Chapter 7

----At the Doctor's Office----

The next day, Sam and Jo return to Dr. James' office for another ultrasound. "Do you want to find out the sex of the babies?" Sam asked.

"Sure," Jo responded, "I already know what they are."

Dr. James walks into the exam room. "Are you ready to see these babies again?" The doctor hooks up the machine, applies the gel on Jo's abdomen, and places the instrument. "Here's baby A." She moves the instrument around. "The baby looks healthy. The baby seems to be growing at a normal rate. Do you want to know what you're having?"

"I know it's a girl. Baby A is Lindsay."

"You're right. Meet Lindsay McGuire."

Jo reaches her hand toward the screen. "Sam, there she is. Our daughter."

"Let's take a look at Baby B. What do you think this one is?"

"He's a boy. Mark."

"Is that his, uh?" Sam asks.

"No," the doctor replies, "that's a leg. The baby's turned, and I can't get a clear view. Let's see if I can get a better view." She moves the instrument around. "The baby looks healthy. Ah, there we are. Meet Mark McGuire."

"We've got a son!" Sam declares.

Jo laughs. "Matt's gonna be relieved. I think he was afraid he'd be the only boy in a sea of girls."

The doctor cleans the gel off Jo and shuts down the machine. "Here are some more baby pictures. Congratulations."

Jo and Sam leave the office. "Do you want to tell the kids?"

"No, I want this to be a surprise. I can't wait to see Matt's face when he finds out he has a little brother."

-----Back at Home-----

The couple returns home and relaxes on the couch. "Jo, I was wondering, now that we know the babies' genders, what do we want to name these kids? I like Lindsay and Mark, but what do we want to use with them?"

"I want to name Mark after you, Samuel Mark. But, I want to call him Mark."

"What about Lindsay?"

"I don't know. How about Grace or Brianne?"

Sam makes a face. "I want to name her after you. How does Lindsay JoAnne sound to you?"

"I love it!" Jo wraps her arms around Sam. "But I want to call her Lindsay."

"That sounds perfect." Jo snuggles into Sam's chest and Sam massages Jo's abdomen. "Lindsay and Mark McGuire." He kisses the top of Jo's head. The couple drifts off to sleep. Lizzie comes home from school and finds her parents asleep. Sam is reclining on the couch. Jo is lying on her side with her head resting against Sam's chest. Their arms are wrapped around each other with Sam's hands resting over the babies. Lizzie grabs the camera and snaps a few pictures. Aww! This is so sweet! My parents are so amazing!

Sam wakes up. "Hi Lizzie."

Lizzie puts her index finger to her lips. "Shh. Mom's asleep."

"No, I'm not," Jo mumbles. "How was your day?"

"It was fine. Dad, when are we going to start painting?"

"As soon as your brother gets home."

As if on cue, Matt walks through the door.

"Matt, get some old clothes on and meet your sister and I downstairs."

"Do you have any homework?" Jo asks.

"Nope. Did it in school." Matt goes to his room to change clothes.

"Lizzie," Jo asks, "Can you help us up?"

"Sure." Lizzie holds out her hands and helps her mother up.

-----A Few Minutes Later------

A few minutes later, Sam, Lizzie, and Matt are downstairs painting. The doorbell rings. "I'll get it!" Jo calls. She opens the door. "Gordo, Miranda! Hi!"

"So, has the painting party started yet?" Gordo asks.

"Yeah, they're downstairs."

"How are you, Mrs. McGuire?" Miranda inquires.

"I'm fine. Thanks."

The pair goes downstairs. "Hey, Lizzie, let's get the party started!" Gordo announces.

Jo shuts the door and laughs. "Lindsay, Mark," she begins, "your sister has some great friends. Weird, yes, but they're really great. I think your sister's going to marry Gordo, but don't tell her I told you." She goes upstairs, puts on one of Sam's old shirts, and goes downstairs. "Hey guys, got room for one more?"

"Jo, should you be painting?"

"Sam, I've told you for the hundredth time, I am NOT an invalid."

"I know you're not, sweetie. I just don't want you to do too much."

"I won't. Hey Gordo, can you hand me a brush?" Gordo tosses her a brush. "Thanks." She joins Matt painting the living room. "I remember painting your room when I was pregnant with you, Matt," she nostalgically begins. "Your dad and I painted it light blue. Your dad wanted to go with a jungle theme, but I wanted to go with baby Looney Toons or Precious Moments."

"Thanks dad, for vetoing the Precious Moments and the Baby Looney Toons."

"Yeah, the jungle theme turned out to be prophetic, don'cha think, monkey boy?"

"Gee, Liz-ee, at least a jungle theme is better than prissy pink fairy princess. Oooh! Look at me, I'm a fairy princess. See my tutu?" Matt prances around the room.

"Knock it off, you two!" Jo commands. "Sam, can you please explain our kids to me? Lizzie, why don't you, Gordo and Miranda go to your bedroom and do something, constructive, please."

The trio cracks up. "Uh mom, not with an audience right outside the door!" She pulls Gordo into a deep kiss for shock effect. "Hey Gordo, Miranda, let's go to the bedroom!" She takes Gordo's hands and pulls him into the room, and Miranda follows, trying her best not to crack up. Gordo follows, with a sly grin on his face.

Shocked and horrified, Jo shrieks and then corrects herself, "Go paint. Your room, go paint it." Sam nearly doubles with laughter and Matt snaps a picture. "Oh stop it, you two!" She puts her hands on her hips, which prompts Sam and Matt to laugh even harder. "What am I going to do with you?"

Sam laughs harder. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," Sam apologizes through his laughter. "It's just, I can't believe what it sounded like you gave our daughter permission to do!"

Jo cracks up, "It did sound like I gave my daughter permission to have sex in her bedroom." She turns mock serious, "If she does, I'll kill her!"

The group passes the afternoon painting the suite. Sam looks at his watch. "Jo, it's eight o'clock. Why don't you stop and order pizza and take a break for the night."

Jo puts down her brush and stretches. "Oh, I think I will." She puts her hands on her back, "My back is killing me."

"Do you need some help?"

"No, I'll be fine. I'll go order the pizza and lie down on the couch. I'll get you when it's here."