So I think this might be the last chapter...I might do one more but I really want to focus on my sequel to The Foster Rule's and get a couple chapters done before I post that...all these grad school papers are killing me I have little time to write anymore. Thanks for all the great reviews and look for The Foster Rules - The College years coming November 1!
Chapter 9 – As months go By
Month 2
Stef was in the kitchen making breakfast grumbling under her breath. She desperately wanted coffee but because just the smell of it makes Lena sprint to the bathroom Stef had to wait until she was on her way to work or until Lena was out of the house to drink it. Stef would do anything for Lena and their baby but giving up coffee was almost criminal….and last night was a long night. While they had explained to the kids about Jude weeks ago they wanted to wait to explain that Lena was having a baby. First if they did it all at once they thought it would be too much at once….and second they wanted to wait and make sure nothing was wrong with the baby and everything was going smoothly. Of course with this new knowledge the kids had tons of questions and they were happy to answer all of them…it just made for a long night.
"Morning nuggets," Stef said turning as they came in from the toy room.
"Morning mommy," both kids happily replied as they headed over to Lena.
"Morning mama," they said both now planted in front of Lena.
"Morning baby nugget," Callie said reaching up and kissing Lena's tummy.
Lena looked up at Stef tears filling her eyes. Her hormones had been in overdrive lately and this simple but sweet gesture by their daughter sent her over the edge. Trying to pull it together she wiped at her eyes and carried on.
"Morning kiddos…I hope you're hungry smells like mommy is making a great breakfast over there."
"I'm starving," Brandon said climbing up on the stool.
"Our boy is growing big and strong," Stef said with a smile.
"I grow too," Callie chirped.
"Yes you certainly are growing big and strong," Lena said lifting Callie up to sit on a stool.
"LENA," Stef yelled sharply.
Stef's sudden outburst startled Lena causing her to almost drop her daughter.
"What? What's wrong?"
"You can't be lifting the kids in your condition."
"My condition? Stef I am pregnant not disabled."
"Yes you are pregnant you shouldn't be lifting anything heavy and like we just stated our kids are growing big and strong…they aren't babies anymore."
Lena rolled her eyes causing Callie to giggle. She kissed her daughters head before pulling Stef aside.
"You need to relax before you give our kids a complex. Callie is not even 50 pounds and I barely moved her two feet. It is not like I was carrying her around all day."
"I just want to take care of you and the baby."
"And in your head that means me not doing anything for the next 7 months? Stef it is ok for me to function as a normal human begin. Before I got pregnant I was 100% healthy and lived an active lifestyle….something I can continue to do now. We have been to the doctor and everything is progressing normally….I love you but you can't put me in a bubble for 7 months…I'll kill you," she said with a smile.
"Well can I put our littlest nugget in a bubble," she asked with a pout?
"The baby is in a bubble and I am carrying that bubble. We are fine but I promise to take it a little easier until we see the Dr. next and you can ask him all your questions about how much activity I can be….but you have to not freak out and scare everyone if I am doing something for the kids. I don't want them thinking we are changing and neglecting them because of the baby."
"I promise I will try but I might need a little time to adjust and relax."
"Maybe if you are good I will allow coffee back in the house."
"Deal," Stef said with a bright smile.
Lena laughed….anything for her coffee fix.
Month 5
Everything had been going great since the Foster family found out they were going to expand. It took a little time but mama tiger eventually relaxed and after Dr. approval allowed Lena do start doing things around the house again. The kids were currently fascinated but the baby bump that was ever growing…stef was fascinated by other changes a little above the baby bump. They continued to talk to the kids about the baby making sure they were comfortable with the whole process. Everyone was excited about the next Dr. appointment as they would find out the gender of the baby.
"If you need anything call us please," Stef emphasized as last time Callie was having a bit of a break down but because they were at the Dr.'s Sharon delayed calling.
"I promise I will…lesson learned. We should be ok though….hurry back I can't wait to know if I am having another grandson or granddaughter."
"I promise mom you will be the third to know."
"Third," she stated almost offended.
"Well the Dr. Lena and I will all know and then we will come back here and tell you Brandon and Callie together."
"All right I can live with that…not get out of here….and drive safe you have some precious cargo to deliver."
Stef laughed and rolled her eyes and she headed back to the car.
"Everything ok," Lena asked as they headed onto the road?
"Yeah….you should know you have now been demoted from a person to a container carrying precious cargo I am under strictest orders to deliver safely to the Dr's office and back."
