D: I don't own a single thing, I have no money, and all that I can say is
mine is my own thoughts and beliefs. Can't get much out of that, now could
you?
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's been awhile. You know the deal, school, work, and homework, yada yada. And RUDE reviewers who will remain nameless since they don't have the guts to sign their real name. {Mandy, you are officially 'my guardian angel' as Sydney would say on Alias. Love you girl!! From now on, you are going to have this story dedicated in your name! Boy, you should have SEEN my sister, who is VERY protective of her twin sis, when she read THAT! She's here physically, but you got me electronically I guess! Love ya girl!!} On with the story, here's the next chappy, enjoy!
{#}
Starting the next day, each baby started gaining weight and taking 'baby' steps forward. Shelby started walking as well, very difficulty, with Scott right by her side the whole time. She visited the babies 3 times that day, holding each one like she did with Madisyn the day before. By the end of the week, 5 days after they were born, 3 of them got off the ventilators. It shocked all of the hospitals, nurses and doctors how well they were doing.
"I can't believe Jesslyn, Braedyn, and Dustyn are off those tubes! And their all at least 3lbs. now! And Jesslyn is eating, Dustyn is over his jaundice too!" Shelby said excitedly on her last night in the hospital. She was talking to Daisy on the phone. Scott came in looking solemn.
"Oh! Something's up, gotta go! Bye!" Shelby said quickly, hanging up.
"What is it, Scott?! Madisyn? Her specialist was gonna re-evaluate her! What's wrong with her?!" Shelby said, getting more and more upset.
'Oh crap. Too far' Scott realized.
"Shh..calm down Shel! Yes, he re-evaluated her today." Scott said calming his wife down a few notches.
"Well?!" she said expectantly. He set his face towards the floor, then looked up smiling.
"Her murmur is just that..a murmur. No hole, YET. We just have to keep monthly check ups on her till she gets older and stronger and they could do something about it further. For now, she's just a little behind Drakeyn. He's doing better too. Probably be off the vent in a day or so. And Dustyn smiled at me." Scott said happily, playing Shelby on earlier.
"Oh! Oh, thank you Jesus! She's gonna do okay. I'm soo happy! She's okay..for now..but okay.!" Shelby said, bouncing in her bed slightly. She hugged and kissed Scott happily. Before he knew it, she'd pulled him down on the bed with her, going to town. (Girl's missed her MAN!) He finally got some air when she'd gone a little too far and yelped.
"Oh! Sorry baby! You okay?" Scott said breathlessly.
"Uh..yeah. I can't WAIT to get all healed up! It sucks being so sore all the time, these staples hurt!" Shelby said rubbing her abdomen. Scott winced at that. He'd seen them; he had to help her get dressed the first few days. Poor thing couldn't even scratch her kneecap without lots of pain. The past 2 nights, he'd been able to snuggle in the hospital bed with her, so after Jess, Jules, Danny, and Sophie came back from visiting the babies and said goodnight, he snuggled her up in his arms for her last night in the hospital. He teased her with kisses all over her face and neck, making her giggle softly before falling asleep.
Early the next morning, Shelby got up and packed and went down to the NICU to spend as many moments as she could with her babies. This time she had them all surrounding her as she read a story to them. She read them the story of the Pokey Little Puppy 'cause of the 5 puppies'. Then she went to each one, holding them gently and singing softly to them. Scott and her each started on the opposite ends, making their way to each baby. Drakeyn got off the ventilator as they were there, now he just had oxygen in his nose like his brothers and sister. Only Madisyn had a vent still because of her heart. And t they were all steadily climbing through 3lbs. ?oz. Also, Jesslyn started sucking, so she was able to try eating more often. It seemed like each baby, excluding Madisyn, was gaining what usually takes a week, in a couple days.
"You've got some really strong babies Shelby. I've never seen preemies this small accomplish so much so fast!" Abby said as Shelby visited Drakeyn after he got his vent out. He was crying raspy and Shelby was trying to calm him down.
