I truly hope you enjoyed the last chapter! I'm not going to keep going on every day! So this chapter will jump ahead a bit!

Chapter 37

The Home Coming

2 months later. Today was the day that Daniel gets to come home! Jack Love? Yes Sweetheart? Is the diaper bag ready? Is the infant seat in the SUV? Yes Beth for the umpteen time! We need to go Sweetheart! I'm coming Love! I'm all thumbs! I can't get these buttons buttoned, can you help me please! He walks up in front of her and says, usually I'm doing the opposite her Sweetheart! As he laughs! She seats his arm and says, alright Mr. Thornton that will be enough out of you! There finished! Now let's go!

At the hospital Beth and Jack are able to feed all 3 of their babies! Their off the ventilators and breathing on their own but Beckie isn't doing to well. Jack feeds Charlie and Beth feeds Daniel. Charlie is still under weight but otherwise she's doing good! Beth Changes Daniel's diaper and puts his going home clothes on him. They chose a brown colored pair of pants with shoulder straps. It had a white collar long sleeve shirt. He had brown booties. His going home weight was 5 lbs 13 oz and was 18" long! Beth put him in his infant carrier and buckled him in. He had a head stabilizer holding his head from flopping from side to side! As soon as she put him in the infant carrier Daniel fell asleep!

Jack kisses Charlie. He sets her up on his knees and patted her back until she burped. Wow that was a big burp for such a little girl! He brings her up to his lips and he kisses her cheek and says, daddy loves you so very much! You keep gaining weight and you'll be home before you know it! We'll be back to feed you later! Jack handed Charlie to Beth! Charlie needed to gain more weight. She's up to 5 lbs and 17" long! She's only been on the bottle for 2 1/2 weeks! She's expected to be going home in a couple of weeks. Beth changes her diaper and her nightgown. She holds her and kisses her! She tells her how much she is loved. She held her while Jack picked up Beckie!

Beckie weighed only 4 lbs 8 oz and 16" long! When they held Beckie, they held her to their bare skin! Before he unbuttoned his shirt he fed her from a very small bottle. She had to be fed in the sitting up position. She got choked very easily. It took awhile to feed her because you had to burp her more often. After about 30 minutes Jack finally finished feeding her. He burped her one last time. He unbuttoned his shirt and laid her against his skin. Every time he put her next to his skin she just kept nuzzles into him! She loved her daddy! Not that she didn't live her mommy because she did but with daddy she nuzzled into him every time! Jack kisses her cheek and said, we love you so very much! We'll be back later to feed you! After holding her for a few minutes Jack handed Beckie to Beth! Beth was in high cotton with both her girls in her arms. Jack buttoned his shirt and just gazed at the view in front of him! Beth was beautiful sitting and holding their 2 daughters! Jack asked, are you ready to get this little guy home before we have to come back to feed these 2? Yes Love! She kissed the girls one more time and handed Charlie to Jack. He kissed her and put her back in her bed in the neonatal unit! Beth reluctantly handed Beckie to Jack. Jack kisses her cheek and she opened her mouth. Jack raised her mouth to his cheek. She licked it. Tears welled in his eyes as he kissed her one more time and laid her back in her bed! The nurse says, I'll change her for you. It's almost bath time anyway! Beth turns and say thank you! We'll be back later! Yes ma'am! Jack picked up Daniel's infant carrier, reached for Beth's hand. They went to leave the neonatal unit but turned back and took one more look at their little girls. Then they turned and they were gone.

Everyone was waiting for the one of the new additions back at the house! There was finger foods that Abigail brought. There was coffee and tea. Jack pulled into their driveway. He put it in park. Jack looks back at Daniel and says, welcome home son, welcome home! He got out and opened Beth's door. He went around and disconnected his carrier from the base. Beth made sure he was zipped up. Beth took Jack's hand and the climbed the steps and went in the house! Jack handed Daniel's Carrlei to William while he helped Beth out of her sweater! William set the carrier on the table. Beth unzipped the Carrlei cover, unbuckled Daniel. She lifted him out and turned him around in her arms so he was facing everyone! Everyone this is Daniel Elijah Thornton!

This is the first time anyone had got to see him because he was in the neonatal unit! Grace is the first to ask, may I hold him Lizzy? Yes mother! She hands him to Grace. Grace sits down in a chair and hugs him gently. She says, I'm your Nana! William came over and leaned over and touched Daniel's hand says, hello I'm your Grandpa! After a few minutes Grace handed him to Charlotte, Charlotte takes him and sits down with him! She takes his little hand in hers and says, hello I'm Grammy you're daddy's mom! Tom comes over behind her and touches his little cheek and says, hello I'm Pop, you're daddy's dad! We are so excited to have you home! After a few minutes Viola speaks up and says, may I hold him? Charlotte stands and hands Daniel to her! Viola stands there holding him and says, baby I'm your Aunt Viola and this is your Aunt Julie! She's not to much on babies but she'll get use to you! Julie kisses the top of Daniel's head and said, maybe when you're older! Jack asked Abigail if she wanted to hold him? She says, yes but I wanted all the family to get a chance first. Beth speaks up and says, Abigail you are family. Viola hands Daniel to Abigail! Before you introduce yourself Beth and I have something to ask you and Frank? Jack continues, we were wondering if you and Frank would be their Godparents? Abigail raises her free hand to her mouth and says, really? To all 3 of them? Yes Abigail Beth says! We don't want them separated! Abigail looks at Frank and he shakes his head! She looks back at Beth and Jack and says, we would be proud to be their Godparents! It would be an honor! Abigail looks down at Daniel and says, Daniel I'm you Godmother Abigail and she turns to Frank and he says, I'm your Godfather, Frank! After a few minutes Daniel starts to make the sucking sound. Beth speaks up and says, well that my cue as she takes him from Abigail!

