A couple days later Teddy popped by Allison's not long after Owen had taken Everly out for the afternoon.
"Mom," Allison smiled, opening the door.
"Hi baby girl," Teddy smiled, 'I made cookies and a couple other things for you."
"Do you have time for tea,' Allison asked.
"Always for you," Teddy smiled shifting the laundry basket on her hip, "how are you doing baby?"
"Ready," Allison replied, 'but we have a week. I don't know if baby boy will hold on that long though."
"Really,' Teddy asked.
"I'm starting to feel pressure deep in my pelvis," Allison replied, 'and they say the second doesn't drop as much but I feel like he has."
"It's been 10 years," Teddy replied, "with you because it had been so long my body had forgotten and did a few things that are more first time mom things."
"I'm waddling," Allison groaned.
"You're cute baby girl," Teddy smiled.
"I feel huge and round and what if I never lose the baby weight,' Allison asked, "I didn't fully ever with Ev. I tried, but I never wore my pre baby jeans again."
'You were also 17/18," Teddy reassured, 'your body changes so much then as it is."
"But what if Ash," Allison asked, " I know I'm bigger then I was before Ev and even when we got married."
"Allie you look good," Teddy assured, 'and Asher loves you for you. It's normal and healthy to gain a little weight in your 20s."
"You, Annie," Allison pointed out.
"I have as I've gotten older," Teddy agreed, " Annie is her eating disorder at your age Josh and I discussed if we needed to section her for her own safety."
"What do you mean," Allison asked.
"She wasn't eating but trying to breastfeed Ellie and pumped for Cat," Teddy replied.
"She did what," Allison asked.
"Annie pumped milk and gave it to Meg for Cat for 6 months," Teddy replied "not fully feeding both but 2-3 bottles a day for Cat plus exclusively feeding Ellie."
"I want to feed little man until I go back to work,' Allison replied, 'I know I can I did it with Ev and pumped for when I wasn't with her but I don't know about pumping at work."
"You can't in the OR but are entitled to pump at work," Teddy replied.
"I figured," Allison replied, 'it's just people's judgement of me already for having Ev and being married then planning baby boy."
"You're doing what is right for your family," Teddy assured, "some will have different goals and some will be jealous of you."
"I still don't fit in," Allison replied, 'I thought residency would be better but it's the same as college and med school. I want to be normal."
"You never will be," Teddy shook her head as she took Allison's favourite cookies out of the laundry basket of treats, "because you are you baby girl. You were never supposed to be normal. You always have been and always will be incredible. How could you not be?"
"You have to say that," Allison replied helping her self to a cookie.
"When do I say things I don't mean,' Teddy asked, "baby girl you're nervous and I understand. I was so worried your dad would find me repulsive after I had you."
"But he's going to see me open on the OR table,' Allison replied.
"You can still change your mind and have a vaginal delivery with an epidural again," Teddy replied, "Ash will support you how you need to be. He was so good when Ev was born and your relationship is so much stronger now."
"I can't mom," Allison replied, 'I know you had two unmedicated, uncomplicated ones but I can't. Would Ev have CP like she does if the cord wasn't on her neck. She took so long to breathe. I can't do that again. I can't do the worry about my baby not breathing again."
"That was rare," Teddy replied, 'the hydrocephalus is the bigger concern then the cord."
'But we don't know for sure, theres no proof no answers anywhere," Allison replied.
"I know sweetheart," Teddy soothed, 'and your last delivery was traumatic. I don't think we realised until this pregnancy how traumatic Ev's birth was for you. What is going to be best for you and baby boy?"
"The c-section," Allison replied, "if I go into labour before I want one still. Mom I need to do it that way. We need help advocating at the hospital."
"What are you asking for," Teddy asked.
"Can you come with us and be in the hospital and waiting room for sure," Allison asked.
"I will be in the waiting room," Teddy promised.
"Can we decide about you being in the OR at the time," Allison asked.
"We can," Teddy promised, "what about Ev?"
"Dad and Leo said they would be with her and Annie offered," Allison replied.
