May 15th, 2003

Everyday Jing-Mei was getting better and better. She was still in some pain, but she opted to not use any painkillers. She didn't think it was fair to have them in the house with John there. Jing-Mei had trouble with walking, but that too was getting better.

"Do you need help?" John asked as Jing-Mei sat up in bed.

"No." She mumbled, "I just need to go t the bathroom."

"Okay." John said as he watched her slowly pull herself out of the bed. She was shaky on her legs, but moved towards the bathroom. "You sure?"

"I need to pee. It isn't brain surgery." She said shutting the door behind her. John sighed slightly.

"Maybe you need it." He mumbled, "Think you left some of your brain in the car."

"What was that?" Jing-Mei asked as she stepped out of the bathroom.

"Nothing." John said, "Now will you lie down?"

"Yes I will." Jing-Mei said sliding back into the bed. "You need to feed the babies."

"I know." John said, "You've been reminding me for the past hour."

"I'm sorry, John. I'm sorry I want our children to be fed." Jing-Mei said, "I want to wean them since I've been taking medication."

"I know." John sighed. "I'm just drained. I've been doing this all myself since the accident."

"I know." Jing-Mei sighed, "I'm sorry about all of this."

"None of this is your fault."

"I'm the one who got into the accident. If I was paying attention more to the road, I wouldn't be laid up." She said.

"You hit black ice, deb. It wasn't your fault." John touched her face softly. "I don't care about all the work I have to do myself. I don't care because you're alive." Jing-Mei smiled softly.

"So I'm not being a burden?" She asked

"Well you are, but it's the best kind of burden." John said. Jing-Mei smacked his chest.

"Very funny." She smiled.

"I mean it, Deb." John said as he looked at her. "I will do anything to help your recovery."

"My recovery is almost over." She said.

"I appreciate what you're doing." He said.

"What do you mean?" She cocked her eyebrow.

"Not bringing any major painkillers into the house." He said, "Thank you." Jing-Mei smiled softly at him.

"Like what you just said, I will do anything to help your recovery." John chuckled.

"Thank you sweetheart." He said giving her a kiss.

"Thank you." Jing-Mei whispered. She had a terrific husband. There was no denying that. She had to be the luckiest woman on earth.

May 30th, 2003

John sat down on the floor looking at the triplets. Jing-Mei eased her body down into the rocking chair.

"This is feeling so much better with them taking the bottle more." She chuckled.

"I'm sure." John smiled. They watched JT as he rolled over onto his back. Jing-Mei smiled at him.

"That's my boy. Roll over." She said. Josie looked at him oddly, but she was more interested in gnawing on the foot of Joss. Jing-Mei giggled softly as she pulled Joss' foot out of her mouth.

"They're advancing slow, don't you think?" He asked.

"They were born early. They're going to be a little slower than the typical baby." Jing-Mei frowned slightly.

"I figured as much. I just thought they'd be crawling by now." He said.

"They're six months old, five months adjusted, just give them time." Jing-Mei said, "Within a month they should be crawling every where and wrecking havoc on us." John laughed softly.

"True enough. I'm thinking we should take them to the beach sometime. Show them what waves are like." Jing-Mei nodded as she picked up Josslyn.

"We can go to the marina whenever you want." She said.

"Cool." John said, "We can go in a couple of weeks. Do remember that you have a doctor appointment next week."

"So you keep reminding me." She smiled.

"I just want to make sure you don't forget and that everything is going on okay in that pretty little head of yours." He winked.

"I know. I'm just sick of these appointments." She said, "I'm not going to die."

"I know that, but you know that they have to." John said, "Why don't we go eat?" Jing-Mei nodded slowly and hauled herself up.

"How about we get the babies dressed and we go out to eat?" she asked.

"We can show them off." John smiled, "Sounds great."

* * *

John led his family into the restaurant. It was nice to get out with them. They rarely did anything as a family like this. They made sure the triplets were snug in the restaurant's highchairs.

"I could eat a horse." Jing-Mei said settling herself into the chair.

"Then eat a horse." He said as he looked at the menu.

"Maybe." Jing-Mei mumbled as she looked over her choices.

"Hi." A waitress walked up to the table. "My name is Darian and I'll be your server tonight. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"Yeah can we just have a couple of Pepsis?" John asked.

"Certainly. I'll be right back." Darian smiled and walked off. Jing-Mei reached across the table and took John's hand.

"This is nice." Jing-Mei smiled. John squeezed her hand gently.

"This is exactly what we needed." Soon, Darian came up with their drinks and then took their food orders.

"Ahhhhhh!!" Josie cried. Jing-Mei chuckled softly as she put the pacifier into Josie's mouth. She instantly quieted down.

"We should have a family night every week. I know its hard with work and that the fact that they're small," John said, "But I want them to grow up in a loving family. I want them to have what we never had." Jing-Mei nodded with a smiled.

"I agree." She said, " I think that's a fantastic ideas." She looked at her children. "I still can't believe they're here."

"Me either." John said.

"I'm glad they're here, but then I start missing Michael." She said.

"I'm sure you do, but he's having fun. Maybe we can see him sometime?" John asked. Jing-Mei shook her head.

"No. I don't think that'd be wise, maybe we can send them a picture so when he's old enough and asks about the adoption they can show him the picture so he knows he has a brother and sisters." John nodded as their food was put on the table.

"Yeah. I understand that." He said looking down at his plate, "Wow this looks delicious." Jing-Mei held up her glass.

"A toast." She said, "To the first family night."

"And many more." John clicked his glass against many more.

"And many more." Jing-Mei smiled tenderly. She hoped this would be the first family night of many.