"Well, the way I see it is the preemies born are singles, and they're born because of something wrong with them. My babies just wanted to save Madisyn. They're all pretty healthy. Even my identical boys bounced back." Shelby said smiling as Drakeyn tried to wrap his tiny hand around her finger.
"They were trying to be strong for her." Scott commented from Dustyn's bed.
"SHE'S doing wonderful to. Her siblings are doing their job well!" Abby said smiling. Then continued truthfully.
"If I could bet, you'd have these ones home by Christmas!" Abby mentioned. Shelby and Scott looked shocked.
"Are you serious?! Really?!" Shelby hoped.
"Yeah! If they keep this pace up..They'll be 4 to 4 ½ lbs. by next week, that's the 21st or 22nd. Sure!" Abby said, nodding surely.
"Oh..my..I thought it'd be the middle of January!" Scott sputtered.
"Sure, we ALL did..but they're doing so well. Hope you went Christmas shopping, you've got 4 little ones on Christmas morning who'll be waiting!" Abby joked. Shelby heard 4 and her smile dropped.
"Not my shy one? Madisyn won't come home too?" Shelby said softly. Abby smiled sadly.
"I don't think so. Not with her heart. She's still a little more sicker than her siblings." Abby spoke softly. Shelby nodded.
"But 4! I wasn't sure ANY of them would be able to come home!" Shelby said trying to move on. They finished visiting their babies, and then very reluctantly left at 1:00pm when the hospital discharged Shelby, leaving their 6-day-old quints behind. She had tears in her eyes when Scott wheeled her to a waiting Peter.
"It's okay sweetie. They'll be home before you know it." Her father said, rubbing her cheek fatherly. When she came home, she was greeted with a huge Welcome home crowd. A lot of the Horizon kids were waiting to see her, especially the Cliffhangers. She had the most recent snapshots of the quints, taken a few hours ago, to show everyone.
"They're getting bigger!" Auggie said happily. Shelby noticed everybody still had their godchildren's wristbands on, like her and Scott.
"You're still wearing these?" she pointed out and every one of them showed theirs off. Even Kat was there.
"Staying here for Christmas anyways, decided to come a week earlier than planned." She explained. School was out that day for break, so a lot of the kids were on their way home. Pretty much everyone except for the Cliffhangers. By the next night, the school was all empty. Now the Cliffy's could run amok, decorating for Christmas and everything. The night after all the Horizon kids went home, Shelby came home from visiting the babies ALL excited.
"They took her off the vent! Madisyn's like..JUMPING ahead soo fast! She's on oxygen like her siblings, but she's doing great!" Shelby said, all smiles. Jess and Danny had gone with them.
"And I held Braedyn, Jesslyn, and Dustyn! REALLY held them! Scott did too!" Shelby said excitedly.
"They're so cute! Tiny, but adorable!" Jess said happily to everyone as they decorated the lounge area.
"Shel sweetie, I've got something for you guys, c'mere." Sophie said, motioning for her 'kids' to come over.
"I already ran it by the group, they all have their own..from Jules..look." Sophie said showing them a back table with 11 different Christmas stockings. The two biggest said Sophie and Peter with Mr. and Mrs. Claus faces on them. Then the next size down there was Jessica, Daniel, Shelby and Scott. Jess was an angel, Danny a lighted Christmas tree, and Shelby & Scott's were a snowman and woman. Then the last smallest size, there was 5 for Braedyn, Madisyn, Drakeyn, Dustyn, and Jesslyn and they were all covered in a snowflake theme. Shelby was speechless.
"They're beautiful! It's ALL of us!" Jess said finally, smiling happily. After they dried, Scott and Shelby helped Peter hang them all up with the others, slightly separated to make them a family. The last one, cause they were in order by age, was little Madisyn's. Shelby held it a moment, tears in her eyes. Danny came over then and put his arm around her shoulders.
