A/N Funny story, when I was writing the first draft of this chapter, I was texting with someone I know in the entertainment business. We were talking about Kaley's show, The Flight Attendant. I'd send a text off, then write some of this story, then I'd get a text back and I'd answer, then write some more, and so on and so on. Well, after the chapter, I did my usual quick check to make sure there weren't any big mistakes. Like not finishing a section, or having moved some dialogue to the wrong place(I find most of the little mistakes when I do the second and third drafts) Well, in this case, I found, every time I referred to Penny, at the doctor's office, I had used Kaley's name. Enjoy.
Chapter 40 2903
Friday 14 February 2:30 PM
Penny smiled, looking at the one dozen red roses, that had been delivered to her office. They were of course, from Leonard, and he was also taking her out for dinner and a movie tonight. He had said it would be their last Valentine's Day, with just the two of them, and he wanted to make it special. While she was looking forward to the dinner, the flowers were really nice and had her thinking about some of the previous Valentine's Day's her a Leonard had shared. She smiled at the thought of the one a couple of years ago, when they thought they were getting older, and now they were going to have a baby. But, frowned at the thought of the night they had a big fight, which led to her finally admitting her commitment issues to Leonard. There was a knock on her door, bringing Penny back to the present, and looking up she saw Karen waiting there. She looked a bit anxious and was carrying her briefcase, hopefully, with the study materials I told her to bring. Penny waved her in and indicated she should sit over by the small table that was in her office.
"Why do I need my study materials?" asked Karen.
Penny grinned at her, and said, "Get them out, and let's look them over."
Karen got them out, and for the next hour, Penny and she went over the materials, with Penny asking pointed questions about the different drugs. Karen got most of the questions right, but she did get several wrong. After the hour, Penny went over the drugs Karen got wrong and explained to her where she could find the answers or a few mnemonics on how to remember them. She also mentioned a few other drugs, that while Karen's answers were not technically wrong, Penny had felt the answers were weak.
"What's going on, that we're reviewing this?" asked Karen.
Penny grinned at her, "Well, I've been informed that next Friday, is your field write up. Pass that, and you should be on your own."
There was a touch of panic in Karen's face, "Next Friday?"
"Yep, that's why I went over the material with you in the last hour," said Penny. "I gave you some areas and drugs you need to study, but you have a week, so make sure you look at those. But, don't forget the other drugs, keep reviewing them to make sure you have them memorized."
Karen nodded, "I will, er, do you think I'm ready?"
"I do," said Penny. "You've got another week, and if you study those drugs I mentioned, along with reviewing the others, you should do fine. Now, your write-up is scheduled for 9 AM, and I may find out how you did, that afternoon, or by a week from Monday at the latest. When I find out, I'll let you know. If you have any questions this week, just call me. Now, why don't you take the rest of the day off, relax, and then start hitting the books tomorrow."
Karen nodded, collected her materials, and started leaving. When she got to the door, she turned and looked at Penny, "Penny, thank you so much for recommending me for this position, and thank you for all your help training me."
Penny smiled and said, "Your welcome. Now, go relax then knock 'em dead on the write-up."
Karen smiled back and left.
Saturday 15 February, 11:45 AM
Leonard and Penny had both slept in, they had been up late, after enjoying their Valentine's Day dinner. They had gotten up around ten, and both had coffee, Penny limiting herself to one cup. Penny told Leonard about Karen doing her write up, and how she would have to be available if Karen had some questions. After that, they tried to figure out what they could do this weekend.
They had both started getting hungry, and Leonard was making soup and sandwiches for their lunch, when he got a far off look in his eyes, and Penny had to call out to him when the soup boiled over. He had spent the rest of the day, and into the evening, working on something to do with his experiment. He had worked until one AM, before coming to bed.
Sunday 16 February 4:30 PM
Leonard had gotten up at eight and immediately started working on his experiment again. He had tried to explain it to Penny, but she didn't really understand, so she just encouraged him to work on it, and told him she would find something she could work on. And she did find something to do. Penny spent the day studying the management book that Dan had given her, reading the sections he had marked. She had found several places where she would have like to asked Leonard to help her, but he was busy on his experiment. Oh well, if I can't ask Leonard, I'll just mark it and ask Dan.
She was feeling very comfortable, as she was wearing a pair of her new sweatpants, which weren't too tight, along with the I love NY shirt Amy and Sheldon had gotten her a couple of years ago, on their honeymoon. At the time, she had been angry at Sheldon for getting an XXL, but now, she loved how it was nice and loose around her. Looking at the clock, she knew she had to stop, so she could get Leonard to stop, so he would be able to get ready for dinner.
