Disclaimer: I don't have kids so everything I write about is either from google or from my close to decade of experience as a babysitter/nanny so if there are mistakes, I apologize.
Over the next month and a half, Carina slowly started to feel more like herself as her meds started working and she went to therapy often, for the first few weeks it was twice a week to help her with her postpartum anxiety. She was now down to once a week and was getting ready to go back to work in a week which was making her super anxious, but she was working on it. It made her feel a little better that Maya was going to be home with the girls and not some nanny or daycare worker.
Maya was getting better at being there to support her too, helping her through the irrational panic when someone else wanted to hold the babies or when she woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, thinking something was wrong with the twins. Sleeping was getting better in the past few weeks finally which was helped by the fact that the girls dropped their midnight feed, meaning they slept from 8 pm to 4 am most of the time, and then would go back down from 4:30 until 8 am.
Maya had been working in her office again at least a few days a week, needing to get things in order before she went on leave. Her battalion was relatively used to having no battalion chief in charge, having lost Sullivan right before the pandemic and then having to function without any battalion chief for eleven long months because of the pandemic. Maya was still going to be around and doing work here and there when she could, but most of her time was going to be spent with her daughters.
Today, however, she was at work, trying to get through all her captains one-on-ones before her leave started.
Carina was at home with the girls, finally feeling like she was starting to enjoy her time with them.
At almost 3 months old, they were getting bigger and more fun. They were both smiling, especially at their Mommy and Mamma, and they were so close to laughing too. Rowan had started rolling over the week before and Nora was getting close, although she hated tummy time so much that she screamed through most of it every day.
Carina was feeling particularly tired, although she was blaming at least some of that on the fact that Nora had a hard time sleeping the night before, spending 2-5 am up fussing, not even wanting to eat much at her 4 am feed. Maya and Carina had taken turned trying to soothe the baby but nothing worked until finally, at 5 am, the little girl had a massive blow out, covering both herself and Maya, who was trying to calm her down, in baby poop. After a quick shower, Nora had finally settled, just in time for Maya to get up for her run.
Carina had never gotten back to sleep after that so after feeding the girls at eight and playing with them for about an hour, she put them in their bassinets before laying down in her own bed, falling asleep quickly.
When she woke up, she knew something was wrong. She had terrible chills, her left breast was beyond painful, and she just felt sick. She knew immediately what was going on and she grabbed her phone, calling her OB and friend.
"Carina," Danielle said, "Is everything alright?"
"No," Carina said, body protesting as she forced herself to stand up, "I think I have mastitis. I feel terrible."
"Red and inflamed breast tissue?" Danielle asked, already going to her computer, knowing her colleague knew what the infection looked like.
"Si," Carina said, lifting her shirt to confirm, "And a fever I think. And the chills and body aches."
"I'll put in an antibiotic for you," Danielle said, "And if the fever doesn't go away in the next 48 hours or goes over 103 and won't come down with meds…"
"I will come in," Carina said, "Thank you."
"Of course," Danielle said, "Feel better."
Carina had had patients complain about this kind of infection before, but experiencing it herself gave her a whole new level of empathy.
Her wife was at work and Carina didn't want to bother her, but she knew Teddy was off today so she called her friend, knowing that she needed someone to go pick up the meds for her because dragging two three month olds out when she felt like this sounded miserable. Teddy answered on the second ring.
"Hey Carina," the cardiothoracic surgeon said, "How are you?"
"Well, that's actually why I'm calling," Carina said, checking that both babies were still sound asleep in their bassinets before going to grab a glass of water, "I have mastitis and I need someone to pick up the antibiotics."
"And your wife is…?" Teddy asked, confused.
"She's working," Carina said with a sigh, "And I don't want to bother her. This is her last week before maternity leave."
"Alright," Teddy said, "What pharmacy?"
Carina told her the information and thanked her before handing up. She slowly made her way back upstairs, hearing Rowan crying before she even got to the bedroom.