"It's okay sis. She'll be here, even if it's just her thoughts. She's gotta get a little stronger. She'll be fine." He said reassuringly.
"Thanks Dan..sniff There. All set!" Shelby said smiling, dissolving all the tears. Kat came over with her camera and took pictures of the fireplace and all the stockings for a scrapbook. She was Horizon's little personal/ sort-of pro photographer. She had an eye for it.
"Oh! You HAVE to do some of the babies next time I go! They said I could hold ALL of them by then!" Shelby said excitedly, getting into a big discussion with her. So early the next morning Kat went with Shelby and Scott to visit the quints, then they were gonna meet everyone in town to go Christmas shopping. They even got a wheelchair for Shelby who still couldn't walk great distances for too long. Shel also was at the hospital to get her staples out. Kat took some pictures of her holding ALL 5 babies in her lap. She didn't want to move; she loved having them all in her arms again.
"I miss having all of them so close to me." She said, glaring daggers at Abby motherly when she came to pick them up to start putting them away. Finally, reluctantly, she allowed Abby to take them, but Abby nicely let her hold Madisyn the longest. She'd kissed, sung, and rocked all of them till most of them were asleep. Only Madisyn stayed awake, constantly gazing at Shelby and reacting to her voice.
"You were the closest to my voice. Is that why you like it so much? Hmm Maddy?" Shelby said stroking Madisyn's tummy. Madisyn suddenly cracked a sideways smile and made little baby noises. Shelby beamed.
"Oh, my baby girl!" Shelby said choked up when Madisyn was the only one left in her arms. Abby was putting Dustyn away, Scott with her and Kat watching over Braedyn who was upset about leaving his mommy and sibs.
"Will you do something for me? Be strong; continue getting so much better. I wanna bring you home Madisyn. If I only had one gift this Christmas, it'd be to have my WHOLE family home together! That means you too baby. Just stay healthy and strong. And never forget that I love you." Shelby said kissing her nose. Madisyn was laying transfixed to Shelby's voice. Shelby looked up suddenly when Drakeyn started getting upset, so she didn't see Madisyn's slight nod like an 'Okay mama!' type gesture. Abby came then and helped Shelby put Madisyn in her incubator, keeping all her cords and tubes from tangling. Shelby went over to Scott and Kat who were both by Drakeyn's incubator.
"That was the first time they were all together, huh?" Kat asked.
"Yeah..since being in my stomach." Shelby said stroking Drakeyn's head worriedly as he continued to get worked up. Braedyn also was getting just as worked up, and Jesslyn was starting up as well, reacting to her brothers' emotions.
"Abby I think they want to be next to each other again. They just realized the rest of them are all here." Kat said, going over to Jesslyn and stroking her cheek.
"Make's sense. But they'd only be comfortable with the sibling they were next to while in the womb. Who was Drakeyn next to?" Abby asked, growing concerned when he became the loudest.
"Jesslyn and Dustyn then." Shelby said.
"I'll see what I can do. Probably for Braedyn also. He wants to be by.who?" Abby wondered.
"Madisyn. They were the closest on top." Shelby said pointing to her stomach instinctively.
"And Madisyn was a little separated from Drakeyn. So just her and Braedyn. I'll put them together like that. We all know studies have showed it drastically improves their health." Abby summed all up.
"I have an appointment for staple removal, when I get back will they be moved?" Shelby asked, constantly trying to comfort a wailing Drakeyn while Kat cooed at Jesslyn and Scott talked to Braedyn. Abby looked over at Dustyn as he began to whimper and squirm.
"Probably. 3 and 2. I won't let them keep carrying on like this much longer. It won't help ANY one." Abby said, her brow creasing as it seemed all 5 babies were not very happy babies anymore.
So she got her staples removed with a little pain and bleeding. She gingerly walked back into the NICU an hour later. All the incubators in room B were gone. Now there were 2 cribs, in an L shape against the far corner. All 5 babies were there; Drakeyn, Dustyn and then Jesslyn in one; Braedyn and Madisyn in the other. All cozied up to each other with special preemie bumpers supporting them. All conked out.
