Stevie and Alex are in Fisher for Stevie's final ultrasound. Today they'll find out just how big this baby is. Stevie is positive the baby is a girl and much smaller than the boys. Stevie's tummy is much smaller, she's had next to no morning sickness and has found she is much more comfortable, they'll also hopefully find out the sex as the last few ultra sounds the baby has been turned away.
As they sit in the waiting room Alex is laughing, every time he puts his hand on Stevie's tummy the baby kicks it. "Alex stop it "Stevie says laughing. He leans over her and kisses her and says "Sorry cowgirl but this bub is our last and I just want to enjoy everything about the pregnancy." Stevie smiles at him and reaches for his hand and places it back onto her tummy on cue the baby kicks it. Stevie giggles too.
"Stevie, Alex would you like to come through?" The Doctor says. He leads them through to the ultra sound room and tells them he's going to sit in on their session. As the screen lights up and shows the baby Stevie and Alex are enraptured. "Well you were right Stevie's your baby is a little girl." Stevie looks at Alex and he is beaming and he reaches over and kisses her. "Right I think you'll be very happy to know everything is where it's supposed to be and judging by the measurements I've taken I think you'll be right to have her naturally." The Doctor says.
"So how big will she be." Alex asks anxiously. "Well I can't be exact Alex but I'd say somewhere between 7 to 71/2 pounds." Alex is shocked will she be alright if she's so little?" The Doctor laughs "Alex that is a normal sized baby your boys were very big babies especially for a woman Stevie's size to have. They were that size because of your size. I'd guarantee both of your boys will be six footers your daughter will be lucky to be the same height as her Mother." Alex nods and asks "Do you think she'll be premature like the boys?" The Doctor replies. "I think you'll find the reason the boys were early was because there was no more room for them, while this little one will have ample room.
I will continue to monitor you closely Stevie but I think you'll find you'll hang onto her longer and labour will be better." They thank the Doctor and head outside. Alex holds her and kisses her deeply. She smiles up at him and says "Alberto was right 2 big boys and a girl." Alex smiles and says "I can't wait Stevie, we get to rear a little girl it was fun with Rose but she was two thirds grown by the time she came into our lives together." Stevie smiles at him. Alex grins at her and says "Right we need to go shopping now. We have so many pink things to buy." Stevie giggles as he takes her hand and leads her towards the shops.
Later that night the boys are in bed and Alex is lying on the couch and Stevie is sitting between his legs leaning back onto him watching television. Alex has his arms around her tummy and the baby is moving around a lot. "Stevie?" "Yeah." "Does it feel funny?" He says. Stevie turns and looks at him and says "Does what feel funny Alex?" "Having a baby move inside you?" He says.
She smiles "Well in the beginning it feels funny because you're not sure if what you're feeling is the baby, then when they really get going its lovely. I found it really difficult with the boys towards the end because there was no room and they had their heads down and it felt like their feet were pushing my ribcage all the time. Sometimes I cried with pain and I couldn't sleep very well because their kicking woke me. But mostly it was really nice. It makes me feel so very special being pregnant, very feminine and very clever.
After the birth I missed them." She says sadly. Alex is puzzled and says "What do you mean you missed them?" "Well for months you feel them moving, stretching, growing and you've felt it Alex, when they get hiccups," He smiles and she continues. "And then they're born and all that feeling stops and I sort of feel empty." She whispers. He hugs her and nuzzles into her neck and says "Oh god Stevie I love you." She turns and kisses him. "I love you too" She places her hands on his hands which are on her belly and a short time later their baby girl settles.
A couple of months later Stevie is almost due and Grace is 51/2 months pregnant and again the girls are doing supply runs and boundary checks with Xander, Jake, Stella and Keira onboard. Any little job they can manage they do and everyone is amazed at how they keep going. Both girls know, the harder they work now, the better life will be in the future and neither is afraid of hard work.
Tess and Jodie have Meg to help with the children and they too work long hard hours but they can see the plan is working all the family is prospering and each month the balance sheets look better and better.
