"Yes you can take him home."
Catherine and Steve were really excited to hear that. Finally they could take their little boy home. No more sitting in the hospital.
"Thank you doctor," Catherine replied happily.
"He's really doing very well. I would like to see him again for a check-up in two weeks. If you have any questions before that don't hesitate to call me. I'll go sign his discharge papers and you can take him home."
"Thank you doctor," Steve told him. The doctor left. "Guess what Natty, baby brother is coming home with us."
"Baby besse?" Natalie asked.
"Yes the baby is all better. He doesn't have to stay in the hospital anymore. He can come home with us."
"Yay," Natalie cheered.
Steve grabbed Jake's stuff and put them in the bag. The nurse came to disconnect the monitors. All the nurses said goodbye to them before they went home. Catherine carried Jake downstairs and strapped him into his car seat as Steve got Natalie in her car seat. Steve got in the driver's seat and Catherine got in the passenger seat. Steve drove them all home. Catherine carried Jake into the house in his car seat. Jake had fallen asleep on the ride home. Catherine took him upstairs and put him in his own crib. Catherine was so happy to finally have him at home. No more sitting in the hospital, no more missing him at home. Their family was complete now. Catherine stood there looking over his crib. She was so glad that everything had turned out okay after what happened. She had been so scared to loose Jake. Catherine pulled out her phone and took a picture of Jake sleeping, the first time in his own crib. Catherine quietly left the room, closed the door and walked downstairs.
It was Saturday today so they didn't have to work today. While Catherine was upstairs Steve went outside with Natalie. She wanted to play. Catherine joined them outside. She sat down in the hammock and just watched Steve and Natalie playing. She loved her life right now with her husband and their two beautiful kids. Catherine was so happy that it had turned out this way. She had been afraid how it would go when she came back to Hawaii with Natalie. She was so glad that she was a family with Steve, Natalie and Jake now. It was so cute to see Steve and Natalie together. Natalie was definitely his little girl, his little princess. From the moment they met Natalie had Steve wrapped around her little finger. Natalie really loved her daddy and Steve loved his daughter. Sometimes she still mentally slapped herself for not coming back to Hawaii sooner, but it all had turned out okay in the end.
"Mommy, come play too," Natalie called, shocking Catherine out of her thoughts.
Catherine got up and the family played together. They were playing football together. Catherine and Natalie were playing together. Catherine threw the ball to Natalie.
"Go Natty, go run, I'll stop daddy."
Natalie ran towards the end as Catherine was trying to stop Steve.
"I'm coming to get you Natty," Steve called.
"No you're not Steve. Run Natty," Catherine spoke.
Catherine moved in front of Steve so he couldn't get to Natalie. Steve got closer to Natalie but he couldn't get there because Catherine was in the way. Natalie ran to the end and put the ball on the ground.
"Yay well done Natty," Catherine spoke.
"Yay I scowed," Natalie cheered.
"Well done. Now it's daddy's turn."
They got back in position and Steve had the ball. Steve managed to get past Catherine but Natalie was still in his way.
"Daddy no scowe," Natalie told him.
"Are you gonna stop me then?"
"Yes daddy. Daddy no scowe."
"But you have to catch me first then."
Steve moved a little bit, trying to get past Natalie. Natalie hugged Steve's leg so he couldn't really walk anymore.
"Ah no, I have a little monkey on my leg."
Steve slowly moved towards the end and Catherine came to help. Just before the end they fell over on the floor. Before Catherine could grab the ball Steve moved it over the line and put it on the floor.
"No, daddy scowed," Natalie pouted.
"It's our turn again Natty."
They played for a little while longer until Jake started crying. Catherine and Natalie won four – two. Catherine went upstairs to get Jake.
"Hey little buddy," Catherine spoke as she walked into the room.
Jake smiled when he saw Catherine above his crib. Catherine picked him up, changed his diaper and got him dressed. Jake lay patiently on the changing table playing with one of his toys. Once he was dressed Catherine took him downstairs. She took him outside and put him in his bouncy chair in the shade. Catherine sat down on the chair next to him and just watched him play. Jake happily looked up and the toys dangling above him. Catherine took the camera and filmed him as he played. Jake laughed as he played with his toys. It was so cute to see.
"Hey buddy," Steve spoke as he joined them a little later. Steve gave him a soft kiss on his head.
Steve and Catherine sat there outside with Jake in his bouncy chair between them and Natalie playing in the sandbox. This moment was just perfect. Steve looked down at his son. He was so happy that Jake was finally home and that he was doing so well.
A little later Jake starting, letting them know he was hungry. Steve picked him up from his bouncy chair and took him to the kitchen. He pulled out a bottle and warmed it up.
"It's coming buddy."
Once the bottle was warm Steve tested it on his hand to make sure it wasn't too warm before putting it in Jake's mouth. As soon as the pacifiers was within his reach Jake started drinking.