"Yeah! They're all sleeping at the same time! And they have each other, so they'll get better faster!" Shelby clapped quietly. She was on cloud nine.
"Just weighed them too." Abby commented grinning like she had a secret. She couldn't stop smirking.
"And?!" everyone whispered expectantly.
"Braedyn's half an ounce away from 4lbs. and his brothers and sisters are JUST behind him a few ounces or so! Only Dustyn is at 3 and a half." Abby said happily. Shelby and Scott would have cheered it the babies weren't asleep. Kat grabbed them into a group hug.
"Ow! Ouch!.oooh." Shelby yelped when she got TOO excited. All the babies startled at this, frowning up their faces.
"Oops! Sorry babies! Mama's okay." Shelby said softly, shushing them back to sleep. They stayed a few more minutes watching the babies sleep but then had to go. It was a long drive to the mall. (45min-1hour) Kat took some pictures of the babies in their new beds for the scrapbook before they said good bye.
They climbed in to Kat's car, Shelby and Scott feeling a lot better about their children's well being now.
{I recommend reading Bee's HG Christmas story, it's where I got this idea for shopping together from and it's also hilarious!}
"I can't move. I sat TOO long and just having the staples out..my insides are in tight knots trying not to fall out onto the pavement right here! I'm gonna be bent over for the rest of my life!" Shelby said between clenched teeth as she fell out of Kat's car.
"It's okay. Your dad should be just inside with the wheelchair. At least walk to there. It'll be better for you." Kat instructed as Scott held her arm, rubbing her back. So she grabbed Kat and Scott's arms and walked painfully to her sanctuary.
"Lovely, wonderful wheelchair!" Shelby said, settling in.
"Everyone's all around..SOMEWHERE. You'll see them sometime." Peter said, heading back to his wife. So for the rest of the day they all shopped till they dropped. They all ate dinner at the local restaurant there, meeting for the first time all together. And then drove the long trek home. It was dark when they got home and they all snuck off to all different places to wrap presents. Scott wandered around a little after 10:00pm looking for his wife.
"Hey meat? Looking for your girl?" Auggie asked sleepily, as he placed his last present under the tree.
"Yeah muchacho. Seen her anywhere?" Scott said yawning.
"In her pops office." He answered waving an arm towards the hallway.
"Thanks man..night." Scott said doing their whole hand slap/guy thing.
"Night meat." Auggie said yawning and shuffling off to the guys' dorm. Scott went to Peter's office and quietly opened the door and peered in. He smiled when he saw a pile of perfectly wrapped presents off to one side of the biggest wrapping paper, boxes, stuffing, bags, bows, ribbon, and tape explosion he'd ever seen. And nestled in the middle up against the love seat was Shelby, passed out with wrapping paper partly draped over her, tape pieces in her hair and ribbon around her shoulders. He some how made it to her without drowning in wrapping paper, lifter her in his arms and carried her to their room, putting her to bed. After pulling the pieces of tape and stuff off her of course. He went back and cleaned up, putting the presents under the tree.
"Finish up, son?" Peter asked, as he came to put the fire out.
"Yeah, Shel fell asleep wrapping. Should've seen her, all covered in wrapping paper and stuff." Scott commented walking out with him.
"Peter?..she really wants her whole family home for Christmas. She tries to pretend she doesn't mind, but I can see it in her eyes." Scott said, feeling helpless.
"I know. I don't know what to do..Just pray I guess. All that's left." Peter said, patting his back. Scott nodded slightly, then quietly went into his room. Just before slipping into bed, he said a quick little prayer hoping someone heard it.
{#}
A/N: Well, there's that chappy! Kind of a long one! Hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter is Christmas; will Shelby get her Christmas wish? I'll update as soon as possible! PLEASE review and tell me how you like it! I love getting reviews; it gets me to update faster!! I'll try to have the next chappy up ASAP, but I do go to school full time and work! Don't forget to review! thanx!
