Chapter 37: Lunch with the Girls
27 Weeks Pregnant
Owen awoke out of a solid slumber as his radio sounded at a minimal volume at 5:30am. By habit and quickly, he reached over and tapped the snooze button. Amelia was consistently amazed that such a soft noise – one she could barely hear when she was awake – could wake him up. At the same time, she was exceedingly grateful that his alarm didn't disturb her on the mornings that he had to wake up before her.
After a brief, full body stretch, Owen rolled to his side, slid one arm carefully around Amelia's head, and pressed his chest against her back. He nuzzled his unshaven face along her chin and took in a slow breath. There truly is no better way to start a day than this, he thought to himself as he soaked in the wonder of a new day. Softly setting his hand atop her growing belly, he hoped to feel the babies' movements as he dozed on and off. These first moments of the morning had transitioned from a time of falling apart and grieving on the bedroom balcony to a sacred Daddy and twins time where he daydreamed about the little girls that would soon be in his midst. In his own way, he prayed for their development and growth, for their safe arrival, and for his incredible wife.
That morning, both girls seemed to be stretching and pushing as they filled and expanded Amelia's tiny abdomen. She was carrying the twins as if a basketball was glued on her tummy. From the back, it was nearly impossible to tell she was pregnant. From the side, a noticeable, huge, round bump protruded from her body. Even with twins inside, she had grown far more outward than sideways.
Carrying twins came with its own adventures. Besides bedrest and reduced work schedules, being obviously pregnant was a mixed blessing. Anyone who saw Amelia after 20 weeks – when most women feel like they just look fat – could easily tell she was pregnant. Now at 27 weeks, to those who assumed she was carrying just one baby, she looked as if she was nearing or past her due date. Amelia was not particularly enthused about how enormous she was becoming and about how far her skin was stretching. As far as Owen was concerned, Amelia was the most beautiful pregnant woman he had ever seen.
As he laid alongside his wife wishing the morning would never end, Owen regretted that he had to disturb her deep sleep. However, today was a blood draw day. As he had promised Annalisa when Amelia was released, Owen frequently drew Amelia's blood at home and brought the vials to the hospital for analysis. Once early on, not wanting to wake her, Owen had tried to let her sleep while he was drawing her blood. Amelia, rather than waking up gently or not at all, flinched in surprise and the needle poked through her vein causing huge discomfort and a giant mess. With guilt and remorse, Owen assured her that particular fiasco would never be repeated. She heartily agreed even if it meant she'd have to be woken up early on the days Owen went in before pre-rounds.
On this particular morning, Owen slid carefully out of bed and headed for the shower before waking her up. After shaving and getting dressed, he stepped through the doorway between the bathroom and bedroom and walked toward the chair where he'd set his med bag. As he assembled his supplies and marked the vials with Amelia's name, he looked over to find Bronwyn snuggled tummy-to-tummy with Amelia. Her red curls rested just below Amelia's chest and the rest of her little body snuggled along the baby bump and Amelia's legs. Amelia's hand lovingly grasped the back of Bronwyn's head and neck while her other arm rested on the babies. Not noticing that his flash was on, Owen snapped a quick picture only to have two whining girls respond in dismay at having been woken up by the light.
"I'm sorry," Owen offered apologetically. "You are both so beautiful, I just had to take a picture."
Bronwyn lowered her brows heavily and pouted with her sleepy lips, grumbling, "Then lemme see!"
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Owen displayed the picture on the screen and held it out for both of them to see.
"Ok, then," Bronwyn said, "you gotted my good side, so you can keeped it on your phone." She melted back onto the mattress and snuggled Amelia's baby bump once again as Owen and Amelia looked at each other wondering where Bronwyn had learned about "good sides" and "bad sides."
"You have to take some blood, don't you?" Amelia observed sleepily as she held her upper arm flat along her side. Owen grinned, cleaned the area, and reassured her that he only needed two vials.
"I'll be gentle and quick," Owen promised as he inserted the needle and began filling the vials.
"Yeah, yeah, that's what got me into this mess," Amelia kidded with a wink.
Owen smiled as he held the top of the syringe in his teeth and popped some cotton on her arm before he bent it. Out of habit, he instructed her to hold on to the cotton as he reached for the tape. Drawing blood at home was its own experience – no handy tables or special chairs to help, yet nobody to admonish you for not following protocol to the letter either. As had become their routine, he handed her a sample container and advised, "Ok, go pee." It was just another day in Shepherd-Hunt paradise.
He whipped his stethoscope around to his ears and checked both baby's heartbeats, then took Amelia's blood pressure. He jotted down the findings on a sheet of paper he placed in his shirt pocket and began to tie his tie. "Good to go," Owen smiled as he leaned down to kiss his wife. As he put away supplies, he inquired, "What's your plan today?"
