lab

Learning to Live Again

Chapter 25-6 months later

Despite having moved into the rental house, it was not easy on Libby. She had turned her resignation in and had gotten through the end of the school year before having to be put on bed rest. Mike handled everything. The construction at the farmhouse, teaching Hannah how to drive, taking care of Bobby, and keeping Libby's spirits up.

Bobby's adoption had been finalized and he was legally Mike and Libby's. The house had also been finished and Mike had deliberately kept things from Libby, not telling her how things looked. She had figured that the furniture hadn't changed. What she didn't know was that Mike had taken Tamara and Hannah with him to pick out new furniture, paint colors and decorations. The heavy, masculine furniture was gone. As Mike helped Libby up on the porch, he smiled down at her. She was completely unsuspecting.

"Now, I know you are not a fan of my decorating style. I asked for help, because I didn't want you stressing about making this home-like, with the babies so close to being here. If you don't like anything, tell me. It can be fixed, but its decorated with you in mind. Even the nursery." Mike said as he opened the front door and Libby gasped.

"Its beautiful." Libby said with tears in her voice. Mike guided her into the open concept area.

The dining room, kitchen and living area was all open. Instead of the dark brown paint, and dark flooring that Mike had, there was a very light-yellow paint in the kitchen. Throughout there was light oak flooring. The cabinets and the woodwork were all in white, and the kitchen had a light-colored countertop that gleamed. There were all new appliances, including the double wall oven that Libby had requested.

The dining room had a new dining set and sideboard, all in white with a seating for eight. The room was painted in a smokey blue that coordinated perfectly with the yellow in the kitchen and the off-white in the living room. The couch was a brown sectional, with tons of multi-colored pillows and throw blankets. The fireplace was now done in field stone and had a grate around it for when the babies started walking. There was also a recliner for Mike and a rocking chair.

"This is absolutely perfect." Libby said. She leaned up and gave Mike a long kiss.

"This isn't all, but if you want to wait to see the rest we can." Mike commented.

"No, I want to see it." Libby said and Mike gently guided it towards his office space and her 'classroom.' The office was painted a dark blue and had the heavier wood furniture Mike preferred. The cabinetry and woodwork were in white, and he had a leather office chair. There was a small hallway and a powder room, and then her 'classroom' was across from his office. The hall was separated from the house by French Doors, and the classroom was painted a pale green, with a chalkboard on the wall, along with a world map on the opposite wall. There was a huge bookshelf, filled with books and everything that Libby would need to teach Bobby with. The room itself was bright and cheerful.

"Full disclosure, we let Bobby pick things out in here. He wanted the green and the maps. And I built the table." Mike explained as he showed her the table that she and Bobby would work at. Smaller than the dining room table, but the same style, with two comfortable chairs on either side.

"I'm shocked he kept it a secret." Libby remarked. Bobby's one fault was that he couldn't keep a secret.

"It was hard, but he did it. I did let him choose decorations for his room too." Mike said as he guided her back into the main part of the house. "Alright, we'll look at the pantry and laundry room, and then its on to the bedrooms. I especially want you to see our room and the nursery." Mike said. Libby was getting tired, but she wanted to see the house.

"Lead me." Libby remarked. Mike just smiled and put his hand on the small of her back, where it hurt the most. The laundry room was painted a pale blue and was exactly the size that Libby needed, and the pantry had all the cabinetry she had requested, and the deep freezer was now in the pantry, rather then in the garage.

Mike helped her to the bedroom wing. Hannah's room was decorated in the same dark blue as Mike's office, but had white furniture, and coordinating artwork and bedding. It was a room for a young woman.

Bobby's room was painted the same pale blue as the laundry room, with a dark blue bedspread and curtains. He did have some toys in a basket, but there were also bookshelves and a reading chair. On his dresser, was the treasured picture of his mom, but also one of Mike, Libby and Hannah.

Finally, Mike led her into the nursery, across from Mike and Libby's bedroom. They were having a boy and two girls, so the room was painted a beige, but the bedding and curtains were in a pale green, non-gender-specific bedding. The cribs were all matching and were white in color. There were two glider rockers, in the same pale green as the bedding, a white dresser, with a changing table on top. The shelves had books, headbands for their girls, and little caps for their son. Mike moved away from her and opened the closet door, revealing boxes of diapers, wipes, and clothes that were all hung up. The girl's clothes were all together, and their son's was separated.

"Your friends and Tamara got together to do this. They knew you hadn't felt up to doing a shower, and so they just set it all up. We also have some baby gear stored in the garage. The car seats are already in the SUV, but the stroller and a few other things are in the garage, ready to go. We can have a shower, but without presents later." Mike explained.

"Its so pretty!" Libby said as she wiped tears away.

"We were afraid you would be upset that you didn't get to pick things out for them." Mike remarked.

"Oh, no. I was only upset that I couldn't, not that other people did." Libby remarked. She loved the room.

"Alright. So, the bathrooms are pretty standard. I made sure Hannah had her own. They're nice, but no reason to overdo yourself. You'll love our bathroom, and it is attached to our bedroom." Mike said as he guided her into their bedroom.