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's been awhile. You know the deal, school, work, and homework, yada yada. And RUDE reviewers who will remain nameless since they don't have the guts to sign their real name. {Mandy, you are officially 'my guardian angel' as Sydney would say on Alias. Love you girl!! From now on, you are going to have this story dedicated in your name! Boy, you should have SEEN my sister, who is VERY protective of her twin sis, when she read THAT! She's here physically, but you got me electronically I guess! Love ya girl!!} On with the story, here's the next chappy, enjoy!
{#}
Starting the next day, each baby started gaining weight and taking 'baby' steps forward. Shelby started walking as well, very difficulty, with Scott right by her side the whole time. She visited the babies 3 times that day, holding each one like she did with Madisyn the day before. By the end of the week, 5 days after they were born, 3 of them got off the ventilators. It shocked all of the hospitals, nurses and doctors how well they were doing.
"I can't believe Jesslyn, Braedyn, and Dustyn are off those tubes! And their all at least 3lbs. now! And Jesslyn is eating, Dustyn is over his jaundice too!" Shelby said excitedly on her last night in the hospital. She was talking to Daisy on the phone. Scott came in looking solemn.
"Oh! Something's up, gotta go! Bye!" Shelby said quickly, hanging up.
"What is it, Scott?! Madisyn? Her specialist was gonna re-evaluate her! What's wrong with her?!" Shelby said, getting more and more upset.
'Oh crap. Too far' Scott realized.
"Shh..calm down Shel! Yes, he re-evaluated her today." Scott said calming his wife down a few notches.
"Well?!" she said expectantly. He set his face towards the floor, then looked up smiling.
"Her murmur is just that..a murmur. No hole, YET. We just have to keep monthly check ups on her till she gets older and stronger and they could do something about it further. For now, she's just a little behind Drakeyn. He's doing better too. Probably be off the vent in a day or so. And Dustyn smiled at me." Scott said happily, playing Shelby on earlier.
"Oh! Oh, thank you Jesus! She's gonna do okay. I'm soo happy! She's okay..for now..but okay.!" Shelby said, bouncing in her bed slightly. She hugged and kissed Scott happily. Before he knew it, she'd pulled him down on the bed with her, going to town. (Girl's missed her MAN!) He finally got some air when she'd gone a little too far and yelped.
"Oh! Sorry baby! You okay?" Scott said breathlessly.
"Uh..yeah. I can't WAIT to get all healed up! It sucks being so sore all the time, these staples hurt!" Shelby said rubbing her abdomen. Scott winced at that. He'd seen them; he had to help her get dressed the first few days. Poor thing couldn't even scratch her kneecap without lots of pain. The past 2 nights, he'd been able to snuggle in the hospital bed with her, so after Jess, Jules, Danny, and Sophie came back from visiting the babies and said goodnight, he snuggled her up in his arms for her last night in the hospital. He teased her with kisses all over her face and neck, making her giggle softly before falling asleep.
Early the next morning, Shelby got up and packed and went down to the NICU to spend as many moments as she could with her babies. This time she had them all surrounding her as she read a story to them. She read them the story of the Pokey Little Puppy 'cause of the 5 puppies'. Then she went to each one, holding them gently and singing softly to them. Scott and her each started on the opposite ends, making their way to each baby. Drakeyn got off the ventilator as they were there, now he just had oxygen in his nose like his brothers and sister. Only Madisyn had a vent still because of her heart. And t they were all steadily climbing through 3lbs. ?oz. Also, Jesslyn started sucking, so she was able to try eating more often. It seemed like each baby, excluding Madisyn, was gaining what usually takes a week, in a couple days.
"You've got some really strong babies Shelby. I've never seen preemies this small accomplish so much so fast!" Abby said as Shelby visited Drakeyn after he got his vent out. He was crying raspy and Shelby was trying to calm him down.