"There that's better huh buddy."
With Jake in his arms Steve walked back outside and sat in his chair. Catherine took the camera and took a picture of Steve and Jake. Jake almost finished his entire bottle. Steve put the bottle on the table and put Jake over his shoulder. He softly patted Jake's back until Jake burped.
Jake was now six weeks old and he had really grown already. He weight about six pounds now. He had gained about three pounds already since he was born. He was a hungry little guy and he ate very well. Once Jake had burped Steve stood up and walked over to the hammock. He lay down on the hammock with Jake on his chest. Jake lay peacefully on Steve's chest and sucked on his pacifier.
"You're such a cute little boy," Steve spoke to him and gave him a soft kiss. "Daddy loves you very much. Daddy is so happy that you're okay. You gave mommy and me quite a scare. But everything is okay now. You're finally home with us."
Catherine had gone inside to prepare dinner. She watched from the kitchen window how Steve lay there with their son. It was such a beautiful picture to see.
"Dinner is ready," Catherine called outside once it was ready.
Steve got up from the hammock and took Jake and Natalie inside.
"Wash your hands before dinner Natty," Catherine told her.
Catherine lifted Natalie up so she could wash her hands as Steve put Jake in his swing chair. He helped Catherine carry the pans to the table and the family had dinner. After dinner Steve took Jake upstairs for bath. He put Jake in his bouncy chair as he got the bath ready. Steve undressed Jake and made sure the water wasn't too hot before he put Jake in it. He held his hand under Jake's head so he wouldn't go under. Jake lay there and looked up to Steve. He didn't mind it at all. Steve gently splashed some water over Jake and washed him. After a little while Steve pulled Jake out of the bed and wrapped a towel hoodie around him. He took Jake to the nursery and put him on the changing table. Steve dried Jake off, put a diaper on him and put his pajamas on. Just as he was finished Catherine came upstairs with Natalie. Steve handed Jake to Catherine so she could feed him as Steve went to put Natalie in bath. Catherine sat down on the rocking chair with Jake in her arms and breastfed him. Steve took Natalie to the bathroom and filled the tub. Steve helped Natalie undress and put her in the bathtub. He handed her some water toys to play with. Steve sat next to the tub as Natalie played with her toys.
Jake was happily laying in Catherine's arms and sucking on her nipple. He had his little hand wrapped around one of Catherine's fingers as he drank. Once he had drunk enough Catherine covered herself up and put Jake over her shoulder. She gently rocked the chair as she patted his back.
"That's a good boy," Catherine spoke after Jake had burped.
Catherine sat there for a little while with Jake in her arms. After a while she got up and gave Jake his pacifier. She rocked Jake in her arms as she walked up and down the room. It didn't take Jake long to fall asleep. Catherine gave Jake a soft kiss on his head and carefully placed him in his crib.
"Goodnight little buddy," Catherine softly told him and she quietly left the room.
She stopped by the bathroom to see how it was going. Natalie was in the tub playing with her toys and Steve was washing her. Catherine walked downstairs and cleaned up the kids' toys. Steve finished washing Natalie and dried her off. He got her ready for bed.
"Stowy daddy," Natalie spoke once Steve tuck her in.
Steve grabbed the book they were reading and lay down on the bed next to her. Steve read Natalie the book as Natalie snuggled against him. By the time the book had ended Natalie had already fallen asleep. Steve quietly got up from the bed. He tucked Natalie in and gave her a soft kiss before going downstairs.
Before going to bed Steve and Catherine dropped in on Jake. He was sleeping peacefully in his crib and sucking on his pacifier.
"He's so cute," Catherine stated.
"That he really is. I'm really glad we have him home with us now."
"Yeah me too. Thank god everything turned out okay. I was so scared when he was just born."
"Oh yes me too, I thought we were going to lose him."
"Yeah me too. It was so hard to see him lie there, so tiny, so small, so fragile."
"He's doing fine now Cath."
"I know and I'm really glad about that."
Catherine gave him a soft kiss before she and Steve went to bed. Two hours later they were woken up by Jake's crying. Catherine got up from the bed and walked to Jake's room.
"Hey little buddy," Catherine spoke as she picked Jake up.
She sat down on the rocking chair since this was hungry cry. Catherine breastfed him and rocked him back to sleep. She placed him back in his crib and crawled back into bed.
…..
Jake had been home for a week now. It was really going very well. Sure it was a little bit getting used to with a baby around the house, especially for Natalie. She loved her little brother but it was hard sometimes to have to share the attention with him. But she was a great big sister. She loved to play with him and help take care of him. The past week Steve and Catherine had a lot of broken nights. Jake woke up about two or three times each night. Steve and Catherine took turns going out to get Jake. Jake was doing very well. He ate and slept very well.
