Chapter 46

The next day Jack told Jarrick that he had something to show him. He asked him to follow him up to the attic. Jarrick says, I've never been up here. I wandered what was up here but kept forgetting to ask! Jack takes him over to a corner shelf and pulls out some flat boxes. As he opens the first one, Jarrick's eyes get wider with suspense. Jack pulls out the first painting. He shows it to Jarrick. Jarrick asked, is that mommy? Jack replies, yes Bud that is your mother and she pregnant with you. I painted it just before the accident. Jarrick reaches for it. While Jarrick stares at the painting he asks, why is she smiling and holding her stomach? Jack replies, she was so happy to be your mother. She smiled all the time. She couldn't wait to hold you! She walked around the house talking to you and at night she would read to you and sometimes she even sang to you! I have another painting I want you to see. He pulled out their wedding painting. Jarrick asked, is that you and mommy? Jack replies, yes. It's when we got married. I want to know if you would like these in your room. Beth says that if you have pictures of your mommy in Heaven then you won't ever forget what she looks like. Oh daddy can I? Did you paint these? Yes Bud I did. The reason I quit painting was because your mother gave me joy and when she died my joy for painting died to. Most of my paintings were of her. Jarrick asked, do you think you will ever paint again? Someday I might, said Jack. They carried the paintings to Jarrick's room and hung them on his wall. Jack hung them at the foot of Jarrick's bed so he could see them while he was laying there.

Downstairs Beth was in the kitchen get dinner finished up. The triplets were in their high chairs munching on a cracker. Jarrick comes running in and says, guess what mommy? She replies, I don't know, what is it? He says, daddy showed me the paintings of my mommy in Heaven and asked if I wanted them hung in my room? I said I did! Thank you mommy for saying it's ok to have them! She bent down to his level and said, little man she is and will always be your real mother. She carried you and gave you birth. I don't ever want you to wander about her. She is forever in your heart. I wanted you to be able to look at her and never forget what she looks like! Thank you mommy! Daddy says he might start painting someday! Is that so, she said? She looked at Jack and he said, maybe someday.

After dinner they put the triplets down on the rug in the den. Daniel stands and starts walking around. Charlie sits and giggles at him. For some reason she thinks it's funny watching him walk and fall. They all laugh at her. Daniel says, au...o when he plopped down on his bottom. Charlie laughs louder. Jack reaches down and picks up Beckie. He says, do you think that's funny? She shakes her head no. Charlie plops over on her belly and tries to mimic Daniel. Beth bumps Jack's elbow. He looks up just as she tries to stand. She can't quite get up. Daniel crawls over to the couch and pulls himself up. Charlie follows and pulls up also but she's not sure she wants to take off. Daniel is walking all over the place. Jarrick gets up and closed the gate to the stairs. Thanks Bud! Good thinking! He says, you're welcome. He starts chasing Daniel around the couch. Daniel is laughing and giggling. Charlie is watching her brothers and giggling at them. All of a sudden she let go and took a couple of steps before she plopped back down. Beth says, au...o try again. You can do it baby girl! Charlie pulls back up on the couch and holds on as she walks to the end of the couch. Jarrick says, I'm going to get you Daniel! Here I come. Charlie peaks around the end of the couch to see if they are there. Jack says, where are they Charlie? She walks around the couch as she holds on. She peaks around the back of the couch but they aren't there. She looks back just as Jarrick pokes her belly and says, boo! She plops down and giggles. She stopes giggling and says, bububub no no no! They all laugh! Beth says, she made her first sentence! Beckie just sits there not saying a word. She points to the floor. Jack sets her down. She crawls over to her baby doll and picks it up and hugs it. Jack asks, I wander if she's ever going to walk? Beth gently squeezes his hand and says, in her time Love, in her time. I suppose so, he says.

After everyone was in the bed Beth asks, do you think there is a problem with Beckie? He replies, I don't know but sometimes she's like the other 2 and then other times she's slower. Beth lays on his chest and says, they have a checkup next week and if you can take off work, you can ask their doctor. He says, text me the day and time. She laughs and says, your phone is linked to mine on all their appointments. Oh yeah he says. I want to be there.

