Allison waddled around Annie's helping set up for Teddys retirement party.
"I thought she'd never retire," Allison laughed.
"She wanted to get you through residency " Annie replied, "she wanted to a couple years ago but felt bad seeing me though mine and my fellowship but not yours. Then when you choose ortho it made it easier."
"I would have got it," Allison replied, "she's pushing 80 it's okay to retire."
"Don't let her hear you " Annie smiled, "you're sure you're up to it?"
"Helping oh ya," Allison smiled, "just round. Nothing really hurts. My feet haven't swollen as bad this time. I'm starting to feel it in my lower back but 37 weeks tomorrow. I've had a head ache on and off but two kids, chief resident, boards, picking my fellowship it's to be expected."
"Headache no," Annie gasped, "have you checked your BP?"
"It's crept up but Stephanie knows," Allison replied, "nothing worrying yet. 127/88 this morning. Just monitoring."
"When do you go in again," Annie asked.
"Tomorrow," Allison replied, "we're ready. Andy was 8 days before his due date. Ev I went into labor two days before and she was born on her due date."
"What have you decided," Annie asked.
"VBAC," Allison replied, "my recovery after Ev was easier. The incision pulled and itched for almost a year."
"Why I did my last two as VBACs," Annie agreed.
"Obviously if it's the safer option I'll do it but I'm going to try," Allison replied.
"Fair," Annie agreed, "I'm worried about Ellie. She seems so unprepared. Three weeks to go and she hasn't set anything up. Everything from her shower is still packed."
"Caleb is making it hard," allison replied, "Cat and I offered to help. And she's beyond uncomfortable."
"She's miserable," Annie agreed, "I don't remember it being that bad and Heather is only 18. Baby boy is still transverse as well which Steph says is a big part of it."
"She could ask for a C-section and book it in the next week or so and feel better," Allison suggested.
"She has a final attempt to turn the baby on Tuesday and then if it doesn't work or baby goes back they'll book a C-section," Annie replied, "Caleb for a dr is so against it and so against her having any pain relief."
"I'm having my epidural," Allison replied.
"I didn't want it for Ellie ," Annie said, "Matt was the C-section, Henry I had the gas and air . And Heather I was too late."
"Wasn't Heather really fast," Allison asked.
"Four hours once we got to the hospital, probably 12 total from first contraction " Annie replied, "they all got faster. This one will two."
"But it's been 14 years and a C-section in between," Allison replied, "Ellie knows it's her labour and she calls the shots?"
"Ya," Annie replied, "I've told her many times. So have you. She seems to be told what to do by Caleb and not thinking for herself. I don't get it."
"It's hormonal," Allison replied, "she wants the father of her baby around and thinks that doing exactly what he says will keep him close."
"He's changed since she got pregnant," Annie sighed.
"So has she," Allison replied, "I've seen it with friends that pregnancy can pull a couple apart. Ellie will be okay as a single mom. Her and Ava are getting to be friends and can help each other out. Cat has said she'll help. Caleb is one of those guys that can't be trusted alone. That needs someone in his bed most nights."
"He is," Annie agreed, "there's people like that. But this party."
"Dads doing the speech," Allison confirmed.
"He is and Megan," Annie replied, "then Leo sent his video clip and you and I together?"
"Yes," Allison agreed, "we have the book."
"We do have the book," Annie replied, "if your not feeling up to it."
"I'm okay," Allison assured, "she deserves this. To be celebrated."
"She does," Annie replied, "your okay postponing celebrating the end of residency?"
"Moms retirement, Ellie's baby," Allison replied, "and I'm not officially done for a month anyway. Let's wait for the final date. Even if I have a new born and I think I will. I'm ready. I just feel ready."
"I know the feeling when you know your body is getting ready for labor," Annie replied.
"At least a week," Allison guessed.
"Can you sit and fold all the napkins," Annie asked going into mother hen mode with Allison.
"I can," Allison agreed, ready to get off her feet.
An hour later Ellie walked in with a red face and puffy eyes.
"Ellie Bug what's wrong," Annie asked.
"Caleb," Ellie sniffled, "he's not coming until three days before the due date. What if he misses it?"
