Chapter 6
It is now February and Lucy and Mary are both eight months pregnant.
"What are you doing today?' Kevin asked Lucy.
"I am going over to Mary's to help her with the babies' rooms and then she is going to come over here and help me do the same for our babies' rooms," Lucy told her husband. They were still living in the garage apartment but had added on, creating two new bedrooms for the babies.
"Luce, you really should be careful," Kevin told his wife.
"Kevin, would you stop worrying. I am only eight months pregnant, it's not like I am going to have the babies today," Lucy told him.
"Just be careful okay," Kevin finally said, giving in.
"I have to go to work but I will have my pager on in case you or Mary needs me. I love you," Kevin said as he headed out the door to go to work.
After Kevin left for work, Lucy took a shower and then headed down to the kitchen for some breakfast.
"Morning Lucy," Mrs. Camden greeted her daughter.
"Morning Mom," Lucy replied.
"What some eggs?" Mrs. Camden asked Lucy.
"Sure. Thanks," Lucy said as her mom handed her a plateful of eggs.
"Where are the twins?" Lucy asked her mom once she had taken a seat at the table.
"The twins are in the living room playing," Mrs. Camden told Lucy.
"Speaking of the twins, don't forget that the family is meeting at the pool hall tonight for the twins birthday party," Mrs. Camden told Lucy.
"I'll be there, I promise," Lucy told her mother.
"So what are you doing today?" Mrs. Camden asked her daughter.
"I am going to go over to Mary's to help her with the babies rooms and then she is going to come over afterwards and do the same for me," Lucy told her mother.
"Okay, but be careful," Mrs. Camden told Lucy.
"Mom, I'll be fine. I promise," Lucy told her mother.
After breakfast, Lucy got ready and drove to Mary and Ben's house. "
Hey Luce, how are you?" Mary asked her sister once she had arrived.
"Good, how are you?" Lucy asked Mary.
"Good," Mary responded. "Look at you," Mary told her sister.
"I know. Look at you," Lucy said to her sister.
"I know, I can't wait," Mary told Lucy.
"Me neither," Lucy told Mary. With that, Mary led Lucy up to the to the babies rooms.
"Oh, the rooms look nice," Lucy said, admiring each room.
"Yeah, Ben and I have started to work on the rooms, but aren't completely finished yet. Between him working and all, it's been hard to find time to finish, and we don't have much time left," Mary said placing her hands on her very large stomach.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Kevin and I have been doing the same thing, but with him working it's hard to find time to do the rooms," Lucy told her sister.
"So have you and Kevin thought about any names yet?" Mary asked Lucy as they started with the room.
"Yeah, we like Ashley Brooke Kinkrik and Mariah Lynn Kinkirk, how about you and Ben?" Lucy asked her sister.
"We like Jessica Anne Kinkirk, Katherine Josephine Kinkirk and Jennifer Lillian Kinkirk for girls and Andrew Jonathan Kinkirk for a boy," Mary told Lucy.
"Those are nice names," Lucy commented.
"Thanks, yours too," Mary told her sister.
"We chose Jennifer because that was Grandma's name and it will mean a lot to mom," Mary told Lucy.
"Yeah, it will. I miss Grandma," Lucy told Mary.
"Yeah, we all do," Mary told her.
"I could use a break, what do you say we go for a walk around the block?" Mary asked her sister. They had been painting for a while now and the paint fumes were really starting to get to her.
"Okay," Lucy stated, agreeing with her sister. With that, both sisters grabbed their jackets and headed outside.
"Come on, you can walk faster then that. I mean you are the athlete of the family," Lucy urged Mary, who was trailing behind.
"I am also eight months pregnant and expecting quadruplets, you're only having twins," Mary told her sister, attempting to catch up to speed with her little sister.
Suddenly, Mary felt this sharp pain in her stomach, and hissed in pain. Luckily, Lucy hadn't noticed; she didn't want to worry her sister. Mary shrugged off the pain, thinking it was nothing and continued walking. However, that didn't work because the pains keep coming back and each one was more intense then the other, but with each pain that came, Mary shrugged it off. Maybe it's just false labor pains, Mary thought to herself, hoping for sure that was the case; it was too early for her to be going into labor, she was only eight months pregnant.
Finally, they made it back to the house and Mary was still having the sharp pains.
"Do you want some water? Lucy asked her sister. Mary was just about to tell her sister "yes" when another sharp pain occurred.
"Mary, are you okay?" Lucy asked her sister, noticing that she was in pain.
"Yeah, I am fine. One of the babies just kicked," Mary told her sister.
"Are you sure?" Lucy asked.
"I am sure, the babies have been kicking for a few hours now, you know on and off," Mary reassured her sister.
"Yeah, it can be painful at times," Lucy said, agreeing with her sister.
"Okay, well if you're sure then, I am going to get each of us a glass of water," Lucy told Mary.
"Okay, I am going to go to the bathroom, but I'll be waiting when you get back," Mary told Lucy a few minutes later.
With that, Mary headed to the bathroom. When she got there, she shut the door behind her. It had seemed lately that she had to go to the bathroom a lot more often since she was pregnant. "
Why do you have to push on mommy's bladder? It's very uncomfortable," Mary said, talking to her stomach. Suddenly, another pain shot through her stomach.