"I know Patatina," Carina said, scooping the baby up, "It's time to eat, isn't it?"
Rowan was still crying and Carina could hear Nora stirring in her bassinet too. As much as it sounded like torture, Carina knew that feeding the girls through this would probably help. She got set up to feed them, Rowan howling by the time she was ready.
"I know," Carina said, getting the babies in position.
She actually started crying as she fed the girls, the pain getting worse. Twenty minutes later, she had just finished feeding the babies and was in the process of getting Nora to burp when she heard someone walking downstairs. She was a little alarmed for a second before the footsteps approached the bedroom and Maya walked in.
"What are you doing home?" Carina asked as Nora let out a big burp, bringing up a little milk.
"Well, some little birdie called and told me my wife was sick," Maya said, raising an eyebrow, "So I canceled my meetings, picked up your meds, and came home. Babe, why didn't you call me?"
"It's just mastitis," Carina said with a sigh, "It's super common and won't kill me and you are trying to get everything done before you go on leave."
"Yeah, but Babe, I want to be here for you," Maya said, walking over to her wife, kissing her forehead, wincing at the heat, "You shouldn't have to do this alone."
"But you said you had meeting with your captains all week this week," Carina said as Maya went to change her clothes.
"And this afternoon, I was supposed to meet with Andy and Jack," Maya said, "And luckily, my two former lieutenants understand that when my wife is sick, I need to be with her."
Carina nodded as Maya came back over to the bed, scooping a squirmy Rowan our of Carina's arms. Nora was also awake, but much less busy than her sister.
"Now, what can I do to help you?" Maya asked.
"Can you get me some Tylenol?" Carina asked, yawning, "And a warm compress?"
"Warm?"," Maya asked, confused, "Wouldn't you want cold for the fever?"
"No," Carian said, shaking her head and lifting her shirt, Maya gasping at how painful the infection looked, "For this."
"Oh, babe," Maya said, frowning, "Yeah. Of course."
Maya came back a minute later with the requested items, Carina taking the pills before taking the warm wash cloth. Just then, Nora started crying.
"Shhhh," Carina said, picking up the baby, "She has been unsettled all day."
"Let me take them," Maya said, holding out her hand for Nora, "You look beyond exhausted."
Carina thought about arguing with her, but she actually felt like she had been hit by a truck so she just nodded, handing Nora to Maya.
"We will just be downstairs," Maya said, pressing a kiss into her wife's too warm forehead, "Just text me if you need me."
"Bring them up at four for their feeding?" Carina asked, "If I'm asleep, wake me up."
"You should sleep if you're sick," Maya said, shaking her head, "Plus, doesn't it hurt to nurse them with an infection?"
"No," Carina said, burying herself under the covers, "I mean, it does hurt, but it is actually advised to nurse through mastitis, it helps it clear faster and it's not bad for the babies."
"Alright," Maya said, rubbing Carina's back, "I will bring them up at 4. Like I said, text me if you need me before then."
Carina nodded, curling up under the blankets, realizing the days of her wife being able to curl up in bed with her when she felt like complete and utter garbage were over because someone had to watch the babies.
Maya thought about offering to stay until Carina was asleep, just to help with her anxiety about not being near the girls, but Nora was really fussy, and the blonde knew Carina wouldn't be able to fall asleep with all the crying.
Carina was asleep within minutes, the fever and lack of sleep the night before taking over quickly and beating the anxiety of the girls being out of her sight.
Downstairs, Maya had both girls doing some tummy time. Nora normally only made it a few minutes, but today, as soon as Maya laid her down, she started screaming. Maya got Rowan settled before picking Nora up again, the baby still fussy.
"Are you not feeling good today either?" Maya asked, frowning as she rubbed the baby's back. Nora burped, bringing up more milk.
"Is your tummy hurting?" Maya asked, wiping the spit up off her shoulder.
