It had been an easy pregnancy for Della Street Mason which was a blessing for her but being pregnant with two under 10 was an interesting task.
The pregnancy only made Perry love her even more, not just how her body changed but seeing her become a better Momma to their son and daughter.
Luckily for both parents, the older siblings helped more and more with housework and chores.
"Momma, you should sit down," Hannah said as she watched Della work around the house – slowly as Della shook her head,
"Hannah, sweetie. I know you've been super helpful but there's just so much work that needs to be done before Thursday that we need to work a little more." Della commented with a smile. Hannah had been home from school for a few hours at that point.
Hannah was like Perry, making sure (ever since they announced the pregnancy) that Della didn't overwork herself.
Once Hannah went to work on homework,
"She's only trying to help, Della," Perry said calmly as Della nodded gently,
"I know, Perry. She's like you and I appreciate it but I can do things around the house. You know that right?" Della finished as she eyed Perry as he smiled back,
"Yes, I do know that."
Perry looked around as Della stood up as he walked over to her and placed a kiss on her pleasure point as she moaned softly.
Long, slow passionate kisses began as they sat back down on the couch but baby Mason had other plans as it kicked. Hard.
"This baby's not even born, and he or she knows exactly when to interrupt Momma and Daddy."
Della laughed softly as Perry chuckled as he placed a hand on her baby bump as the baby kicked again.
"OK, baby. Time to stop now. Momma and Daddy were busy."
Perry said to the bump as the kicks subsided as Della got up and extended a hand for Perry to take as they walked up to their bedroom.
"Oof! Calm down, baby." Della winced as the baby kicked her hard as Perry shot up seeing Della rub her back.
"Della, are you OK?" Perry asked as they woke up on the 22nd of November. Baby Mason's due date.
"Tired of being pregnant. I know this time around has been easy. But my back hurts. Badly." Della sighed as she placed her hand on her baby bump as the baby kicked for her.
Andrew Mason was lying in bed, tossing and turning.
Which wasn't an unusual occurrence for him. Since the beginning of August, he's had the same recurring nightmare.
His Momma and the baby are dead and he snaps awake with a gasp as he climbed out of bed and ran to his parent's room as he opened the door.
"Momma!" He said as Andrew climbed into bed with them and snuggled with Della.
Separation anxiety was in full force with Andrew and Della with the baby coming any day now…
"What happened, Andrew?" Della asked softly as Andrew clung to her,
"Bad dream… that you and the baby died." Della sighed.
It had been this way since the month of August.
The next day had passed uneventfully, which Della was OK with as she wanted to get as much done for the next day so she wasn't on her feet too long the next day.
As the night came,
"Oh, ow…" Della winced as she lay in bed when Perry sat up,
"Contraction?" Perry asked as Della shook her head,
"No, my back's hurting. Worse than it did this morning." Perry kissed her softly as she tried to get some sleep.
The next morning,
Gertie had made her way over to the Mason's without Paul and her son as she had some exciting news to tell Della. She was pregnant again. Seeing Della pregnant threw her headlong into baby fever.
"Oh, Gertie. What are you doing here this early?" Della asked as she opened the door with an exhausted smile.
"I've got some news, that I haven't even told Paul yet." Gertie started as Della's eyes lit up - she could tell that Gertie was pregnant.
"Oh, congratulations Gertie! Paul's going to be so happy. How far along are you?" Gertie smiled as they sat on the couch as Della winced softly as she sat down,
"11 weeks. Seeing you pregnant has thrown me into baby fever."
The table had been set and the family and friends gathered to eat while Della sat back not even getting anything to eat.
"Aren't you hungry, Sprout?" Mr. Street asked as Della shook her head before stifling a wince.
"No, I'm alright, Daddy."
Katherine and Mae looked at each other.
They knew Della was in labor.
Katherine was the same way with Della - hardly had an appetite the day she went into labor with Della. That wince which was more than likely a contraction was further evidence.
The family indulged in the food and gentle conversation until Della began noticing the pain she had been feeling all day, the intensity had increased when she felt her water break as she groaned.
"Mom. Aunt Mae. Grab the bags from upstairs. Perry, please call the doctor, tell him we're on the way to the hospital. I know it's Thanksgiving but this baby isn't going to wait any longer." Della said after the contraction was over as the kids stayed with Paul, Gertie, Paulie, their Uncle, and Grandfather.
"How long have you been having contractions?" Katherine asked once they got Della in the car as Della thought.
"Since last night, I hardly slept." Mae nodded as Della grabbed her and Katherine's free hands as another contraction hit as Perry drove to the hospital,
"Keep breathing, we'll be there soon." Perry coached as Della nodded through her contraction and when it was done,
"How soon will we be there?" Perry nodded,
"10, 15 minutes." Della sighed,
"I have a feeling this is going to be quick. These contractions are far worse than both labors with Hannah and Andrew. Go call them. I've got Mom and Aunt Mae. I love you." Perry nodded and kissed Della gently before heading to call the family,
"Hey, Momma's doing just fine. Your brother or sister should be here within a few hours." Perry said as Andrew and Hannah held the phone between them as they smiled,
"Tell Momma we love her!" Perry laughed as they handed the phone to Della's father as he gave the same news that the baby would be born in a few hours and went back to Della's room as Katherine and Mae went to the waiting room – not wanting to interlope during this vulnerable moment for Della and Perry.