She walked over to his desk and put her arm around him, "Sweety, we have to start getting ready. Amy will be over at 5:30 to go out for dinner."
Leonard turned around and looked at Penny, "What?"
"We have to get ready," said Penny, "remember Amy will be here around 5:30 to go to dinner with us. She dropped Sheldon off at the airport today."
Leonard nodded, "Oh, yeah. Okay, let me finish this section up, I'll be done in a couple of minutes."
"I'll go get my shower first, so you'll have until then," said Penny, leaving to go to the bathroom. Leonard nodded and turned back to his computer.
Sunday 16 February 6:30 PM
Leonard and Penny had taken Amy to their favorite Italian restaurant. Penny and Amy had been talking quite a bit, before and while they ate, but Leonard was quiet, obviously thinking about something.
Finally, Amy said, "You're awful quiet tonight Leonard, what are you thinking about?"
Leonard shook his head, "Sorry, I've got my experiment on my mind."
"Why?"
"You know how we have plans to entangle 10 photons?"
"Yes," said Amy, "Sheldon explained it to me."
Leonard said, "And, there are several groups who are trying to get to 14 entangled photons, to be able to entangle different degrees of freedom."
"Yes."
"I came up with an idea yesterday," said Leonard, "that could get us to 14 entangled photons with our current experiment, and up to 18, and then 24 next year, with some changes to our hardware."
"And Sheldon told me the more you can entangle," said Amy, "the easier it is to entangle different degrees of freedom."
"Well, not really easier, but more efficient," said Leonard, "and, in addition to entangling more photons, my idea should make it easier for us to entangle different degrees of freedom."
"What's a degree of freedom?" asked Penny.
"Things like, polarization, spin, time of flight, energy, among others," said Leonard. "Each photon has its own. But, you have to use a different way to entangle them for each degree of freedom."
"Well, okay," said Penny, "it's over my head already, so, I'm just glad you found a way and understand it."
"Thanks, sweety," said Leonard, reaching over and rubbing Penny's arm. He turned back to Amy, "So, now you know what I'm thinking so hard about."
Amy smiled and said, "I'll leave you be then," and turned back toward Penny.
Monday 17 February 8:30 AM
Leonard got in early, he had some things to do, before running his ideas past the team. His first call was to Eric, letting him know he was taking Thursday and Friday off. Then, Leonard made a few phone calls, setting up his plans for the coming weekend, before finally calling Bernadette. He talked to her for a few moments, before hanging up, and then making one more phone call.
With that done, he left his office for the room where the current experiment was being assembled. He wanted his team's feedback on his ideas for extending the experiments, before going to lunch, and then Penny's appointment.
Monday 17 February 1:00 PM
Leonard and Penny were sitting in the waiting room, waiting for Dr Samuels to come and get them. The nurse had taken Penny to the back, to have her blood and urine taken, along with her blood pressure, before leading her back out to the waiting room.
Dr Samuels came out and called for Penny and Leonard, and they went to her office and sat down. Dr Samuels looked at the paperwork, then looked up at Penny, with a smile, and said, "Your weight and blood pressure are all in the normal range. Your bloodwork is also all in the normal range, even your sugar, and hemoglobin. However, while in the normal range, your hemoglobin is near the low part of the range. So, you don't have diabetes and we'll talk about your hemoglobin after the ultrasound."
"Now, how about we get a look at your babies?" said Dr Samuels, pointing at the exam table. Leonard and Penny got up and walked over to the examination table and she got up on it. Pulled the top of her pants down a bit and lifted her blouse, a little, while Dr Samuels turned on the ultrasound machine. Penny laid back, and Dr Samuels put gel on the wand, and she started running it over Penny's belly. She moved the wand around, occasionally stopping to write something down. She turned the monitor around and Penny and Leonard could see both babies. They now looked like regular babies. One looked to be on the right side, and the other on the left side, of Penny. Dr Samuels pressed on Penny's belly, in several places, changed the settings and moved the wand around some more, and then turned off the machine.
She gave Penny some towels and wipes and told her she could clean herself up, and she would be right back. Penny wiped the gel off of her belly, with a wipe, and then a towel to dry herself. Her and Leonard then sat in the chairs in front of Dr Samuels desk and waited for her.
It was about five minutes before Dr Samuels came back. She had some papers in her hand and she sat down behind her desk. She looked at the papers closely, then looked up to Leonard and Penny.
