March 19th, 2005

Week 20

So they were having another boy. They were thrilled. They started decorating his nursery even though they were saving the really heavy stuff until later. Now, they were just deciding on names now.

"Okay, we have twenty-five letters out of the question, Baby." John said sitting on the bed with the baby name book.

"That narrows it down some." Jing-Mei said glancing over his shoulder, "I don't want a bad name. I want an elegant name."

"So Jam is out of the question." John chuckled. She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah." She said, "I actually have a name I like a whole lot."

"Oh yeah? What would that name be now?" John grinned.

"Jakob. Jakob with a K, not a C. Jakob Carter sounds so perfect and goes with the others' names, don't you think?" Jing-Mei grinned. John nodded.

"Yeah I do." John said, "I like that a lot." He touched her belly.

"What about a middle name?" Jing-Mei asked him.

"Francis." John said, "Jakob Francis Carter."

"Jakob Francis Carter…I like that." Jing-Mei said as she touched her belly, "Jakob, Josslyn, JT, and Josephine Carter."

"Perfect." John smiled, "You think your mother will like it?"

"No she won't." Jing-Mei chuckled, "But I don't care. The name is perfect for us." John nodded as he wrote the name out. He wanted to see what it looked like written out. "He's moving."

"Is he?" John put his hand on Jing-Mei's stomach, "He knows we've named him. Do you like your name, Buddy?" The baby kicked hard. Jing-Mei laughed.

"I think that kick is a yes." Jing-Mei said as the triplets ran in. Mrs. Chen came in red faced and winded, "You okay, Mother?"

"They ran me ragged. I don't know how the two of you do it."

"It's hard." John said, "but we're used to it." Mrs. Chen sat down in one of the old Victorian chairs and took in a deep breath.

"Mother, we have some good news." Jing-Mei grinned.

"Would that good news be a nice glass of water in my hand?" She looked at April and gave her a look. April sighed and went off to the kitchen. John chuckled softy.

"Don't treat our help like that." Jing-Mei said, "But no. The good news is that John and I have come up with a name for the baby."

"Oh you have you?" Mrs. Chen asked, "What would that be?"

"Jakob Francis Carter. That's Jakob with a K." John said.

"I was about to say that was a nice name but…Jakob with a K?" Mrs. Chen asked, "What is he some air headed stripper?"

"No. His name would be Long Dong Silver if he was a stripper." John said. Jing-Mei surpressed a laugh. "We like the name mother."

"I suppose it could grow on me." She said.

"Good because we're not asking for approval.' Jing-Mei said

"Here is your water, Mrs. Chen." April handed her the water.

"Thank you, Child." Mrs. Chen took a large sip of water. Jing-Mei smiled softly at John.

Her mother approved of the name…in her own way of course. Choosing a name was such a load of their shoulders. They could call Jakob by his name instead of calling him 'The Baby'. It was wonderful.

April 16th, 2005

Week 24

Jing-Mei was moving slower lately. She seemed to gain so much weight over night. She was twenty-four weeks and Jakob made her feel like a punching bag. Jing-Mei slowly moved into the kitchen. Josephine pulled herself up onto one of the big chairs.

"Mommy, I very hungry. My Belly is talking." She said. Jing-Mei nodded.

"All right, Baby." She walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the ham. A small pain shot through her stomach causing her to drop the ham on the floor. Josephine giggled softly.

"All messy." She said smiling. Jing-Mei nodded slowly as she took in a long ragged breath.

"Yeah…." Jing-Mei closed the fridge and leaned against it. The pain was getting worse and more intense. It was a contraction. It was too early to be feeling any kind of contraction, even Braxton Hicks. "OH god!!" Jing-Mei keeled over in utter pain.

"Mommy?" Josephine looked at her with wide eyes as Jing-Mei slid to the ground. She jumped off of the chair. "Mommy?"

"Oh Baby…" She grunted trying to breathe through pain, "C-Call Daddy." Josephine ran to the phone and hit number one on the speed dial.

"Cook County General." Jerry said picking up the phone. He licked the frosting off of his fingers. He couldn't get enough of the Twinkies Susan had given him. God, he loved Doctor Lewis.

"Is Daddy dear?" Josephine asked in a small voice. Jerry frowned.

"Who is this?" He asked.
"Josie. My mommy fell." She said.

"Your mommy fell?" Jerry asked with an arched eyebrow. Jing-Mei groaned.

"Carter. Say J-Josie Carter." She groaned. Josephine bit her lip.

"I Josie Carter." She said.

"Oh! Is your daddy John Carter?" Jerry asked. Josephine nodded

"Yeah. He doctor." Josephine said. Jerry nodded and flagged John down.