"Can you please stop that, it's hurting mommy," Mary said, once again talking to her stomach. The short impulses of pain keep returning and getting sharper each time.
"OWWWWW," Mary whimpered as she grabbed her stomach and clasped to the ground and started to cry.
Meanwhile, Lucy had returned with the drinks and was waiting for Mary to return from the bathroom. She was starting to get concerned about her sister. She had been gone a long time. I'll give her a few more minutes Lucy told herself, knowing what it was like when you were pregnant. Lucy waited a few more minutes, but there was no sign of Mary and Lucy was starting to get very worried. She decided to go check on Mary. When she got to the bathroom she found the door shut. She knocked on the door but there was no answer.
"Mary, are you okay?" Lucy asked. Still no one answered. Lucy could hear a noise that sounded a lot like crying so she decided to enter and check out the situation. When she opened the bathroom door, she could not believe what she was seeing - there was Mary on the ground holding her stomach and moaning in pain.
"Mary, what's wrong?" Lucy asked her sister kneeling down next to her.
"Lucy, I think I am in labor, I am cramping. It hurts so badly, OWWWW," Mary groaned in pain.
"Okay, let's get you to the couch," Lucy said helping her sister up. Mary groaned in pain once again as Lucy helped her up.
Once Lucy had gotten Mary to the couch, she noticed that Mary was breathing really hard and she was starting to get really worried.
"Mary, what's wrong?" Lucy asked again, hoping to get more of an understanding of what was wrong with her sister.
"My stomach, it hurts so badly. I've been having these sharp impulses of pain in my stomach. At first I thought that it was false labor, but now I am not so sure. The pains keep getting worse." Mary told her sister in between long breaths.
"How long have you been having these pains?" Lucy asked her sister.
"Ever since you got here, OWWWWW," Mary said, groaning in pain.
"Relax Mary, just breathe," Lucy told her sister.
"I can't," Mary groaned.
"Yes you can," Lucy told her.
"Mary, why didn't you tell me?" Lucy asked her sister.
"I didn't want to worry you," Mary told her sister, honestly.
"How often are you having the pains?" Lucy asked Mary.
"Not that often, about every five to six minutes," Mary estimated.
"Okay, I think that we have some time yet before we need to get you to the hospital, which is a good thing," Lucy said.
"Yeah," Mary agreed.
After waiting a little while longer, Lucy finally decided that it was time for her to call Matt; Mary was in a great amount of pain and the contractions were becoming closer together and intensifying.
"Okay, I am going to call Matt at the hospital and see what we should do," Lucy told Mary. Mary just nodded.
With that, Lucy went to the phone and dialed the number to the Glen Oak Community Hospital.
"Hello, how may I help you?" the receptionist asked Lucy.
"May I please speak to Doctor Camden? This is his sister Lucy Kinkirk," Lucy said.
"Yes, hold on one moment please," the receptionist told Lucy. Just then, the receptionist saw Matt walk by.
"Camden!" she yelled.
"Yeah?' Matt asked once he had reached the desk.
"You have a phone call," the receptionist told him.
"Okay, Thanks," Matt said taking the phone.
"Hello," Matt said into the phone.
"Matt, its Lucy. Mary is having pains in her stomach and she is also breathing really hard, she thinks that she is in labor," Lucy told Matt quickly.
"Luce, calm down," Matt told his sister.
"How long has she been having these pains in her stomach?" Matt asked his younger sister.
"She said that she's been having them ever since I got here, which would've been about two hours ago," Lucy told her brother.
"And how far apart are the pains?" Matt asked Lucy.
"About three minutes," Lucy told Matt.
"Is her back hurting her?" Matt asked Lucy. Lucy then pulled the phone away from her ear and asked Mary if her back hurts.
"Yes, it's killing me, OWWWWW." Mary told her sister as she groaned in pain.
"Matt, she says that her back is killing her," Lucy told her brother in a panic.
"Okay, get her to the hospital right away. She's defiantly in labor!" Matt told his sister.
"What! But that's impossible, she's early!" Lucy practically screamed.
"Just do what I say. I will be waiting for you when you get here. Oh and Luce, call Kevin or Ben and have them drive, don't drive her yourself and stay calm," Matt told Lucy.
"Okay, Thanks Matt," Lucy said as she hung up.
"What did Matt say?" Mary asked Lucy, after she had gotten off the phone.
"He said that you are defiantly in labor," Lucy told her sister.
"But I am early, what if something is wrong?" Mary asked, as she started to cry. Lucy immediately pulled her sister into a tight hug.
"Mary everything is going to be fine. Right now our biggest concern is how to get you to the hospital," Lucy told her sister. "What do you mean?" Mary said in a shaky voice.
"Well, I can't drive you," Lucy told Mary.
"Oh no," Mary said in a panic tone.
"Don't worry we will find a way to get you to the hospital," Lucy told Mary reassuringly. "Where is Ben?" Lucy asked Mary.
"He's at work I think," Mary told Lucy in-between long breaths. With that, Lucy went back into the kitchen and found the list of emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator and dialed Ben's cell phone number. No one answered, so she dialed the phone number to Kevin's pager. Once she did that, she focused her attention back to Mary.
Meanwhile, Kevin and Roxanne were on duty when Kevin's pager went off. He took it off of his belt and looked at the number that it was flashing. His eyes went wide when he realized whose it was.
