Chapter 27: Concerns with the Twins?
"Oh, Bronwyn, I just don't know what I'd do without you!" Amelia exclaimed with joy after watching an impromptu dance recital. "Thank you for entertaining me while I'm stuck in bed." Bronwyn had sung during her show as well, making up the words and tune as she moved her three-year-old body clumsily around Amelia and Owen's bedroom. Lynne was out picking the boys up from school and taking them to soccer practice, so the two girls were holding down the fort.
Taking a bow, Bronwyn smiled and ran up to Amelia. Bronwyn had most certainly decided that she was Owen's girl. However, Amelia was acceptable in a pinch, especially if she was lauding Bronwyn's talent. "You liked it? You really, really, really liked it?" the little girl asked nervously.
Amelia reached over and hugged Bronwyn, kissing her on the cheek, "I did, Katie. You'll have to show Daddy when he gets home. He would love to see your show."
"My mer-cite-ul," Bronwyn corrected.
"Right," Amelia nodded with a smile.
"When will Daddy be home?" Bronwyn's big blue eyes pleaded. "He's not home a lot now."
Amelia grimaced, "I know. He's been very busy at the hospital. His job takes lots and lots of work. I hope that by next week, he'll be back to coming home earlier so we can see him more."
"Can we go visit him at the hops-pital? Maybe we could help him with his work," Bronwyn offered, believing her idea was a stroke of brilliance that nobody else had considered.
Amelia stroked Bronwyn's hair and frowned, "I can't drive right now because the babies need me to be still so they can grow, remember? Hopefully that will only be for another week, too."
Bronwyn leaned down to Amelia's belly, whispering, "Babies, you really need to let Auntie Mia play." She looked up at Amelia and asked, "Do you think they heard me? Cause I'm older than them so they gotta listen to me. I'm their big sister."
"Babies kind of do what they want, so I don't know," Amelia kidded.
"How are my two favorite ladies today?" Owen announced as he surprised them.
"Daddy!" Bronwyn screamed and ran into Owen's arms. Owen picked Bronwyn up above his head and twirled her around then pretended his arms were an elevator as he went to put her down.
"Clunk…clunk…clunk…the elevator is moving slow today," he explained as Bronwyn giggled. "Wait, the doors open on this floor for a kiss," he added as he gave her a big kiss, and continued, "Oh no! Then the elevator cords broke, and the elevator fell all the way down." When he set her on the floor, he tickled her then lay down next to her. Bronwyn immediately began to climb all over him and wanted him to be a horse so she could ride him. He reflexively pulled his back up, then thought better of the plan.
"Sweetie, I'm still in work clothes. I can't be a horsey right now. The horsey is napping," with that, Owen lay flat on the floor and made a horse noise.
"Wake up, horsey!" Bronwyn yelled playfully as she patted Owen's back. He rolled over, hugged Bronwyn, and explained, "Let me say hi to Mommy." He carried Bronwyn over to the bed and threw her onto it much to her delight.
"How's my beautiful wife?" Owen grinned as he leaned down to kiss Amelia and stroke her hair.
"Bored and missing you," she responded. "I'm surprised you're home so early. I thought you had to negotiate with the custodial union this afternoon."
Owen sat down on the bed and sighed, "I do. I'm going back in about an hour. I needed to get out of the hospital for a while and take a break." He locked his gaze on Amelia and smiled, then reached over and caressed her cheek. "Besides, you have an appointment with Annalisa this afternoon. Did you forget?"
"That's next week," Amelia clarified.
Owen chuckled, "No, it's today. I think you've lost track of time. Can you tell me your name? Do you know who the President is? Do you know where you are?" Owen jokingly peppered her with medical questions acting like he was testing her awareness.
"Really?" Amelia confirmed with confusion, then shrugged. "We'll need to take Little Miss with us. Lynne's with the boys at soccer and they won't be home until after dinner."
Owen pursed his lips and tried to act pleased, "Ok then."
Smiling broadly, Amelia suggested, "How about if I take a shower and Bronwyn can entertain you with her dance mer-cite-ul?"
Owen beamed and scooted onto the bed, sitting up with his back against the headboard. "I would love that. Do I need a ticket, Bronwyn, or is this a free event?"
Putting two fingers on her cheek and moving her lips to the side, Bronwyn hummed, "Wellllllllll." Then exclaimed with joy, "For you, it's free!"
Amelia leaned over to Owen and kissed him on the cheek, whispering in his ear with a loving warning, "It's a half an hour show with no intermission. Enjoy."
When the trio arrived at the hospital, Owen was carrying Bronwyn proudly and holding Amelia's hand. Derek and Callie were standing by the main desk discussing a shared case as Bailey explained a database problem she was having to a clerk.
Bailey happened to look up and spot the family as the clerk tried the database entry again, "Well, look who's here!" Miranda came around the desk with her arms extended and went directly to Bronwyn, "Miss Bronwyn, how are you today?"
Amelia leaned over to Owen, pretending to speak softly but really speaking loud enough for Miranda to hear, "Awww…I thought I was the one getting the hug."
"Your auntie is silly, isn't she?" Miranda asked Bronwyn playfully as Bronwyn giggled. "Let your Daddy put you down so I can see how tall you are now." Owen exchanged a glance with Bronwyn who nodded and set her down.