"Carter, I think your daughter is on the phone. Josie or something like that?" Jerry said. Joh stared at him as he walked up to the admit desk.

"Yeah. She's one of them." John frowned and took the phone, "Josie? Is that you?"

"Hi Daddy." Josephine said looking at Jing-Mei crying on the floor.

"Why are you calling me at work, Baby doll?" John asked her.

"Momma said." She said.

"Mommy told you to call me?" John asked. Something wasn't right. Jing-Mei didn't tell the triplets to call him. Something had to be wrong. All John could think about was Jakob, "What happened?"

"Momma fell, Daddy." She said.

"She fell? Is she okay?" John asked.

"She's crying, Daddy." Josephine bit her lip, "I gonna cry."

"Don't cry, baby doll. Is mommy okay, Josie?" John asked.

"No." Josephine whispered as she started to get scared. She could hear the worry in her father's voice even though he was trying to hide it.

"Okay, Baby. Tell mommy I will be there in ten minutes." John said hanging up the phone, "Kerry, Something happened to Jing-Mei. I need to go. I'll probably be back with her."

* * *

John ran into the house.

"Deb?? Deb, where are you?" He yelled. Josephine and Josslyn ran out of the kitchen.

"Here, Daddy." Josslyn said with very large eyes. John ran into the kitchen to find Jing-Mei on the floor. He ran to her side.

"What happened?" John asked. Jing-Mei looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"I've been having contractions. It's t-to early, John." She trembled. John took in a deep breath.

"You should have called an ambulance, Deb." John said.

"I w-wanted you." Jing-Mei sobbed. John glanced at his triplets.

"You three get into the back seat of the car. Buckle up. Josie, open up the passenger side door for mommy." John said.

"Okay, Daddy." The three children ran out. John slipped his arms beneath Jing-Mei's body and lifted her up into his arms.

"Okay. We'll get you to the hospital." John carefully carried Jing-Mei out to the car. He got her into the front seat. John raced to the driver's side and grabbed his cell phone as he started the car.

"Oh god." Jing-Mei groaned, "it hurts."

"I know, Baby." John whispered as Jerry picked up the phone, "It's Carter. Have Coburn down in trauma one now. Jing-Mei is in labour. She's twenty-four weeks." John sped along the streets of Chicago trying to get there quickly. Twenty-four weeks was too early. He knew what Jakob's chances would be. Sure, there had been a few miracles, but it was rare. As soon as he stopped in the ambulance bay, Janet ran up to the car with a wheel chair.

"Jing-Mei, what's going on? Jake trying to come early? I didn't send out a memo." She smiled weakly as she helped Jing-Mei out of the car.

"Yes." She whispered, "It's too early Janet."

"I know." Janet said softly.

"I'll take the kids to the daycare." Kerry said. John nodded.

"Thank you." John whispered as he followed Janet and Jing-Mei into the hospital.

"Has the contractions been regular?" Janet asked. Jing-Mei nodded.

"Ten minutes apart." She said softly. John helped her into one of the bed.

"All right. We'll get that stopped. We'll start you on magnesium." Janet said getting her gloves on, "Let's check you out." Abby walked in.

"Everything okay?" She asked.

"Get her some magnesium please." Janet said. Abby bit her lip and nodded, "You are dilate, only about three centimeters, but that's a lot for twenty-four weeks." Jing-Mei's lips quivered.

"I'm going to loose him. I'm going to loose Jakob." She whispered.

"I will try everything in my power, Jing-Mei, to make that not happen. We have a terrific NICU just in case." Janet said softly, "let's hope your contractions stop. Your water hasn't broken so that's good a really good sign. I might have to put a few stitches in to close your cervix, all right?" John nodded slowly.

"Do what ever you have to do." John said.

"It should be kicking in soon." Abby said looking at Jing-Mei.

"Good." Janet said, "We're keeping you here as long as we have to." John nodded slowly.

* * *

Jing-Mei was able to fall asleep an hour ago. The contractions had lessened, but not faded completely. John sat at her bedside. His heart was still pounding in his chest. Jing-Mei opened her eyes.

"Is he okay?" Jing-Mei whispered. John nodded.

"Yeah. He's okay." John said softly, "You're on strict bed rest."

"Wouldn't be the first time." She sighed.

"You need to stay here over night to be monitored, but you can probably go home tomorrow." He said. Jing-Mei nodded.

"Where are the kids?" She asked.

"April came and got them." John said.

"Good." Jing-Mei closed her eyes. She was so tired. She had been so frightened earlier today. Maybe if she stayed on bed rest and took of herself she could have a pregnancy that was full term.

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