"Then you have me," Annie promised, "baby girl you don't need him. You and little boy will be so loved and cherished. Well all be here and help you. Your brothers are both home for a few weeks and will be here to meet him. Everything looked good on Friday. Your healthy , little man is healthy. You look cute."
"I'm jealous of the cute little bump," Allison said.
"I wanted to be big and round and super obvious," Ellie laughed.
"I get it," Annie replied, "neither of you are very big. We all have carried small. So did mama with Allison."
"I'm ready to meet him," Ellie replied.
"Not today," Annie shook her head, "let grandma's party finish."
"It's still too early," Ellie said, "I'm not quite at 37 weeks."
"Soon," Allison assured, "I'm feeling ready to meet baby girl."
"We get a boy and a girl this time that works well," Annie smiled, "they'll be close."
"Tonight," Ellie asked.
"Mom and dad come soon," Allison said, "Leo recorded a video, Annie and I read the story. Then it's dinner and dessert."
"Are we ready," Ellie asked, "I know I should have been here to help. I talked to Caleb and then needed to calm down."
"What's happening with that ass hole," Allison asked.
"We're done," Ellie assured, "he will not be in the delivery room. I don't want him on the birth certificate."
"You have to do that legally," Annie said, "but you can have the custody papers drawn up so he can sign away his rights or give you full custody and he has visitation."
"I want him in baby boys life eventually but not to have control," Ellie replied.
"That can be figured out," Annie replied, "if you breastfeed you have more control for longer."
"I want to," Ellie replied.
"We have to do final touches and the caterer should be here any minute," Annie said, "but first I want the two of you to have something to drink and a snack."
"Mom," Ellie rolled her eyes.
Soon many friends, co-workers and past students crowded into Annie's house.
"How did you get so many people here," Teddy asked Owen.
"It was a team effort," Owen said, "but people love you."
"Anne," Teddy pointed to the woman standing with Annie.
"She came down from BC," Owen replied.
Teddy approached her old friend, "Anne thank you for coming."
"When Annie called I had to," Anne smiled, "we started together I want to celebrate with you. The last of us to retire."
"I held on too long," Teddy agreed.
"It's okay," Anne said, "you still had the passion to do it."
"My kids kept me in the game," Teddy smiled, "Leo is done residency, Allison just accepted an amazing fellowship opportunity."
"Annie is one of the biggest names in paediatric cardio," Anne said, "and what you've accomplished Teddy is incredible. Not just professionally, look at your family, how accomplished your kids are, your oldest grand child is a resident."
"And about to become a mom," Teddy smiled, "in a month I'm a great grandma. Its time to step down, who wants the great grandma doing their pace maker?"
"Thats what finally did it," Anne asked.
"It is," Teddy laughed, "Ellie's baby boy and Allison is having her third. They're over there with their feet up on the coffee table."
"Both are very pregnant," Anne said.
"37 weeks both of them," Teddy replied, "back to back due dates. We'll see Allison go into labour first. She's never gone over her due date and it's Ellie's first. If she's like her mom were looking at at least a week past the due date."
"How do you keep up with it all," Anne asked.
"The family grew slowly," Teddy smiled.
"If I can get everyone's attention," Owen called, "a few of us have some words to say."
Everyone crowded into the living room and fell silent.
"Teddy," Owen smiled, "wow, retirement, finally. We've only been talking about this for 10 or 12 years?"
Around the room people chuckled.
"Seriously," Owen continued, " Teddy's career has been incredible. Huge field advancing research, a text book, multiple military honours for her service, bravery and dedication, 15 years as chief of surgery at Grey Sloan, 4 years running Army Medical Command in Europe and the Middle East. Above all of that Teddy is an incredible person, the best friend anyone could ever hope for. Teddy loves deeply and is the back bone of our family, she is always there to protect and support me, our kids, grand kids and now great grandkids. Teddy has devoted her life to helping others and giving people their lives back in many ways. We were coworkers for years before we were together, in that time we developed a flow doing field surgeries, massive traumas and just being each others second set of hands in the OR. Teddy for all of her accomplishments has always been a team player, myself, another attending, fellows, residents, med students and even undergrads were welcome in her OR to come see, learn, assist as needed or appropriate and to talk through the surgical process. Teddy is a fabulous mentor taking generations of young cardio surgeons under her wing, mentoring them not only professionally but personally. She is the most incredible person I have ever known and I am very proud of everything she has accomplished. To Teddy!"