"Well, the way I see it is the preemies born are singles, and they're born because of something wrong with them. My babies just wanted to save Madisyn. They're all pretty healthy. Even my identical boys bounced back." Shelby said smiling as Drakeyn tried to wrap his tiny hand around her finger.
"They were trying to be strong for her." Scott commented from Dustyn's bed.
"SHE'S doing wonderful to. Her siblings are doing their job well!" Abby said smiling. Then continued truthfully.
"If I could bet, you'd have these ones home by Christmas!" Abby mentioned. Shelby and Scott looked shocked.
"Are you serious?! Really?!" Shelby hoped.
"Yeah! If they keep this pace up..They'll be 4 to 4 ½ lbs. by next week, that's the 21st or 22nd. Sure!" Abby said, nodding surely.
"Oh..my..I thought it'd be the middle of January!" Scott sputtered.
"Sure, we ALL did..but they're doing so well. Hope you went Christmas shopping, you've got 4 little ones on Christmas morning who'll be waiting!" Abby joked. Shelby heard 4 and her smile dropped.
"Not my shy one? Madisyn won't come home too?" Shelby said softly. Abby smiled sadly.
"I don't think so. Not with her heart. She's still a little more sicker than her siblings." Abby spoke softly. Shelby nodded.
"But 4! I wasn't sure ANY of them would be able to come home!" Shelby said trying to move on. They finished visiting their babies, and then very reluctantly left at 1:00pm when the hospital discharged Shelby, leaving their 6-day-old quints behind. She had tears in her eyes when Scott wheeled her to a waiting Peter.
"It's okay sweetie. They'll be home before you know it." Her father said, rubbing her cheek fatherly. When she came home, she was greeted with a huge Welcome home crowd. A lot of the Horizon kids were waiting to see her, especially the Cliffhangers. She had the most recent snapshots of the quints, taken a few hours ago, to show everyone.
"They're getting bigger!" Auggie said happily. Shelby noticed everybody still had their godchildren's wristbands on, like her and Scott.
"You're still wearing these?" she pointed out and every one of them showed theirs off. Even Kat was there.
"Staying here for Christmas anyways, decided to come a week earlier than planned." She explained. School was out that day for break, so a lot of the kids were on their way home. Pretty much everyone except for the Cliffhangers. By the next night, the school was all empty. Now the Cliffy's could run amok, decorating for Christmas and everything. The night after all the Horizon kids went home, Shelby came home from visiting the babies ALL excited.
"They took her off the vent! Madisyn's like..JUMPING ahead soo fast! She's on oxygen like her siblings, but she's doing great!" Shelby said, all smiles. Jess and Danny had gone with them.
"And I held Braedyn, Jesslyn, and Dustyn! REALLY held them! Scott did too!" Shelby said excitedly.
"They're so cute! Tiny, but adorable!" Jess said happily to everyone as they decorated the lounge area.
"Shel sweetie, I've got something for you guys, c'mere." Sophie said, motioning for her 'kids' to come over.
"I already ran it by the group, they all have their own..from Jules..look." Sophie said showing them a back table with 11 different Christmas stockings. The two biggest said Sophie and Peter with Mr. and Mrs. Claus faces on them. Then the next size down there was Jessica, Daniel, Shelby and Scott. Jess was an angel, Danny a lighted Christmas tree, and Shelby & Scott's were a snowman and woman. Then the last smallest size, there was 5 for Braedyn, Madisyn, Drakeyn, Dustyn, and Jesslyn and they were all covered in a snowflake theme. Shelby was speechless.
"They're beautiful! It's ALL of us!" Jess said finally, smiling happily. After they dried, Scott and Shelby helped Peter hang them all up with the others, slightly separated to make them a family. The last one, cause they were in order by age, was little Madisyn's. Shelby held it a moment, tears in her eyes. Danny came over then and put his arm around her shoulders.
"It's okay sis. She'll be here, even if it's just her thoughts. She's gotta get a little stronger. She'll be fine." He said reassuringly.
