Lizzie and David go back to watching the girls and playing with Mackenzie.
George: hey Derek, how've you been son?
Derek:I'm fine dad, thanks for asking.
George: anything new going on in your life?
Derek: new like what?
George: oh I don't know. New stuff at work, at home, with the boys and their schooling or sports . Anything new with you or maybe even Casey.
Derek: you got me. You'll have to ask Casey. Sorry dad nothing new here.(he walks over to where his boys are)
George and Nora are putting the kabobs and corn on the grill.
George:hey Nora, is it just me or does Casey seem different to you
Nora: well besides being exhausted mentally and physically with 6 kids one whom is a preemie then n
George: no I mean l feel like she's maybe hiding something from us...or she and Derek are having problems and they aren't talking to us. She's been kinda distant today. Normally she is all bubbly and happy and smiling. And she's usually interacting with all the kids. I'm a bit concerned
Nora: come on George this is Casey you're talking about. She's a full time mother. She has 5 very active boys and a baby who was born 2 months early. She's probably just tired. I think she's fine. If it makes you feel any better I'll talk to her privately, but she's grown so I can't make her say or do anything.
George: no that's ok. I bet I know someone who does know what's going on.
Nora: who?
George: who does Casey always talk to?
Nora:um Emily?
George:yeah probably but I wasn't talking about her.
Nora: well then who?
George: Marti
Nora: ok..I doubt she knows anything though.
George: one way to find out...I'm asking her.
Nora: good luck with that.
George and Nora go back to preparing the food
Marti and nick were in the pool with the kids.
Casey was playing with the boys water guns and watching them jump in. Marti and nick are taking turns holding Mackenzie in her Baby float and playing peek a boo.
Marti: I can't wait till she's bigger so we can take her overnight.
Nick: we can always ask if we can take her.
Marti:ok I'm sure she could use a break.
Nick: we need the practice anyway
Marti: true. But not anytime soon. In the future. I want to enjoy it being JUST us for a little while.
Nick: I understand that. Me too.
Marti swims over to Casey and asks if they can talk.
Marti: hey sis can we talk
Casey: yeah sure. Just give me a second. (To boys) ok kiddos time out. mama needs a break. So what's up.
Marti:can we talk at the table.
Casey: sure. (She climbs up the ladder and out of the pool)
Marti notices her slightly rounded belly, bigger chest, and the constant paleness to her face as she climbed out after her sister.
Marti: hey nick and I were wondering if we could take Mackenzie overnight one day
Casey: um yeah sure. I know she'll be fine with you guys. I'll just write up some instructions and you can let me know when you want to come get her this week.
Marti: thank you.
Nick: thanks Casey.
Casey: no problem...(she started to feel light headed and nearly fell on the chair but managed to catch herself hoping no one had noticed)
She starts walking towards the pool ladder when Derek stops her.
Derek:hey Casey
Casey:hey
WHISPERED conversation
Derek(whispering) what happened? Are you ok?
Casey; I'm fine I just got a little light headed
Derek: maybe you should take a break from swimming
Casey: Derek I'm fine really. I promised the boys I would swim with them
Derek: well your body is telling you to slow down, relax. It might help if you start listening
Casey: Derek, just chill out ok, I'm pregnant I'm not fragile
Derek: when are you going to learn that you're not invincible Casey. (He raised his voice slightly)
Casey:Derek, I know can't you just trust me when I say I'm fine.
Derek: because I know you're not, you put on this brave face and act like you're fine when you know you're not and so does everyone else.
Nora, George, Lizzie, David, Edwin, krista, Martin and nick all stopped and stared at them.
Casey: (in a lowered voice) I think it's time for me to take Mackenzie and go.
Derek: Casey, you can't leave. Come on this is a family event.
Casey: yeah well you just told me to listen to my body...and it's telling me to take my daughter and go home to rest so therefore I'm leaving. I mean isn't that what you wanted?...for me to leave
Derek: case, you know I didn't say that. I just want you to take care of yourself.
Casey: I know how to take care of myself. And by the way this isn't my first go around or have you forgotten that.
Derek: Casey come on please just stay. Everyone is staring.
Casey:I don't care. I'm done. (She goes to walk away when she gets a sharp pain in her stomach which causes her to bend over and fall to the ground)
Lizzie:oh my God.
Nora: Casey...
Derek: Casey... Come on we are going to the hospital.
Casey: Lizzie come with me please
Nora: Derek please get her to a dr
Derek and Lizzie take Casey to the hospital where she is triaged immediately
Dr: Hi Casey, I'm dr Ross.
Casey:Hi
Ross: what's going on with you today: abdominal pain, dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting. Headaches,
Casey: that about covers it
Ross: I'm going to do a blood test and urine test and also do an ultrasound and pelvic exam.
Casey: ok.
15 minutes later the results were back
Dr Ross:your results came back and you have an infection and you're dehydrated. Did you know you were pregnant?
Casey:
I want you go ahead and lay back and I'll do an ultrasound
Casey laid back, lifted her gown, and dr ross rubbed the gel across her belly with the ultrasound wand.
Dr: (heartbeat sounds) hear that?
Your baby is fine. Your baby has a Nice strong heartbeat.
Casey had tears coming down her cheeks.
Lizzie squeezed her hand and Derek kissed her forehead
Dr Ross: I'm going to put you on an antibiotic and a low salt diet.
Your blood pressure is slightly elevated. I want you to go on partial bed rest and no lifting over 20 lbs.
casey: thank you dr Ross
Derek:thank you
Casey was released from the hospital and they all went back to Nora's house