"Oh! I don't remember the early stages of active labor hurting like this." Della breathed once a contraction ended, right when the doctor walked in as he smiled and checked Della,
"Because you're in transition. You're 8 cm dilated Mrs. Mason. This baby is impatient. How long have you been in active labor?" The doctor asked as Della looked to him,
"Not even an hour unless…" Della started as yet another contraction began to build as she winced softly.
20 minutes later,
"I think this baby's ready." Della winced as a contraction hit and once the contraction was over the doctor said as he checked her progress,
"Yes, he or she is ready. When the next contraction comes you can go ahead and push Mrs. Mason." Della nodded and when the contraction came she began to push as Perry held her up,
"I hope Della will be alright, Mae." Katherine confided, she had been feeling slightly nervous the closer Della was to her due date and that she was two days overdue.
"Katherine, Della will be just fine. You and I both know that she's been incredibly healthy the whole duration of her pregnancy." Mae reassured her sister as Katherine smiled softly. They were both excited for baby Mason to come.
"Ah!" Della winced as she began to push again.
"That's a girl, Della!" Perry encouraged as he helped to hold Della up as she pushed.
"Thank you for being here, Perry." Della breathed as she relaxed from her recent push as Perry kissed her tenderly as Della smiled softly before having to push again,
With everyone who hadn't heard the news yet, Gertie gathered the courage to speak up,
"I've got some news." Gertie started as the men perked up and gave her their full attention as Paul nodded,
"What is it, Gertie?" Gertie smiled,
"Paul, remember how we said that we were content with just Paulie - and how that changed over this past year?" Paul looked to his wife in confusion,
"What are you trying to tell me, Gertie? Are you - ?" Gertie nodded as happy tears sprung up,
"Paulie's going to be a big brother soon. I'm pregnant, Paul."
Paul laughed and kissed his wife soundly as Paulie moved to snuggle between his parents as everyone smiled.
"Congrats."
"That's it! That's a girl! Good push, Mrs. Mason!" The doctor coached as Della relaxed after a recent push, it had been 55 minutes since Della began pushing.
"I hope this baby comes soon, I don't know how much longer I can do this," Della commented as Perry smiled,
"You can do it, Della." Della nodded and when the next contraction came she pushed, screaming in pain.
"That's it, Della!" Perry coached as Della continued to push before the doctor stopped her by saying,
"I have the head. When the next contraction comes, I need a huge push, Mrs. Mason." Della nodded and when she began to push, a few seconds later she was greeted with the cry of the youngest Mason,
"You've got a little girl, Mrs. Mason." The doctor proclaimed happily as Della cried happily.
Once Momma and baby were cleaned up and the little girl placed in Della's arms,
"Hi, Leah Grace." Della cooed softly as Leah opened her eyes as Della drew in a quick gasp - along with Perry,
"She has your eyes," Perry commented as Della smiled,
"I was sure that she would have yours."
"That doesn't matter and you know it. All that matters is that Leah is here and that she's healthy." Perry commented as Leah began to fuss as Della smiled cradling the baby close,
"Hi, Leah. Momma and Daddy are so glad to finally meet you, baby girl." Della cooed as Perry smiled and ran a finger along Leah's cheek as Leah cooed happily at her Daddy's touch.
"You've got one skinny baby, Mrs. Mason, 6 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long. You said that she's two days overdue?" The doctor asked as Della gave an exhausted nod.
"Yes, sir."
The doctor smiled as the nurses worked to clean the baby as Perry excused himself with a kiss as he went to the waiting room as Katherine and Mae stood up with expectant smiles,
"It's a girl, Leah Grace Mason. 6 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long."
Katherine and Mae smiled brightly,
"Is Della alright?" Katherine asked as Perry nodded,
"Della's fine, Leah's just perfect. She looks exactly like Della."
Mae nodded as both women made their way to Della's room,
"Tell Della that I'm going to get the kids."
"Go on." Mae said with a nod as Perry went to the car and drove home.
"Della…" Both women said softly as they walked in as Della smiled,
"They're cleaning Leah and making sure that she's fine." Mae smiled,
"Perry's on his way to bring the older siblings." Della smiled,
"I can't wait to see them."
As Perry walked in the house,
"Daddy!" Hannah and Andrew called as they ran to hug him as Perry smiled,
"Get your coats and shoes on. We're going to see Momma and baby sister. Her name is Leah Grace." Perry announced as everyone smiled before Gertie couldn't contain her happiness,
"Perry, you weren't here but Della knows. Paulie's going to be a big brother soon. I'm pregnant." Perry looked up with a smile as he crossed over to give Gertie a hug,
"Congrats." Gertie smiled as Paul and Perry shook hands with a smile before Andrew piped up,
"C'mon Daddy! We're ready to go see Momma and baby Leah." Perry laughed as everyone waved them off.
"Knock. Knock." A nurse cooed as Della, her mother and Aunt perked up as baby Leah was wheeled in as the nurse handed the baby to her mother as Leah cooed softly waking up,
"She's precious, sweetheart." Mae cooed, running a finger along Leah's cheek as the baby cooed happily.
All of a sudden there was a knock on the door as Della smiled,
"Come in." She called as Hannah and Andrew popped their heads in, with Perry standing next to them as she smiled as they walked over to see Della and Leah as Andrew clung to his Momma as Della smiled,
"I told you I would be OK." Perry and Hannah smiled as they hugged each other,
"Thank you for baby Leah, Momma," Hannah said happily as the parents smiled brightly, feeling extra thankful that wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.