January 13th, 2011

The strain on their marriage was tough. They had been fighting every time they were alone. Randi screamed at him for not being supportive. Dave yelled at her for not being there. It was hard, but at least they had good news. The boys were strong enough to be taken off the ventilator. They were breathing on their own.

"Three pounds." Randi's smiled softly caressing Gage's belly. Now that they were off the ventilator. They could see the boy's beautiful faces.

"They're getting big." Dave said. Randi gave him a look.

"How are the parents doing?" Dr. Wolcott asked as he walked in.

"Oh I'm fine thank you." Randi smiled. Dr Wolcott smiled as he looked at the boys.

"I have a task for the two of you." He said.
"What is it?" Dave asked. Dr. Wolcott turned back to Dave and Randi.

"The boys need a bath." He said. Randi's eyes widened.

"A bath?" She whispered. Dr. Wolcott chuckled.

"Would you like to do it or would you like to have the nurses do it?" Dr. Wolcott asked. Randi and Dave both shook their heads.

"We want to do it." He said.

"All right." Dr. Wolcott gently took Gage out of his crib and handed him to Randi. She began grinning. Then he handed Jett to Dave, "The water isn't very hot. We don't want to burn them. The soap is very gentle on their skin. Just be gentle when you're rubbing them." He tested the water in the sinks and nodded. Randi smiled nervously as she stepped to the sink.

"I hope you enjoy your first bath, Gage." She said as she slowly lowered him into the water. He didn't know what to make of it at first. Randi splashed a little on his belly. He didn't seem to like it that much. Dave chuckled.

"Come on, Jett, show your brother how much fun it is." He placed Jett in the sink. He jumped slightly, but then began to wiggle. If he had the ability to laugh or smile yet, he surely would have. "I think he likes water."

"Gage doesn't." Randi said as she gently began to wash him. This was so amazing.

"Jett Ski." Dave chuckled. Jett made a quiet little noise in the back of his throat. His eyes were sparkling. Two months old and finally a little spark of life in these boys.

"This is so amazing, Dave." Randi giggled.

"Very." He said running some water over Jett's head.

"Everything is coming together." Randi said "We're finally able to live our lives I think." Dave nodded.

"With six kids." he said. Randi chuckled.

"It's going to be hard, but well worth it."S he said, "Don't you think?" Dave nodded.

"Finally all of our dreams are coming true." he said. Randi smiled.

"I miss you." She said. Dave looked up from Jett. She misses me? Wasn't that what this whole fight was about in the first place? I missed her.

"You miss me?" Dave whispered. Randi nodded.

"I miss sleeping in your arms." She said wrapping a small towel around Gage. Dave cleared his throat.

"Maybe we can take a night off and rent a hotel room...or something." He said. Randi gave him a soft smile and nodded.

"I would like that." She said cradling Gage. Dave smiled. The boys were getting stronger every day so they didn't depend on their parents as much. Maybe Dave and Randi could work on their marriage some.

January 27th, 2011

Lyric sat in her bed and stared at Ireland. Her sister was brushing her brown hair. Ireland was so pretty. lyric was jealous some times. Everyone loved Ireland. She was so popular and gave people her autograph. Lyric was just Lyric.

"What?" Ireland turned around. "What do you want?"

"Nothing." Lyric sighed picking up her journal. She was turning eight in March, but she felt like she was forty. Ireland put her brush down.

"There's something." Ireland said, "Now tell me." Lyric sighed.

"What are the boys going to get?" Lyric asked.

"What? I don't understand." Ireland said.

"You are an amazing actress. You're on an award winning show and an Emmy hopeful." Lyric said. Ireland beamed.

"That I am." She said. Lyric rolled her eyes.

"Then there's me. I'll be graduating med school before I can drive a car probably. My mind exceeds most peoples." Lyric said, "Then there's Sailor. She is the most wonderful figure skater I've personally ever seen. She's expected to be the youngest Olympic gold medal winner in a few years. Now Daisy...She's only two and has skills on the piano that some fifty-year-olds don't have."

"What are you getting at?" Ireland asked. Lyric sighed.

"I've been researching premature babies and they don't usually do as well as normal babies." Lyric said, "They're usually slower and sometimes have a lot of severe problems."

"So?" Ireland asked.

"How are they going to fit into this family?" Lyric asked.

"They'll fit in just fine. It's not like Mom and dad are super smart and talented." Ireland said, "It may take them a little longer, but they're our brothers. They're going to do just fine."

"What if they're deaf or retarded?" She asked.

"Then they're deaf or retarded. There's nothing we can do to change that, but we can make their lives more comfortable." Ireland said, "it's our job to take care of them. We're their big sisters and they're going to be looking up to us. We need to tell them that they can be whatever they want to be." Lyric sighed.

"I suppose." Lyric looked back at her journal, "Do you sometimes hate who you are?"

"No. I love myself." The diva said, "Why shouldn't I? I'll be nine in a couple of days and I make more money than most people. I get recognized every where. I act on an amazing show."

"Not that kind of stuff." Lyric said, "Do you sometimes feel older in your mind than how old you really are?" Ireland nodded. Lyric was in one of her moods obviously.

"This is about Bryan isn't it?" Ireland asked. Lyric blushed.

"No." She muttered.

"Yes it is." Ireland said, "Just be his friend, Rickie. When you're older on the outside, maybe other things can developed, but for now you just need to wait."
"I don't want to wait though." Lyric whispered. Ireland smiled sliding off of the bed and grabbing her sisters hand.

"Stop being so uptight all the time. Yes, you're smart. Hell, you're smarter than everyone I know, but you're also a kid like me. Have fun, Rick. We're young. We should get dirty." Ireland said. Lyric took her hand away.

"I don't think Bryan is looking for a rambunctious wife." She said getting up, "I'm going to go check on the girls." Lyric quickly walked out of the room. Ireland sighed deeply. Lyric was so serious sometimes. She was going to have an ulcer before her sweet sixteen.

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