"What is it?" Roxanne asked Kevin noticing the scared look on his face.
"My pager is flashing Mary's home number, Lucy's at Mary's. I hope she's okay," Kevin told Roxanne.
"I' am sure she fine, but if you want I'll call it in and we can go over and check things out," Roxanne told Kevin. "Thanks," Kevin told Roxanne.
"No problem," Roxanne told Kevin. With that, Roxanne called it in while Kevin started the car. With that, Kevin drove away towards Mary's house.
What is taking Kevin so long? Lucy thought to herself. She had paged Kevin an hour ago and he still wasn't there. Mary was getting really restless; she was in a lot of pain.
"Where are they?" Mary asked her sister in short quick breathes.
"I don't know, I just hope that Kevin's okay," Lucy said.
"I am sure Kevin's fine, OWWWWWW," Mary said groaning in pain as another contraction came.
"Breathe, Mary, Breathe," Lucy coached her sister.
"Right breathe," Mary said as she started to take deep breaths. Finally the contraction ended and Mary relaxed.
"1:25," Lucy said looking at her watch, "your last contraction was 2 minutes ago, there getting closer together and we're running out of time to get you to the hospital," Lucy told Mary truthfully.
"If Kevin doesn't show up in the next 10 minutes, I am calling an ambulance," Lucy told her sister firmly.
"I think that it's too late for an ambulance or Kevin. I need Matt," Mary told her sister honestly.
"Are you sure?" Lucy asked. She was starting to get really scared.
"Yes, call Matt NOW!" Mary screamed out as another contraction hit her. She quickly took hold of Lucy's hand.
"Breathe," Lucy instructed.
"Okay, okay, I am going to call Matt," Lucy told Mary, after the contraction had ended. With that, Lucy picked up the phone and dialed the number to the Glen Oak Community Hospital.
"Hello," the receptionist said into the phone.
"May I please speak to Doctor Matt Camden?" Lucy asked.
"Hold on one moment please," the receptionist told Lucy.
"Paging Doctor Matthew Camden," Matt heard over the loud speaker of the hospital and reported to the front desk.
"Phone call?" he asked the receptionist as he griped the phone.
"Hello," Matt said into the phone.
"Matt, thank god," Lucy said, relieved to have gotten a hold of her brother.
"Matt, I need you to come to the house right away. I called Kevin but he's not here yet and I tried to call an ambulance but Mary said it was too late. Matt please," Lucy told him, quickly.
"Okay, I'll be there in ten minutes, do you think that you can handle things until then?" Matt asked his sister.
"Yeah, we'll be fine, just get here," Lucy told Matt. With that, she hung up the phone and once again turned her attention back to Mary.
About 10 minutes later Matt finally arrived. He found Mary and Lucy sitting in the living room and immediately rushed over to his sister.
"Mary, how are you?" Matt asked her.
"It hurts so badly, and the contractions are getting worse," Mary said in between long breathes.
"How far apart are the contractions?" Matt asked.
"2 minutes," Mary moaned.
"Okay, we still have time to get you to the hospital but we need to do it fast. Luce, can you call Kevin on his cell phone and see where he is and tell him to get here fast? He can get us to the hospital much faster then I can," Matt asked and then explained.
"Sure," Lucy replied.
With that, Lucy franticly dialed Kevin's cell phone number.
"Hello," Kevin answered.
"Kevin, its Lucy, where are you?" Lucy asked him.
"I am about thirty minutes away from Mary's house," Kevin told his wife.
"Well, how fast can you get here?" Lucy asked her husband, hoping that it was fast.
"I can be there in about 10 minutes if I really need to be. Why?" Kevin replied.
"Because Mary's about to have the babies and we need to get to the hospital or else she is going to have the babies at her house," Lucy explained.
"I'll be there in ten minutes. Bye," Kevin said before hanging up the phone and racing towards Mary's house.
"Kevin said that he would be here in 10 minutes," Lucy informed her brother and sister.
"Okay," Matt replied.
"In the meantime, Lucy go upstairs and get me a nightgown for Mary to change into and some old sheets," Matt instructed her.
"Now?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, now go, and hurry," Matt told her.
"Matt, is something wrong?" Mary asked her brother in a horrified tone.
"Nothing's wrong, I just need to check and see how dilated your cervix is. That way, I can determine if we still have enough time to get you to the hospital," Matt told his sister.
"Oh god," Mary said, horrified at the thought of what could happen.
"Listen Mary, everything is going to be fine. I will not let anything happen to you or the babies, I promise," Matt told her sincerely.
"I know, I am just really scared," Mary told him. "I know you are, and truthfully, so am I," Matt admitted.
Just then, Lucy came rushing down the stairs.
"What took you so long?" Matt demanded.
"Sorry," Lucy said, handing the stuff to Matt. Matt handed Lucy back the nightgown and told her to go into the bathroom and help Mary put it on and then to meet him back in the living room. Lucy did a she was told while Matt went and spread the majority of the sheets out across the couch for Mary to lay on and left the remaining ones for her to cover up with. Once Mary had changed, she and Lucy met Matt back in the living room.