"She means well love. I am excited….finally we can start planning the nursery and figuring out if we need to pull Callie's old clothes or Brandon's out of storage."
"Yes it will make things a little easier and we can start really thinking about names too," Stef added.
Never one to be patient stef was tapping her foot against the floor of the room waiting for the Dr. to come back. Lena earlier had blood drawn and some basic tests run but the Dr would do the ultrasound and confirm the blood work was all good.
"Hello ladies how are we today," the Dr. said happily as she grabbed the chart off the door?
"Impatient," Stef said quickly.
"Stef be nice," Lena chided. "We are good….excited to find out the sex of the baby."
"Well lets not keep you waiting….we haven't done an ultra sound in a while….which is normal….we wouldn't have run another one unless we found something abnormal and you have been perfect so far."
Lena smiled as Stef giving her an I told you so look. Stef just huffed and turned her attention back to the Dr.
"Oh."
"Oh," both ladies repeated not sure if it was good or bad.
"That certainly is interesting."
"Dr. I need you to be a little more specific here….what's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong everything is perfect with your twins."
"Oh ok good see Lena everything is perfect with the…wait what now?"
"Congratulations….your having twins," the Dr. said allowing the two a minute for the information to process.
Lena gasped at the confirmation and her eyes filled with tears seeing the images on the screen.
"Twins," she whispered softly.
She blindly reached for Stef's hand gripping it tightly once she found it.
"Twins," Stef confirmed.
It was scary having a baby….but having two was a little overwhelming. Stef knew thought that they would be able to handle this and they would love the twins just like their other kids more than anything.
"And it looks like your little boy is not shy at all," the Dr. said with a smile.
"A boy," Lena said with a smile.
"Not shy? Guess he will fit right on in with the rest of the crew….I can just see them putting on performances now," Stef said with a smile.
"However, your little girl seems quiet shy and content to hide behind her brother."
"A little girl," Lena beamed. "Are you sure?"
"It was challenging and she is hiding but I am 95% certain she is a girl. During your next ultra sound we can see if they have moved any and I might be able to get a clearer image."
The rest of the dr.s appointment Stef barely registered anything…..twins…they were going to have twins. In a few short months they would have 5 kids under the age of 8. That thought would make anyone go a little crazy but Stef knew with two great older kids plus the help of her mom and Lena's family they would adjust. She couldn't wait to meet her littles.
Month 8
Everyone was shocked but excited by the news that twins were on their way. It took the kids a little while to fully understand what twins meant and Jude was too little to understand really anything at this point. He was the one they were most worried about when the babies arrived but he was great when the moms had to help the other kids they hoped he would be the same with the twins. Both Lena's parents were going to come when the babies were born but then head back home shortly after and would make a longer trip out when Lena was schedule to go back to work.
Lena was continuing to work and was going to do so for another week when she was scheduled to be induced. Since she was carrying twins odds were she would not carry to term because she would run out of room….they planned to induce her if she didn't go naturally. In the mean time she was highly cranky and not hiding that fact from anyone. As much as she tried to not take it out on the kids sometimes she didn't realize it until it was too late.
"I don't want to be pregnant anymore," Lena whimpered as she lay on the couch, Stef rubbing her feet.
"Just think this time next week we will be in the hospital waiting for our little nuggets to arrive."
"As much as I don't want to be pregnant anymore I can't believe they will be here in less than a week. They have been kicking up a storm today….if they don't settle down they might kick their way out."
"Why don't we get you upstairs so I can get the kids ready for bed," Stef said running Lena's very pregnant belly.
"In all my complaining did I happen to mention how much I love you and how grateful I am to be going through this with you….you have been great with the kids and my insanity."
Stef leaned over and gave her love a gentle kiss.
"I wouldn't want to be going through this with anyone but you."
Stef helped Lena stand a gave her a moment to let her get her bearings. Stef had called into the other room to inform the kids it was time to go upstairs.
"Mama your dripping," Callie said standing by the entrance way.
Stef looked at her daughter a little confused but confusion quickly turned into adrenaline as she saw Lena's shocked face.
"My water just broke."
Lights….camera….action! Stef immediately called her mom to come over and watch the kids. Lena said she was ok while Stef went upstairs to grab their hospital bag. Thankfully at this time of night there was no traffic and Sharon was at their door step in 10 minutes. Stef called their doctor to inform them Lena's water broke and they were headed to the hospital. After 8 hours of labor Jesus and Mariana Foster were born 6lbs 4oz and 5lbs 10oz respectively. Both babies and mom were doing great and the Foster family was now officially 7.