Febuary 2004
Stella and Mac were at home playing with their chiildren, waiting for their forth child to arrive every day now. Suddenly Stella felt a pain in her lower abdomen. A pain, which she has felt three times before. She was starting to have contractions. She loohed up at Mac who could read her like a book. "Mac!" "Is it on its way?" "Yes." Mac called his mother who would watch the children during the time they were in the hospital.
When she arrived half an hour later the kids were still playing and Mac helped Stella into the car and drove to the hospital. It hurt Mac to see her in so much pain.
When they arrived at the hospital they were brought to a private room. Stella was trying to breakthe and walk against the contractions. Mac was at her side the whole time, trying to ease the pain as good as he could. "Mac!" "I am right here Stella." "The kids are with your mother?" "Yes. Sweetheart they are with my mother." He was holding her hand drawing circles on her aplm with his thumb. With his other hand he was massaging her back trying to get her to relax.
After about eight hours of contractions she was still not fully delated. With Matthew it had taken 32 hours. With Isabella it had taken 16 hours and with Andrew it had taken 20 hours. Mac hoped that it would be shorter then Matthew but he knew that each baby had its own pace. But he hoped that the time would be close to the time with Isabella and Andrew.
Three hours later she was able to have an epidural. She would be able to rest and to sleep for a few hours. She woped up five hours later to pain running thorugh her abdomen. Now the time for their daughter to arrive had come.
Two hours later their daughter made its appereance on the woprld. After Mac had cut the umbilical cord the doctors took Stem-cells from ti to freeze them for later medical treatsments like they had done with their three prior children, too. The nurse placed the little girl on Stella´s stomach. After a while she took her to clean and dress her. She then placed the little girl back in Stella´s arms. Both parents had tears in their eyes. Mac was sitting next to Stella on the bed and had his arm wrapped around her. "Susan Mallory!" "What?" "Her name. Susan Mallory. Susan after your sister Susan Monique and your grandmother. Mallory after my sister Audrey Mallory and my fathers mother Mallory." "Are you sure you want to name her that way Stella." "I am. You?" "Yes. I am. I just wanted to make sure." "So her name is Susan Mallory." "Yes Stella." He bowed his head and gave her a sweet kiss. "I love you Mac." "I love you Stella. I love you too Susan." Stella lied back against Mac´s strong chest to get some rest. Mac watched both of them sleep and was happy.