"Mary, I need you to lie down on the couch so that I can examine you," Matt told her. Mary did as she was told and Matt placed the remaining sheet over her legs. Just then, Mary felt another contraction and sat up abruptly.
"OWWWWWWWW," Mary screamed in pain as she quickly grabbed hold of her brother's hand.
"Breathe, Deep breaths," Matt instructed. Finally the contraction ended and she lay back down.
"Are you okay?" Matt asked Mary.
"Yeah, I think so," Mary responded. With that, Matt started to examine her.
"Mary, your cervix is already dilated 5 centimeters," Matt said, worry evident in his voice.
"Is that good or bad?" Lucy asked him.
"Let's just say it's not good," Matt said.
"So what is going to happen?" Lucy wanted to know.
"Well, I am going to try my best to make sure that we get to hospital, but if we don't I am afraid that I have no choice then to deliver the babies here," Matt said.
"Matt, please don't let that happen," Mary pleaded.
"I'll try my best not to," Matt told Mary, knowing that that was the only thing he could promise her right now.
"Luce, can you stay here and wait with Mary while I go and call for a hospital room?" Matt asked her.
"Sure," Lucy responded. With that, Matt went to call the hospital to request a room. He dialed the number to the maternity ward where he worked. When the receptionist answered the phone, he immediately knew who it was.
"Sharon, it's Matt Camden. I need a hospital room reserved. I am bringing in my sister and I need a room immediately," Matt explained.
"Okay, I'll make sure one is waiting for you," Sharon told Matt.
"Thanks," Matt told her before hanging up the phone.
"Mary, do you think that you can get up and walk around for a while?" Matt asked his sister, once he had returned from making his phone call.
"I think so," Mary responded, as Lucy and Matt helped her off the couch and started to walk around. After about five minutes, Mary suddenly got another very sharp pain.
"OWWWWWWW," Mary yelled as she quickly clenched her stomach and sat down on the bottom step of the stairs leading to the upstairs.
"Breathe, Breathe," Matt instructed his sister.
"Matt I need to push!" Mary screamed at her brother, as she clenched her teeth and started to push.
"Mary stop, you can't push. Take deep breaths," Matt instructed his sister. Mary did as she was told but it wasn't doing much good.
"Matt this isn't helping!" Mary practically screamed at her brother.
"Calm down, it's not good for the babies. Look, Kevin should be here any minute now and then we can get you to the hospital," Matt explained.
Just then, Kevin arrived at Mary's house. "Kevin, Roxanne thank god," Lucy said once she saw her husband and Roxanne. "We need to go to the hospital now," Matt told them. "Okay, let's go," Kevin told them. With that, Kevin, Mary, Lucy, Matt and Roxanne quickly raced to the hospital.
The car ride to the hospital was long and painful. Mary's contractions were getting closer together and the pain was getting to be more intense.
"OWWWWW," Mary groaned in pain as another contraction came.
"Breathe, Mary, Breathe," Matt instructed her sister from the back seat of the car.
"It hurts," Mary told her brother in between deep breaths.
"I know it does, just keep breathing," Matt told Mary. Mary tried doing as her brother instructed, but with each contraction she felt more and more of an urge to push.
"Matt, the babies aren't waiting, I need to push NOW!" Mary screamed as another strong contraction hit her.
"Just keep breathing, and don't push," Matt told Mary.
"Kevin, are we almost there?" Lucy asked her husband, worried about her sister.
"Yeah, we'll be there in two minutes," Kevin told her. Lucy looked back at Mary.
"We'll be there in two minutes," Lucy told her as she reached out for her sister's hand. At that moment, Mary was so glad that Lucy and Matt were with her.
Two minutes later, they arrived at the hospital and rushed up to the maternity ward. Matt immediately got a wheelchair for his sister and helped her in it and started toward the front desk, which was down the hall a ways.
"Room 234, "the receptionist told Matt once she saw him.
"Thanks," Matt replied as he started to head toward the room.
Once they got Mary to the room, Matt helped her out of the wheelchair and onto the bed. After she was situated in the bed, he immediately checked her cervix.
"Mary you were right, these babies aren't waiting. You are already dilated 7 centimeters," Matt said, astonish at how fast the labor was progressing. Next, he hooked Mary up to all sorts of machines and a nurse came in and put two IV's in her arms. One to give her fluids and the other to give the babies nutrients. With that, Matt did an ultrasound to check the babies.
"Kevin, can you call Ben? We tried earlier but he was not answering his cell phone," Lucy asked and then explained to her husband.
"Sure," Kevin told his wife. With that, Kevin went to see if he could get a hold of Ben while Lucy stayed with Mary.
Meanwhile, Kevin dialed Ben's cell phone number. No one answered. Where is he? Kevin thought to himself as he returned to Mary's room.
"Is Ben on –," Mary began to say as another contraction hit her.
"OWWWWW," Mary groaned in pain as she quickly grabbed Lucy's hand.
"Breathe, Breathe," Lucy told her sister. After about two minutes the contraction finally subsided and Mary laid her head back on the bed.
"Is Ben on his way?" Mary asked, once she had caught her breath.
"I just called him, unfortunately I was unable to get a hold of him, but I'll keep trying," Kevin told Mary.
"Thanks Kevin," Mary told her brother-in-law. With that, Kevin returned to lobby were Roxanne was waiting.