Nora was still having a hard time settling down so Maya decided some skin to skin would probably help, knowing that almost always calmed their girls down when they weren't quite themselves.
Maya sat on the floor next to Rowan who was looking at her play mat while Nora continued to squirm on her chest, passing gas every once in a while. Maya ended up changing another nasty diaper before trying to settle the baby again.
"I'm sorry you don't feel good Piccola," Maya said as Nora burped, this time bringing up a lot of milk before crying.
Nora just curled her little legs up to her body, trying to get comfortable on Maya's chest. She didn't feel warm or anything so Maya wasn't super worried, but to say she wasn't concerned would be a lie.
Rowan eventually had enough of tummy time, rolling herself onto her back and falling asleep on her play mat not long after.
While Rowan napped, Maya walked around the house with Nora, trying to comfort the baby. Finally, Nora fell asleep against her mommy, little fingers in her mouth, a habit the baby had started earlier that month that seemed to be sticking around. Maya sighed, sitting down on the couch where she could keep an eye on both her daughters.
As she sat there with Nora curled up on her chest, she grabbed her phone, trying to figure out what might be wrong with her older daughter. She knew google was no substitute for a doctor, but the doctor in the family was currently upstairs sound asleep and feeling bad herself so Maya settled on trying to figure it out on her own.
It was then that she realized that last night, they had ordered one of Carina's favorite spicy Thai soups for the first time since the babies had been born and according to everything she was reading, that could cause tummy issues in babies. The good news was, it would work itself out of both Nora and Carina's systems soon and then, hopefully, Nora would be feeling better.
The girls both work up around 3:30, Rowan demanding to be held as soon as her little eyes were open. Nora seemed to be feeling a little better and even gave Maya a few smiles as she talked to them.
"Alright signore," Maya said, "Let's go wake up Mamma and get you both fed."
Maya carefully carried them upstairs, opening the master bedroom door. She found Carina sound asleep, looking miserable. She hated to wake her but wanted to do everything to help her feel better and that meant feeding the girls.
"Car," Maya said, setting Nora down in her bassinet, "IT's time to feed the babies."
"Non mi sento bene," Carina mumbled, rolling away.
"Lo so," Maya said, rubbing Carina's back, "But you said you need to feed the babies to feel better."
"Si," Carina mumbled, looking at her wife, "You are right. Can I have the bambinas?"
"Sure," Maya said, handing Carina Rowan, "Although, I'm not sure you should nurse Nora this evening. Her tummy's been feeling bad all day and I think it might be the Thai food from last night."
"Oh," Carina said, kicking herself for not thinking of it, "Yeah. It should be out of my system soon, though. It's been twenty four hours. It should be ok?"
"Alright," Maya said, handing her their other daughter. Carina winced, biting her lip as Rowan latched to her infected side.
"I'm so sorry babe," Maya said, sitting down next to her and putting a hand on Carina's back, "Is there anything I can do? Would you like something to eat or drink or anything?"
"Maybe something light?" Carina asked, trying to breathe through the nursing pain, "Like some crackers or soup or something?"
"Sure," Maya said, "I was going to try to make some soup while you were sleeping, but Nora was so fussy I just couldn't."
"Poor little Piccola," Carina frowned, rubbing the baby's back, "I'm sorry Mamma made you feel sick today."
Maya went downstairs, grabbing Carina some crackers and a mug of tea before bringing it upstairs.
"I will bring you real dinner later," Maya said, setting the tea down on the nightstand, "I'm going to order Nonna's for dinner."
"Thank you," Carina said, handing Maya Rowan to burp. The baby smiled at her mommy as Maya held her to burp her.
"You have been in such a good mood today, Patatina," Maya said, making a face at the blonde haired baby.
Rowan looked at her and Maya thought she was going to smile, but instead, she let out a loud burp.
"Nicely done," Maya laughed, settling her daughter into her arms.