"Apparently, my party planners have arranged for a bunch of the hospital ladies to join me for lunch. After lunch, Annalisa and Arizona are planning to examine and fret over me. Then, if they'll let me, I was hoping to head to the mall to do a little Christmas shopping for the kids," Amelia explained.
"Really?" Owen asked as he stopped dead in his tracks and shared a look of concern. "Is that a good idea?"
"Buying presents for the kids or going to the mall?" Amelia joked.
Owen sighed and lowered his shoulders, sharing a look of mild irritation. "I'm just not sure you should go alone. What if something happens?"
"Then I'll be at a mall full of people who can help, or I can use my cell to call for help," Amelia answered flatly. "Owen, I'll be fine. Christmas is only 2 ½ weeks away and I'm not staffing this out."
Sighing deeply, Owen offered, "What if I go with you?"
Chuckling, Amelia retorted, "When? In all your spare time?"
"Maybe one of your party planners could go with you," Owen suggested as he referred to Jo and Stephanie. The residents had come to enjoy their cruise director assignment and were having the time of their lives mixing some levity into their residencies.
"I'd agree to that. I'll ask them," Amelia relented.
At 11:30am, Jo and Stephanie knocked on the door and, as all had agreed, let themselves in. They began to set the food and drinks along the kitchen counter and prepare for the guests who would arrive in the next 45 minutes. Lynne was at her place, the small house near the water, taking some time for herself. Bronwyn and Amelia were napping upstairs in the Master Bedroom.
Bronwyn came bounding down the steps at 11:45am, excited to see Steph and Jo. She ran up to them and grasped each of them in a hug, then jumped up and down exclaiming, "When does the party start?"
"In about half an hour," Jo explained as she jumped up and down in response. Bronwyn grasped Jo's hands as they jumped together. "It's going to be fun!" Jo shared.
"What are we doing at the party?" Bronwyn asked with wide-eyed anticipation.
Deflated, Jo realized that sitting around talking about babies and pregnancy might not be fun for a three-year-old, "We were going to talk about the twins and how your mommy is feeling…"
"Boring," Bronwyn responded with a fake yawn.
"And we are going to eat all this yummy food," Stephanie said enthusiastically.
"Uh huh," Bronwyn said with a contemplative frown.
"What would make it more fun, Bronwyn?" Jo asked.
"We could play Barbies!" Bronwyn suggested as she jumped up and down again. Not seeing celebratory faces, she offered another idea, "Or tag or hide and seek!"
Jo and Steph caught each other's eyes with desperate grins as Amelia and her belly came waddling down the stairs. Amelia called out, "Bronwyn, if you like, you could watch TV while all the grown-ups talk."
"Really?!" Bronwyn celebrated. She ran over to Amelia and hugged her as her head hit the bump and prevented her arms from reaching all the way around Amelia and the twins.
Amelia smiled at the residents and then looked at Bronwyn, "In my room or in the playroom?"
"Umm," Bronwyn droned slowly as she put her index finger on her cheek, "Your room!"
"After you eat lunch, then," Amelia instructed. "Do you want to eat before everyone gets here or do you want to eat with us?"
"Wait, wait, wait!" Bronwyn exclaimed as she jumped.
"Obviously, that cat nap re-energized her beyond her needs," Amelia frowned playfully.
A few minutes later, Meredith, Maggie and Callie arrived followed by April and Arizona. Bailey and Annalisa were delayed in a surgery. Bronwyn was thrilled to accept the task of answering the door and welcoming the guests. Everyone gathered around the kitchen island and chatted. Eventually, they sat around the huge dining room table, began to eat, and shared stories about Christmas and the hospital.
"I miss all the excitement," Amelia sighed. "Life is so different outside the hospital. I'm not sure I ever fully saw that until I was away for such a long time."
"I'll bet you get more sleep, though," Callie kidded with a smile.
Arizona prodded, "And eat more regularly? Right?"
Amelia grinned, "Tell me about the hospital. Is Owen driving everyone nuts? Is he fretting and distracted or is he his normal self?" Bronwyn sat at the table moving her head back and forth toward each speaker, intrigued to be listen in on the grown-up table conversation.
"What's fretting?" Bronwyn asked.
Meredith answered, "You know when your daddy is super busy, and he can't decide what to do next? Or when he's watching you and your brothers play in the water by your yard?"
"And he goes like this?" Bronwyn imitated Owen's worried look almost perfectly and then wrung her hands and placed them on her hips. Everyone laughed as they recalled seeing Owen act and look exactly as he was being portrayed.