"Well," said Dr Samuels, "what did you two decide about learning the sexes, of the babies."
Leonard and Penny looked at each other, with wide eyes, both realizing they hadn't talked about it.
"Er," said Penny, "we kinda forgot to talk about it. Were you able to determine the sex?"
Dr Samuels smiled, "Actually, no. Neither one was in the right position to determine their sex, so you're ok, this week. Oh, I'm sure we could have made the extra effort, if you wanted to know, but your next appointment is at 20 weeks, your halfway appointment."
At this, both Penny and Leonard looked at each other, in surprise. "Halfway?" said Penny questionably.
"Yes, You're halfway through your pregnancy," said Dr Samuels. "And, there is a special ultrasound we do at this point. It's called an anomaly scan, and it's very in-depth. We check the bones, skull, internal organs, etc. Just to make sure everything is going along as it should. We will definitely be able to determine the sex at your next appointment. So, be ready."
Dr Samuels looked at a few of the papers, then said, "Your babies are about the size of a big bell pepper." Dr Samuels looked at the images and did some calculations, "About five inches long, and they weigh almost seven ounces."
"You may start having indigestion, in the next couple of weeks. And, I want you to make sure you eat a lot of foods with iron in them. Your hemoglobin should be in the range of 12-16 in grams per deciliter. Yours is 12.1, so while normal, it close to being low. The reason we are concerned about this is that your body needs the extra iron to make the hemoglobin for your twins. So, please, make sure you're eating enough food with iron in it. Foods such as spinach, lentils, beans, etc. If it stays this low, or worse, drops, we'll put you on some supplements, and vitamin C, to help you absorb it."
Penny nodded.
"Now," said Dr Stevens, "are you having any problems, or concerns, about your pregnancy, or things you think I need to know about?"
"I am getting some dark spots, on my arms and legs," said Penny. She pointed to a couple of spots on the back of her arm.
"That's normal," said Dr Samuels. "Your body is producing more melanin, for your baby, but it can show up on you. You may get a dark line down your belly a bit later. It's for the same reason, and it's normal. It should go away, once your pregnancy is over. You can reduce the effect if you stay out of the sun, and use sunscreen."
Leonard spoke up, "Haha, you have to be like me with the sun."
Penny rolled her eyes, and looking at Dr Samuels, "He hates being out in the sun and puts on an inch of sunscreen if he does go out."
Dr Samuels smiled, "Anything else?"
"Kinda," said Penny, "I've been forgetting things and… uh, never mind."
"What?" said Dr Samuels. "Never mind about forgetting things, or something else?
"Forgetting things," said Penny. "Never mind about the other thing."
"Forgetting things is normal," said Dr Samuels, "keys, cups, other things, it happens. So if it's happening to you, don't worry about it. And, you don't want to talk about the other things?"
Penny paused, "I've been having some weird dreams, about little animals, mostly rabbits, where I take care of them. My friend, who's had two kids, said it's pretty normal, she had them. She also had one where she dropped her baby."
"Yes, those are all normal," said Dr Samuels, "but nothing really you shouldn't want to talk about…" She stopped after seeing Penny shake her head. "Ahhhhh, okay, yeah I get it." Dr Samuels smiled, "That's normal too"
"What's normal?" said Leonard.
"We'll talk about it later, sweety," said Penny.
"Is there anything else," said Dr Samuels.
"Not for me," said Penny.
"Okay, then you can have these," said Dr Samuels, handing over several images. "And, please make an appointment for two weeks, and please talk about whether or not you want to know the sex of the baby. I'll see you in two weeks."
Penny and Leonard rose and Penny started walking out. She turned and saw Leonard talking softly to Dr Samuels, who was nodding. He smiled and nodded, and caught up with Penny as they walked out of the office. They stopped at the front desk and made another appointment, and then walked out of the office. Penny was going home, and Leonard was going back to work.
Before he left Penny kissed him and said, "What were you talking to Dr Samuels about?"
"Never mind, I'll tell you later," said Leonard. "Now, what don't you want to talk about?"
Penny said, "We'll talk tonight about whether we want to know the sex and the other thing."
"I'll be running a bit late tonight," said Leonard. "I talked to the team this morning, and I want to look at some of the hardware with them, possibly some of the code, so it'll be after seven."
"That's good sweety," said Penny, "Amy is coming over for dinner after she says goodnight to Sheldon, so she won't be over until after seven, I'll see you then."
Leonard smiled, before kissing Penny again, then got into his car and leaving for work. Penny watched him leave, and then got into her car, and started for home.
