Chapter 10
Over a month later, Kimberly returned from shopping for the girls' July 4th birthday and barbecue party. Tommy pulled Kim to sit down as she passed him carrying more bags.
"You need to slow down and sit."
"I'm fine!"
"You are over 7 months pregnant, Kim. Little Sydney needs her Mommy resting."
"We are not calling her Sydney." Back when Tommy was in the hospital, Doctor Walker was checking Kimberly and could tell if the baby was a boy or girl. Kim didn't want to know, but Tommy convinced her. They found out once again, a baby girl.
"We created her in Sydney."
"SO!"
"So, it fits. It's perfect!"
"I like Dakota or Lily."
"Sydney!"
"Dakota!" They kissed. "Sydney Oliver, eww, no way." Tommy kissed her and started unpacking the bags.
"Did you buy out the stores again."
"Hush." Tommy poured her some OJ. "I'm hungry."
"Didn't you get something while you were out?"
"No. Could you?"
"What does my wife want?"
"White Castle."
"And?"
"Pineapples and chocolate."
"And?"
"Relish."
"Okay."
"Oh, caramel!"
"Yea, yea."
Tommy came back 20 minutes later. Kim was cleaning the living room. Trisha woke from her nap and came downstairs. Tommy took over cleaning as Kim ate.
"Eww..Mommy." Kim laughed.
"Want a bite?"
"NO!" Trisha moved back. Kim dipped her pineapple chunk in caramel and relish. Trisha made a face.
"Mommy was the same way with you, except it was peanut butter and sour cream."
"I like peanut butter," Trisha said getting a onion ring.
"I'm surprised," Kim said handing over some chocolate dip for Trisha to stick her finger into. "I can't stand it as much as I did before."
"So, Mom was thinking about moving us into the house after the party."
"Why?"
"So, they can drive with us that night. You do want this room done before Sydney comes, right?"
"Of course! Dakota needs the nursery. But are your parents okay with us staying so long?"
"It's Mom and Dad. Are you kidding me, they wanted the party at their place! They can't wait."
"That room better be done in 2 weeks."
"It will be."
"Better be."
So on July 4th, that night, Tommy followed his parents back and moved his family into his parents house. Tommy made plans to have Trisha's room enlarged to fit the twins and another closet. The nursery just needed some new wallpaper, baby cribs, dressers, etc brought back into the room from storage. Tommy set up to redo the master bedroom as a surprise for Kimberly. Mrs. Oliver was helping Tommy put the girls into bed as Kim unpacked. Tommy started some summer classes and programs to get his teaching degree. Kimberly was going to be opening a studio after the baby was born. She had done a few painting back in April that got sold for 15 and 20 gran. She got sponsored and they wanted her to open her own gala to display her art as well as others. It would become Kim's first true job since she was pregnant with Trisha and worked as an assistance gymnast coach after her winnings at '96 Olympics. Tommy came into his old bedroom and found Kim breathing hard as she held her back.
"What's wrong?"
"Just a little cramping. You know how I keep saying this baby is coming early?"
"Yea."
"That's because she is. Tommy something is not right here. She's kicking weird." Tommy sat her down, and rubbed her belly.
"I don't understand, Beautiful. Doctor Walker says nothing is wrong."
"It's just weird."
"Lay down, I'll hold you." She nodded. Tommy held her tightly, rocking her to sleep.
About a week later, Tommy was trying to calm Kim down. She was in pain. Her hands holding his arms, shaking. Her knuckles white as her face showed the deep down pain. Mrs. Oliver had called for Doctor Walker to be waiting for them.
"Kim, breath! Don't push!" Tommy rubbed Kim;s head as he drove to the hospital. Doctor walked was looking over the monitors. After just 20 minutes, she motioned for Tommy to follow her outside.
"How's the baby? How's Kim?"
"Fine. Fine, Tommy. A little elevated heartbeat, but only because Mommy is in stress. We need to figure out a way to keep your wife stress free and calm. I told Kim that if she doesn't relax and rest, she looking at a very difficult last few months."
"I know, I know. I've been trying to.."
"If I have to keep her here strapped to that bed, Tommy, I will."
"So complete bedrest."
"Absolute bedrest. I need complete cooperation, here. She cannot be up more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.Make that just 10minutes. That means, to the bathroom and back. Showers less than 5 minutes. No baths, it could induce labor. If you don't, I will have her confide to this hospital and my care and I don't want to have to do that."
"I know. I swear to you, I promise to keep her calm and relaxed."
"Good, see you next check-up."
Kimberly was carried upstairs. Tommy placed his wife in bed the next morning, when she was released from the hospital.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Being such a pain."
"No, don't you dare." He wiped the tears away.
"I'm such a mess, how can you take this?"
"You are my wife and pregnant. It's allowed." He kissed her. "Now get some rest." He covered her up.
Mrs. Oliver found her son doing some laundry.
