Im so happy that everyone is enjoying this story! I hope I can continue to keep you enthused in it! This chapter will jump ahead a bit! Thanks again for all the great reviews!
Chapter 38
What a surprise
Jack and Beth were falling in to a routine with Daniel and Jarrick! It had been 2 weeks since they brought him home! Jack and Beth took turns feeding Daniel through the night. That way they each would get more sleep. Daniel was waking up every 3 hours so they were each getting 6 hours of sleep every night. Beth was still tired but nothing she couldn't handle. After Jarrick was on the bus she would go back to bed. Jack told her that he would get him up and off to school but it was something she wanted to do. So Jack let her do it. Jack always took care of Daniel while she got Jarrick off to school.
Jack let her sleep through the next feeding. He figured she could use the rest. Besides he really enjoyed the time with him. He would take him out to the kitchen and give him a bath in the sink. Then get him dressed for the day. He set him in his bouncy chair on the bar and talk to him while he are's his breakfast. When Jack was finished with his breakfast he would take Daniel out to the swing. He sat him on the coffee table in his bouncy chair. While he would drink his coffee . Daniel loved the outdoors! He would coo and flap his arms and legs in pure joy!
Beth came outside with a cup of coffee. She sat down on the swing and patted Daniel's belly! He lived his mommy! His face lit up every time he heard her voice or he seen her! She leans back on Jacks shoulder and says, do you think he's going to be jealous when Charlie gets to come home? Maybe he said, but we'll just make sure you have plenty of time for him! He may not even be jealous. He may still remember her. Charlie is doing so well! I'd figured they would have let her come home by now! Well Sweetheart we're not the doctors so they may see something that we don't! One thing I do know is that when she's ready they will let her! I know Love I'm just anxious to have them home! No more than I am Sweetheart! It's about time we get to the hospital! Whose turn is it to stay with Daniel today? Mother and father's.
About that time they heard a car coming down the driveway. There they are! Let's get him back inside and don't let me forget to get the breast milk out of the freezer so we can take it with us! Beth you've never forgot it yet but I'll remind you! Grace said as soon as she came through the door, let me have my handsome grandson! William cleared his throat and corrected her, we have 2 handsome grandsons! I know Will! But the other one is in school. Hey father, what are you going to do with the house in Estes Park? Well we've been talking and as soon as we build our new house here, we're going to sell it. What are you going to do with the help? They will either move here if they want to and if not then we'll give them severance pay! They've been with us for many years! We don't want to lose them! Then what are you going to do with the the house here? Viola says she wants it. What does Julie want to do? We don't know. She always been the quiet one. We're going to the hospital. They both kiss Daniel goodbye! They both tell him that they love him!
They always carried an infant car seat with them hoping today would be the day that they got to bring Charlie home! As bad as they hated the thought of Beckie being at the hospital by herself they knew it would be awhile before she would get to come home. They got to the hospital. Everyone at the hospital had got to know them because of the triplets! Every time they walked through the front doors of the hospital everyone said, hello Mr. and Mrs. Thornton! How are those babies of yours? They always shook their hand hand said, doing fine! Thank you!
Jack and Beth went straight to the neonatal unit. But today the girls weren't there. Beth starts to panic. They asked the nurse where the girls were? Mr. and Mrs. Thornton did you not get the call? No we didn't get any calls, Jack said with a stern voice! Follow me, the nurse said! They stayed right on her heals until they got to the nursery. There in a private room in the nursery was their 2 baby girls! Why are they here and not in the neonatal unit, Beth asked? Well Charlotte gets to go home today and we didn't want Rebecca to be lonely so we moved her down here! She's doing really good and we don't anticipate anything but if it does then we're right here! She's been with her sister now for 2 weeks.
Now that Charlotte is going home we felt it was in her best interest to be around other babies! So her bed and all her equipment are here? Yes ma'am! We moved it all! Oh Jack Charlie gets to come home today! Will you go get her infant carrier out of the car and the diaper bag! I sure will Sweetheart! In his way out to the car he called everyone and told them to meet them at the house! They had a surprise! Charlotte called Abigail and Frank and told them what Jack said! Jack carried the infant carrier back up to the nursery along with the diaper bag. He set the carrier down and handed the diaper bag to Beth. She had Charlie in her arms so Jack says, where's daddy's little princess? Beckie's head turned towards him started kicking her legs and flapping her arms! The nurse was amazed at the sight before her! I've never seen her do that! Beth speaks up and asks, how much does Charlie weigh as of today? Well let's see. The nurse took her from Beth and took all her clothes off including the diaper. She set her on the scale. Looks like she weighs 6lbs even. Then she laid her on the table to measure her length. It looks like she's 19" long. Thank you. I want to put it in her baby book. How much does Beckie weigh Jack said, the nurse took her and stripped her down to just skin. Beckie didn't like it so she started crying. It looks like she's 5lbs and is 16" long! If she's 5 lbs why any we take her home he asked? You'll have to talk to her doctor. Can you call him down here please? Yes sir right away!
