The Brady Eight: Just Starting Out
A Welcome Aboard Sequel
A/N—Wow! All these reviews and PMs! Thanks so much!
Chapter 3
One month later (mid-February). The babies are 10 weeks old.
It's around seven in the morning. After another exhausting night of Ryan and colic, Carol is sleeping on the couch, while Ryan is asleep in his swing. The older five Brady kids descend the stairs and see their mother on the couch. Marcia turns and looks at her siblings.
Marcia: Shhh!
They make their way to the kitchen and begin fixing their breakfast. Alice is in the kitchen and serves the kids their juice and milk.
Cindy: Poor mom! I can't believe how bad Ryan's colic is. Alice, how long does colic last?
Alice: It can last until the baby's about three or four months.
Bobby: That long? I don't know if my ear drums can take it.
Alice: How do you think your folks feel?
Cindy: What causes it?
Alice: Nobody really knows. Some people think it's because they're so young and their digestive system isn't quite developed yet.
Bobby: Why does only Ryan have it and not Carolyn?
Alice: Don't know. Sometimes it affects one baby and not the other.
Meanwhile, Mike descends the stairs holding Carolyn. He kisses his sleeping wife on the cheek. Her eyes flutter open.
Mike: Morning!
Carol: Sits straight up in a panic. It's time to feed the twins! How long has she been fussing? Here, let me get Carolyn started.
She holds her arms out and receives her daughter.
Mike: Relax. She wasn't fussing. She had her eyes open and gave me a big smile when I bent over to pick her up.
Carol: Can you check on Ryan? If he's awake, bring him over.
Mike walks over to the swing and sees Ryan is awake. The baby looks at his father and smiles and coos.
Mike: You smiling at your daddy? Ryan continues to smile and coo. Awww! That's my boy! Are you ready for your breakfast? I think your mother's ready for you. He picks his son up, and the baby snuggles into his father's shoulder. Soon, Ryan starts grunting.
Carol: Bring him over and I'll get him started.
Mike helps his wife get their son situated. He kisses his wife on the lips.
Mike: How long were you and Ryan up?
Carol: He finally called it quits around five-thirty.
Mike: Would you like me to bring you something?
Carol: I'd love a cup of orange juice!
Mike: One orange juice coming up!
He goes into the kitchen and sees his older kids around the table.
Marcia: How's mom?
Mike: Ryan kept her up again.
Marcia: Poor mom!
Jan: Anything we can do to help?
Mike: You guys are pitching in, doing extra chores, and assisting with the twins and your mother and I really appreciate it. Changes the subject. What do you guys have planned for after school?
Cindy: I've got cheerleading practice. Basketball homecoming is this Friday.
Bobby: I'm going over to Steve's house after school.
Mike: Just don't neglect your studying for the Bee.
Peter: Julie and I are going to Haskell's.
Jan: I don't have anything today.
Marcia: Neither do I.
Mike: Good! If your mother needs help, be sure to give her a hand with the twins.
Jan: We will, dad.
The kids finish their breakfast and head off to school. Mike pours a glass of orange juice. Meanwhile, the twins are finishing nursing. Ryan detaches and begins squirming. Carol shifts him onto her shoulder as Carolyn continues to nurse. He kicks his sister's foot and she starts to fuss.
Carol: A little help here, please?
Mike enters the living room and sees his wife trying to juggle the babies. He sets the glass on a coaster on the table by the couch.
Mike: Would you like me to take him?
Carol: Thanks!
Mike: Takes his son and puts him on his shoulder. C'mere little man! He pats Ryan's back, and the baby lets out a big burp. Good one! The phone rings. Brady Residence! Well hello, Ken! How's Kathy?
Carol: Her eyes light up. Did she have the twins? She mouths and then takes a drink.
Mike: Shh!
Ken: Kathy had the babies last night.
Mike: Congratulations!
Carol smiles in anticipation of the news.
Ken: We have two new daughters.
Mike: Girls! Congratulations!
Carol's smile widens.
Ken: Yes! Kara Elizabeth and Karen Elaine, and the doctor said they are identical. They both weighed in at six and a half pounds and are twenty inches long.
Mike: That's a lot of baby.
Carol: What?
Mike: Shh! Addresses Ken. How's Kathy?
Ken: Doing well and resting comfortably.
Mike: Do you need us to keep the boys?
Ken: Thanks, but mom and dad are down, so they're keeping the boys for us.
Mike: Tell Kathy "Congratulations" for us.
Ken: Will do. Oh, and tell Carol that Kathy would love it if she's able to come to the hospital tomorrow. She's excited to show off the girls.
Mike: Will do!
They hang up.
Carol: Well? She waits in eager anticipation.
Mike: Kathy had the babies last night. Identical twin girls, Kara Elizabeth and Karen Elaine.
Carol: Smiles. Aww! Good for them! They changed the names they were going to use.
Mike: Oh?
Carol: Kathy had said they were going to use Kathryn Gail and Karen Grace for girls. Carolyn finishes up, so she puts her daughter on her shoulder. How much did they weigh? How long are they?