Shearing is due to be done and they bring in a few contractors as Stevie and Grace are out of action for a few more months. Wilgul only run a few hundred sheep so Marcus and Nick have organized to truck them over to Drovers. Nick has finely tuned the equipment and the rosters so everyone that can help will. Drover's has the largest number of sheep of the three properties and it may take them two weeks to complete the task. Kilarney will be next but these days they only run a little under a thousand head so a week should see them done. Marcus and Nick have decided to bring in a third contractor to help with the shearing because with Stevie due to have the baby it will take Alex out of the picture for a while.
Nick and Tess are in the kitchen at Drovers and Nick says. "Tess I think we need to plan a holiday."Tess grins and says "Oo I like the sound of that Nick. Where are we going?" She moves to put her arms around him. "I was thinking somewhere tropical maybe the Islands off Queensland or Fiji. I'd like to go to a resort that is family friendly you know with a crèche so we can have time together but also with lots of things we can do together as a family. We're going to be really busy by the end of the year so if we go it can't be later than the month after next. What are your thoughts Tess?" "I love it. Tropical beaches, sunshine, alone time with you."Tess says laughing. Nick grins and leans over to kiss her and says "Lots of alone time with you." "Book it Nick, Book it!" Tess says laughing then reaches to hug and kiss him.
"Hey Grace that fence is down over there."Stevie says. Grace drives towards the fence Stevie is pointing at."You're right Stevie is the gear in the back or did Marcus take it out."Grace says. Stevie winds down the windows in the car and tells the children to be good Mummy and Aunty Grace are just going to fix the fence. "Yes Strainers are here Stevie."Grace calls from the back of the car. Together the two girls sort out the fence it's hard work but they've done it a thousand times before. All in all it takes about twenty minutes and they're done. As they get back into the car Grace says. "Bloody hell Stevie that kind of work puffs me out these days."Stevie laughs and says "You're not wrong Grace. Just as well they didn't put us on fence duty they'd have to allow a lot more breaks for us."They both laugh.
"Hey Stevie, your hand is bleeding."Grace says in concerned voice. "Yeah I know I cut it on the barbed wire because I didn't bring my gloves. It'll be right I've put a tissue on it" Stevie says. "Righto let's get these babies back for sleeps."Grace says as she starts the car Stevie laughs and says."Three of them are already asleep Grace."Again they laugh. The drive along silently until Grace speaks. "Stevie, do you ever feel like you need to pinch yourself because life is so good."Stevie smiles at her friend and says "All the time Grace. If someone had told me 6 years ago I'd be married to Alex living on Kilarney and driving around pregnant with you and our babies in the back I would have told them they were mad."
Grace is laughing and says "We make a great pair though don't we it's like tag team babies you have one then I do, you have another one then I do."Stevie laughs and says "You're on your own now Grace the Ryan production team have shut up shop." Grace says "Yeah right Stevie the way you two are, there will be more Ryan's for sure."
Stevie looks at her friend and says "No there won't be Alex had a vasectomy months ago."Grace looks shocked "What I couldn't imagine Alex would do that." Stevie smiles at her and says "he was the one that suggested it. I said I thought I should go and have my tubes tied and he said no your body has done enough plus he said it was easier for him. So off he went, done."
Grace looks shocked and then gets a funny grin on her face and says "Does it make a difference?"Stevie laughs and says "Grace that's a bit personal." "Well does it?'Grace pushes. Stevie laughs and says "The only difference it makes is we don't have to worry anymore about birth control, no more pills. I love it."" Grace says "You know that's not what I meant Stevie." Stevie looks at Grace, smiles and says. "Everything is as wonderful as before." "Right I may have to drop some hints for Marcus when we're finished."Grace says. "How many children are you guys going to have?"Stevie asks. "Just one more I think four is a nice number."Grace says smiling. Alex and Marcus are standing, chatting and waiting as the girls pull up at Wilgul.