Carina finished up with Nora, letting Maya burp her too so she could eat some crackers and take some Advil.
"We will let you get some rest," Maya said, giving her wife a kiss as she scooped up the twins, "I'll bring dinner up in a few hours?"
"Can you guys stay?" Carina asked, "I'm not tired enough to sleep right now. I need to be with them."
"Alright," Maya said, setting Rowan back down on the bed, knowing it had probably been a lot for Carina to go several hours without seeing the girls this afternoon.
Within ten minutes, however, Nora was fussy again.
"Do you think it wasn't all out of your system?" Maya asked, trying to comfort her daughter as she whimpered, legs drawn up to her chest.
"No lo so," Carina said, rubbing her eyes, "It takes a while for it to leave her system too so it could be from earlier or it could be new. I don't know. I feel bad I made her sick."
"She'll be ok," Maya said, rubbing Nora's back, "According to the internet, she will be uncomfortable for a little while, but nothing bad will happen."
"You were googling what was wrong with our daughter?" Carina asked, brow raised as Maya stripped herself and Nora down again, hoping the skin contact would help ease some of the tummy pain.
"I was worried," Maya said, "She's still so little, and I was scared she might be sick or something."
"Poor Nora," Carina said, putting a hand on her daughter's cheek.
"I always thought you would be the one to take care of them when they were sick," Maya said, rubbing Nora's back as she let out a little gas, grunting.
"Why?" Carina asked, making a face at Rowan who was staring up at her.
"I don't know," Maya said, "Because you are so nurturing and caring and always have been, and I don't know how to take care of sick people."
"You have always done a good job taking care of me," Carina said, looking at her wife, "And I know you helped Andy through the flu while Robert was out of the country. You are good at taking care of people, and Nora clearly agrees."
Nora had settled into Maya's chest, clearly still not feeling well, but at least a little comfortable on Mommy.
"But this isn't anything serious," Maya said, "It's just an upset tummy from food. It's not like she needs much and it's not going to hurt her."
"But you are giving her the one thing she does need," Carina said, "Which is someone to hold her and try to help her get comfortable. You are excellent at that."
Maya smiled, looking at her wife, "Thank you."
Just then, Nora had another massive blowout all over Maya's bare chest.
"And apparently, she needs me to poop on too," Maya groaned as Carina laughed.
Just then, they heard another sound and looked down, seeing Rowan laughing.
"You think this is funny Ro?" Maya asked cheekily, looking down at the baby, "You think Mommy getting pooped on twice in one day is funny?"
Rowan just laughed more as Carina grabbed her phone to capture the sweet sounds. Maya made some faces at Rowan, the little baby laughing more.
"Alright," Maya said, standing up with Nora, "We are going for shower round two. You got her?"
"You mean the laughing machine?" Carina said, tickling Rowan and getting another laugh, "Si. Go get you two cleaned up."
In the shower, Nora spit up again, Maya just letting the warm water run over them, knowing that when she had an upset stomach, warm water always felt good.
Nora eventually settled more, just about falling asleep as they got out. Maya quickly dressed the baby, Nora falling asleep in Carina's arms while Maya got dressed in clean pajamas.
"I'm glad she finally settled down," Carina said, looking at the sleeping little girl in her arms, "It's so hard seeing her like that."
"I know," Maya said, "I am not looking forward to them getting sick for real."
"Me neither," Carina said, shaking her head as she yawned.
"Do you want me to take her?" Maya asked, bringing Carina another warm compress.
"Maybe," Carina said, "Sorry. I am starting to feel bad again."
"Don't apologize," Maya said, taking Nora, "You're sick. We can go so you can sleep."
"They are both asleep," Carina said, gesturing to Rowan who was stretched out asleep in the bed, learning how to laugh apparently exhausting, "Can you stay?"
"Sure," Maya said, knowing Carina was very clingy when she didn't feel well, "Let me just move Ro and then you can cuddle."