"Yep," Meredith affirmed, "That's your daddy fretting. Does he do that a lot?"
"No, but he does it when Finley climbs on the counter to put stuff in the cabinets or when I stand up in the bafftub or when Oliver… ummm… when Ollie does just about anything," Bronwyn shared.
Callie answered Amelia's question, "You know, when he's at the hospital, he's pretty much the Chief. Pretty focused, on his game, running the show."
April added, "He was definitely more distracted when you were on bedrest at the hospital. I sensed he felt torn between being beside you and doing his job. Since you've been home, though, he's back to his old self." Most of the other women nodded in agreement.
"All the more reason to keep me here at home as long as possible, Arizona," Amelia stated with a wry grin.
Maggie leaned down toward Bronwyn, who was seated next to her, "Are you excited about the babies, Bronwyn? I bet you'll be a great helper."
"I'm glad I'm not the littlest sister anymore," Bronwyn shared, "and I think I'll like them."
Maggie smiled and nodded, "Being the littlest can be a bummer, huh?"
"When you've gotted two bossy brothers, yeah," Bronwyn stated declaratively.
"Bronwyn! Your brothers are not that bossy, Little Miss. In fact, I think you might boss them around more than they boss you around," Amelia revealed. Bronwyn responded by shrugging her shoulders and eating a strawberry.
As Callie, Jo and April chatted about an ortho case that had been in the ER that morning, Meredith and Maggie began planning out a surgery they were sharing that afternoon. Stephanie, Arizona and Amelia found themselves not really in either conversation, but not really in a conversation of their own.
Trying to engage, Stephanie tentatively asked, "Dr. Shepherd-Hunt, do you miss surgery? I'd imagine it would be pretty tough to be away."
"It is. Sometimes, when I get to sleep for extended hours or simply be with the family, it isn't so bad. There are benefits to being away from the hospital frenzy. But, to be honest, surgery is in my blood. I dream about it and think about it often," Amelia paused to giggle, "However, I'm not even sure how I'd be able to operate with my 40 cm belly! The table logistics would be an adventure."
Arizona recalled, "I remember that Callie had the hardest time being away from surgery while she was in the hospital. Once she was home, it was easier to step away. There weren't constant overhead pages and reminders about what she was missing, I guess."
"I can relate to that," Amelia agreed. "It will be strange to return to surgery after being away so long."
Stephanie, curious about how Amelia would navigate the mother-surgeon balance, asked, "When will you return? Will you return full time?"
Amelia narrowed her eyes and looked pensively at the water outside. "Owen and I have talked about various options. Not knowing when the twins will be born and if there will be any health concerns makes it difficult to decide anything for sure. Ideally, I'd definitely like to attempt some sort of balance between home and hospital. I can't imagine leaving surgery completely – it's too much a part of who I am." Although Amelia didn't want to share further information, she also knew that Owen had offered to either cut back on his responsibilities or resign as Chief of Surgery if the need arose. Owen's passion and dedication for their family was strong and heartwarming. He had been honest with Amelia that he would love to be home more and to be actively engaged with the kids. The couple's greatest fear was that either or both of the twins would be born far too early. The earlier the babies were born, the more likely they were to face immediate and ongoing challenges.
"I've been continuing to work on the administrative side of my job, and of Owen's job a little, which has helped me stay a little engaged. It's not surgery, but it helps pass the time and the work needs to be done," Amelia concluded.
With everyone on duty except Amelia, the lunch was not intended to go much beyond an hour. Bailey and Annalisa had sent a text that they would stop by another time because they were still stuck in surgery. Everyone else, except Arizona, peeled away little by little and returned to the hospital.
"Shall we check you out, my friend?" Arizona asked Amelia.
"I suppose so. Owen already took vitals and some blood this morning, so what's on your docket?" Amelia inquired.
Arizona explained, "Today's exam will be relatively quick. I was to measure you, check your weight, palpate the uterus and breasts, check heartbeats and answer any questions you have. Owen turned in your samples early this morning, so I already have the results. Sugar screen looked excellent; blood work came back without concern." Since Bronwyn was in Amelia's bedroom, Arizona and Amelia used the guest room for the exam.
As she examined Amelia and the babies, she shared, "You should be feeling the girls move at least once a day. They're getting more crowded so the movements might be more like nudges or pushes than like stretches and kicks. You're right at the transition point on those types. This is one of the appointments Annalisa and I have been yearning to have because the babies are highly viable at this point. Estimated size is about 3 pounds and 14 inches. How's your energy level?"