Everyone in the room toasted Teddy.
Annie took her turn, "Mama it's been an incredible ride working and learning with you for so long. From watching a transplant in the gallery in undergrad, to hearing about the first heart in a box and working on the Altman it was always a learning experience scrubbing in with you. I'm going to miss popping into your office to get your opinion or to work though a particularly tricky surgical plan. I can really say I don't know where I would be without you. We had some awesome adventures exploring over the years and some nail biting surgeries where it was a miracle the patient made it off our table. But through all of that you taught me to use my voice and trust my gut. To push myself and do more not only at the hospital but at home. You taught me that my voice matters and is important. You gave all three of us our voices, always being ready to support us no matter what we chose. You always made our family a priority and made sure you spent time with each of us one on one."
Allison took over, "Mom you have been all of our biggest supporter and teacher. No matter what I know we can count on you being there. Dad already talked about all of your accomplishments but what he didn't talk about was how when you had a stressful day you would come home and stress bake, always making sure we had a sweet treat for school lunches. Or that you have made every birthday cake for all of us from scratch from dignified 50th birthdays to solar systems, life like dinosaurs and swimming pools and three dimensional princesses. So many people only know the professional side of our mom. Not the mom who stays up all night with you when you can't sleep or loves your babies as much as you do."
"Before we finish," Annie continued, "if you could turn to the TV we have a message from Leo."
Only the girls knew Leo was actually live and not the recording they told Owen they were setting up.
"Hi mom," Leo smiled, he squinted at the computer screen ,"wow Annie's house is full! We had a recording but it worked for me to join you live and I've heard all the speeches so far."
"Leo," Teddy shook her head.
"I couldn't miss it," Leo beamed, "Mom we're proud of you. Being able to take up your legacy here while the girls take it up at home is an honour. You took a chance on me, on a helpless patient who needed you and needed your love. Type of love only you can give, fierce, protective, supportive. The mom who can lead hundreds, kick ass all day as a leader then come home and play in the backyard or jump in the pool with us. Mom is a brilliant example of how to lead with compassion, empathy and kindness while still reaching to be the very best. Mom it's time to hang up the scrub cap and let your self relax and have some fun. We love you."
Leo lifted his hand and contend down from five on his fingers, together all thereof Teddy's kids lifted their glasses and said, "to mom we're proud of you."
Teddy wiped her eyes and smiled at her three kids at the front of the room, the girls having moved to stand beside the TV.
"I have to go," Leo said glancing over his shoulder, "transport coming in with patients. Ilove you mom."
"Love you two lion," Teddy smiled.
The screen went blank and Annie turned off the TV, they had timed it perfectly with Leo.
Teddy took her turn to talk, "when I startedI didn't imagine my career taking the path it did. Starting med school I was pregnant with Annie, then we spent nineteen years apart while Dan and Leslie loved her and supported her when I wasn't ready to. I never could have dreamed her and I would have the relationship we do. In 2002 I met Owen and Megan on an army base in Iraq, we worked together for a few years and then Owen became my best friend, the person I knew I could always count on, Megan the little sister I always wanted. When my time with the army ended Owen suggested I join him here in Seattle, he knew of a great job at an amazing hospital all I had to do was show up. This set the stage for me being in the same time zone as Annie only a couple hours drive and let me get to know her. It took a few more years before Owen and I made it work and becomes a couple, finding out soon after that Allison would be joining us. Our two girls were a dream come true but as life has it's way we weren't finished soon Leo joined us through adoption and was a great full circle moment for me after giving my first baby up in a semi open adoption to now be able to adopt another baby who needed love. Looking back it's my family that makes me proud, the awards, publications and honours even the military medals don't compare to my family. My three kids, six soon to be seven grand kids and in a few weeks our first great grandchild. In all of it it was the people who really mattered. I just want to thank all of you for being here today and celebrating with me. I couldn't have had the career or life I have with out the people in it."
Teddy hugged Owen, followed by each of her children and grand children, stopping when she saw Ellie to place a hand on her belly and great the baby as well. When she reached Allison she hugged her tight and placed both hands gently to feel the baby kick, something that had always made Allison smile and this baby leap.
Friends and family stayed late into the evening, chatting and celebrating.