Beth got Charlie dressed while Jack put a fresh diaper and a nightgown on Beckie! He started feeding her when the doctor came in. Jack started to get up but the doctor said, just keep your seat and keep feeding her! Beth was feeding Charlie. Jack asked, doc if Beckie is 5 lbs why can't we take her home? Well really there isn't any reason. She still has a little breathing problem and she still has the reflux problem. I just figured you would want to leave her here for awhile longer. Doc if you tell us how to take care of her at home we would rather have her there with the rest of her bothers and sister. Doc I have all the medical training! I'm the captain with Search and Rescue! You're Captain Jack Thornton? Yes sir I am! I was here when they brought you in after your accident. I'm glad to see you made a full recovery! Thank you!
Ok nurse show them how to give her her breathing treatment and her bed has to be at a 20 degree angle. Some cribs have that capability theirs do because we didn't know what to expect. Alright then just raise it to 20 degrees and you can take her strap to keep her from sliding! I'll get her discharge papers ready. Now I want to see her every week for the first month to make sure she doesn't have any complications ok? Yes sir! Love we didn't bring her clothes or car seat. That's ok Mrs. Thornton. We'll loan you a car seat and you can go down to the gift shop and get her an outfit! Oh Jack Love we get to take our girls home together! Yes Sweetheart now go get Beckie an outfit or we won't have one and she'll have to wear a nightgown home! Beth kisses him without even thinking and out the door she went. Mr. Thornton she wears premee diapers too but we'll give you a couple of bags to take home with you. Thank you he said. I hope she gets more than one outfit because we don't have any premee clothes for her at home either.
So I guess we'll be stopping at the store Princess! He finished feeding her and asked the nurse, do you have a six pack of these bottles to take with us oh and anymore of Beth's breast milk? Yes sir! I'll get her stuff ready but I need to show you how to give her her breathing treatment. You put this mask on her just like this. Then you put the tube of albuterol into this. Put the lid back on. Hook it to her mask and turn on the machine. Make sure you put her in her bed when you give it to her so her airway is relaxed. When it's don't it will start making a noise like it's spitting. Turn the machine off and take the mask off. She doesn't mind the treatments. We'll send her machine home with her. She needs this treatment 3 times a day. So her lungs didn't fully develop? No sir. She may be on this for the rest of her life and I said may. Only time will tell.
Can I ask you something? Sure! Will she always be little? Probably so. But that won't stop her. She won't be a dwarf or anything like that but she'll probably will always be petite! Her bones and all are ok? Yes sir!
Beth came back with one of everything they had and says, I couldn't make up my mind and I knew we didn't have anything to fit her at home. So which one daddy? He looked at all of them and said, the frilly one for my little princess! Ok I got matching ones for the other 2. Wow little princess you have the smartest mommy in the world! She thinks of everything! Ok Love you get her ready and I'll get Charlie ready! Beth changed Charlie's clothes to match Beckie! Even though they are identical we'll be able to tell them apart! Love they look just like me except for their dimples and that's all you!
The nurse brought everything in and put it on the discharge cart. The doctor brought her discharge papers with her appointment for next Friday at 2:00. You're all set! Thank you doctor we appreciate everything you've done for our children! It was my pleasure! They were my first triplets! I will always remember them! Now get out of here and go be a family! They brought the car seat. Beth purchased a head brace for Beckie's head. Jack finished putting on her tiny booties then put her in the carrier. Buckled her in. Beth picked Charlie and out the door they went!
They got down to the lobby and Jack say, I go get the car. Jack left them in the lobby. He pulled up to the front door and opened both back doors. He went in and picked up Beckie and put her In the back seat. He made sure she was buckled in tight. Beth handed humor Charlie. He put her in and buckled her in real tight to! Beth had to sit in the front seat because there wasn't room for her in the back seat. Jack opened her door and she got in. He reached for her seatbelt and kissed her deeply! Then he put all their stuff in the trunk. He waved to the nurses and got in the car! He relaxed and together they said, finally!
