I'll Fight Hell to Hold You

Spending Time With Madyson

After Tommy fell asleep again, Paul let the older girls take turns holding their sister. He carefully watched over them. Hannah, the most vocal, looked at Paul. "Mama sad. Mama c'y. Mama sad."

Taylor patted Aurora's arm. She made the sign for baby. "Baby?" signed back Aurora. "Baby."

Paul took Mady back after awhile. "Let's all take a picture of us together. We can show mama when he wakes up."

Taylor sat on the floor. Hannah sat on Paul's lap while Aurora stood by his left side and he held Mady in his left arm. The picture was taken and sent to Tommy's phone. 

Tommy was asleep for several hours after that. Paul took the older girls to the cafeteria while Mady slept in the room with Tommy. Paul let the girls chose something to take Tommy when they went back up to the room.

Since he had gotten permission to spend the night, Paul headed into the bathroom to give the girls a bath and get them ready for bed.

About an hour after the triplets fell asleep, Paul was bathing Madyson when he heard crying. "Tom?" he called softly. "I'm bathing Mady. I'll be done in a few minutes."

Tommy cried softly in his sleep. When Paul came out with a bundled up Mady, he saw the tear tracks. Laying Mady in her tiny in-room crib, Paul slid into bed beside Tommy. "Baby?" 

"I don't feel like I can take care of her right now. I feel awful and want to just lay here." whispered Tommy.

Paul took Tommy in his arms. "I know it's overwhelming right now." "Let's try and take this one day at a time." 

Paul stroked Tommy's hair for awhile as he talked to him. "We have a beautiful family. " "Let's enjoy them." He showed Tommy the picture. "Look."

Tommy smiled weakly. "I'm tired."

"Go back to sleep." 

Paul kissed him on the cheek and waited until he fell asleep before heading back in to shower himself.