Before Eddie knew it the babies were three weeks old. All she wanted was to bring her girls home. It was getting harder for Jamie to get to the hospital everyday. He would come home from work exhausted and not up for driving anymore. Eddie was pretty much the only one able to go to the hospital. One afternoon she walked in and was met by Tara. Eddie looked at her alarmed.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothings wrong. Dr. McClain wanted me to tell you the good news."
"Good news?"
"Brooklyn can go home today."
Eddie almost fell over. "Really?"
"Really. She is doing great and she is officially over four pounds. So take her home."
"What about Addelyn and Josie?"
"They'll need to stay a little longer but hopefully they'll be home by next week."
"Okay. I'll go home and get her stuff."
Eddie drove faster then she meant to. When she pulled into the driveway she saw Jamie was already home. She ran inside and up the stairs.
"Jamie?"
"Closet."
Eddie ran into their bedroom and right into Jamie. He steadied her smiling.
"Jeez where's the fire?"
She smiled. "Guess what?"
"What?"
"Brooklyn's coming home."
He froze. "Seriously?"
She nodded. Jamie grinned and hugged her tight. She then pulled back unsure.
"Wait we're not ready."
"What do you mean?"
Eddie looked around the room. Their house chores had taken a backseat to the babies. There was laundry everywhere and they hadn't vacuumed in a week. They also hadn't set up the pack and play for the babies to sleep in. Jamie came up with a solution.
"Go get together what we need to take to the hospital to bring her home."
Eddie nodded. Jamie pulled out his phone and dialed. Thankfully Linda answered quickly.
"Hey Jamie."
"Hey Linda. Are you off tonight?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"We're bringing one of the girls home but with everything going on the house isn't sterile. Is there anyway you and Erin can come and clean it and get everything out that we'll need for her."
"Of course Danny can come too."
"Thank you so much."
Jamie hung up and walked into the nursery. Eddie was putting some things in thee diaper bag. She glanced at him.
"I think we're good."
"Okay I'll grab a car seat and put it in the car."
She nodded. He walked downstairs and stepped outside in time to see his dad and Grandpa pulling into the driveway. He cocked a brow.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Frank smiled. "Linda called. What needs to be done?"
"Well none of the baby things are put together. But first how do I put this thing in the car?"
Frank laughed and took the carseat from Jamie. He secured the base for him and showed him how to click the carseat in and out. He then glanced at Jamie.
"Are you okay?"
Jamie cracked a smile. "One of my babies is coming home."
Frank patted his back and followed him inside the house. Eddie was checking the diaper bag for the fifth time. Henry smiled and hugged her gently.
"Take a breath."
She smiled. "I just want to make sure that we have everything."
"All you need is the baby."
She nodded. Jamie looked at her and smiled.
"Come on. We need to get going."
She nodded and followed him out. Her stomach was in knots the entire drive. When they finally stepped off the elevator she calmed down. They sanitized their hands and walked inside. Tara smiled.
"She just had her final check up."
Eddie smiled and gently grabbed Brooklyn. The baby was wide awake and looking all around. Tara grabbed a clipboard and walked over to them.
"Okay so she won't need oxygen during the day but she will need a breathing treatment at night and if she is showing signs of distress she may need an extra treatment." She handed them a black bag and pulled out a nebulizer with all the attachments. "There is plenty of medicine in here and if you need more can refill it for you. All you do is break off one of the little tubes and fill the green part. Then you twist the white piece to the green and connect the mask. Then you just slide the mask over her face and turn on the machine. She'll just breath in the medicine. Wash the pieces after each use with warm water."
Eddie nodded. They then signed at least 30 forms and then they finally got the okay to leave. They spent some time with the other girls before they got ready to leave. Eddie laid Brooklyn in her bed for the last time. She changed her into a white long sleeve onesie that said her name in lime green writing. Then she slid lime green leggings on her, white socks and a lime green bow headband. She carried her out into the main room where Jamie was waiting with the carseat. He grinned and kissed Brooklyn's head. He then fastened her into her carseat for the first time. Brooklyn looked so small in the big carseat. At least she didn't seem upset by it. Eddie covered her with a blush colored minky blanket before Jamie carried her out. Eddie felt horrible and her face must have shown it. Jamie looked at her in the elevator.
"They'll be with us soon."
She sighed. "I know. It just doesn't seem fair."
"They have no idea what is going on."
"But I do."
He knew he couldn't say anything to help her so he kept quiet. When they stepped out into the cold air Brooklyn looked almost excited. Jamie snapped her carseat into it's base in the back of his car. Eddie slid in next to her so that she could keep an eye on her. She fell asleep on the ride home. When Jamie pulled into the driveway he was stunned to not see any cars in the driveway or on the street. Eddie grabbed the diaper bag and nebulizer while he grabbed the carseat. They carried Brooklyn inside and Eddie gasped. The house was cleaned spotless. There were some cleaning things left out on the counter. Eddie looked and saw that there was a note.
A woman I met through the hospital owns this company.
She wants to give you guys free cleaning products for life.
The cleaners are infant safe and effective in killing bacteria.
We figured you could use some time alone. See you on Thursday.
Love,
Linda
Eddie looked at Jamie and smiled.
"Your family did all of this?"
He smiled and set Brooklyn on the counter. "They wanted to help."
She hugged him tight and smiled at Brooklyn.