"So, cute," she said folding some tops and shorts.
"Kim can't wait to spoil little Sydney."
"Like Trisha?"
"Like we need another Trisha." They laughed. "I'm worried Mom. Kim has been too tensed, too stressed. I feel like, she knows something bad is coming and I feel it too."
"Don't say that, Thomas James Oliver. I will not let my son be consumed with fear and doubt. You don't think about bad things, okay. You have to believe everything is fine and everything will be fine." She hugged him. "Go, go lay with your wife. She needs you, you need her. I'll finish this."
"Thanks, Mom. I love you."
"Love you too, son." Tommy went and laid with his wife.
Kim woke to hear Trisha yelling and running toward the room.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
"Trisha shhh!" She stopped.
"Sorry. Mommy sleeping?"
"Yea." Kim turned and smiled.
"Hey, baby. Did you have fun with papa in the park?"
"Yea! We washed dogs!"
"Wow."
"Ducky got a new yellow collar, Mushugreen and Jack-Jack is blue and black." The twins started calling the Yorkshire, Jack-Jack and it has stuck with the rest of the family.
"That's great." The twins came running in with Papa behind them.
"Sorry, I tried to catch her before she could wake you."
"It's okay."
"Mommy, can I slept with you and Daddy?"
"Trisha, Mommy needs her rest.."
"Of course you can." Kim helped the twins into the bed. "Why don't we have Daddy get us food and we can watch tv!"
"YAY!"
"YAY!"
That night, after the girls bath, they jumped into bed with Kimberly. Trisha placed her hand on Kim's belly.
"Mommy, how babies come out?"
"How do, sweetie. Well, you know Doctor Walker and Doctor Tanner , right?" Trisha nodded, her favorite physicians. "They take Mommy to a special room and they take the baby out."
"How?"
"Little pain, yucky blood, grown-up stuff."
"It hurt a lot?"
"Ummm...a little." Tommy snorted. "Ok, maybe a little bit." Tommy found a dry shirt and got into bed after another snort. "Okay, a lot."
"But why?"
"I get another perfect little baby like you, so it's worth it." Kim touched her nose before kissing her. "It's well worth it."
Tommy sat up with Kimberly as she sat up from a nightmare. She tried to cover her face, but he wouldn't let her. He picked up Mackenzie beside them and place her to lay beside her sister. Tommy quickly put his arm around her, as Kim took deep calming breaths. Tommy rubbed her belly.
"Man, she's really battling in there."
"She's upset. My poor baby, my poor Sydney." Tommy kissed the side of her head.
"Don't worry, Sydney will be okay. Wait, did you, you called her Sydney." Kim smiled.
"I guess I did. I guess it has grown on me."
"Told you it would."
"Don't push it," she said holding his face. They kissed.
In the morning, Kim woke screaming. Trisha screamed, which was bad, but the twins screaming made things worst. Kim ran to the bathroom to puke. Mrs. Oliver ran into the room as Tommy was coming the girls down.
"Mom, take them."
"Come girls!" Mrs. Oliver took them with Mr. Oliver into their room. Tommy got down on his knees as he rubbed Kim's back. He got some water.
"Here." She pushed the glass away and leaned up against the wall. Tommy wet a cloth.
"God, I hate this."
"What's wrong?"
"These dreams, the constant fears, pains! I want it to stop! I want it to stop now!" She screamed. Tommy hugged her. She started crying. "I'm sorry." Tommy shook his head. "How can you love a mess like me?"
"Because when I look at you, your eyes, that nose, dimples, smile, those pink little lips." Tommy was touching each feature of her face. "The way you roll those beautiful brown eyes, when I say something stupid. Those 2 perfect moles right here." He kissed her neck. Kim laughed and wiped her eyes. "I just love you. No questions about it."
"I love you too."
Few days later, July 15th, Saturday. Kim was sitting outside in the backyard as the girls and dogs ran around. Tommy had set up little kiddy pools and slide for them. Sprinter going back and forth, as Mr. Oliver cooked on the grill. Mrs. Oliver came outside with some juice.
"Cranberry cola."
"Diet?"
"Of course."
"Great. Caffeine-free?"
"Yep."
"Good. Where's Tommy?"
"Checking on the house."
"That man, he swore 2 weeks."
"Tommy said they were waiting on a few pieces to come in."
"They are 2, they don't need much furniture!"
"Maybe." Mrs. Oliver knew Tommy was redoing so much. She smiled.
"What's that smile about? Mom, what do you know?"
"Nothing."
"Mom."
"Are you hungry?"
"Don't change the..actually, I want some turkey with pineapples and relish."
"I'll be back."
"Wait! What do you know?"
"Girls, Papa has hot dogs!"
"YAY!" The girls ran toward their Papa. Kim shook her head.
"Come here, Jack-Jack," Kim said picking up the Yorkshire. She kissed him and rubbed his head.Jack laid comfy in her lap.