"No elevator?" Bronwyn observed.
Owen chuckled uncomfortably, "Not at the hospital. At least not today. But we can take a real one in just a minute." Owen laughed internally as he considered how playing elevator would affect his credibility with the union negotiations that were coming up.
Bronwyn smiled as she hopped over to Miranda and leaned against her back-to-back. "I'm allllll-most as taller than you!"
Miranda mock complained, "Man…you need to stop eating your vegetables or you'll be as tall as your Daddy soon." Both Owen and Amelia widened their eyes and shook their heads. Getting Bronwyn to eat vegetables was hard enough without Bailey's mention. Miranda just grinned back as she squatted down to Bronwyn's level, "I need to get back to work, but I'm glad I saw you." Holding out her hand, Bronwyn grasped it and shook it with gusto.
Derek glanced up while Miranda was playing with Bronwyn and suggested he and Callie go say hi. Callie had to prep for a surgery and excused herself and Derek headed over to Amelia. He kissed her on the cheek and smiled, "How's my favorite sister? Feeling fine?" He hugged her and patted her belly.
"I'm not showing yet, Derek, so you probably look a little weird doing that," Amelia groaned. Derek just grinned as Amy continued, "Here for a checkup and to hopefully be told I can come back to work."
"Not so fast," Owen warned. Amelia moved her chin toward her shoulder and looked at Owen seriously, warning him not to comment further. He immediately caught the hint and backed up, "Well, I mean, until Annalisa gives the go ahead."
Derek nodded subtly at Bronwyn and mouthed, "Daycare? Zola."
Both parents mouthed, "Yes!"
Kneeling down, Derek suggested to Bronwyn, "Zola's in daycare. You want to go visit her? Or maybe you want to go wait in a really, really long line with these two before their boring appointment."
"Zola!" Bronwyn celebrated and jumped up and down. "Can I, Daddy?"
Owen chuckled, "Yes, that's fine, Bronwyn."
"Dr. Pepper, can you take me?" Bronwyn requested. Her name for him had stuck and Derek relished it.
"Absolutely. Let's go," Derek affirmed as he stood up. He reached out his hand and grasped Bronwyn's in it. As they departed, without even a goodbye to Owen and Amelia, Bronwyn began her non-stop commentary on life and filled Derek in on her latest dance mercital.
"Twin One looks great, Amelia," Annalisa celebrated as the transducer slid across Amelia's belly. With a click of a button, the image froze on the screen and Annalisa began her measurements and calculations. "Ideal measurements for a twin 10 weeks along. See the spine development?" Annalisa pointed with a laser pointer along the spine. "Great formation, his or her hand is even making a thumbs up!" Owen chuckled as both he and Amelia leaned closer to see Twin One.
Annalisa placed the transducer back on Amelia and looked for Twin Two. "Ah, there we go," she shared. The view was of the baby's rear and legs. "This little one seems insistent on not lying in an easy to measure position," Annalisa smiled. Annalisa pushed gently on Amelia's abdomen, attempting to move the baby. The baby's legs wiggled, but the position didn't change. Annalisa pushed around in various spots; some pushes were firmer than others. After a few attempts, Twin Two had shifted so the spine could be fully viewed.
"That's a good baby," Owen smiled, praising his unborn child. Amelia fixed her gaze on Annalisa who appeared to be studying Twin Two intently.
"Annalisa, is something wrong?" Amelia asked tentatively. Owen's smile quickly faded.
Annalisa expressed concern, "I'd like to take a few additional films and order a 3-D ultrasound. Are you able to stay here this afternoon if I can get one scheduled today?"
"Owen's busy all afternoon and into the evening, but I have nothing on my plate. I can stay," Amelia stammered. "What's your concern?"
Owen spoke before Annalisa answered Amelia's question, "I'll do whatever I have to do to be present. Just page me," Owen assured his wife. "And, yeah, what's your concern? We're two doctors, we've both held that same expression on our faces, Annalisa."
Pursing her lips and taking in a big breath, "Let's not worry about possibilities until we can confirm there's a concern. The traditional ultrasounds, as you know, are not always as clear and sharp as a 3-D one. Let's get a more detailed look and go from there." With that, Annalisa stood up, patted Amelia's hand and excused herself.
Owen and Amelia turned to one another. "You want me to turn the machine back on so we can look at the scans?" Amelia offered.
Owen chuckled, "You know how pissed either of us would be if one of our patients did that?"
"Most patients don't have logon codes. We do," Amelia retorted as she reached over and turned the computer back on.
Owen put his hand on Amelia's and begged, "Mia, let's not."
Amelia sighed and agreed. She swung her legs over the side of the table and hopped down. Owen looked at her with deep concern in his eyes as he reached for the teeny tiny bump on her abdomen. He held his warm hand there as Amelia looked up at the ceiling attempting to control herself. She reminded him, "You need to get to that bargaining session."
"I don't care about that right now. Are you good?"
Amelia's lips were pressed tightly together as she forced a small smile. "Yeah. Go. It won't look good if you're late," Amelia urged as she kissed him and walked over to her clothes.
Annalisa knocked softly on the door and let herself in. She announced, "The 3-D is scheduled 90 minutes from now. I'll see you in Room 5-23 for the procedure."