"Thanks Dan..sniff There. All set!" Shelby said smiling, dissolving all the tears. Kat came over with her camera and took pictures of the fireplace and all the stockings for a scrapbook. She was Horizon's little personal/ sort-of pro photographer. She had an eye for it.
"Oh! You HAVE to do some of the babies next time I go! They said I could hold ALL of them by then!" Shelby said excitedly, getting into a big discussion with her. So early the next morning Kat went with Shelby and Scott to visit the quints, then they were gonna meet everyone in town to go Christmas shopping. They even got a wheelchair for Shelby who still couldn't walk great distances for too long. Shel also was at the hospital to get her staples out. Kat took some pictures of her holding ALL 5 babies in her lap. She didn't want to move; she loved having them all in her arms again.
"I miss having all of them so close to me." She said, glaring daggers at Abby motherly when she came to pick them up to start putting them away. Finally, reluctantly, she allowed Abby to take them, but Abby nicely let her hold Madisyn the longest. She'd kissed, sung, and rocked all of them till most of them were asleep. Only Madisyn stayed awake, constantly gazing at Shelby and reacting to her voice.
"You were the closest to my voice. Is that why you like it so much? Hmm Maddy?" Shelby said stroking Madisyn's tummy. Madisyn suddenly cracked a sideways smile and made little baby noises. Shelby beamed.
"Oh, my baby girl!" Shelby said choked up when Madisyn was the only one left in her arms. Abby was putting Dustyn away, Scott with her and Kat watching over Braedyn who was upset about leaving his mommy and sibs.
"Will you do something for me? Be strong; continue getting so much better. I wanna bring you home Madisyn. If I only had one gift this Christmas, it'd be to have my WHOLE family home together! That means you too baby. Just stay healthy and strong. And never forget that I love you." Shelby said kissing her nose. Madisyn was laying transfixed to Shelby's voice. Shelby looked up suddenly when Drakeyn started getting upset, so she didn't see Madisyn's slight nod like an 'Okay mama!' type gesture. Abby came then and helped Shelby put Madisyn in her incubator, keeping all her cords and tubes from tangling. Shelby went over to Scott and Kat who were both by Drakeyn's incubator.
"That was the first time they were all together, huh?" Kat asked.
"Yeah..since being in my stomach." Shelby said stroking Drakeyn's head worriedly as he continued to get worked up. Braedyn also was getting just as worked up, and Jesslyn was starting up as well, reacting to her brothers' emotions.
"Abby I think they want to be next to each other again. They just realized the rest of them are all here." Kat said, going over to Jesslyn and stroking her cheek.
"Make's sense. But they'd only be comfortable with the sibling they were next to while in the womb. Who was Drakeyn next to?" Abby asked, growing concerned when he became the loudest.
"Jesslyn and Dustyn then." Shelby said.
"I'll see what I can do. Probably for Braedyn also. He wants to be by.who?" Abby wondered.
"Madisyn. They were the closest on top." Shelby said pointing to her stomach instinctively.
"And Madisyn was a little separated from Drakeyn. So just her and Braedyn. I'll put them together like that. We all know studies have showed it drastically improves their health." Abby summed all up.
"I have an appointment for staple removal, when I get back will they be moved?" Shelby asked, constantly trying to comfort a wailing Drakeyn while Kat cooed at Jesslyn and Scott talked to Braedyn. Abby looked over at Dustyn as he began to whimper and squirm.
"Probably. 3 and 2. I won't let them keep carrying on like this much longer. It won't help ANY one." Abby said, her brow creasing as it seemed all 5 babies were not very happy babies anymore.
So she got her staples removed with a little pain and bleeding. She gingerly walked back into the NICU an hour later. All the incubators in room B were gone. Now there were 2 cribs, in an L shape against the far corner. All 5 babies were there; Drakeyn, Dustyn and then Jesslyn in one; Braedyn and Madisyn in the other. All cozied up to each other with special preemie bumpers supporting them. All conked out.