Mike: Ken said they both weighed in at six and a half pounds and are twenty inches long.
Carol: Oooh! She winces. That's big for twins!
Mike: He also said Kathy would love for you to come to the hospital tomorrow to meet the girls. I have a feeling she's resting up today. Speaking of today, what are your plans for today?
Carol: Mom's coming over. She said she wanted her 'twin fix.' Are you working at the office?
Mike: I'm turning in the final drafts for the Dunham account and then I've got a planning meeting for the Anderson account. So, I'll be gone most of the day. He places Ryan on his lap and studies the baby. You're so cute. Ryan smiles. That's my boy! He kisses his son and smiles. I love you!
Ryan smiles and coos at his father. Carolyn lets out a burp. Then, Carol places her daughter in her lap and smiles at her. Carolyn smiles back.
Carol: That's my girl!
Mike: Looks at his watch. I need to get to the office. He addresses his son. I've gotta go to work, little man. He stands up, and leans over to kiss his wife and daughter. I'll see you two around dinner time.
Carol reaches for her son, and Mike places him on her lap, beside Carolyn.
Carol: Before you go, can you spread that blanket out on the floor? I'm going to put the twins on it.
Mike retrieves a blanket and spreads it on the floor. Then, he lifts Ryan from his mother's lap, and places him on the blanket. He kisses his wife again, then leaves for work. Carol carries Carolyn and places her on the blanket. She brings a few toys over and then sits by her children. Ryan is closer to his mother, so she squeaks a yellow rubber duck. The baby coos and smiles.
Carol: You like the duck? Huh? Ryan continues to coo. See the duck?
After a few minutes, Ryan loses interest, so she shows it to Carolyn. The baby smiles and tracks it as Carol squeaks and moves the duck around. Then, Carol squeaks it near Carolyn, but the baby doesn't react.
Carol: Hear the ducky? Carolyn, hear the ducky? Carol puts the toy away and finds another. How 'bout this one?
She tries a rattle and gets no response.
Carol: You want in my lap?
She places Carolyn on her lap and plays with her. Carolyn smiles as her mother claps her hands together and smiles.
Carol: Sings. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands! She claps the baby's hands. That's it!
Alice enters the living room to dust the furniture. She sees Carol playing with the twins.
Alice: Is there anything you need before I begin dusting the den and living room?
Carol: No, but mom is coming over today.
Alice: Do you want me to fix lunch?
Carol: No, that's not necessary.
Alice: This afternoon, I'm going to the market. Let me know if there's something special I need to pick up.
Suddenly, the doorbell rings. Ryan startles and turns to the sound, but Carolyn does not. However, she doesn't have time to be concerned. Alice answers the door to reveal Mrs. Tyler.
Alice: Mrs. Tyler! Come in!
Mrs. Tyler: Alice, how are you?
Alice: Doing just fine!
Mrs. Tyler sees her daughter and youngest grandchildren. Carol still has Carolyn in her lap and Ryan is on his back.
Carol: Mother!
Mrs. Tyler: Hi! How are you and these little ones? She picks Ryan up and places him on her lap. Hi, little guy! Look how big you've gotten! She looks at her granddaughter. And you! You're gorgeous!
Carol beams with pride.
Mrs. Tyler: How's Ryan's colic?
Carol: Still there. It's better, but there are still some days when he wakes up screaming.
Mrs. Tyler: Addressing her grandson. Poor baby boy! That colic is awful, huh? Addresses her granddaughter. And how are you, Carolyn? She leans over, tickles the baby's chin, and Carolyn smiles. Are you still being rather quiet?
Carol: She is. Noises don't seem to faze her like they do Ryan. She could sleep through a bomb, I suppose.
Mrs. Tyler: It is incredible how different babies are.
Carol: Yes, it is. Ryan and Carolyn are like night and day. Speaking of night and day, are you and dad free to babysit the kids this Saturday? The Regional Spelling Bee is this Saturday, and I really don't want to take the twins out just yet.
Mrs. Tyler: Sure! We'd love to. Do you want us to come here or drop them off at our place?
Carol: I'd rather you come here, if that's okay.
Mrs. Tyler: That'll be fine. Just let us know what time you want us over. Do you need someone for Friday night? I know that's Cindy's homecoming basketball game.
Carol: Mike's parents are keeping them. We thought it might be better to ask one set for one night and the other for the next.
Mrs. Tyler: How are you feeling?
Carolyn begins squirming, so Carol lays her on the blanket.
Carol: I'm tired, but feeling really good.
Mrs. Tyler: Great! And how are Mike and the older kids?
Carol: Jan's really taken to the twins. The others have been really good with them, but Jan's really stepped up.
Mrs. Tyler: I would have thought Cindy would've been the one who really took to the twins since she was so into her baby dolls, especially Kitty Kary-All.
Carol: She's twelve and into junior high and cheerleading, so I'm not surprised. If Paige had survived, I suppose Cindy would've gotten into the "big sister" role. Greg's off at college, Marcia's about to graduate high school, and Peter and Bobby really aren't into babies, so I'm not surprised they've not bonded as well with the twins as Jan has.
