Will was concentrating on Cooper and not eating. Mac had finished her soup and looked at Will. He handed her Cooper and ate his soup.
"Thank you for lunch it was very good," Michael said as they walked into the living room. "Do you want to talk about the remodel, we don't have to."
"No, we need to," Mac said. Will cleaned off the coffee table and Michael laid out the floor plans.
"I know you want all the bedrooms upstairs, but what specifically."
"The master bedroom needs to include the fireplace. We need to check and see if that one is gas or wood," Will said.
"I think it's gas, but we'll go up and check," Michael replied.
"We need a door from the master into the bedroom next door, which will be the nursery," Mac added.
This went on for a while, telling Michael what they wanted and needed. It was very helpful to have him there to bounce ideas off of since he was the expert here.
Cooper started to fuss in Mac's arms. "Want me to fix him a bottle?" Will offered.
"I'm going to let him nurse, I'll be right back," she said.
Will got up and went out onto the balcony followed by Michael. "Can I do anything?" Michael offered standing next to Will.
He shook his head. They stood there in silence for a while.
"You are a great dad."
"I feel helpless."
"You're doing all you can do. Here comes Mac."
They came in and Will took Cooper from Mac. "Did he eat?"
"He did. His diaper was wet and his temp is the same."
Will was holding Cooper close. "Do we need to go upstairs," Mac asked as Kate walked in. She greeted everyone and said she'd be in with David while they went upstairs.
"Let's go up and just look around. I think you will need some kind of common space upstairs and I want to look and see where that would work. Do you want a small kitchen upstairs? Maybe a refrigerator and microwave?"
"It's something to think about," Will said. "It would be easy to heat bottles and store milk."
"Let's see where that could go," Mac agreed.
After looking around they talked about the staircase and where that would be placed. They hadn't considered all the decisions that needed to be made to even begin the construction process.
Will was still carrying Cooper who was beginning to get fussy. "Do you have a pacifier?" Will asked.
"No. I can go grab one."
"Let's go back downstairs," Will suggested.
"I want to take his temperature again since he's started being fussy," Mac said, taking Cooper from Will. She was holding him and kissing him, gently rocking back and forth. "He's grabbing at his ear."
Mac took the baby into his room and took his temperature. It had gone up, he was now at 101 and Mac called the doctor's office. Will walked in while she was on hold. "It's up to 101," she said and rested her head against Will's chest. She finally got through to a nurse on duty and explained what was going on. The nurse explained that they needed to take Cooper to the Emergency Room and that the doctor would meet them there.
Will took out his phone and called Lonny and explained what was going on. He said he would be there in a few minutes. Kate was set to stay with David. Will's next call was to Jane, who also was going to meet them at the hospital. Michael was going to go with them to the Emergency Room.
When they finally made it to the hospital their doctor's office had called to let the Emergency Department know they were bringing in a baby with a high fever. Mac gave their names and they were shown back to a room. Michael and Lonny had to wait in the lobby but Mac and Will took Cooper back. When they had gotten settled Jane came by in scrubs. She hugged Will and Mac and checked on Cooper. She could tell they were very stressed out and tried to help. "Babies get fevers, it's okay. You did everything right, guys."
The doctor came in and reiterated what Jane had said. They took blood and urine samples for testing and the doctor examined Cooper. "He has an ear infection, but I want to make sure there isn't anything else going on. Is David showing any signs of sickness?"
"Not yet," Mac said.
"I would recommend keeping them in separate rooms until Cooper is better." The doctor picked up Cooper and he began wailing and then threw up on the doctor. "There's something more going on than just an ear infection. I'm going to see if I can get his labs rushed and we'll go from there," he said handing Cooper to Mac.
Jane handed Mac a towel, just in case and put her arm around Will. "What do you think's wrong?" Will asked Jane after the doctor left.
"I'm seeing a lot of kids with a stomach bug. He could have an ear infection and this bug. He's right about keeping them in separate rooms until Coop is better."
They waited anxiously for the doctor to return and when he did finally return it was with the diagnosis of the stomach bug Jane was telling them about and an ear infection. He gave them a prescription for antibiotics for his ear infection and explained how to treat him for the stomach bug. They were going to let him go home, but Mac and Will were to continue checking Cooper's temperature and if it didn't go down, or went up any to let him know.
"I'm happy to come stay and help out," Jane offered.
Both Mac and Will looked as if they were about to panic. "You guys get checked out and I'll change and meet you at the apartment. It will be fine, I promise."
"Okay," Mac agreed. "We'll see you soon. Thank you," she said hugging Jane.
"You're welcome."
By the time they made it home Cooper had been sick a couple of more times. Lonny dropped them off and went to pick up the prescription.
Jane had stopped by her apartment and packed a bag before going to Mac and Will's apartment. Mac was sitting with Cooper in their bedroom, watching him sleep. Jane stuck her head inside and asked if she could come in. Mac nodded.
"I know it's scary, Mac, but it's part of having kids. They get sick."
"He's so little to be sick."
"It's hard when they are so little and can't tell you what's wrong or what hurts, but you know him and how he normally reacts. Right now that's how you have to find out if he's not feeling well. It is much easier when they can talk, though."
"Thank you for being here," Mac said taking Jane's hand.
"You're welcome."
Will came in and sat next to Cooper and gently rubbed his head. "He doing okay?"
"Right now," Mac answered.