It was the middle of July now which meant Natalie was off from school and Steve had vacation too. The family decided to go on a little trip. Since Jake was still so young and with everything that had happened to him they didn't want to fly so they decided to stay on Oahu. They had rented a vacation home near the popular surf spot Three Tables, which was up on the north shore. Steve made sure everything was in the back of his truck as Catherine got the kids. Steve secured the luggage with a sheet over the back of the truck. Once everything and everyone was in the car Steve went to lock the house up before he got in the car as well. Steve went down their street and drove to Kalanianaole Highway. Here he took a left. A while up the road this road changed into Lunalilo Freeway. He continued to follow this road and it changed into Moanalua Freeway. He stayed on this road until he took the exit towards Pearl City onto Queen Liliuokalina Freeway. The next exit was H-2 N/Mililana/Wahiawa onto Veterans Memorial Freeway. He took exit eight towards Wahiawa. He was now on Kamehameha Highway. At the crossing with Kaukonahua Road Steve took the right arm to stay on Kamehameha Highway. Steve continued on this road until he came at the crossing with Joseph P. Leong Highway. Steve took the right arm on this crossing to go onto Joseph P. Leong Highway. A little further this road changed back into Kamehameha Highway. He continued on this road until just a little before Three Tables Beach, until the church. Their beach house was here. In total it was about an hour drive from their home to here. Steve drove down the small sand road. Their house was along this road. There were some more houses down this road, which had a gate at the start of the road. The house had a private beach attached to it. Well not exactly close but they only shared it with the other houses on this small road and not the general public. Steve parked the car near the house. Someone was already waiting for them on the porch. Steve and Catherine got out of the car and helped the kids out.
"Hello, you must be the McGarrett's," the woman spoke to them friendly.
"Yes, I've Steve and this is my wife Catherine."
"Nice to meet you both. I hope you enjoy your stay here. Here are the keys. There's some information on the kitchen counter along with my number. I will see you in a week."
"Thank you, I'm sure we will enjoy ourselves."
"Well I'll let you unpack. Feel free to call if you have any questions."
"Thank you."
The woman walked off and Steve and Catherine took the kids inside. There were some steps onto the porch. The house was light yellow on the outside. Steve opened the door to the house. Natalie immediately stormed in and went to explore the house. They came into a hallway. Here were the doors for the bedrooms and the bathrooms. They walked further down the hallway and came into the living area. There stood a couch in front of the window with two chairs in a corner left and right from the couch with a table in the middle. The couch was navy blue and on either side stood a side table with a table lamp on it. The table was white wood and the two chairs were rattan. On the ceiling hung a fan lamp. On the far end wall, opposite from the entry, hung the TV with a small dresser underneath. On the left side of the house was the kitchen and dining area. The kitchen was fully stocked with everything, except groceries of course, and had several appliance. Between the kitchen and the dining area stood a breakfast bar with two stools. The dining area featured a wooden table with six white rattan chairs. Behind the kitchen was a door leading to a covered lanai with a white table and a white couch and two chairs with navy blue cushions. Through the lanai they could go outside to the yard. They had a small backyard for the kids to play in. The master bedroom featured a king bed while two of the others bedrooms had a queen bed and the fourth bedroom had two twin beds. The master bathroom featured a double vanity with a bathtub and the other bathroom and a double vanity with shower. They also had a washer and dryer and an outdoor BBQ grill. It looked really nice. Steve got the bouncy chair out so Jake could sit in there while they cleaned out the car. Natalie came to help and took some of her stuff to her bedroom. Natalie picked one of the bedrooms with a queen bed. She liked having a big bed to herself. Steve and Catherine took the bedroom with the king bed and they put Jake's travel bed in the bedroom with the two twin beds. They brought all the stuff inside and unpacked. Once everything was unpacked Steve went to the grocery store nearby to get some groceries while Catherine stayed at the house with Natalie and Jake. It was a beautiful summer day and Natalie wanted to swim. Catherine inflated the small inflatable pool and filled it with water after she had changed herself and Natalie in her bathing suit. Natalie wore a red pair of swim underwear with a ruffled top on it. The top was blue with stars at the top and then blue with stars and red took turns on the ruffles. Catherine wore a pink ruffled tankini top with a black swim short underneath. As the pool was filling Catherine rubbed some sunscreen on Natalie and herself. Catherine had taken Jake's swim shorts out as well. Natalie went into the pool and Catherine went to dress Jake. Jake wore a blue swimsuit with anchors on it. Catherine rubbed some sun screen on Jake as well and took him to the pool. Catherine sat on the grass next to pool. She dipped Jake's foot in the pool. Jake smiled as Catherine played with him in the water.
A little later Steve came back from doing groceries. As he carried the groceries to the kitchen he heard a scream coming from the backyard.