I have laid quite a few things out in the nursery, clothes, diapers and toiletries and I am feeling very overwhelmed at the amount. We are never going to fit all this in as well as ourselves and our luggage! Right let's rationalise here, Reduce the diapers, wipes, creams as we can buy them if we run out, I am sure 10 sleep suits each will be enough as we do have washing facilities, the same for baby gro's, I suppose they don't need that many outfits. By the end of my sort out I have reduced everything to fit in 3 bags.
I then begin on Christian's suitcase, lots of comfy things like jogging trousers, t-shirts and jumpers. We will all need our thick winter coat, hats, gloves and scarfs of course but I know when you sit around for periods of time you feel colder generally. Shoes check, socks check, boxers check, dressing gown check. That should do and now mine but then I am interrupted by Max and Melissa wanting some Mommy time.
As per doctor's orders, Christian remains in bed for the rest of the weekend which I am relieved about, it didn't come without a few grumbles and groans but now Monday morning is here, we are all getting ready to leave. The cars are jammed full of people and luggage however we manage to set off close to our original plan. Taylor drives Christian, the twins and my-self, Sawyer takes Grace and Carrick, Elliot, Kate and Gail follow us and two other cars with luggage do the security sweep bit until we reach the airport. Thank goodness for Christian's jet, 18 hours of driving with twins would not be my idea of fun and the amount of luggage is easily catered for.
A little over 4 hours later we have landed; Taylor and Sawyer are first off and are, I think getting vehicles to take us the rest of the way. The twins wake and hungrily cry so I take the chance to feed them before we have to move again, Kate helps me change them, she really is getting good at doing diapers.
We all pack into two large SUV's and begin the short drive to the lodge. Once we have settled in, unpacked and settled the twins, Gail is cooking up something delicious; she brought a supply of food with her so no one would have to shop on the first day.
We all sit around the dining table including Taylor, drinking wine and beer, laughing and joking; Elliot is playing the goof telling awful jokes. They keep coming and I end up with a stitch from laughing so much.
"Elliot, stop, you will make Kate go into labour from laughing" I say through tears.
"Nah, I am beginning to think she is never going to come out" Elliot says.
"Give her chance" Kate chips in "she has got another nearly four weeks yet but my sides are hurting from laughing"
I feel relaxed, the most relaxed I have felt in weeks, I am surrounded by my family and my children, I feel safe, loved and cherished and that's a feeling I never want to lose.
It's been a long day so after dinner Christian retires to our bedroom, Kate yawns and follows suit, the rest of us tidy up the dinner things and call it a night too.
The twins only wake up once during the night which is fantastic, I feel refreshed in the morning. At breakfast the discussion is 'what to do today?' I would love just to go for a long walk in the fresh air with the twins, enjoying the view and the exercise as well.
Christian, Kate and the others all agree so we bundle up before heading out. It is certainly brisk out here but I fill my lungs with the cool air. The all-terrain buggy we bought for Max and Melissa is a god send; it is easy to push and turn but has great suspension for the rough pathways.
On Grace's advice both Kate and Christian turn back, she and Sawyer return with them. Elliot, Taylor, Gail, Carrick and I continue on for a way before even I admit defeat and want to turn back. I feel very unfit but since surgery I have had no choice but to take things a little easier. The fire is roaring when we return and it is a very welcome warmth for everyone, Gail brings tea, coffee and hot chocolate with a plate of biscuits. Christian is giving Max a cuddle and Elliot has Melissa, they look so cute and Grace snaps some photos of them together.
Sawyer has picked up a take out from a Mexican restaurant and our second happy evening is underway. I look at Christian and see he has relaxed, his face looks younger, shoulders are loose and he seems carefree without having alcohol. I briefly think that maybe having had a near death experience has made him re-evaluate what's important to him but time will tell on that one.
"Ana…ANA"
"A penny for those thoughts of yours" Christian says.
"Sorry, I drifted for a moment" I smile "Just revelling in the here and now and how happy I feel"
Elliot, Carrick and Christian go to the golf driving range the next morning; Grace has read Christian the riot act about not swinging a golf club at all so he promises just to do some putting instead. Kate, Grace and I go into the local town. Gail very kindly offered to babysit for a few hours so we can get some quality shopping time in.
Of course the baby boutiques are our first port of call, I find some summer outfits for Max and Melissa and Kate looks in total awe of all the clothes available.
"What do I need Ana?" she sounds a little desperate.
"To begin with stick with sleep suits and baby gro's, they really don't need anything fancy at that point but you will need a few per day just in case they regurgitate or a nappy leaks. You need a warm suit for outside, bibs and not much else to start; it would be a waste of money to be honest"
"Oh these are gorgeous, what do you think?" Kate holds up a hanger with a pink sleep suit, it has a beautiful embroidered butterfly on the left chest area.