"Mary, one of the babies is in a breech position, which means that it is turned the opposite way. I can turn the baby manually if you want to deliver naturally, but I would recommend that you have a C-section instead. Also the babies are really high, which isn't good either. But we are going to wait it out and see if they get lower, but if they don't, I won't hesitate to break your water. I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that you and the babies are okay. Now, do you want a C-section?" Matt asked Mary.
"No, I want to deliver naturally," Mary told her older brother.
"Do you want something for the pain?" Matt asked his sister.
"Yes," Mary answered.
"Okay, but I can't give you an epidural," Matt told her.
"Why?" Mary asked her brother.
"Because you are already dilated to 7 centimeters, it's too late," Matt told Mary.
"Please Matt, it hurts," Mary pleaded.
"Fine, but we need to do it now," Matt told his sister.
"No, I want to wait for Ben," Mary told Matt.
"Okay, but we can't wait much longer," Matt said.
"But while we are waiting, I am going to get you some medicine to ease some of the pain," Matt told her.
"Thanks," Mary told him. With that, Matt left to go get some medicine to put into Mary's IV.
"I will be back in a little while to check on you," Matt told Mary after he had injected the medicine into her IV. With that, he left the room.
Meanwhile, in the lobby, Kevin was trying to get a hold of his brother but he was not answering his cell phone. Where is he? Kevin thought angrily to himself as he hung up the phone.
"Did you get a hold of Ben?" Roxanne asked Kevin once he had returned to the lobby.
"No, I just hope that he makes it in time for the birth of his babies," Kevin told Roxanne.
"Yeah, me too," Roxanne said.
"Wait, did you say babies?' Roxanne asked a few minutes later, not sure if she had heard Kevin correctly.
"Yeah, Mary and Ben are having quadruplets," Kevin told Roxanne.
"I'll be right back," Kevin said a few moments later. With that, he left the lobby to go to Mary's room.
Once he got to Mary's room, he poked his head inside the door, only to find Mary yelling out in pain.
"Lucy, can I talk to you alone for a minute?" Kevin asked his wife, after Mary's contraction was finally over.
"Sure," Lucy told him.
"I'll be right back Mary," Lucy told her sister. With that, she slipped out of the room.
"Make it quick, I need to get back to Mary," Lucy told Kevin.
"Okay, we have a problem; I have not been able to get a hold of Ben. I will keep trying, but what if he doesn't make it here on time?" Kevin asked Lucy.
"I don't know, I guess we will just have to play it by ear and see what happens, but I really hope he makes it," Lucy told Kevin.
"Me too, Luce, me too," Kevin told her.
"How many centimeters dilated is she?" Kevin asked her.
"She is already dilated 7 centimeters," Lucy told him.
"Okay, I will keep trying to get a hold of Ben," Kevin told his wife.
"Thanks," Lucy replied. With that, Lucy returned to Mary's room while Kevin returned to the lobby.
"What did Kevin need to talk to you about? Is something wrong?" Mary asked Lucy in a fearful tone.
"Nothing is wrong. You and the babies are fine. It's just that Kevin has not been able to get a hold of Ben yet," Lucy told her sister.
"What?" Mary asked Lucy, "He has to be here, I can't do this alone. I need him," Mary told her sister. Just then, Mary gasped in pain as another contraction came.
"OWWWWW," Mary told her sister as she tried to breathe though the pain.
"Breathe, Breathe," Lucy told her sister.
"I am trying, but it hurts," Mary told Lucy as she tried to breathe.
"I know, just hang in there," Lucy said, trying to comfort her older sister.
"I am going to call Mom and Dad and let them know that we're here and have them meet us here," Lucy told Mary after a few minutes.
"I will get Kevin to come in with you," Lucy said before leaving.
"Kevin, can you go in with Mary while I call my parents to tell them to meet us here?" Lucy asked him.
"Sure Luce," Kevin told his wife. With that, Kevin went to Mary's room while Lucy went to find a pay phone. When she did, she dialed her home phone number.
"Hello," Mrs. Camden said into the phone.
"Mom, its Lucy. You, Dad, Simon, Ruthie, Robbie and the twins need to meet us at the hospital. Mary's in labor!" Lucy told her mother quickly.
"NOW?" Mrs. Camden asked in shock.
"She went into premature labor while I was at her house. I'll explain later. Just get here and hurry!" Lucy told her mother.
"We'll be there in ten minutes. Stay calm Luce, everything is going to be okay," Mrs. Camden told her daughter.
"Okay, meet Kevin in the lobby," Lucy told her mother before hanging up.
"ERIC!" Mrs. Camden yelled to her husband from the kitchen where she had just gotten off the phone with Lucy.
"What? What's wrong?" Reverend Camden asked his wife, emerging from his study and into the kitchen.
"Mary's in labor," Mrs. Camden told him.
"What? What do you mean? She's not due for one more month," Reverend Camden responded.
"I know, but apparently she went into early labor while Lucy was at her house. Lucy just called and said to meet her at the hospital." Mrs. Camden told her husband.
"Okay, let's go," Reverend Camden said, as he quickly grabbed his jacket and started out the door. Mrs. Camden put her arm out to stop her husband.
"We need to get to the hospital, but FIRST we need to find the children," Mrs. Camden told him.
