Picking up the story around 32 weeks -

Early Thursday morning, Gil makes a quick trip to the university to turn in test grades and leave a lecture series for the interim professor who agreed to take over for the rest of the semester. While he is gone, I manage to finish folding and putting away the load of freshly laundered baby clothes that Catherine sent to us last week. Fingering the soft cotton sleepers, my emotions get the best of me and tears stream down my face. Wiping them away, I think of this journey that Gil and I have embarked on together, beginning as two souls, whose love for each other produced two more. I can't imagine a better illustration of our love for each other than creating life. Our lives have done a complete turn around from the years we spent at the lab. Dealing with death and loss each day has now been replaced with new life. Trying to suppress our feelings for each other and running away from commitment has now been replaced by running towards each other and days filled with love and passion that only grows with each day. Feeling several strong kicks on either side of my ever expanding belly, I am jolted back to reality and the clothes I am putting away. I rub my hands over my belly talking to my sweet girls, "Girls, I can't wait to hold you and meet you. It won't be too much longer - 8 weeks to go!"

I make my way down the stairs and begin to chop lettuce and tomatoes for a salad. Looking in the refrigerator, I notice that we need a few things and call Gil to ask if he would mind picking it up on his way home. "Soy cheese, olives, peanut butter...Are you sure that's all you need?" he asks. "That's all I can think of right now and anything else you would want to add..." I reply. "I'll do my best to hurry home. I love you, Sar." "Love you more, Griss." And with that, we hang up the phone. Checking the time, I decide to call Catherine to thank her again for all of the clothes she has sent. We talk about everything. She asks how I am feeling. Tired and blessed. If I am eating well and gaining weight...Eating well and so far I think I've gained 28 pounds, finally getting caught up to where Dr. Seavers would like but still on the low end for 32 weeks. How Gil is doing - wonderful. She asks me if the nursery is ready - no not yet, but almost. I tell her about the incessant kicking and elbowing that goes on in my stomach, the constant, dull backache, the horrible heart burn that I have managed to acquire in the last couple of weeks and the emotional days that are more frequent, as of late. She listens, interjecting her thoughts throughout the conversation. She tells me that if I need anything at all, I know how to reach her. Before ending our call, she reminds me to rest up and make Gil do everything for me....I tell he no worries, he already does.

Several minutes later, Gil knocks on the door - "Could you get the door, honey. My arms are full." I open the door and he walks through, arms loaded with bags. He turns around and presents me with a beautiful bouquet of roses. Pink, red and white roses overflowing from the plastic wrapper. "Gil, what are these for?" I exclaim. "They are for you. I couldn't resist" he says, leaning down to kiss me. After finding a vase for the flowers, I help him with the bags of groceries - noting that he had bought much more than I had asked for. Aside from the items I had asked for, he had bought several different yogurts, fresh raspberries and pineapple, a bag of bulk granola bites, several bottles of juice and a loaf of sundried tomato and garlic bread. We put the groceries away and as I am bending over to put the fresh fruit in the refrigerator, I am wracked with a violent stabbing pain. Lowering myself to the ground, I clench my stomach - willing the pain to subside. Gil rushes over to me, kneeling beside me - the panic written on his face, he says "Sara, are you ok? Tell me what's wrong." Looking into his eyes, I try to remain calm. "Gil, I think that I need to go to the hospital. Can you call Dr. Seavers' office and see what they recommend? There is this intense stabbing pain in my pelvic area. Pointing to where the pain is, I continue - it's not constant, just intermittent. But I just want it to stop." I plead, tears rolling down my cheeks.

He pulls out his cell phone and dials the Women's Center, asking to speak to Dr. Seavers. Sitting on the floor beside me, he places his hand on my stomach, hoping to somehow calm the storm that rages inside. After what seems like an eternity, he is finally speaking to her - "Dr. Seavers, this is Gil Grissom - Sara's husband. She is experiencing some severe pain in her pelvic region - she describes it as stabbing pain, but not constant. We will be right there. Thank you!" He hurriedly puts the phone in his pocket and helps me to my feet. The pain has subsided just enough to stand up. We make our way to the car and he speeds towards the women's center. Arriving at the emergency entrance, he parks the car and heads inside looking for a wheelchair. Finding one quickly, he opens my door and helps me sit down. I notice that Dr. Seavers is waiting for us at the entrance and quickly ushers us into a room. She and Gil help me into the hospital bed and she asks Gil to help me remove my clothing, at least my pants and underwear. Feeling helpless, I just let him do it all. Looking over my chart and notes from my last visit, she prepares to do the exam. All the while, asking me questions to gauge what the problem could be.

