The fall went by quickly and before they knew it the holidays were upon them. It was Christmas and Jill was feeling quite large, she was about halfway to her due date but looked more like she was due any moment. Carrying twins was a lot different than carrying just one baby not just her stomach but her appetite had been ravenous. Tim didn't seem to mind though he thought Jill looked beautiful and he desired her just as much as he ever did if not more. Jill was also experiencing the increased sexual interest of a pregnant woman and Tim was pleased to accommodate her whenever and wherever she wanted.
Tim was putting up his Christmas decorations for the annual neighborhood competition and Jill was baking her holiday cookies. The boys were out shopping for their parents presents at the mall. Tim came through the house to get something from the garage and he found Jill in the kitchen in her apron. He thought wow I never realized how sexy that apron is and said, "Are you feeling like being naughty or nice." Jill looked at him and said, "What would you like." She winked at him. He smiled and went up behind her and gave her a squeeze. She could feel him and turned around to face him. She kissed him hungrily and led him to the bedroom. When they were finished they were lying facing each other and Tim said, "Do you know how much I love you?" Jill shyly smiled and said, "I think I do." He gave her another kiss and pulled back, looked at her growing belly and said, "And do you know how much I love you both. I can't wait to meet you." Jill smiled at her husband and was as happy as anyone could be, she had a wonderful family and a wonderful husband who loved her more than anything and she felt the same way about him.
The holidays passed without incident and the pregnancy was going along without complications. They were getting excited because she was over halfway there. She went in for her monthly doctors appointment and Tim came with her for they were going to do her ultrasound and were hoping to find out the sex of the babies.
During her exam Jill noticed the doctor looked concerned. She got worried and grabbed Tim's hand he looked at her and mouthed "What's wrong?" She just shrugged. The doctor left the room to get the ultrasound machine and Jill said, "Tim I think something is wrong." Tim looked at her and said, "What makes you think that?" Jill has tears in her eyes and said, "Mother's instinct." Tim gives her a hug and said, "Honey, I am sure everything is fine." The doctor comes back and starts the ultrasound. He shows them the babies and measures all the features he needs. Jill looked at the screen and said, "Why does that one look so much smaller?" The doctor said, "Well that sometimes happens with twins. One grows slower than the other, we will have to keep a close eye on that one to make sure that it continues to grow." Jill looks at Tim and he said, "What if it doesn't grow?" The doctor said, "When this happens we watch the second twin closely over a course of a month with ultrasound and if it still isn't growing then we have to deliver both babies and let them mature in the intensive care nursery." Jill started to cry and Tim squeezed her hand and said, "But won't that be too early?" The doctor looks at Jill and said, "There have been great strides in caring for preterm infants. Let us cross that bridge if we come to it right now let's see if we can find out what these babies are going to be." He looked around on the ultrasound and said, "Well Baby A is a boy and Baby B doesn't want to show itself." Tim saw Jill's disappointment although she tried to cover it up, she was really wishing for a girl. The doctor finished up and they went to his office. The doctor was looking over her file and said, "Jill, it looks as if your blood pressure is a little higher than normal. You need to make sure you are getting plenty of rest. I want to see you again next week for another ultrasound and blood pressure check. In the meantime please call with any concerns." Tim and Jill thanked him and left.
When they got to the car Tim asked, "Jill are you ok?" Jill had tears in her eyes but manage to say, "Yeah I'm good." Tim was worried about her he knew that she was upset about what they had heard at the doctor but she was keeping it all inside.
They arrived home and she went to lie down. Tim made her some tea and went upstairs to find her crying. He wrapped his arms around her and said, "Don't cry. Everything will work out." She looked at him with tears streaming down her face and said, "Is this because I didn't want them initially." Tim smiled and said, "You were in shock when you first found out but you have always wanted these babies." She put her head down on his shoulder and said, "I was upset when I found out one was a boy because I really want a girl but right now I will be happy with anything as long as they are both healthy." Tim said, "I know, I know." Jill sobbed on him and thought what would I do without him. Hopefully she would never have to find out.
The next week at her appointment the news was much the same. Her blood pressure was still elevated. Twin B was still small but grew some so they scheduled another ultrasound for the following week.
Jill and Tim tried not to worry but she was only 27 weeks along and the mortality rate for infants of that gestation was high. She wanted to keep these babies in as long as she could. She really wanted to have a normal birth and bring them home with her from the hospital.
The next couple of weeks went the same. Twin B was smaller but growing. Jill's blood pressure was getting higher so the doctor ordered her to be on bed rest at home and took some blood. She was only 30 weeks gestation and she was scared about what might happen to the babies if they were delivered that early.
That night while they were getting ready for bed Jill was complaining about a headache. Tim rubbed her shoulders and neck in hopes of relieving some of the stress she has been under. It had helped a little but then she decided she just wanted to go to sleep. About an hour later she wakes up with severe indigestion. Tim wakes up to he moaning and calls the doctor. He tells them to get to the hospital right away. They get Wilson to come stay with the boys and leave for the hospital Jill is worried that something might seriously be wrong with her or one of her babies.
They arrived at the hospital and Jill was very anxious. The nurse examined her and tried her best to get her to calm down. She started having cramps and thought to herself this can't be happening. Was she really going into preterm labor?
Tim could tell Jill was scared and so was he, not only about losing one of the babies but also of the possibility of losing Jill. He tried very hard to be upbeat telling her everything would be alright but inside he was about to burst. He wanted to yell at the nurses and tell them to stop this agony for his wife. He wanted to tell the doctor that he couldn't lose his wife and his wife couldn't lose their babies. But right now he just needed to be strong for Jill, he held on tight to her hand and brushed the hair from her face as the pain from another contraction took her breath away.
The doctor came in with a serious face. He looked from Tim to Jill and could tell how worried they were. He said, "Tim, Jill I was hoping to have better news. It seems Jill has gone into premature labor and her contractions are strong enough to change her cervix. So we are going to start her on some medication that will hopefully stop the contractions and give those babies a few more days to get stronger. We are also going to give her some steroids that will help the babies lung develop a little faster. One other problem that I came across is her blood pressure, it is dangerously high and her blood work shows some abnormal values which will have to be watched very closely." Tim looked at him concerned and said, "What does that mean?" The doctor said, "Well if the values get any worse than they are, Jill's life is at risk and it would be best to deliver the babies. I know this is a lot to take in but just try to get some rest, we are here to take care of you and do our best for those babies." Tim asked, "Will she get to come home soon." The doctor then said, "She will probably be on bed rest at the hospital for the duration of her pregnancy." Jill started crying and Tim put his arms around her and gives her a big hug. He tells her to try and not worry because he knows everything will be alright but he was thinking oh god I can't lose her please.