Ahh, I swear I haven't forgotten about writing, sorry! I've just been super busy! You guys are the best readers I could ask for and I can't thank you enough for all of your support. I'm really glad you enjoyed the last chapter so much (But really what's not to love about Peddie 3 )! I hope you like this one too!
"Good work, Eddie!" my birth and parenting instructor complimented him as he practiced changing diapers. It was our last class before the twins would be arriving.
He had become the class favorite after he finally started showing up. Even though he'd only come three times before this, only twice consecutively, my instructor loved him. The other moms didn't mind him either since he was pretty easy on the eyes. They always commented on how sweet he was to me and how lucky I was to have him. I know, sometimes it's hard to believe he's mine; was all I could think. Even with all that we've been through, I couldn't have asked for anyone more perfect to call my husband and the father of my children.
Today is all about practicing what life would be like when the babies came and Eddie and I have been acing every challenge, together. In fact, we're probably the best, and we're doing even better than some of the parents who already have children! Plus, we have Shari and Joy with us too. I am so grateful we can count on them, and so many other people, to help with everything.
I knew it would be hard, especially trying to finish out the school year with newborns, but lately I'd been having this feeling that everything was going to work out. And as nervous as I was, I felt more prepared than ever.
Being able to see my babies right in front of me during the sonogram never ceased to amaze me, and this morning, it just made it all seem more real.
"Pretty soon you won't have to look at them this way, they'll really be right there for you to see and hold," the technician remarked before the screen went blank. "Everything seems okay, so let me just go get your picture and film from today's ultrasound, all right?"
I nodded, but I just kept thinking wow she's right. Today was my first check up at the 9-month mark, which meant I was 36 weeks pregnant; only 3 weeks left before I was due.
It was only a few minutes after the technician had brought the picture and film when Dr. Harrison came in asking, "So how is my favorite family today?"
"Good, thanks," I chuckled.
"Good, now you finished that class I recommended last night right?" Dr. Harrison asked.
"Yeah, Patricia, even suckered me into going." Eddie joked. "I think it actually really helped though…well at least for me."
"Definitely," I agreed. "It seems a little less overwhelming now I think."
"That was the goal, I'm glad you guys enjoyed the class, I know your instructor told me she was very proud of you two in particular," Dr. Harrison praised. "And Patricia, how have you been feeling?"
"Fine, just huge, kind of uncomfortable," I replied.
"Yeah, I would imagine so at this point, you really look like you're going to have them any time now," Dr. Harrison told me. "I think I'd like to check your dilation, okay sweetie?"
"But I'm not in labor, I still have three more weeks, the twins can't come yet…" I rambled frantically, Eddie tried to calm me by grabbing my hand.
"Oh, I know, and trust me, you would know too," she soothed. "It's actually quite normal for women to be a few centimeters dilated before even going into labor. Now let's see here…"
I waited, half trying to regain my newfound confidence that had just crumbled away, the other half trying not to laugh awkwardly about being…inspected.
"So, you're about four centimeters dilated Patricia," Dr. Harrison tried to tell me.
"Four?!" I interrupted, panicking. "But that's like half…"
"I know, that's actually a little more than even I expected," she admitted. Wonderful. I thought to myself sarcastically. "Like I've said before though, multiples don't tend to follow the normal 9-month schedule. Why are you so nervous about them coming a little early?"
"I just…what if?…I don't want…" I muttered, unable to speak coherently, feeling all of my newfound confidence crumble away.
"It's all right," Dr. Harrison said rolling over, closer to Eddie and I on her chair. "I know it's scary, it's scary for adults too, there aren't instructions for kids, there's no exact right way to parent them. But I have faith in you too, that even though you've had an obstacle put in your paths, you'll find a way to overcome it. And I'm sure you already have new stuff all set up for them, huh?"
"Thank you Dr. Harrison," I gratefully replied. "And yeah, I guess we do have a lot ready for them."
"Plus a great team of helpers waiting," Eddie added.
"Right!" Dr. Harrison reassured. "And you saw on the sonogram, nothing seems abnormal. Even if you have them a little early, your babies should be just fine. I do however think that you, Patricia, should take it a little easy for the next few days or weeks, until you go into labor. I won't put you on bed rest, but just be a little extra cautious not to be running around all over the place."
"Okay, I can do that, besides, I haven't exactly been acting like a wild-child lately anyhow," I offered, earnestly.
"Good, and you two need to call me if anything seems out of the ordinary or if it gets to be that time and I'll come meet you at the hospital, all right?" she asked while placing her hand on Eddie's knee and patting my right hand, the one I wasn't using to hold Eddie's.
"Yeah of course," I promised, having Eddie help me get up.
"I'll see you two soon," she good-byed, smiling. Then she yelled to us, rummaging through the pamphlet display, as we turned around to leave, "Oh wait, if you want, you could probably read some of these, just for more information."
"Sure thank you!" Eddie chuckled.
"Bye Dr. Harrison!" I waved to her.
Eddie's POV
Patricia had certainly taken Dr. Harrison's warning to heart. She didn't seem quite so shaken anymore and was back to being excited for the twins' arrival, but she refused to do anything with anyone. After our appointment on Friday, we returned to class, but right after school, she went right to our new room in the attic to study for her French test on Monday. My mom and, surprisingly, Victor had graciously agreed to give Patricia and the twins and I the attic room so that the four of us would be together and I could help with the babies during the night, once they came.
Everyone wanted to go see a movie in town on Friday night, but Patricia refused, even with Joy's begging. She even told me I should still go without her. At least when I came back she had painted nails, so she had stopped to do something fun. She said my mom had brought her some dinner and offered to do her nails.
Saturday, she alternated between reading the new pamphlets and studying French. Amber tried to set up a baseball tournament for every house at the school, so she could look for a new crush, since Alfie was still dating Willow. She had no luck convincing Patricia. "Patricia all you have to do is sit outside and cheer for your friends!" she shouted as she stormed out. Someone still had to bring her food for every meal because she wouldn't even come downstairs.
Patricia continued the same act on Sunday, but by lunchtime I'd had enough. She had decided to take a nap, so I took that time to set up a little candlelight picnic for the two of us. I first kissed her rounded stomach, then woke her by kissing her forehead. "Hey," I smiled.
"Hi?" she asked, slightly out of sorts. "Oh shoot, how long was I asleep?"
"Not too long," I told her motioning to the picnic, "I just thought you needed a break from studying, other than napping."
"Eddie I can't." she said firmly.
"Patricia, you've done nothing but study all weekend, you'll ace the test. And you turned down everyone's ideas to distract you, but for this one, you don't even have to go anywhere," I reminded her.
"Fine," she caved, smiling and reaching out her hand for me to help her up.
"I'm still the only one who can convince you of anything." I jokingly gloated, as we sat down and I began to eat.
"Shut up!" she chuckled before flinging a piece of spaghetti at me from the Bolognese hoagies I had made, since I wasn't so good at making anything else.
"So that's how it's going to be?" I challenged, throwing a grape at her.
Needless to say, I finally saw Patricia let loose for the first time in a while, but the date definitely ended with both of us needing showers.