"Theresa," Teddy asked.
"I like her but I would rather dad or Annie be with Ev," Allison replied, "Ev will be anxious. Theresa is a stranger. I like her and Leo has changed with her but I don't know it's too soon for that."
"It is," Teddy agreed.
"What do you think of her," Allison asked.
'She reminds me of me the first time I went to Nana's,' Teddy replied, " I like her and I understand where she's at and coming from."
"Do we trust her," Allison asked.
"You can when you're ready," Teddy replied, "I have a good feeling."
"Will she be around a while," Allison asked.
"I hope so she seems really good for Leo," Teddy replied.
"He's calmer," Allison replied, "I don't know if I want her around much when we're in the hospital and first come home. I need time with Ash and my kids. It's been 10 years since we had a newborn and I think I've forgotten all of it."
"You haven't," Teddy assured.
"What if I can't feed baby boy,' Allison asked, 'it was hard with Ev."
Teddy put her hands on either side of Allison's bump, "he is a totally different baby, you are way more mature and you know how to nurse a baby. He will need to learn and need practice but you can do it. If you need help you call me or Annie and we come help. Annie is way more available to help this time her kids are older."
"This is going to be hard for Ev," Allison said.
"She's 10,' Teddy replied, 'she will understand and want to help. She needs to time with you but she can also empathise and help take care of her baby brother."
"She's just used to being the youngest and special attention everywhere and it's going to change," Allison replied, "Ev likes being the center of attention and has always been with Ash and I."
"It's an adjustment for all of you but it's time and a healthy one for her. Allie it will be like having two only children,' Teddy reassured, "I really felt that way when we had you and Annie. You were at such different life stages, I was getting I think Josh is the one but how do I know and then turning around to watch you roll for the first time. Baby girl it will work. And we are here to help and I have more time than ever."
Everly and Owen slowly made their way along the side walk.
'You okay Ev,' Owen checked in.
"For now,' Everly replied honestly, "I have to be able to walk and hold or carry something before my brother comes."
"Practise with things that aren't the baby first," Owen suggested.
'How can I help when I'm broken," Everly asked.
"Are kids at school still saying that,' Owen asked.
'It never stops," Everly replied, "I'm the girl with broken legs and it sucks. Is there a surgery to fix it?"
"Not that I know of," Owen replied, 'I'm sure if there was one would have been suggested or done by now."
"I think I want the second one on my hip,' Everly replied, "I had one when I was little and they could redo it and it might help but mom and dad told me it's my choice."
"Get all of the information kiddo,' Owen replied, 'we will all support what ever you choose Ev. but it has to be your choice.'
"I want something so I don't need crutches or braces,' Everly replied, 'I go to middle school in a year and I have to look cool. I can't look like me in middle school."
'I'm sure we can find minimal braces or see if you can use AFOs instead and just do your feet and ankles," Owen suggested, "then no one would notice under your pants and shoes. I also think kids will get better as you get older. What about swim club and choir it doesn't matter there."
"I don't want to be different," Allison said, 'how can I be a good big sister and help with the baby if I can't walk properly?"
"Because you don't need to walk to be helpful," Owen replied, 'you can roll and I'm sure as the baby gets bigger they'll love going for rides with you. You can still play with them and read to them and talk to the baby."
"But it's not going to be enough," Everly whined.
"Ev,' Owen paused, "it will be more than enough because you do it with love."
"I'll let mom down," Everly replied.
'No you won't," Owen promised.
"Who will be with me when mom has the baby," Everly asked.
"Me or Uncle Leo," Owen promised, "maybe Auntie Annie. But you will have some one who knows and loves you."
"Why does mom have to have surgery to have the baby," Everly asked.
"Because it's better for your mom," Owen replied.
"Is it because of me," Everly asked.
"No," Owen assured.
"But she says again," Everly replied.
"You have to talk to her princess,' Owen replied, 'I wasn't there. But we're going to do our last errand then you and I can go get a burger and fries for dinner?"
"And a milk shake," Everly asked.
"Chocolate," Owen promised.