"Right, the children. I'll go find them," Reverend Camden told Mrs. Camden. With that, Reverend Camden went to find the children. He found Robbie in Matt's old room studying.
"Hey, what's going on?" Robbie asked Reverend Camden.
"Lucy just called and said that Mary's in premature labor. We are going to the hospital, so hurry and get ready okay," Reverend Camden told Robbie.
"Okay," Robbie responded. With that, Reverend Camden went to find the rest of the kids. He quickly went down the hallway to see if he could find the twins and Simon. As he passed the twins room, he found Simon and Cecilia in there with them playing a game.
"Hey dad, what's the hurry?" Simon asked noticing that his dad was pacing.
"Mary went into premature labor. We need to get to the hospital," Reverend Camden told his son.
"She what?" Simon asked his father, not believing that his big sister had gone into labor now, one month before her due date.
"Okay dad, we'll be down in a minute," Simon said, as him and Cecilia quickly helped the twins pick up the game.
"Where are we going?" Sam and David wanted to know.
"We are going to the hospital, because Mary is having the babies," Cecilia explained to the twins.
"Oh," the twins said as Cecilia took their hands and led them downstairs as Simon followed close behind. Meanwhile, Reverend Camden was frantically searching for Ruthie. He finally found Ruthie in her room, where her and Peter were talking.
"Hey dad, is something wrong?" Ruthie asked, looking at her father and noticing the worried look on his face.
"Get downstairs, we're going to the hospital," Reverend Camden told his youngest daughter.
"Why? Is there something wrong with Mary or Lucy?" Ruthie asked, remembering the fact that both her older sisters were pregnant.
"Yes, it's Mary. She has gone into early labor," Reverend Camden told Ruthie.
"Okay dad, we'll be right down," Ruthie told her father. With that, Reverend Camden returned downstairs and moments later all the children, including Robbie, Cecilia and Peter were out the door and on their way to the hospital.
After Lucy got off the phone with her mother, she returned to Mary's room.
"Did you get a hold of your parents?" Kevin asked Lucy.
"Yeah, they said that they would be here in ten minutes. I told them to meet you in the lobby," Lucy informed her husband.
"Okay, I am going to try and get a hold of Ben again," Kevin told Lucy as he got up and left the room leaving Mary and Lucy alone.
"How are you doing?" Lucy asked her sister once Kevin had left.
"I am doing okay I guess," Mary told her sister.
"So does it hurt?" Lucy asked Mary.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Mary asked Lucy.
"No, but I need to know," Lucy told Mary placing her hands on her large stomach.
"Well, I am not going to lie, it hurts, a lot," Mary told her sister truthfully.
"I was afraid of that," Lucy told her sister.
"Don't worry you'll be fine," Mary reassured her sister. Just then, Matt came in.
"Mary, I need to check you again," Matt told her. With that, Matt started examining Mary.
All the while, back in the lobby, Kevin decided that he was going to try his brother again.
"I'll be right back, I am going to try and get a hold of Ben again," Kevin told Roxanne, getting up from the lobby chair that he was sitting in.
"Okay," Roxanne responded. Once Kevin found the hospital pay phone for the third time, he picked up the receiver and placed it to his ear while dialing Ben's cell phone number once again. As before, there was no answer. Kevin angrily put the phone back on the hook and returned to the lobby.
"No answer?" Roxanne asked.
"No, where do you think he is?" Kevin asked Roxanne.
"Beats me, maybe he got called to fight a fire," Roxanne told him.
"Yeah, maybe," Kevin said softly.
Just then, the rest of the Camden family entered the lobby.
"Hey guys," Kevin and Roxanne both greeted them.
"Hey, how's Mary?" Mrs. Camden asked Kevin.
"Well, Lucy's in with her right now," Kevin told his mother-in-law.
"Okay, I'll go see her now. What room is she in?" Mrs. Camden asked her son-in-law.
"She's in room 234. Go down the hall, take a right and it's the second room on the left," Kevin explained.
"Okay thanks Kevin," Mrs. Camden said. With that, Mrs. Camden started her way to Mary's room but stopped suddenly and faced Kevin.
"Wait a minute, Kevin, where's Ben?" Mrs. Camden asked noticing that there was no mention of his name.
"He's not here yet," Kevin told his mother-in law.
"What?" Mrs. Camden asked, shocked.
"I've tried his cell phone three times and each time no one answered," Kevin explained, "but I'll keep trying," Kevin added quickly.
"Thanks," Mrs. Camden said. With that, she continued her way to Mary's room.
Mrs. Camden came through the door to Mary's room and Lucy quietly slipped out of the room and left her sister and mother alone. When Mary saw her mother, she immediately got a huge smile on her face.
"Mom!" Mary said to her mother.
"Hey baby, how are you doing?" Mrs. Camden asked her.
"I'm scared," Mary confessed. "One of the babies is in a breech position. I mean, what if something goes wrong?" Mary said as she started to cry on her mother's shoulder.
"Everything is going to go fine," Mrs. Camden reassured her oldest daughter as she held her in her arms. Suddenly, Mary gasped in pain as another contraction came. She quickly grabbed a hold of her mother's hand.
"OWWWWWW" Mary moaned.
"Breathe, Breathe," Mrs. Camden told her as she rubbed her back. Finally, after about two minutes the contraction stopped.