"Since I'm here and somewhat stuck, it's tough to know if I'm weary because I'm bored or because I'm hugely pregnant. I cat nap throughout the day. Sleeping at night is becoming tricky – my legs and back hurt. Owen is a very attentive masseuse, however," Amelia stated with a glimmer in her eye.
Arizona smiled, "You really hit the jackpot with him. I've always liked Owen, but I never realized how incredibly attentive he is until your pregnancy. He'll be a dream in labor too, I'll bet." Even though she was a highly trained doctor, Arizona felt awkward asking about her boss' and his wife's sex life, "and how about intercourse?"
"We thought we couldn't. I've been… uh… finding other ways to keep him satisfied. Really, as far as my needs right now, I'm more interested in a massage on my back than sex. Could we be having sex?" Amelia asked with some confusion since the rules had been so strict weeks ago.
Arizona nodded, "At this point, sure. If you have any bleeding or sense any hints that an infection has developed, get it checked out right away. Otherwise, have at it." Wanting to clear that topic off the board, Arizona added, "If you feel up to it, you can go on brief outings now too. Nothing too strenuous, make sure to sit down often and to drink tons of water. Don't wear yourself out, but feel free to leave the house 4-5 times a week for an hour or two. Obviously, if you have any contractions that fall into a regular pattern, come to the hospital for a workup. You'll start having Braxton Hicks contractions more and more from this point on. They won't have a pattern to them, so just time any contractions and look for patterns."
Beaming, Amelia offered, "Well, Arizona, you can come over and do an exam anytime. I like your observations and permissions."
Laughing, Arizona responded, "I'm thrilled to be able to share all good news. That isn't always the case at this point in a multiple pregnancy." Arizona began putting her stethoscope and supplies in her bag as she asked, "Any questions?"
"One," Amelia winced awkwardly.
Looking concerned, Arizona leaned toward Amelia and put a hand on her knee, "Sure. What is it?"
"Well, I know Owen's your boss and I'm your colleague, but I have to ask a purely patient question about how we can have sex," Amelia somewhat bashfully inquired. "As in, position. I mean, there's no way we can be good ole missionaries at this point, if you know what I mean…" losing track of her focus because she was awkward about the topic, Amelia continued, "Not like that's our go-to or only position anyway, because it isn't, we're a little more adventurous than…"
Arizona's throat descended into her stomach because she couldn't help but picture Owen, her boss, and Amelia having sex. She forced a grin and interrupted, "I get it. First off, if any position creates cramping, stop it right away. Position-wise, there's spooning, you on top, both of you standing and you bend over a table or chair, and you on all fours – if your belly bump weighs you down, you can try to put a pillow under it. Crazy as it sounds, check out pregnancy websites. They're full of suggestions. Any other questions?"
"How far along will I make it? Any ideas now that everything seems smooth and peaceful?" Amelia asked knowing that Arizona would likely not have an answer.
"No idea. Our ultimate, dream goal is 36-37 weeks. Most moms who have in-utero surgery give birth around 34 weeks. If you go into labor before or around 30 weeks, we may try to deliver the one twin that's in the birth process and keep the other in utero. There's so many unpredictable pieces of the puzzle. Let's try the 4-5 times a week for 1-2 hours and see if contractions increase. If they do, we'll reassess our plan and go from there," Arizona explained.
The second Arizona left the house, Amelia sent a text to Owen that read Green light for copulation plus can be out 1-2 hrs, 4-5x/wk. Owen was in the middle of a lengthy meeting reviewing the purchasing practices of each department when his phone vibrated to indicate a message. He slid the phone out of his pocket and saw that Amelia had sent a text. Before he opened the message, he excused himself and stepped out of the conference room. In the hallway, he saw the words and chuckled aloud.
Rather than sending a text response, he called Amelia's number with a smile on his face.
"Hey handsome," Amelia answered.
Trying to sound official and professional, especially since he was in the hospital hallway, Owen barely held back his laughter as he sputtered out, "I understand you have an urgent need for a consult and extensive exam."
"Baby," Amelia responded with a husky voice, "you have no idea."
Owen raised his eyebrows and bit his bottom lip. He looked at his watch, suggesting, "It's 1:45 now. I can be available in an hour if we can hold the appointment here at the hospital. Otherwise, I won't be available for an offsite event until at least 6pm."
"You know you can't wait another 4 hours. I'll meet you in an hour in your office," Amelia teased as she hung up the phone. Owen radiated joy as he set his alarm to sound in 45 minutes, then he sent a text to his assistant insisting that his schedule stay clear beginning at 2:45. He walked up and down the hallway to gather himself before re-entering the serious meeting with a stern look on his face, pretending that he was actually concerned about spending practices.