Beth takes him to the nursery and sits down in one of the rockers. She lays him down in her lap while she in buttoned her shirt. He was such a good baby, he just laid there looking around the room making that sucking sound! She pulls her bra cup down and raised him to her breast. He took to it like no bodies business! She sang Amazing Grace as he suckled.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Was Grace that taught my heart to fear

And Grace, my fears relieved

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares

We have already come

T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far

And Grace will lead us home

And Grace will lead us home

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Was blind, but now I see

Jack came in as she was finishing burping him. Beth Sweetheart we are so blessed! Yes we are Love! Jack picks up Daniel and cuddles him while Beth got herself back together! Jack says, Daniel did you know that you are named after you're mommy's favorite actor? He's also your 2nd cousin! He also one of my best friends! I don't know when you'll get to meet him because he's lives in Australia! He leans hi ear down to Daniel's mouth and says, where is Australia? That's way past Hawaii and before you ask I'll tell you that when you get older! Daniel yawns and Jack lays him down on the changing table while he changes his diaper. Then he picks him up kisses cheek and says, daddy and mommy loves you so much! He lays him down in the first crib. Jack had moved the ultrasound pictures around to match the same baby. Jack wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her to him. Kisses her cheek and says, one down and 2 to go! He winds the mobile. Beth turns the monitor on and picks it up. She clips it to her waistband. They hold hands and walk out of the nursery. She goes to the bathroom and jack headed back to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He pours Beth one and brings it to the den and sets it down on the coffee table. Everyone is sitting around in nice conversation! Talking about this and that! Beth joins Jack on the couch. He hands her coffee to her. She says, thank you Love!

Jack and Beth leave Daniel with a house full of loved ones. They are headed back to the hospital to feed the girls! Jack and Beth walk into the neonatal unit and both girls are wake. Charlie is looking at something and waving her arms in the air smiling! Beckie is just laying there until she hears her daddy's voice, then she turns her head towards him and starts waving her arms as if to say I'm over here! They noticed Beckie perk up when Jack first spoke! Jack goes straight over to Beckie and pick her up. She must have missed him because she got all excited when her daddy picked her up! Wow little princess for someone as tiny as you are, you sure can get excited! Daddy loves you so much!

Beth picks up Charlie. She holds her over her head. You sure are a beautiful site! We love you so much! She brings her down to her arms and ask are you hungry baby girl! She in buttoned her blouse and pulled her bra cup down. She raised Charlie to her breast. She latched on with no problem!she starts singing Amazing Grace to her!

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me


I once was lost, but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Was Grace that taught my heart to fear

And Grace, my fears relieved

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares

We have already come

T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far

And Grace will lead us home

And Grace will lead us home

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Was blind, but now I see

Beckie turns her head towards the voice! Her bottle fell out of her mouth. Jack says, you want to turn to see mommy sing? Daddy can do that so he turned her around. Both girls just stared at her while she sang! He set her bottle on the table and put her chin on his hand between his thumb and index finger and started patting her back to burp her. She burps so loud Sweetheart! She does! She's going to be a big girl one day! Beth switched sides with Charlie. Boy she's really hungry! She's a growing baby girl mommy! This little princess is hungry to! I've fed and burped her 3 times! Jack looked at the nurse for guidance. She just nodded and said, feed her until she doesn't want anymore! She'll stop when her tummy is full! Ok little princess you only have a half ounce left! The nurse says, I'll get you another bottle. She left out to get another bottle while Beckie finished this one. Jack held her up and burped her again. The nurse brought him another and Beckie half of a 2 oz bottle. Boy she's eating good! He burped one last time. He picked her up and carried her over to the changing table. He changed her diaper and nightgown. He picked her up and kissed her cheek while patting her back. She let out the biggest burp ever! Sweetheart did you hear her? I did Love! She wants to let everyone know she's here and is a big girl! After Beth burped Charlie she carried her to the changing table. She changed her diaper and nightgown! They walk back over by their beds. Jack lays Beckie in her bed but Jack noticed that Beckie's bed was elevated. He turns to the nurse and asks, why is her bed elevated at the head? She has developed reflux. So to keep her from spitting up we just elevated her bed. It's common with premature babies. Should we be concerned with Daniel? She replies, no sir. Charlotte is fine. Rebecca has trouble swallowing that why she has to be fed in a sitting position. She might outgrow it but for now we just keep her elevated. The nurse showed him how to put the strap under her arms to keep her from sliding down. Wow little princess you have all kinds of gadgets just to keep you safe. He leans over and kisses her gently on her cheek once more. Beth lays Charlie down and tells her to look after her sister for us! She kisses her once more and say good night! He and Jack swap places and they kiss them and say good night! See you 2 tomorrow! We love you so very much!