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Eddie woke up the next morning half expecting it all to be a dream. But Brooklyn was still there. She was asleep in the double bassinet pack n play. Eddie went downstairs and got her next bottle ready. By the time she got back in the room, Brooklyn was awake and getting ready to cry. Eddie grabbed her and sat in the glider by their window. She fed Brooklyn her bottle and then burped her. When she was finished she rocked her slowly. Brooklyn smiled up at her. Eddie grinned and kissed her daughter's forehead. Jamie opened his eyes and then sat up.
"Is she okay?"
Eddie nodded. "She just ate."
He nodded and stood. After a while Eddie went downstairs and found Jamie cooking breakfast. She couldn't remember the last time they had actually cooked a meal. Mostly they just ate take out or Sunday dinner leftovers. She laid Brooklyn in her Mamaroo before helping him. When they finished they sat down and ate at the table. Eddie glanced over at Brooklyn and found her looking all around the room. Jamie glanced at Eddie.
"I can watch her for a while if you want to go see the girls."
She hesitated. "I can't believe that once we bring one home we can't bring them back in."
He nodded. "I know you want to go see them."
She nodded. "Are you sure you'll be okay with her?"
"Positive. It may be good for us."
She nodded and set her dishes in the sink. Soon she was walking into the NICU. She smiled at Tara when she walked into the nursery area.
"Hey how are they?"
"Doing pretty good. How did Brooklyn do last night?"
"Good. Jamie's with her now."
She sat down and grabbed Josie who was awake. The baby smiled and cooed at her. Eddie hated that she still needed the oxygen mask. It was causing chaffing under her little nose. But it was necessary. Addie was fast asleep and sucking her thumb. Eddie stayed for over an hour before convincing herself to go home. It was harder then she thought it was going to be. She decided to stop at the market a few blocks from the house. She filled a basket and paid. Then she drove home. When she walked in she carried the groceries. No one was down stairs so she put the groceries away and then started cooking. Jamie came down just after she started.
"What are you doing?"
She shrugged. "After all your family has done for us the least I can do is make a couple of things to take over tomorrow."
He smiled and kissed her cheek. "How are the girls?"
She sighed. "They tried Josie without oxygen and she lasted a couple hours before her levels dropped."
He nodded. "And Addie?"
"Still stopped breathing twice last night."
He sighed. "She'll get better. She just needs more time."
She nodded. "They'll be a month old on Friday. How much more time?"
"Hopefully not long." He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the side of her head. "What happened to taking things one day at a time?"
"I guess having Brooklyn home just makes me think about when all three are finally home."
He nodded. "We'll get through it. Together."
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Eddie dressed Brooklyn in a long sleeve white onesie, brown polka dot corduroy dress with a turkey on it, white tights and a small brown headband bow. When she walked downstairs with her Jamie was finishing putting the food she had made in the car. He smiled at Brooklyn.
"Well don't you look pretty."
Eddie smiled and handed the baby over. Jamie fastened her into her carseat before climbing into the driver's seat. He drove to his dad's and parked in the driveway. Eddie carried in Brooklyn's carseat and the diaper bag while Jamie grabbed the food. When they entered the kitchen Erin smiled.
"Happy Thanksgiving."
Jamie smiled and kissed her cheek. "Where do you want these?"
"Oh here i'll have Nicky carry them out. By the way Linda made Grandpa and Dad wipe down the entire house with disinfectant and all of us have practically bathed in sanitizer."
He chuckled. Eddie unbuckled Brooklyn and lifted her out. Her little eyes were looking all around. Erin grinned and stroked her hair.
"Aww she has gotten so big."
Nicky came in and smiled. "Aww she is adorable."
Eddie adjusted Brooklyn slightly so that she could see Nicky. She cracked a smile. Then Linda walked in.
"Hey Pop is ready to eat."
Erin nodded. "I set a bouncy chair by the wall for her."
They walked into the dining room and found that the rest of the Reagan men were all sitting at the table. Frank smiled.
"Glad you made it."
Eddie walked over and smiled at Frank.
"Do you want to hold her?"
He accepted the baby and smiled down at her. Brooklyn looked up at him and seemed curious. Frank didn't hand her back until Linda walked in with the turkey. They said grace and then started to eat. Brooklyn was fast asleep in her bouncy seat behind Jamie's chair. Erin glanced at them.
"So Jamie do you have a shift tonight?"
"Not until morning. I got the black Friday patrol. I have to report at 4am."
Danny grabbed his wine glass. "I do not miss that gig. Or parade detail."
Jamie smiled. "One year I had a guy jump out in front of a float wearing a raw turkey on his head."
Jack made a face. "Why?"
"He wanted his five minutes of fame."
Sean looked curious. "What did you do to him?"
"Tackled him and dragged him out of the way before charging him."
Everyone laughed. Danny then looked at him.
"So are you up for the football rematch?"
He shook his head. "Maybe next time. We're going to the hospital to see the girls."
Eddie then remembered. "Umm only one of us is."
"Oh yeah."
Henry looked curious. "Why can only one of you go?"
Jamie explained. "After a baby is released from the NICU you can not bring them back in. So one of us has to stay with Brooklyn."
Linda spoke up. "Or you could leave her here. I can watch her while they play football."
Eddie looked at her surprised. "Really?"
"Really. We'll be fine."
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