He pulls out of the parking lot and heads for the baby store. She asked, where are we going? He says, Sweetheart she has to have clothes and diapers and booties and what ever a premee needs because we don't have it at home. So let's go in and get it now, ok? Alright Love! You get Beckie and I'll get Charlie! They walk in the store and get 2 buggies. They each clip the carrier to the buggy. Jack follows her to the infant section. She bought several outfits for Beckie and in return had to buy matching outfits for Daniel and Charlie. She bought a pair of booties to go with every outfit. She bought head bands for the girls to go with their outfits. They walked around to the diapers and bought 4 cases of premee diapers. They walk up and down the isles making sure they didn't forget anything. I don't see anything else we might need do you? We'll need to order her a table for next to her bed for her breathing treatment machine because she has to be in her bed when we give it to her ok let's go over and look at them and have it delivered! Sounds like a plan. They look at all the tables and decided. They paid fo everything and the table. The clerk said the table would be delivered this afternoon! Perfect the went out to the car. Jack our Beckie in and buckled her in tight. Beth put Charlie in and buckled her in tight. Jack went around and opened her door while she was tending to Charlie. He put everything in the trunk! Beth got in and closed her door. Jack got in and took a deep breath! Home mommy? Home daddy! They pulled up in their driveway and everyone came out on the porch. Waiting in anticipation! Jack got out and went around to open Beth's door. He held out his hand to help her out. She climbed out and went to the back door. She opened it and got Charlie's carrier out! Jack went back around and got Beckie's carrier out! When they came around the front of the car everyone cheered! They stepped up on the porch and William opened the front French doors. Jack and Beth went in and sat the babies in the table! William closed the doors behind everyone. Beth takes Charlie from her carrier and turns her in her arms so she is facing everyone and says, everyone this is Charlotte Grace! Jack takes Beckie out of her carrier. He turns her around in his arms so she is facing everyone and says, everyone this is Rebecca Nicole!Beth says, to keep confusion down we call this on Charlie! Jack calls Rebecca, Beckie! Both their nick names end in ie! Charlotte asked to hold Charlie and Grace went to Jack and says , may I and puts her hands out! Before I hand Beckie over there is something I need to tell everyone. Beckie has 2 mediCal problems. One she can't lay flat any longer than it takes to change her diaper or to change her clothes. She has reflux. When you feed her you have to feed her sitting up and you can only feed her an ounce at a time then you put her face in your hand like this and pat her until she burps. Boy can she burp loud. She also has to lay in her bed at a 20 degree angle because of the reflux. She has to have a breathing treatment 3 times a day. So we have to be extra careful with her! Charlie and Daniel are fine! But please remember not to lay Beckie flat on her back! Now Grace yes you can and he hands Beckie to her.
Jack and Beth head to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. After he drank his he asked William and Tom to help him get everything out of the trunk. Everything went in the nursery. Abigail helped Beth put things away and hung up. Elizabeth we were wondering if you still wanted us to be their Godparents with the health problems that Rebecca has? We would understand if you wanted someone else. No Abigail, we trust you and Frank with all of them! Ok if you're sure? We are definitely sure!
Abigail you should have seen me in the gift shop trying to find an outfit to bring her home in! I was like a kid in a candy shop! I couldn't decide so I bout one of every premee outfit they had then I had to buy matching ones for Daniel and Charlie! With matching booties. Then I get back up to them and I asked Jack which one and he says, the frilly one for his little princess! He is so attached to Beckie! He loves them all but Beckie has a soft spot in his heart! Maybe it's it's because she was so tiny when she was born, Abigail says! Probably so!
Daniel wakes up and Abigail asks, may I feed him? She said, sure let me go get fix his bottle. Beth goes into the kitchen and warms a bottle while Abigail changes Daniel's diaper. She sits in the rocking chair and waits for Elizabeth to return. She rocks him and talks to him. You know you're sisters came home today! Now you all can get started being a real family under the same roof! Elizabeth brings Abigail Daniel's bottle and says, I'll give you some time with him! She kisses Daniel on the top of his head and says, mommy loves you so much! Thank you Abigail, and walks out of the nursery!
