January 21, 2002

Week 36

These past two weeks were wonderful for Randi and Dave. They felt like actual parents. They reveled in the fact that they were keeping their daughter. Granted, they had guilt for leaving the Cabots without a daughter, but the guilt soon faded as they started working on the nursery. Dave stared at the pool table that leaned against the hallway wall.

"Carter is giving me two hundred for this old thing." Dave said. Randi smiled.

"Good. We need the money." Dave turned to her and smiled. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her large belly against his.

"I'd sell the shirt off my back to make you and our daughter happy." Dave said.

"All we need is you." Randi said. It was so nice, Randi thought. That she belonged to an actual family now. "Oh! Let me show you what I bought at the store today." She wobbled to the nursery. The walls were pink and there was a drop cloth over the floor. She grabbed a bag off of the dresser.

"You're spoiling this girl." Dave chuckled as Randi came back out into the living room and sat on the couch.

"Yea? She's worth it." Randi laughed pulling out a leopard print jumper. She smiled putting it on her belly. "I got this. It just screamed mini Randi." Dave laughed.

"That it does." He chuckled as Randi pulled out a tiny pink gingham dress. "That's adorable."

"That's why I bought it...Oh, the crib and rocking chair are being delivered around one o'clock." Randi said pulling out a ladybug sweater. Dave stood up.

"I'm gonna work on her room before they get here then." He kissed Randi's head and went to the nursery.

* * *

Dave's heart sang as he stenciled little yellowed stars around the room. He was doing this for his daughter. He folded up the drop cloth and glanced around the room. He glanced at the crib he had to put together that the men just dropped off. He tossed the drop cloth in the hallway and begun to put together the cherry oak sleigh crib.

"Dave, can I see the room now?" Randi asked outside the door.

"No. You have to wait until I get everything ready." Randi sighed and moved to the kitchen. She started to boil some water for dinner. She was so excited to give birth. Yet, she was terrified. Randi rubbed her belly as she dumped the pasta into the boiling water. Her grandmother didn't know she was pregnant. Eventually, Randi thought, eventually I'll tell her. Randi went to the kitchen table and started to set it. "Okay, Randi! Come on!" Randi squealed with happiness and jogged to the nursery door.

"Okay." Randi held her breath and opened the door, "OH! It's lovely Dave!" She looked around the pink a yellow pastel room and smiled with happiness. Stars and moons in different forms (stuffed, painted, lacy, etc.) decorated the room. The soft bedspread lined the new crib. A mobile of Stars and comets was hooked onto crib. The rocket had a knitted pink afghan on it. Next to the rocker was a Victorian reading lamp and a bookshelf filled with children's books- a perfect place to read the baby to sleep.

"You like?" Dave asked.

"I love it, Dave!" Randi said as a few tears slid down her cheeks. She threw her arms around him, "Thank you, Dave."

"Thank you, Randi. You've given me everything I've ever wanted." Dave said. Randi smiled softly.

"I'm happy. Come on. Dimmer is almost-" Randi doubled over clutching her stomach, "Oh!!"

"Randi??" Dave held her with alarm. Randi took in a deep breath.

"Contraction.... And it hurt." She mumbled straightening up.

"Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded rubbing her back.

"Yeah." She said walking to the kitchen. Dave sighed slightly. He was so anxious to have his daughter in his arms. He heard a loud clang come from the kitchen.

"Randi, what happened?" Dave walked out into the kitchen to find the pot of pasta all over the floor and Randi doubled over in pain. "Randi?? Did your water break?? Is it time??"

"The contractions.......... Hurt more." She mumbled. Dave rushed to her side.

"Come on. I'm taking you to the hospital." He said. Randi only nodded.

"It can't be time." She whimpered as Dave draped her jacket over her.

"Babies are born early all the time." Dave said helping Randi out of the apartment. "We'll see what Dr. Coburn says so don't worry."

"Trying not to." Randi said, "It just hurts."

"Its childbirth." Dave said kissing her temple, "everything will be okay."

* * *

Randi laid on the hospital bed listening to the steady beep of the monitor. Dave paced back and forth as Janet walked in.

"The baby's heart rate is low." He said.

"I know, Dr. Malucci. It isn't anything to be alarmed about." Janet said walking to the bed, "How are the contractions doing, Miranda?"

'They've slowed down a lot." Randi said.

"Good."

"Is the low heart rate something to be alarmed about?" Janet shook her head.

"No. In fact, I see no reason to keep you here for more than another hour or two." Janet said, "False labor is a common thing. Your daughter is taking her time like a normal girl. You have a month left and the contraction will come more frequently now. If you get them less than every fifteen minutes, then come in immediately and obviously if your water breaks come in."

"Thanks, Dr. Coburn." Dave said moving to Randi's side.

"Thanks." Randi said taking his hand. Janet smiled

"No problem." She said walking out. Randi sighed deeply.

"Another month." She said, "I thought we were going to have her today."

"Soon, baby." Dave said kissing her forehead, "We'll be a family soon."

Within an hour, Janet released Randi. The baby's heartbeat returned to normal and the contractions went to one every other hour. Randi was relieved to go home and get some sleep in before the sleepless nights began.