"Michael had to go but said to call if we needed anything."
Mac nodded. "Is Kate with David?"
"Yes. Have you called your parents?" Will asked.
"No, I need to. Will you sit with him?"
Will nodded and Mac left the room to call her parents.
"How are you," Jane asked.
"A wreck."
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I know it's scary and they are so little, but babies are resilient. Give it a week and you'll never know Cooper was sick. He'll be back to his normal self."
"Do you think David will get this, too?"
"Probably. Maybe not the ear infection but probably the stomach bug."
Mac came back into the bedroom and Will could tell she'd been crying. He leaned over and kissed her temple and took her hand in his. "My parents are going to stop by and see us tomorrow and see how Coop is doing. They are going to bring us dinner, so we need to tell them what we want."
"They want to be able to do something, I get that," Will said.
"Are you going to keep Coop in here," Jane asked.
"I think so. There's a bassinet he can sleep in that's currently in the office," Mac said.
"I'll go get it," Will said getting off the bed.
"How are you feeling," Mac asked Jane.
She smiled. "Good, tired, but good. I'm gaining weight like I'm supposed to, eating healthy and all that."
"Have you felt any movement yet?"
"No, and it may be just a bit early for that. I'm almost sixteen weeks."
"Are you going to find out the sex?"
"I can't decide. It would make setting up a nursery easier but I do like the idea of a surprise, too."
"Do you have a feeling, either way? I know I thought I was carrying boys, no idea why, but it just seemed right."
"If I had to guess at this point, I'm going to say a girl, but I'm ecstatic either way."
Jane was right and after a few days Cooper was better, not one hundred percent, but getting better every day. By the time Cooper was better it was David's turn. Not that they were any less worried about David, but they knew what to look for and how to treat him.
Will and Mac still went to work every day, even though they wanted to stay home. Kate explained to them that they paid her to stay with the boys and that they could call as much as necessary, but that she could handle the babies, even when they were sick. Will looked tired but Mac looked completely run down.
She was trying to find them a hotel suite to stay in now that everyone was healthy again. The plans to move out came to a halt when David and Cooper had gotten sick. Michael took the time to redraw plans and make new suggestions. He had gotten all of the permits and had a construction crew ready to go once they had moved out. After spending many hours on the phone she finally found them a place they could rent indefinitely and a place that would work them a deal.
Will walked into her office and sat down. "How are you feeling?"
"Not great. I hope I'm not catching the bug the boys had."
"I'm sorry, can I do anything?"
"No, thank you. I did find us a three bedroom suite at The Plaza."
"That sounds nice. I like The Plaza. When can we move in?"
"Next week is the earliest we can move. But if we are going to move next week, we've got a ton of things to do."
"Give me your list and I'll work on some of those. I want you to rest some and not get sick, sweetheart."
She smiled at him and handed over the notepad she'd been listing items to be done. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The next time he saw Mac she was running into his private bathroom. He opened the door and saw her be sick. He got on the floor next to her and rubbed her back, trying to help calm her. When she was done, she leaned back against him. "Feel better?"
"Some."
"Do you want to go home and lie down for a while?"
"I'll be all right. I've got too much to do to go home."
"Promise me you'll try to rest some."
"I will."
He got up and then helped her up. Before he opened the door he took her into his arms and hugged her.
She rested against his chest for a few minutes before leaning back so she could kiss him. "I love you, Billy."
"I love you, too, Mac."
She was looking better at their late afternoon meeting, but he could tell she was still tired. When they went home after the show she started on her list to get them ready to move to The Plaza. It was midnight before she crawled into bed.
"Mac, you've got to sleep, sweetie. You're going to get sick if you keep this pace up. First it was the boys and now the move, I don't want you to wear yourself out."
"I might try to get in to see my doctor tomorrow to see if she can give me a vitamin shot."
"As unpleasant as that sounds, it might be a good idea."
"I'll see if I can get in early. They usually have a sick clinic where you can walk in without an appointment. You wait longer, but it's better than nothing."
"You go to the doctor and I'll take care of the office."
"Thanks," she said leaning against him.
Early the next morning she had a car service drop her off at the doctor's office for the sick clinic. She waited quite a while and when she was called back she explained to the nurse why she was there. The nurse wanted to rule out anything other than the stomach bug that the boys had earlier and took blood to run a few tests.
Mac's doctor came in a little while later and said, "Hey Mac."
"Hello. How are you, it's busy out there today."
"This stomach bug that's going around has us swamped. I understand both of your boys had it and that you're trying to avoid it, right?"
"I am. I was thinking maybe a vitamin shot might help, what do you think?"
"You don't have the stomach bug."
"What's wrong?" Mac asked.
"You're pregnant."
"Excuse me?"
The doctor smiled at her. "You are pregnant. That's why you've felt run down. Have you had any morning sickness?"
"I've thrown up a couple of times, but I'm not sure it was morning sickness, it may have been."
"You didn't have morning sickness last time, did you?"
"No, but smells really got to me and made me sick. How far along, any idea?"
"I'd like to do an ultrasound and we can tell better."
"Can we schedule that for tomorrow? I'd like Will to be there."
"Of course. How about we try tomorrow morning, would that work?"
"Perfect, thank you."
"Okay, I'll set it up and see you tomorrow. Here's the prescription for the prenatal vitamins, go ahead and get started on those, please."