Next week Jack met Beth at the pediatrician's office. Beth checked the triplets in while Jack and Jarrick sat with the babies in their stroller. Jack was going over in his head everything he wanted to ask about Beckie. Beth came back and sat down in between Jack and Jarrick and says, they are a little behind schedule so it will be a little bit longer wait. Jack rubs his thumb across Beckie's cheek and says, God I truly hope and pray that everything is ok with her. Beth rubs his arm and says, she will catch up you just wait and see Love!

They call the triplets back after about 30 minutes. Jack sets Daniel up on the table first. Dr. Periwinkle says, let's take a look at you. Boy never would you think you were born early. You are healthy! Beth sets Charlie up on the the table next. Dr. Periwinkle says the same thing. Jack sets Beckie up on the table. Dr. Periwinkle looks her over with a fine tooth comb. She looks at Jack and Beth and asks, before I say anything do you have any concerns? Jack speaks up and say, why has she not caught up with the other 2 yet? Why does she not laugh like the others? Does she have any problems that we don't know about? Will she ever walk? Whoa Mr. Thornton. Those are all legitimate questions. Let me start by saying, she will walk eventually but we just don't know when. Does she cry anymore than usual? Beth says, no ma'am. She doesn't cry hardly at all. That's what I was afraid of, Dr. Periwinkle says. What do you mean, Jack says. They can have nerve impairments, mental delays and behavior problems down the road. Now I'm not saying that she has any of these. We'll just have to watch her very close for the next couple of years. I want to see her every 6 months. Right now she is just the smartest of the 3. I want you to start working with her on stacking blocks. If you can get her to repeat what you do then that is a start. Can she feed herself? Beth replies, yes but not as good as the others. That's fine. I would start keeping a journal on them so that when she comes back in 6 months I can see how far behind she is. Please don't look at her as having a decease because she doesn't. She is just slower than the other 2. Doc, will she always be smaller, Jack asks? Yes, I'm sorry to say but she won't be a dwarf or anything like that. She'll always be very petite. Have you started them on solid foods yet? Beth replies, yes but somethings I purée. They had cake for their birthday last week. Does she have trouble swallowing? No but with meat I prefer that puréed. Their favorite is spaghetti and meatballs. I mash the meatballs up. That's fine. Just start the journal and I'll see you in 6 months. Jack picked Beckie up and held her gently rubbing her back. She leans out and puts her little hands on his face and says, dada. Jack and Beth start to tear up. He says, she said her first word! Yes she did Beth said.

Jarrick was quite through this whole visit. As they were getting back in the SUV he asks, will Beckie be ok? Beth replies, yes but she going to be a little slower at developing mentally. That means she won't be doing anything at the same time as Daniel and Charlie. It will take her longer to do them. Do you understand what I'm saying? Yes ma'am. Can I help with the blocks? Jack replies, yes you can Bud! You can help when ever you want to! I'd like that, Jarrick said! Jack kisses them all and says, I'll see you later about 5:30. How about we meet at Abigail's for dinner? She hasn't seen them in awhile. Beth says, that sounds great. We haven't been out with them since they were born! Jarrick claps his hands with excitement! Jack gets in his car and heads back to work.

Later, Beth is getting the triplets bathed and dressed to meet their daddy at Abigail's. Jarrick comes downstairs and asks, can I help you with anything? Thanks! Yes you can. Will you take the diaper bag out to the SUV? Yes ma'am! Beth puts them in the stroller and head out to the SUV. She puts them in their car seats. She goes back to lock the doors. She gets in and heads to Abigail's. Just as she pulls up to Abigail's, Jack pulls up beside her. He gets out and helps her get the babies out of the SUV. Jarrick grabs the diaper bag and heads inside. Jack holds the door for her as she pushes the stroller in. Abigail turns around when she hears the bells over the door jingle. She smiles from ear to ear. She rushes over and greets them! God how have you all been? We've been just fine. We decided that they were old enough to go for their first outing. So you are their first stop! I love it. So let me get you 3 high chairs. You all find a table and I'll be right back, Abigail said! Beth pushes the stroller over to the table in front of the window. Jack pulls up another table so they all could get around it. Abigail comes back with the high chairs and Jack puts Daniel and Charlie each side of Beth. He sets hIs chair next to Charlie then sets Beckie next to him in between him and Jarrick.