"Mom, I need Ben, I can't do this alone and he's not here. What if he doesn't make it in time for the birth of our babies?" Mary asked her mother in concern.
"Don't worry Mare, he'll make it," Mrs. Camden reassured her daughter.
"Have you been having a lot of contractions?" Mrs. Camden asked Mary after a few moments.
"Yeah, and they are getting wor-," Just then, another contraction came and Mary sat up abruptly,
"OWWWWWW," Mary groaned in pain once again.
"Breathe, Mare, Breathe," Mrs. Camden told her. Finally, the contraction ended and Mary rested back on the bed.
"Does the pain get better or worse?" Mary asked her mother, scared of the answer.
"Worse, but after holding that baby or babies in your case, in your arms for the first time, all the pain that you experience is worth it," Mrs. Camden told Mary.
"I was afraid that you were going to say that," Mary told her mother.
"Don't worry Mary. You and Ben are going to make wonderful parents. Ben loves you and you love Ben," Mrs. Camden told Mary.
"Yeah I do. A lot," Mary told her mother. Mrs. Camden just smiled in response.
"Mom?" Mary said a few moments later.
"What honey?" Mrs. Camden asked her daughter.
"If Ben doesn't make it in time would you stay with me and coach me through the birth?" Mary asked her mother.
"Sure honey, but I hope Ben makes it on time," Mrs. Camden told her daughter. Just then, Matt came into Mary's room.
"Mom, what are you doing here?" Matt asked surprised.
"I was just talking to Mary," Mrs. Camden told her oldest son.
"Mary, I need to check you again," Matt told Mary a few minutes later. With that, Matt started to check her.
Meanwhile back in the lobby, Kevin was trying once again to get a hold of his brother. The phone rang three times before he answered.
"Finally, where have you been?" Kevin practically screamed.
"I was fighting a fire and we just got back, what's the big deal?" Ben asked his brother in an agitated tone.
"Mary's in labor, that's the big deal!" Kevin told his brother.
"She's what? She's a month early," Ben asked his brother in shock.
"Well, she's in labor NOW! So, I would suggest you get down here," Kevin told his brother.
"Okay, I'll be there in fifteen minutes, wait for me in the lobby," Ben told Kevin before hanging up.
With that, Kevin returned to the lobby.
"Did you get a hold of Ben? Lucy asked.
"Yeah, he was fighting a fire, that's why I couldn't get a hold of him," Kevin explained.
"Oh, well is he coming?" Lucy asked him.
"Yeah, he said that he would meet me here in fifteen minutes," Kevin told Lucy.
About ten minutes after Matt had left Ben came running through the door to Mary's room with Kevin and Lucy trailing behind him.
"Ben!" Mary said once she saw her husband.
"I am here," Ben told Mary as he went over and kissed her on the top of the head. He then took his hand and placed it in Mary's replacing Lucy's.
"I am so glad you made it," Mary exclaimed.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world. I love you Mary Kinkirk," Ben told her.
"I love you too Ben Kinkirk," Mary told him.
"Hi Mom," Ben said once he noticed Mrs. Camden sitting on the opposite side of Mary. He walked over and hugged his mother-in-law.
"I am so glad that you made it," Mrs. Camden told Ben.
"Me too, I am so sorry," Ben said apologetically.
"I am just glad you're here now," Mrs. Camden told Ben. With that, Mrs. Camden, along with Lucy and Kevin left the room leaving Ben and Mary alone.
Just then, Matt came in to check on Mary.
"You are dilated 3 centimeters," Matt told Mary.
"What! I thought that I was dilated 7 centimeters," Mary told her brother.
"Well, you were, but it seems that now you are only dilated 3 centimeters," Matt told his sister.
"But why?" Mary asked.
"Because your labor started off progressing so quickly, it slowed down," Matt explained.
"You have nothing too worry about though. Everything is fine. It's just a waiting game now," Matt said.
"I will be back to check on you in a little while," Matt told his sister before leaving.
"Wait, Matt, what about the babies being really high?" Mary asked him, concerned.
"Well, it looks like everything is okay for now," Matt said, "but if you need me, just have Ben come and get me and I will be here in a heartbeat, okay?" Matt told Mary.
"Okay," Mary said, letting Matt leave the room.
"What is this about the babies being really high?" Ben asked, concerned.
"Well, the babies are really high, which isn't good. Matt said that he is going to wait it out and see what happens," Mary told her husband.
"Do you need anything?" Ben asked Mary after a few minutes.
"Can you get me a cold rag and some ice chips?" Mary asked Ben.
"Sure," he replied and left the room. Mrs. Camden spotted Ben and stooped him.
"Ben!" Mrs. Camden called, noticing that he was walking sort of fast. Ben turned around to face his mother-in law.
"Is Mary okay?" Mrs. Camden asked him in concern.
"Mary's fine, she just wants me to get her a wet rag and some ice chips," Ben told her.
"Ben, we need to talk," Mrs. Camden said in a serious tone.
"Lucy can you go be with Mary while I talk to Ben alone please?" Mrs. Camden asked her daughter.
"Sure," Lucy said. Kevin got up along with Roxanne, Robbie, Eric and the rest of the kids and they all headed towards the cafeteria.