Painted a darker beige, with the same white woodwork consistent throughout the house, there was a king-sized bed, with a brown bedspread. The shams and throw blanket were done in the teal blue that Libby loved. The curtains matched, and the accessories were done in coordinating tones. A bassinet, for three babies was at the end of the bed and there was a rocking chair in the corner. There were family pictures placed throughout the room, and a landscape painting hung above Mike and Libby's bed.

"That painting is gorgeous, but its not a print." Libby remarked, figuring Mike got it at some store.

"No, its not a print. Turns out, Hannah is quite the little artist, and she made it at school. When I told her the colors we were using in here, she brought it home. It worked perfectly and she wanted us to have it. I have a feeling we'll end up with more paintings, but this is special." Mike explained. Libby smiled in response. She noticed the picture of Kate, Hannah and Lucas on one of the bedside tables, apparently on Mike's side of the bed.

"I am really glad that you've given them a place. Kate and Lucas? They needed to be included." Libby said as she wrapped her arms around Mike's waist and kissed his cheek.

"I have a few other pictures of them that I need to put up. Probably in here, my office, and maybe in the living room. I thought about not putting them up, but I just can't do that. It would be too much like I was not giving them a place within my life." Mike said.

"No pictures of Christine?" Libby asked. Christine was a very sore subject, but Libby frequently reminded both Mike and Hannah that she had a place in their lives.

"I gave them to Hannah and bought her some picture frames. I've encouraged her to put at least a few up, but she is pretty against it. She does have a few up of my mom and us in her room. In time, she will put one up of her mom, I'm sure. She is pretty sentimental of one that has her mom, her, Kate and Lucas in it. I think that will end up placed somewhere. I also have one in my office, when Lucas was born, was a family snapshot of us in the hospital." Mike admitted.

"I am fine with them being put up anywhere you want. Kate and Lucas will live on, by being a part of our lives and I want these babies to know about them. I know it is painful to talk about them, but you need to and so does Hannah." Libby said. She sat down on the bed, due to being completely exhausted. At eight months along, she had made it further then her doctor believed, but she would be induced if she didn't go into labor first.

"I really do miss them a lot. Let's get you out of here." Mike said as he helped Libby up. Just as she got to her feet, she felt her water break.

"Uh, Mike…we better head to the hospital. My water just broke." Libby said. As soon as she said it, she noticed the freaked out look on Mike's face. It made her laugh.

"Alright, let's go. I shouldn't have let you walk so much. I could have taken pictures, or waited, or…" Mike started as they walked out of the house and to their new SUV.

"Mike, its okay. Just get me there." Libby said. Mike helped her into the SUV and then drove at unthinkable speeds while Libby called Tamara. She had Hannah and Bobby with her, and they would all head to the hospital as well.

In no time, they were at the hospital, Libby was admitted and made comfortable. Her labor was going quickly, and Libby's doctor made it in. She was already fully dilated before Tamara made it into the room, to help Mike coach her. Hard labor began and Libby began pushing.

It seemed like an eternity to Libby as she battled through the unbelievable pain, until she heard the first cry, quickly joined by two others. Their baby boy was born first, with his sisters joining him within the next few minutes. Libby was cleaned up and allowed to hold the babies, with Mike behind her and Tamara taking pictures.

"We have to figure out names." Libby told Mike quietly. He was holding one of their daughters, while Libby held the other two babies.

"What are your thoughts?" Mike asked. They had had a lot of trouble picking names out.

"I like Emma and Hadleigh, like we talked about, but we have middle names to pick out and his name too." Libby said.

"How about Hadleigh Tamara for the one I am holding, and Bayleigh Hope for the one you have, and Thomas Joseph for him?" Mike said.

"I love it." Libby said as she leaned back and gave Mike a kiss. Tamara had stepped out to get the rest of the family, so the names would be a surprise.

"Hadleigh kind of reminds me a little of Kate. I know that Kate looked more like Christine and it's a little early to tell who Hadleigh takes after but seeing her reminds me of Kate. Bayleigh looks like her mama." Mike remarked with a hint of sadness in his voice. Despite it though, Libby could tell that Mike adored Hadleigh.

"Hadleigh can't replace Kate. She gets her own spot in your heart, but you can tell her all about her oldest sister as she gets older. I would guess it is pretty natural for you to miss the two kids you've lost right now, but I am here for you." Libby said. She felt Mike kiss the top of her head.

"I love you." Mike answered simply.

"I love you too. We'd better get ready for Hurricane Bobby. I think I can hear him now." Libby said. Sure enough, Bobby marched through the door to the room, with the rest of the family at his heels. He had been thrilled to meet his little brother and sisters and was already going to be an excellent big brother.

"Can I hold one of them?" Bobby asked. Mike gently got out from behind Libby, sat Bobby in one of the chairs and helped him hold Hadleigh.

"This one that you have is Hadleigh Tamara. Mom has Bayleigh Hope and Thomas Joseph." Mike explained.

"She's pretty!" Bobby said. As Libby looked around at her family, she smiled. Mike was helping Hannah hold Thomas, and Tamara had Bayleigh in her arms, so that Andy and Abby could see her. Joey was helping Tamara and things were perfect.