Chapter 24

By mid afternoon Marlena had managed to get out of bed and straighten up a few things. Dr. Bader had called a few minutes before and was headed her way. She didn't want her to think that she wasn't a neat person. She had been feeling a little better and even ate some lunch though not very much. She had also been feeling a little cramping when she lifted heavy objects. Even though she knew that she shouldn't there were just some things that she had to do with our without John to help her. She even managed to pull a few boxes of Belle's baby clothes out of the attic. They were all still in perfect shape she even found a few of Belle's old bears she collected as a child. A few moments later the doorbell rang Marlena knew it was Dr. Bader and told her to come right in. She was going through the boxes when Karen came in.

"Hi Marlena how are you feeling?"

"Hey Karen I feel okay. I even managed to eat some lunch today. Something that I haven't done since I got back here and started taking the medication either my body just gave up on fighting it or I'm finally getting over the morning sickness."

"Well John called he was worried because you ran a high temperature last night. He was afraid you were getting a bad infection how are you now?"

"Well the fever broke last night. I told John not to worry because I was probably getting a cold after all its January."

"Well either way having a fever when your pregnant isn't good I think you know that? So let me do an exam and see where that fever came from?"

Marlena lets out a sign and places the clothing down on the sofa. Bader gets her items out and does a complete exam. All looks well there isn't a sign of an infection. Marlena smiles as Bader shakes her head.

"Well there isn't a sign of any kind of infection. Perhaps it was a reaction to the medication. If you don't mind I would like to lower your dosage."

"Lower it? Is that going to be okay I mean I still have two weeks left in my first trimester? I don't want to loose the babies now we want them so much."

"Well if you have any kind of complication like if you start having cramping or something I want you to go back to the regular dosage. But if you get another fever we might have to keep you in the hospital. Now I know you don't want that so will you please let me know if anything is out of the norm?"

"Well aside from the terrible morning sickness and John watching me like a hawk there isn't much to report."

"Have you had any cramping or bleeding?"

"Well I have had some cramping but I've had that with all my previous pregnancies that I remember. I could tell you much about my pregnancy with Cassie and Rex. But from what I understand they were early about 2 months and they were a result of IVF that I had forgotten while I was missing all those years ago. I did have a little cramping a few minutes ago while I was getting these boxes out of our attic."

"Marlena I told you no lifting for the entire pregnancy. It's too dangerous for you to do that. Why didn't you ask John to get those boxes for you?"

"John wasn't here besides there were just Belle's baby clothes I'm sure that they didn't cause the cramps I was having."

"Marlena have you forgotten what I told you? This pregnancy is going to be very delicate any over exertion can cause a miscarriage. I don't want to see you go through that since you have always wanted another baby. Now that it's happened you have to be more careful. Everything you do can affect your pregnancy. Now do I have to send a nurse here to baby-sit you while John is away?"

"No Karen I'm perfectly fine. I just haven't ever had a pregnancy like this. With my other children I was working up until my due date full time. Now I have to adjust to a part time schedule and maternity leave 3 months before I'm due. I need to do this Karen I can't just sit around and do nothing and expect John to do everything. That's not who I am I need to be me."

"Well this is you or what you have to do now. You're due date is seven months away I want to get you as far into that pregnancy as I possibly can. I don't want you to deliver to early. I know your history I know you have never went to term with any of your pregnancies but this one I want to monitor closely I don't want you to have to go through all this only to loose the babies in the end."

"I know Karen its just I'm so used to doing my own thing and not depending on anyone for help. Now suddenly I have to depend on John more then I ever would if I weren't pregnant. I know he loves it but sometimes I just need to do things myself. Can you understand that?"

"I understand that but I want you to have healthy babies. If I find out that you aren't following my instructions I will be forced to hospitalize you until the twins are born. I know you don't want that to happen. So could you please listen to me?"

Marlena nods and goes back to her clothes. Dr. Bader smiles give her friend a hug and leave the penthouse. Marlena knew this pregnancy wasn't going to be easy but she didn't expect John or Karen to baby her. But if it's what's good for the baby she could argue and decided to follow orders.

TBC…Chapter 25