"Sara, I'm going to have to do an internal exam. There will be parts that may be painful or uncomfortable, but this is the best way I can assess what is happening. I'll be sure to let you know what I am doing and when you may feel some discomfort." I hold my breath and Gil's hand. Dr. Seavers gently inserts several gloved fingers into my vagina, explaining that she is checking my cervix and that it could be painful. I clench down on Gil's hand, pain sears through my body and I am close to tears again. Feeling me tense up, she carefully removes her fingers and explains that I am experiencing some contractions and have begun to dilate. "Sara, you have dilated to 3 already, your amniotic sac seems to be intact, which is good. Although we could go ahead and deliver today, I'd really like to try to give the babies a little more time to develop. I think it would be best to admit you for observation tonight."

Agreeing to do whatever she thinks is best for both the babies and myself, we are soon on our way to a private room. Dr. Seavers orders an ultrasound to make sure that the babies are developed enough in case they make an earlier than expected arrival. Looking on the ultrasound screen, the girls look healthy and well developed for 32 weeks, although they are still very small. I breathe a sigh of relief, as does Gil who hasn't left my side for a second. A nurse comes to start an IV line and has no trouble getting the needle inserted. Dr. Seavers talks to us about what treatment she feels is best. She recommends at least one IV dose of terbutaline, which will help stop the contractions - hopefully prolonging delivery for at least 24-48 hours , as well as, two injections of betamethasone over 24 hours which will help the babies' lungs to develop a little better. Telling us that the drugs pose little risk and have immense benefits, we agree that this will be what we do for now. She will continue to monitor my contractions and cervical dilation for 24 hours. Since my water hasn't broken yet, I may be allowed to go home, but only on strict bed rest. Hooking me up to several monitors, including 2 fetal heart monitors I feel like a robot, wires coming off of my body in several directions, each with their own monitor. The nurse returns to administer the medications and asks if we need anything. Content for the moment, Gil lets her know that if we need anything we will call the desk. After she leaves, Gil crawls in bed behind me, wrapping his arm around my stomach. He caresses my body, whispering how much he loves me and how beautiful I am. Feeling tired, I ask him to stroke my head - he obliges, gently rubbing my head and continuing to whisper sweet nothings to me. I quickly fall asleep, and only wake once during the night when the nurse comes into the room to check the monitors. The pain and contractions seem to have subsided for now, and I hope that I am able to return home tomorrow.

The morning arrives and Dr. Seavers enters the room, smiling at Gil and I who have shared the small bed all night. "Well Sara, I've watched the monitors almost all night and your contractions have decreased in both frequency and intensity. I don't really think that I need to do another internal exam and take the chance that it will cause the contractions to begin. I think that we have managed to buy a little more time for the twin's to develop - which is very good. As long as everything continues this way through the afternoon, I will discharge you home - BUT only if you promise to stay in bed and call me if anything were to change." she says. I promise her that I will adhere to the strict bed rest and am glad to know that I am going home soon. She leaves the room and Gil and I snuggle back up together. We manage to eat a small brunch and catch a quick nap before Dr. Seavers arrives to discharge me. Asking if she thinks we will still be able to have a water birth, she assures me that as long as everything looks ok and no one is in distress, we will at least attempt it. Before she leaves, she lets us know that she feels like we will deliver well before June 1 - "So be prepared."

Gil helps me in the car and drives home, all the while telling me how I am not to lift a finger for anything. I agree, knowing that I won't win this argument. Once inside, he instructs me to lay on the sofa until he can return. Minutes later, he returns - his arms loaded with blankets and pillows. He makes a second trip, this time returning with a small table, lamp and several books and magazines. A third trip delivers the laptop, several bottles of water and a basket of fresh fruit and crackers. Gil fashions me quite the little nest on the couch, making sure that I have everything within reach. Kissing me on the forehead, he lets me know that he is going to try and finish everything up in the nursery, but if I need anything just to call him and he will be right by my side. Picking up a magazine, I nod - knowing that I am in good hands. Thumbing through the magazine, my mind wanders to what Gil could be doing in the nursery. Wishing I could be there to help, I quickly turn back to the magazine trying not to let my hormonal emotions get the best of me. At least there would be something for me to look forward to, a surprise of sorts. Wondering how long I am going to be confined to the sofa, I return my thoughts to the magazine.