Maya carefully scooped Rowan up, putting her in her bassinet before sitting down on the bed, Nora still in her arms, Maya deciding that an upset tummy warranted napping in Mommy's arms, something she and Carina normally tried to avoid.
Carina cuddled closer to her wife, Maya rubbing her back.
"Thank you for staying," Carina said sleepily.
"Of course," Maya said, "There is nowhere else I would rather be."
That night was rough even after Maya gave Nora a bottle of pumped milk. Nora was clearly still not feeling well, leaving Maya to change several more messy diapers and pace the hallway for half the night, trying to give the little girl some comfort as her tummy continued to rumble.
Carina also didn't sleep great, both because Nora wasn't feeling well and because of her fever that sent her through terrible rounds of chills and hot flashes.
By the next morning, Carina's fever was going down, Nora's tummy was feeling better, and both of them were resting peacefully. Maya, however, was up with Rowan who had slept like a champ and was ready to play.
"Mamma and Nora are sleeping," Maya said, holding Rowan as they walked into the kitchen, "They were both not feeling good last night, but they are better today, but for now, it's just me and you, Ro. What should we do?"
Rowan just kicked her little legs, smiling at Maya.
"Coffee?" Maya said, looking at the baby, "Perfect idea. And then, I am going to make some soup for Mamma."
Rowan just stared at her, spitting a little. Maya grabbed a bouncy seat, something the girls had grown to like more in the past few months, bringing it into the kitchen so she could keep an eye on Rowan while she cooked. The baby was happy, chewing on her hands and batting at the toys above her as Maya made soup.
Once she was done, she picked Rowan up, going upstairs to check on Carina and Nora. Carina was still out cold, but Nora was awake in her bassinet.
"Come here Piccola," Maya said, picking her up, "Are you feeling better today?"
Nora smiled at Maya as they left the bedroom. Maya took the girls downstairs, laying them on their play mat, deciding to try tummy time with Nora again today. While the little girl was disgruntled, she didn't start crying immediately which Maya took as a good sign. She went into the kitchen, grabbing herself another cup of coffee before coming back into the living room, surprised when she saw Nora on her back.
"Did you roll over while I was gone?" Maya said, looking down at the baby who was happy on her back.
The baby gurgled, kicking her legs and moving her arms as she looked up at Mommy.
"You are too much," Maya said, sitting down next to the play mat.
She rolled Nora back over onto her belly, turning the girls so they could look at each other. That's how Carina found them ten minutes later when she made her way downstairs.
"Hey babe," Maya said, getting up to meet her, "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Carina said, walking into Maya's arms, "I've had two doses of antibiotics now so it's helping. I still don't feel great, but better than yesterday."
"Good," Maya said as they both walked into the living room, "The girls are just doing tummy time."
"They are both on their backs?" Carina said, confused.
"They weren't a minute ago," Maya said, "Nora learned how to roll over this morning."
"I'm glad she is feeling better," Carina said, smiling as they both sat down near the playmat.
"Me too," Maya said, nodding, "Though I think it would be wise if you avoided spicy food until you're done nursing them. Or at least not nurse her when you eat it."
"Si," Carina said, nodding as she leaned her head on Maya's shoulder, "I felt so bad that I made her feel sick yesterday."
"You didn't know," Maya said, shaking her head, "And now that you do, you can change it."
Carina smiled at Maya before they both looked down at the babies who were kicking happily on their play mat.
"As terrible as I felt yesterday," Carina said, "Having all four of us home together right now almost makes it all worth it."
Maya nodded, leaning over and kissing her wife, knowing they only had days before the whole dynamic of their house was going to shift when she went on leave and Carina headed back to work.
What did you think? The next chapter is going to be about Carina going back to work and Maya going on maternity leave. Beyond that though, I don't have any firm plans so if you have any suggestions, let me know!