A/N not mine, I own nothing but the plot.

Hey All! I had an error about MA and Angie spotted, I'm going to leave it the way it is. So for this story MA is the older sister that likes to read Angie likes horses and Lisa is around five years old. I've got a lot going on this week and may not be able to post as much as I'd like.

Hard Knock Life

I woke up early to get ready for mass, we were taking the girls with us. Tank had cinnamon sugar toast and juice ready for each of us. We were planning on stopping for breakfast before we take the girls home.

On our way to mass I began to feel nauseous and the small headache I had was only getting worse.

I find some tylenol in my purse and take two.

"You alright, Baby."

"I'm fine, just a headache."

Thankfully the headache soon passes and I can focus on Fr. Mike. The girls were invited to CCD classes during mass. Lisa clung to me and didn't want to go. I wasn't going to force her. She snuggled into Tanks lap and fell asleep half way through. He laid her down on the pew next to him.

After mass we took the girls home, and I still wasn't feeling very good. I told Tank that after lunch I wanted to go lay down and take a nap. Unfortunately, my body had other plans. Lunch wouldn't stay down, and an hour later I still couldn't keep any fluids down either.

"Baby, I know you hate hospitals, but I think it's time to call Jen and Bobby and have them meet us there."

I was so miserable that I only nodded through my tears. I hurt everywhere and my stomach was cramping. I was afraid I was going to lose the babies.

We pull up to the hospital and Jen is waiting there with a wheelchair. Tank picks me up and sits me in it. We head upstairs to the maternity floor.

"Steph, I'm going to draw some blood and start an iv. I also want to do an ultrasound to check on the twins. I want to give you phenergan to help and if that doesn't work we'll try zofran in two hours. You will be here overnight at least so we can closely monitor you."

"Do whatever you have to, to make sure the babies are alright. I don't care if I have to stay here until they're born, as long as they're okay," I tell her.

"Baby, I need to call Lester and have him cover for me tonight," Tank says.

"Go call him. I'll be fine until you get back."

He nods and we watch as he goes out of the room. It takes six tries and having to call an amazing nurse, but my blood is drawn and my iv is started in the back of my hand.

Tank gets upset when he sees how many times I had to be poked. It took Bobby explaining to him that they had a hard time since I was severely dehydrated.

Two hours later a new iv bag was hung and I was given a dose of zofran. Ten minutes later I was out like a light.

"Steph, it's time for the ultrasound. Can you wake up for me?" I hear Jen ask.

I wake up in a fog.

"Yeah, I'm awake. I want to know my babies are alright."

She pulls up a machine and pulls my blanket down and gown up. My flat belly is now exposed. She gets right to it.

"There they are. See the little fluttering dots?" She asks us.

"Yes," Tank says with a bit of fear in his voice.

"That's their heart beats. Everything looks like it should. Your blood work shows that you are dehydrated and have a bladder infection. I want to keep you overnight and send you home tomorrow. You will be on bed rest for at least three days then I want to see you in my office. Since the phenergan didn't help to much, I'm going to give you a prescription for both that and zofran; as well as an antibiotic. If the phenergan doesn't help you can try the zofran two hours after that. I think that this will be the best course to take at this point," she told us.

We both let out a sigh of relief. I said a little prayer and thanks towards heaven. We could do this.

"I'll check on you in the morning and we'll see if you can keep anything down and decide if you should be discharged then or if you need another night. Okay?" Jen asked.

"That's fine, as much as I hate hospitals, I'd rather be here until it's safe to be at home," I tell her and Tank only nods.

She leaves the room taking the machine with her. Tank has been oddly quiet this whole time. I look up and into his eyes. He seems lost in thought.

"I'm sorry," I start quietly. "I didn't mean to get dehydrated."

"No, Baby. It's not your fault, remember like Jen said, sometimes this happens. I'm just worried about the three of you. I don't know what I can do to help you."

"You're already doing it, Pierre. You're right here by my side, holding my hand and loving me." I pull him down for a gentle kiss and hear a voice clearing from the doorway. We look up to find a sheepish looking, Ranger.

"I just wanted to check in, Lester called me. Everyone okay?" He asked with concern clearly showing on his face.

"We're good. I got dehydrated and a bladder infection. I should be able to go home tomorrow sometime, if I can keep things down. Then I'll be on bedrest until I see Jen for a follow up appointment."

He let out such a small sigh I almost missed it. "Good. I was worried that the worst had happened. Is it okay if I let the guys know that you're all going to be fine? They walking on eggshells right now."

"That's a good idea. I was going to call them and I still need to call my family and Steph's."

The nurse came in and gave me an iv of antibiotics and a dose of zofran, as I was drifting off I could hear Tank and Ranger talking.

"I was scared Rangeman. I was scared we were losing the babies."

"They're all going to be fine. If they are anything like their mother, then they can and will survive anything. Steph is the strongest and bravest person I've ever met."

"I know and I don't want to lose any of them. What if something happens when she's giving birth? She's so tiny and I worry that the babies will be to big. Hell, my brothers and I were four weeks early and each weighed seven pound plus..."

I must have drifted off at that point. A little after six thirty Tank wakes me up for dinner. Ella had sent over a meal for us. For the first time in awhile I feel like I'm starving.

"A little hungry?" Tank asks me.

I can only nod as I put another forkful in my mouth. He chuckles as I moan my way through dinner.

"Baby, I had plans for us to go out of town for Valentines day, but I think we'll stay home since you'll still be on bedrest. Do you mind?"

"No, a nice evening at home with my husband is perfect."

"Hey! None of that, that's what led to this situation," Grandpa says from my doorway as Tank leans over to kiss me.

"Hi, Grandpa," I say with a hint of sarcasm.

"We just wanted check on everyone."

He and Grandma come in carrying a vase of flowers with them.

"We're fine. I just became a little dehydrated." They stay for about an hour before visiting hour are over.

Tank snuggles up to me on the bed and we fall asleep.

The next morning the nurse gives me a dose of phenergan a half hour before breakfast. Thankfully it seems to work and I can eat. Soon we are being discharged and on our way home.

A/N I had hyperemis gravidium throughout my entire pregnancy with my youngest. We also lost his twin early on and I had severe preeclampsia and premature labor. Phoenix was born four weeks premature and blue. He was and still is a fighter. He lives up to his name. He not only rose from the fire, but he is a warrior, proving his doctors and teachers wrong at every turn. His middle name is Donovan which is celtic for warrior. To us he is that warrior that rose from the ashes. He has caught up with kids his age and surpassed all expectations. He even graduated kindergarten this year after we were told in January that he would most likely be held back. Once again he fought and proved them wrong. He doesn't let anyone tell him he can't do things other kids his age can. He even knows basic sign language. We started using it with him when he was born, and it helped more than I can tell you. His PT/OT and speech therapists when he was a baby were amazed at how well he could communicate with us and no temper tantrums to be had. He no longer needs PT or OT, but will be in a special class with an aide this upcoming school year for his speech impediment. I know he'll blow them all away again, because he is my Phoenix Donovan.