"Annie, what's wrong? Is something wrong with Mary or the babies, because I don't know how much more news I can take," Ben asked concerned, taking a seat in the empty chair next to Mrs. Camden.
"Ben, one of the babies is in a breech position," Mrs. Camden told him sadly.
"Is the baby going to be okay?" Ben asked his mother-in-law.
"I don't know, but I am sure that Matt will do everything in his power to make sure that Mary and the babies are okay," Mrs. Camden reassured Ben.
"Thanks Annie," Ben said as he hugged her. With that he returned to Mary's room.
"Why didn't you tell me that one's of the babies was in a breech position?" Ben asked Mary, once Lucy had left the room to return to the lobby.
"I don't know, it's just that I didn't want to worry you," Mary told Ben.
"OWWWWWW," Mary said as she squeezed onto Ben's hand.
"Breathe, Mary, Breathe," Ben told Mary as her rubbed her back.
"That's sweet, but I am already worried," Ben told Mary.
"About wh-," Mary started to say when a contraction came once again.
"OWWWWW," Mary groaned in pain.
"Breathe, Mary, Breathe," Ben told her as he rubbed her back. After the contraction ended, Mary tried her question again.
"About what?" Mary tried again when yet another contraction hit her.
"OWWWWW," Mary groaned in pain as she started to cry.
"Breathe, Mary, Breathe," Ben said, trying to comfort his wife.
"It hurts so badly, I can't stand it anymore," Mary said, as she started to cry harder.
"Mary, do you want me to go get Matt?" Ben asked his wife.
"Yes, please and hurry," Mary said, as she doubled over in pain.
Ben ran out of the room in a panic as he tried to find his brother-in-law.
"Matt!" Ben yelled, once he spotted Matt.
"What's wrong?" Matt asked as he quickly ran over to Ben.
"It's Mary. She's doubled over in pain and the contractions are really close together," Ben told Matt with a panic tone in his voice. With that, Matt followed Ben to Mary's room. When he got there he noticed that Mary was in a lot of pain and so he thought that he would check her and see what was wrong. To his surprise, she was only dilated 3 centimeters, however the babies were still really high; something was defiantly wrong.
"Matt, what's wrong?" Ben asked terrified.
"Well, she is only dilated 3 centimeters and the babies are still really high," Matt explained to his brother-in-law.
"Is there anything that you can do to help that?" Ben asked.
"Unfortunately, there is nothing that I can do, we just have to wait and see what happens. If it gets to be too dangerous we will have to do a C-section," Matt told Ben.
"Please Matt, I feel like pushing," Mary groaned.
"Mary you can't push. You need to just wait it out until you are fully dilated, but if you feel the urge to push in the future just take long deep breaths," Matt told her.
"I will be back in a little while to check on you and see if you what an epidural," Matt told his sister before leaving.
A little while later, Matt came in to check on Mary again. She was still dilated to 3 centimeters, which wasn't good, but the babies had moved down a little more then before.
"The bad news is that you are still dilated 3 centimeters, and the good news is that the babies seemed to have moved down a little," Matt told Mary.
"Would you like an epidural?" Matt asked his sister a few moments later.
"Yes," Mary said; she was in a lot of pain.
"Okay, I will be right back," Matt told his sister. With that, he left the room.
A few minutes later, Matt returned to Mary's room to do the epidural.
"Mary, I need you to sit up on the edge of the bed and Ben if you could, I need you to stand in front of her," Matt told Mary and Ben. With that, Mary attempted to sit up on her own, but was unsuccessful, so Ben helped her up. After Mary was situated, Ben stood in front of her like he was told. Next, Matt untied part of the back of Mary's hospital gown, exposing only part of her back.
"Okay Mary, I need you to relax," Matt told his sister as he slowly started to inject the needle into her back.
"OWWWW," Mary winced, causing her to get tense.
"Mary, I need you to relax, take deep breathes," Matt told her, proceeding to inject the needle further into Mary's spine. Mary tried to breathe through the needle that was pricking her back, causing her pain, but it was no use; she was still in a lot of pain. Besides the fact that she was in pain because of the very sharp needle that was being injected into her spine, she could also feel another contraction beginning to hit her.
"OWWWWWWWW," Mary screamed, as the contraction became stronger.
"Honey, relax," Ben told his wife.
"I'm having a contraction," Mary told him, as she tried to breathe though the pain.
"Breathe, you're doing great," Ben told her.
"I am trying, but it hurts," Mary said as she buried her face in Ben's shoulder and started to cry.
"Mary, the needles in, I just need to inject the medicine and then it will be all over," Matt told his sister.
"Okay, but hurry it hurts," Mary told her brother.
"I know it does Mary, but I need you to try and relax for me," Matt told her. With that, Matt started to inject the medicine into Mary's spine as she tried to relax. Matt quickly injected the medicine into Mary's spine and then started to take the needle out. "OWWWWW," Mary said once again as he started to take the needle out of her back.
"One more time and were done," Matt told her.
"OWWWWW," Mary winced in pain once again, as Matt took the needle out the rest of the way.
"Okay, I am done," Matt announced, as he retied Mary's gown and told her to lie back down on the bed.
"You should feel the effects of the epidural in about 15 to 20 minutes, just give it time. I will be back in a little while to check on you," Matt told Mary, before leaving the room.