"Mommy, daddy," Everly called just after six am
"No," Allison groaned.
"I'm going," Asher replied, "I have to get ready for work anyway."
"Too early," Allison complained.
"Six ten," Asher said.
"I have to pee," Everly shouted.
Asher got out of bed and ran Everly to the bathroom. She had a pull-up on in case of an accident but hated being wet and using them. She would do everything she could to avoid using the pull up. They still had her wearing them to sleep because her bladder control at night wasn't there yet. Until she could go a few weeks without an overnight accident she was staying in her pull up. It didn't help that she couldn't get out of bed on her own to use the bathroom. Her mobility was constantly getting better but getting out of bed was not yet an independent skill.
"Zoo time," Everly said.
"It's 6:15," Asher replied, "uncle Leo said you're leaving at 9, that's almost three hours. Do you want to go back to bed for a bit or come cuddle with mom?"
"Cuddle," Everly replied.
Asher carried Everly into their room and set her down beside Allison.
"Mommy wake up," Everly called.
"Lay down," Allison said, pulling Everly into her arms.
"Zoo," Everly asked.
"At nine you need to sleep for another hour," Allison said, "lay down and close your eyes."
"Now," Everly asked.
"Yes now," Allison replied, "you need more sleep."
"I'm going to go to work," Asher said.
"We're good," Allison smiled, "I love cuddle mornings."
"I know you do," Asher replied giving both a hug and Allison a quick kiss.
"Have a good day at work," Allison smiled.
"Relax don't just study," Asher said.
"I will,' Allison replied as he walked out of the room.
Everly laid down with Allison and cuddled close to her mom. Allison knew Teddy disagreed with them having everly in their bed but it didn't happen often, weekend mornings for snuggles or family movie nights in the big bed and she was never in their bed overnight. Teddy and Owen had rarely had Leo or Allison in their bed, occasionally if they were upset or sick or the odd weekend or holiday morning. They was more likely to go sit with Leo and Allison in their rooms. Allison remembered the last time Teddy had laid on her bed with her. Allison had been a week from her due date with Everly, exhausted, sore and upset about being left out of a BBQ with friends. Teddy had laid on Allison's bed with her while they talked about the baby and made plans for the little one.
Allison smoothed Everlys hair back from her face smiling at her daughter this was hard sometimes being a mom and a wife and a med student but they could do it. Allison also knew what she had to prioritise that Everly had to always come first.
Just before eight Everly woke up again
"Zoo now," Everly asked.
"Let's get ready, " Allison agreed.
She got Everly ready and they made breakfast. Once Ev had eaten Leo came down to get her. Allison passed him an accessible parking pass and they went upstairs. Leo already had Allison's folding wagon and a car seat in the back of Teddys car.
"Monkeys," Everly squealed in the wagon pointing to some baboons.
"Those are baboons," Leo said.
"Kitty," Everly smiled, spotting the ocelot.
"The Ocelot," Leo said, "it's a type of cat."
"Leo," a guy called.
"Jace," Leo said.
"Who is this," Jace asked.
"My niece," Leo replied, "we're having a day before I have to go back to school. What are you doing?"
"We brought our daughter," Jace said, "this is my girlfriend Kaylee and our daughter Sarah."
"How old," Leo asked.
"Six months," Jace replied, "school though, what are you doing?"
"I'm at Texas Southwestern for med school," Leo said.
"Which of your sister's kids," Jace asked.
"Allison's daughter," Leo said, "Everly is 4."
"Medical school," Jace asked.
"Yes then I'll serve," Leo replied, "what are you doing?"
"Working," Jace shrugged.
"Where," Leo asked.
"Still at home depot," Jace replied, "you got out of Seattle."
"I did," Leo replied.
"Uncle Leo," Everly said, "I need the bathroom."
"We should find the washroom," Leo said, "it was good to see you man."
"You too," Jace agreed.
After the washroom Leo and Everly went to watch the birds of prey show before the lion feeding. Everly watched all of it wide eyed. She loved animals. Leo watched Everly's expression and smiled seeing how happy his little niece was. They made several loops through the zoo looking at all of the animals and rode the carousel. He wanted his own one day, not yet but one day.
Allison made her way to Olivia's with Ava.
"No Ev today," Olivia asked.
"Leo took her to the zoo," Allison smiled, "she's out with him. He said the zoo and lunch. I just had to send her backpack."
"Back pack," Olivia asked, "she still needs a diaper bag."
"She needs a few things," Allison replied, " pain meds if needed, change of clothes, wipes, spare braces parts, extra socks, water bottle, some snacks."
"Snacks," Ava asked.
"She likes her snacks," Allison replied, "but Leo is sending me pictures they're having a lot of fun. She needs these days with Leo. Leo enlisted, there's a good chance that as a doctor a surgeon he'll be deployed and we could lose him. My daughter needs to know her uncle. To have memories with him."
"He was pissed when you had her," Olivia reminded.
"He loves her," Allison said, "how's Mighty Max?
"Growing," Olivia said.
"Napping now," Allison asked.
"He is," Olivia said, "when Ev's sleep schedule changed did you find her feeding schedule changed as well."
"Yes," Allison said, "and adding solids?"
"Not yet," Olivia said, "his doctor doesn't want to yet."
"Eight months," Allison asked.
"Seven," Ava correcened, "you have to adjust for him being a month early. Then the HLH he's smaller and not hitting his milestones."