Abigail asks, what can I get you to drink? Jarrick says, I want a strawberry soda. Jack says, I'll have coffee. Beth says, I'll have hot tea please. Abigail says, I'll be right back with them. Beth pulls out the sippy cup and hands them to the babies. Frank followed Abigail back to their table. He pulls up a chair and sit down. Wow we haven't seen you all in quite some time! How have you been doing? Jack replies, we've been doing good! Just wanted to start taking the babies out now that their 1. That's right they had their first birthday last week. Man I'm so sorry we didn't get to make it but Abigail has their gifts in the back. You all didn't have to get them anything, Jack said. Abigail asks, what can we get you all? Beth says, mashed potatoes and gravy for the babies and I'll have the meatloaf special with a dinner salad. Jarrick says, I'll have the chicken tenders with white gravy and French fries, please. Jack says, I'll have the pork chop dinner with new potatoes and baby carrots. Abigail says, ok coming right up! She rushes back to the kitchen and puts in their order. She comes back out and pulls up a chair by Beth. They all sit around the table talking when a ding comes from the kitchen. Abigail excuses herself to go get their food. She brings it back to the table and hands it out. Beth pushes the mash potatoes back away from Daniel and Charlie. Jack picks up Beckie's and stirs and blows it until it is cooled enough for her to eat. Beth does the same thing to the others. Abigail asks, can I feed Charlie? Beth replies, sure and hands the plate to her. Jack and Beth give Daniel and Beckie a bite is their mashed potatoes then get a bite of theirs. After about 45 minutes they were all finished. Abigail asks, can I get you some dessert and a fresh up on your drinks? They all said, yes please. Jarrick says, can I have a brownie with ice cream? Beth replies, yes you can. Abigail writes that down. Jack says, I'll have a piece of your cherry pie, please. Beth says, I'll have the same. Abigail asks, what about the babies? Beth says, oh I don't think so. Abigail says, ok I'll be right back. She comes back with everyone's dessert plus a cupcake for the babies. Beth says, oh Abigail you didn't have to do that! Abigail says, yes I did because I missed their birthday last week. I have their gifts in my office so when their finished I'll bring them out. Jack and Frank just shakes their head. After everyone was finished with their dessert Abigail cleaned away all the dishes and carried them to the back. Jack and Beth get a wet wipe to clean the babies up.

Abigail and Frank brings the gifts back to the table. Frank sets one in front of each of the babies. Jarrick helps Daniel, Beth helps Charlie, and Jack helps Beckie. Daniel got a car and a story book, Charlie got a Raggedy Ann with her name on the pocket, and Beckie got a Raggedy Ann with her name on the pocket. When Beckie seen hers her eyes said it all. She was so excited. She hugged it so tight. Jack looked at Beth and they were so excited that Beckie had showed emotion! Charlie touched the eyes on hers and giggled. Daniel didn't care to much for the book because he was to busy playing with his car! Jack and Beth thanked Abigail and Frank for the gifts. They both replied, it was our pleasure. Just sorry we missed their party. Jack asked for the ticket but Abigail said it was on the house. Jack says, no we can pay for our dinner. Abigail refused and said, no we missed their party so consider this a party! Beth says, thank you . She got up and hugged Abigail and Frank. Jack stood and did the same. Beth says, we'll have to have you all out for dinner soon! Abigail said, we would love that. Just let me know and I'll get Clara to cover for me! Sounds good. I'll let you know! Everyone said their goodbyes and they left.

At home Jack and Beth got the babies changed and in bed. Beth put Beckie's breathing treatment on. She started talking to her while she waited for the treatment to finish. You had a big day today, didn't you? You said your first word and got a new doll! Beckie started reaching. You want your new doll? Beckie shook her head yes. Beth got her new doll off the dresser and handed it to her. Beckie grabbed it and held it tight. Beth says, you have a new friend now, huh? Beckie just hugged it. After the treatment was finished Beth and Jack kissed each one of them and said good night. They went back out to the den and sat down with Jarrick. Jarrick was watching TV. Jarrick was sitting between them. Jarrick said, I hope Beckie is going to be alright. Beth and Jack put their arms around him while Beth says, we just have to pray that God with keep her safe and protect her. We've put all 4 of you in God's hands and trust that all will be just fine.