Mrs. Tyler: Speaking of twins, has Kathy had hers?
Carol: She did early this morning. Both girls. Kara and Karen.
Mrs. Tyler: Pretty names, but what a tongue twister!
The next day
Carol gets ready to visit Kathy Kelly and her new babies. Mike is working from home, so he can keep the twins. As Carol gets ready to go, nerves about leaving the twins start creeping in, for this is the first time she's left them.
Carol: Now, Ryan likes the rubber ducky and Carolyn prefers the little pink bear, not the brown one, but the pink one.
Mike: Carol, I know.
Carol: If Ryan starts fussing after his bottle, stick him in one of the swings. He falls asleep well in it, and he seems to like it.
Mike: Trying not to chuckle. Carol, I know.
Carol: Now Carolyn doesn't like to be in the swing after she's fed. Instead, she likes being up on a shoulder.
Mike: I know.
Carol: And, Ryan doesn't mind being on his back on the blanket, but Carolyn prefers to be sitting in my lap.
Mike puts his hands on her shoulders and stops her pacing.
Mike: Carol, relax. They'll be fine.
Carol: I know. She tries to keep tears from forming and sniffs. But I've never left them before.
Mike: Carol, it's only for a couple hours. They'll be fine.
Carol: Maybe I should feed them before I go. She looks over at the twins sleeping in their bassinets.
Mike: They're asleep. They're fine. Their bottles are in the fridge and Alice and I will warm them up when the kids need them. Go on. Kathy wants to see you and introduce you to her new daughters.
Carol: Okay. She sighs. You're right. I'm going.
Mike: Good.
Carol leaves the Brady house for the first time without the twins. She arrives at the hospital and finds Kathy's room. She knocks on the door.
Kathy: Come in!
Carol opens the door and greets her friend.
Kathy: Carol! Come in and meet the girls.
Carol enters the room and sees Kathy holding her twins.
Carol: Oh, they're beautiful! Carol admires Kathy's girls.
Kathy: Thanks! Mother says they look like my baby pictures, but with Ken's nose.
Carol: How are the boys? Were they excited?
Kathy: They are! Steve said Ken and I should've had triplets, so that they would be the Three Girl Musketeers, since he, Matt and Dwayne are the Three Musketeers. I couldn't imagine juggling three. I can't believe I'm going to be juggling two. I never even thought I would have one.
Carol feels a tear trying to escape.
Kathy: I never dreamed I would go from having no children to having five in a little over a year. It's still unreal.
Carol: I'm so happy for you!
Kathy: Would you like to hold one? I know yours are not that much older.
Carol: Sure.
Kathy passes Kara over to Carol.
Kathy: This is Kara. Kara, this is your Auntie Carol. She's mommy's best friend, and she and your Uncle Mike have two kids just a little bit older than you. They will be your very first friends.
Carol: Blushes. Hi Kara! She holds the baby, draping her on her shoulder. I can't believe how much they grow and so quickly! It's hard to believe it's been two months since mine were this size.
Kathy: Holds Karen close. I can't believe they're mine! Karen, meet your Auntie Carol!
She passes the baby to Carol, who balances the two with ease.
Carol: Hi Karen!
Kathy: I can't believe how easy you make it.
Carol: You'll get the hang of it. Sometimes it still takes both of us to juggle them, but we're both getting the hang of holding both of them at the same time.
Kathy: Ken's a little bit skittish about holding them. He's afraid he'll drop them.
Carol: I understand. I've heard of men feeling like that, especially with their newborn daughters.
Kathy: Was Mike like that?
Carol: No. Maybe since he'd already had experience with his three sons as newborn babies, the twins didn't make him nervous.
The friends continue to talk and soon, it's time for Carol to leave. She looks at her watch.
Carol: I need to get back. She passes Kara back to Kathy, and then Karen. Mike's probably wondering where I am.
Kathy: Thanks for coming!
Carol: You're welcome!
Carol leaves the hospital and returns home. She enters through the family room, and sees Mike walking and talking to Carolyn, and Ryan asleep in his swing.
Mike: Back so soon? He teases.
Carol: So soon? I've been gone for over two hours.
Mike: I know.
Carol: How were they?
Mike: They were great. No problems.
Carol: None?
Mike: I gave Carolyn a bath because she had a really messy diaper, and Ryan had a bit of colic, but he settled down about half an hour ago.
Carol: When did they eat?
Mike: They woke up about ten minutes after you left, and Alice and I gave them their bottles.
Carol: They don't look like they're hungry. Can you watch them for a little bit longer while I go and pump?
Mike: Of course. He kisses his wife on the cheek. You don't have to ask. They're my children too.
Carol: I know. I'm an overprotective mother at times.
Mike: And I love you for it. He plants a soft kiss on her lips.
Carol: And I love you too! Now, I'll be in the bedroom if you need me.
Carol kisses the tops of the babies' heads and then goes to the master bedroom.
-End of Chapter 3-