"Perfect" Grace and I say together.
After a couple of hours of shopping, lunch and a dozen bags between us, Kate's ankles have started to swell, Taylor swings the car around and we head to the lodge. The men are already warming themselves by the fire when we return.
"Enjoyed shopping I see" Carrick pipes up but I can see he is the only one brave enough to say something and that makes me chuckle.
I un-wrap a sensory toy for the babies, you lay them underneath on a soft cushion with a plastic 4 legged frame arching over the top and it has 4 animal toys with bells and crackles. Ok ok I know it's a bit old for them but it was really cute. I lay Max underneath and his eyes are moving back and forth, he reacts to the noise of the animals, I will be ecstatic when they can bang the toys themselves or gurgle in response.
Elliot has to leave the following morning to go back to work, I can tell neither of them wants to be apart from each other but it's a huge contract that can't be lost by Elliot's absence. They say their farewells, Kate sheds a few tears and Elliot is gone.
The rest of the day is spent, talking, reading and eating. Gail has baked some almond cookies and her infamous, totally to die for, double chocolate chip muffins. Carrick has taken Christian for a short walk outside, Grace and Kate are talking labour and birth while Gail and I discuss our new housekeeper, where we will start her off and we both agree a one week, four week and three month review to iron out any problems or difficulties.
Things seem to be coming together nicely, Kate seems a bit fidgety without Elliot, Carrick has returned with Christian who is going from strength to strength, he looks the best I have seen him in a long while, Gail and Taylor are spending some quality time together and I want to clap my hands together in glee.
Dinner that evening is a little quieter without Elliot but the conversation flows. Christian stands up suddenly and taps his wine glass full of orange juice to get our attention.
"I'm not one for big speeches as you know but I wanted to thank you all for coming this week, I am having a very restful time and I hope you are all enjoying it here too" everyone nods in agreement "I want to thank Mom and Dad for everything they have done in the last…gosh how many weeks? Well a lot, Kate and Elliot for your unwavering support of Ana while I was incapacitated, Gail firstly for nursing Taylor back to health" we all chuckle "and for looking after Ana, the twins and Escala, your wonderful food and err everything" he sits down promptly "OH oh wait I forgot" he says standing quickly "to my darling Ana, the mother of my two beautiful children who despite going through her own trauma, was by my side. Love you babes and I hope this fits"
He hands me a box that's wrapped and sealed with ribbon, one that is so pretty you don't want to open it. I am a little dumbstruck when I finally open a smaller box and inside there is a beautiful eternity ring, platinum and diamond that sit's perfectly with my wedding ring.
"It's beautiful Christian" I lean in to hug and kiss him when a small tear escapes down my face.
"What's the matter baby?" his arms squeeze me tighter.
"I am just so happy right now" I hear a few ahhhh's going around the table.
The evening wraps up and our beds beckon. I fall asleep very quickly; the fresh air seems to make me tired. Its pitch black when I wake after hearing a door open, my heart beats faster and faster until I hear a soft voice calling my name…
"Ana? Are you awake?"
"Kate? Is that you?" I try to focus my eyes with the little light available.
"Ana, she's coming" she says breathlessly
"Who's coming?" I say in my half asleep state.
"The baby" a small groan comes from Kate.
"OH!" I exclaim before hurrying out of bed and over to Kate.
"My waters broke about an hour ago and the pains have been getting stronger and closer together"
"How close together Kate?" I guide her back to her bedroom
"About 4 minutes and I can't take it anymore" she starts to sob.
"I will get Grace" I hurry out of the room to Grace. I knock loudly until I hear someone coming to the door.
Carrick opens the door and looks puzzled "Christian ok?"
"He's fine, I need Grace, Kate in labour" his eyebrows shoot up and he turns to wake Grace.
In a moment Grace is tending to Kate "Kate, how long have you been like this?"
"About 30 minutes I think" she puffs and pants back.
"We need to get you the hospital as this baby is coming and soon" Grace says
I pick up the phone and dial 911, asking for EMT's for a lady giving birth but Grace also told me to say she was a physician, monitoring the situation but needing help. They assure me they are on the way.
"Ana, call Ellioooooottttttt, oouuuuuuuuuccchhhhh" Kate screams.
"I will, don't worry" I say picking up the phone again and dialling their home number but the answer machine picks up so I leave a brief message asking him to call. I try his cell but that goes straight to voice mail so I leave a similar message.
The EMT's arrive and assist Grace to begin with before getting Kate onto a trolley and loaded in to the ambulance.
"I will travel with her" Grace tells the paramedics.
"I need Ana, Ana don't leave me" Kate cries
"I'm here for you honey" I say as the ambulance pulls away…
A/N: Thanks for all your support.