"Yeah! They're all sleeping at the same time! And they have each other, so they'll get better faster!" Shelby clapped quietly. She was on cloud nine.
"Just weighed them too." Abby commented grinning like she had a secret. She couldn't stop smirking.
"And?!" everyone whispered expectantly.
"Braedyn's half an ounce away from 4lbs. and his brothers and sisters are JUST behind him a few ounces or so! Only Dustyn is at 3 and a half." Abby said happily. Shelby and Scott would have cheered it the babies weren't asleep. Kat grabbed them into a group hug.
"Ow! Ouch!.oooh." Shelby yelped when she got TOO excited. All the babies startled at this, frowning up their faces.
"Oops! Sorry babies! Mama's okay." Shelby said softly, shushing them back to sleep. They stayed a few more minutes watching the babies sleep but then had to go. It was a long drive to the mall. (45min-1hour) Kat took some pictures of the babies in their new beds for the scrapbook before they said good bye.
They climbed in to Kat's car, Shelby and Scott feeling a lot better about their children's well being now.
{I recommend reading Bee's HG Christmas story, it's where I got this idea for shopping together from and it's also hilarious!}
"I can't move. I sat TOO long and just having the staples out..my insides are in tight knots trying not to fall out onto the pavement right here! I'm gonna be bent over for the rest of my life!" Shelby said between clenched teeth as she fell out of Kat's car.
"It's okay. Your dad should be just inside with the wheelchair. At least walk to there. It'll be better for you." Kat instructed as Scott held her arm, rubbing her back. So she grabbed Kat and Scott's arms and walked painfully to her sanctuary.
"Lovely, wonderful wheelchair!" Shelby said, settling in.
"Everyone's all around..SOMEWHERE. You'll see them sometime." Peter said, heading back to his wife. So for the rest of the day they all shopped till they dropped. They all ate dinner at the local restaurant there, meeting for the first time all together. And then drove the long trek home. It was dark when they got home and they all snuck off to all different places to wrap presents. Scott wandered around a little after 10:00pm looking for his wife.
"Hey meat? Looking for your girl?" Auggie asked sleepily, as he placed his last present under the tree.
"Yeah muchacho. Seen her anywhere?" Scott said yawning.
"In her pops office." He answered waving an arm towards the hallway.
"Thanks man..night." Scott said doing their whole hand slap/guy thing.
"Night meat." Auggie said yawning and shuffling off to the guys' dorm. Scott went to Peter's office and quietly opened the door and peered in. He smiled when he saw a pile of perfectly wrapped presents off to one side of the biggest wrapping paper, boxes, stuffing, bags, bows, ribbon, and tape explosion he'd ever seen. And nestled in the middle up against the love seat was Shelby, passed out with wrapping paper partly draped over her, tape pieces in her hair and ribbon around her shoulders. He some how made it to her without drowning in wrapping paper, lifter her in his arms and carried her to their room, putting her to bed. After pulling the pieces of tape and stuff off her of course. He went back and cleaned up, putting the presents under the tree.
"Finish up, son?" Peter asked, as he came to put the fire out.
"Yeah, Shel fell asleep wrapping. Should've seen her, all covered in wrapping paper and stuff." Scott commented walking out with him.
"Peter?..she really wants her whole family home for Christmas. She tries to pretend she doesn't mind, but I can see it in her eyes." Scott said, feeling helpless.
"I know. I don't know what to do..Just pray I guess. All that's left." Peter said, patting his back. Scott nodded slightly, then quietly went into his room. Just before slipping into bed, he said a quick little prayer hoping someone heard it.
{#}
A/N: Well, there's that chappy! Kind of a long one! Hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter is Christmas; will Shelby get her Christmas wish? I'll update as soon as possible! PLEASE review and tell me how you like it! I love getting reviews; it gets me to update faster!! I'll try to have the next chappy up ASAP, but I do go to school full time and work! Don't forget to review! thanx!