms.I do exactly what I tell my patients to do all the time and I’m quickly back in the exam room. I have to wait off to the side as Pha and Beam go through the usual steps to exam Ming. I do have to admit that Pha and Beam are being rather thorough, and I guess it doesn’t hurt to get a complete physical from time to time. I can’t help but to chuckle at Ming when he begins to whine as Brenda brings i
I’m still a little shocked. Yesterday, I found out I’m pregnant again. This time around, Mark is here, and I don’t think anything can tear him away from me and our children now, which gives me a sense of relief. The love and tenderness he shows me is amazing. I have never thought in my wildest dreams I could have a relationship like this. It is perfect. Well, not exactly perfect, but as perfect as I can get. I feel so fortunate to have such an amazing fiancé and his parents are just as amazing. I keep putting off the topic of where we will live after we get married. I’m so torn. I really want to go back home and be around my friends and Mark’s family, but the picture is always shattered when I think about my family. Why do I have such a hard family to deal with?My dream now would be that my family can handle the fact I’m marrying the love of my life and we have children together, but I’m not going to risk my happy life with Mark by allowing my family back into our lives.
I take a deep breath. Tomorrow is the day I marry the love of my life. My heart races just thinking about it. I can’t wait, but this is going to be the longest 24 hours ever. Initially, I thought Katie was crazy for wanting to work today, but now I understand why. I triple check our bags and make sure everything is in them. Taking another look around our bedroom, my eyes stop on the nightstand. A smirk dances across my lips, and I walk over to it and open the drawer. A chuckle spills from me as I spot the box of condoms. Well, I definitely don’t need them anymore. Shaking my head and with the smirk still on my face, I close the drawer and walk into the closet to make sure I’m not forgetting anything from in there. Casper suddenly runs in the room and then into the closet. His little round face beams with excitement. “Daddy!! It is time to go eat and see mommy and Jenny!! Come on!!”Before I can say anything, he has his small hands on the back of legs trying to push me
Katie slowly rubs Casper’s back and softly coos, “Don’t worry. We are going to get some food now.”She turns and walks towards the food while the rest of us follow close behind. Wanda’s dad takes a moment to greet my parents and talk with them as we make our way through the lines.After everyone has gotten something to eat and is sitting down at our usual table, Brenda leans forward and glances around the table before her focus turns to me and my fiancé. “So, Katie and Mark, are you ready for tomorrow? The big day is finally here.” Her voice climbs an octave as her excitement bubbles out. Katie smiles and nods. “Yes. I’m ready and I can’t wait.”My heart races, and my stomach does a flip as a grin tugs at my lips. An image of Katie dressed in a white wedding dress walking towards me with her loving gaze locked with mine bounces around in my head. Her marble brown sparkle with excitement. I completely agree. I can’t wait either. I move around in my seat and chirp. “Me to
Casper interrupts the conversation and asks, “Can I go see Jenny now?”He is still a little impatient, and I just have this feeling that something is up, but he has denied it earlier, so I guess I will just have to wait and see.I look around the table and ask, “Is everyone up for seeing Jenny?”Sadness flashes through Katie’s eyes before she says, “I need to go check on her, too.”Within a few minutes, the entire group, including Wanda’s dad and his staff, are going to see Jenny. She should be used to it by now since we usually go see her together, but we have a few extra today. I’m anxious to see if her flower girl dress has arrived. I’m sure she and Casper will be so cute together walking down the aisle together.When we get to Jenny’s room, Casper immediately goes running into the room screaming, “JENNY!!! GUESS WHAT!!”Is this the reason Casper couldn’t wait to see Jenny? He wants to tell her about him going to be a big brother and moving back home.The entire group chuckles