"He's close," Olivia said.
"It's hard," Allison agreed, "to watch them fight and struggle. To hold them when they're sick and in pain."
"It is," Olivia said, "how do you do it?"
"I have help," Allison said, "I lean on Ash, my mom, dad, Ava, Leo, Annie."
"How did you do it the months of being up with her all night," Olivia asked.
"I don't know," Allison said, "she eventually got better. Ask for help Liv. There were nights I was so exhausted that I let Ash know and he did the middle of the night feed with a bottle or the early morning one and let me sleep a bit."
"Why don't I sleep over tonight and I'll do the night feeds," Ava offered.
"Don't you have someone," Olivia asked.
"I'll stay," Ava said.
"And I'm going to take Max during the day on Monday," Allison said, "I'm still on thanksgiving break and Everly is at school. You need time. Chill, study, whatever you need to do."
"Don't you need to study," Olivia asked, "you're in med school."
"And my people come first," Allison said.
"But I," Olivia said.
"That doesn't mean I won't," Allison said, "Liv let us help. Let your mom help."
"How," Olivia asked.
"I'm going to list some things and you tell me what you need Ava and I to do," Allison said.
"Okay," Olivia said.
"Laundry, wash bottles, wash the pump, prep bottles, tidy your room, tidy his room, dishes, make food, clean the kitchen," Allison listed one at a time waiting for Olivia to nod, "coffee, tea, take Max for a walk, clean your car, wash your car, change your bedding."
Olivia nodded on the last one.
"I got it," Allison said, "give Ava a job."
"Can you put my laundry in the washer," Olivia asked.
"We're on it," Ava said, "is there anything else."
"Let's do it then why don't we take Max and walk to Maurices and get lunch," Allison suggested.
"We haven't been there together since Everly was a baby," Olivia said.
"Lets do it," Ava agreed.
A few minutes later the three girls walked to the local cafe to grab lunch and chat. Allison watched Olivia making sure her friend was decompressing and relaxing. When Max began to fuss Allison took him to change his diaper and clean up.
"How does she just forgive," Olivia asked Ava.
"Because that's Allie," Ava said, "she always will. She'll be mad, or hurt for a while but she always forgives."
"Med school, how do we help her," Olivia asked.
"I'd guess offer to babysit and return the favour," Ava said, "I take Ev for outings to give Allie time or let her and Asher have time together. She runs herself ragged and gets worn out."
"Bake for them," Olivia asked.
"She would appreciate it," Ava said, "she's still a medical mom like you."
"But Everly can go out," Olivia said.
"So can Max," Allison said, "Liv you're only hurting both of you by hiding at home. You have to go out."
"School," Olivia said.
"Next semester take an on campus course," Allison replied, "pick one."
"Do you," Olivia asked.
"I've had all of mine on campus since sophomore year," Allison said, "med school is all in person."
"Allison," Dr Brown greeted.
"Hi Dr Brown," Allison smiled.
"No classes today," Dr Brown asked.
"Fall reading week," Allison responded, "and thanksgiving break."
"Catching up with friends," Dr Brown asked.
"Yes Ma'am," Allison replied, "this is Ava, Olivia and Max. Dr Brown is the surgeon I'm shadowing at Seattle Prysebatarian."
"It's good to see your keeping up with friends," Dr Brown said, "there's a lot of residents and medical students I see come through that don't and it makes it harder."
"I know I have to live outside of school and the hospital," Allison replied.
"Is your daughter with you," Dr Brown asked.
"Everly isn't," Allison replied, "my brother is home from Texas for the week so he's taken her to the Zoo today. I'm out for a couple hours then will get some studying in."
"If you'd like I have an open gallbladder removal tomorrow," Dr Brown offered, "you're welcome to come observe."
"I would like to," Allison replied, "what time?"
"It's at 10," Dr Brown said.
"Everly has school so I'll drop her off for 8:30 and meet you at the hospital," Allison smiled.
"I will see you tomorrow," Dr Brown said.
"I'm looking forward to it," Allison agreed.
"Enjoy your day off," Dr Brown smiled.
"You as well," Allison replied.
The three girls finished lunch and walked back to Olivia's.
Allison walked home and sat at the table working on home work when Leo and Everly came in.
"How was it," Allison asked.
"Good," Leo said.
"Did you have fun," Allison asked Everly.
"Can we go again," Everly asked.
"Soon," Allison promised, "we'll go with daddy soon. Were you polite?"
Leo nodded.
"What did you see," Allison asked.
Everly told Allison all about their day and what they had seen and done.
"That's a busy day," Allison smiled, "are you tired?"
Everly shook her head.
"She slept in the car home," Leo replied.
"Did you thank uncle Leo," Allison asked.
"Many times," Leo replied, "your wagon is in the garage and her backpack is at the bottom of the stairs. We only needed her water bottle."
"But when we go out without it is when we need it," Allison replied, "thank you for taking her today."
"I wanted to," Leo smiled, "I should study for a bit then they're ordering Thai for all of us."
"I know," Allison said, "six ish?"
"Dad will text when he picks it up," Leo replied.
"Okay," Allison answered, "see you in a bit. Leo thanks again it means a lot that you do those days with her."
"I love my everly time," Leo said, "I miss too much being away all the time."
Leo walked upstairs and Allison sat down with Everly who was trying to build a zoo with her plastic animals.