Caught in the Act

Lily Marjorie Grace Kelce

Sequel to "Caught in the Act"

Lily Marjorie Grace Kelce was born. I couldn't believe it finally happened. After three boys, I finally had my girl. With each pregnancy, Travis and I had kept the baby's sex from being revealed until they were born. Travis felt like it was unfair to know ahead of time....like knowing what was under the Christmas tree took all the fun out of the event.

When Jacob was born, it was an emotional roller coaster. We were first time parents, so we really didn't care. The joy of holding our first born was the most magical and breath-taking moment. I could close my eyes and remember the moment it happened like it was yesterday.

I had been pushing for hours, I was tired. The epidural kept the pain away, but the pressure and the effects of pushing an 8.9 oz human out of your body for the first time could not be avoided. Travis was so encouraging, sitting behind me, holding me up, allowing me to brace myself on his solid form as I pushed Jacob into the world. Each time the contractions lasted so long and I was running out of gas.

"I don't think I can do this, Travis." I whispered pleadingly, my eyes filling with unshed tears because I had been pushing for over six hours. I pushed so hard, I almost lost my breath, my sweaty, red face showing the force I was placing on my body.

"You can do it, baby," Travis whispered encouragingly, wiping my brow and cheek softly, but I could see in his eyes his concern. "You can...I know you can. The baby is almost here, and then it will be all over." Later, Travis would admit to me that he promised himself that he wouldn't EVER do this to me again. NOT EVER! It was torture for him to see me struggle like this and there weren't even any complications.

But then with renewed conviction, I pushed half a dozen more times, and Jacob was born. I heard him before I saw him, my eyes popping open as I leaned back, panting from the final push, against Travis. Our eyes locked in shock, and we both looked towards the end of the birthing bed. The wails from the infant increased as the doctor and nurses worked, wrapping the baby in a soft cloth, the umbilical cord still attached.

Dr. Simmons lowered her mask and I thought I saw tears in her eyes as she proudly handed me the baby. My shaking hands and arms reached out as she spoke, "Congratulations...it's a boy." I gasped in response as I held my son, my first born against my sweaty chest. Travis had moved to chair next to bed and watched in stunned awe at the fact that not only was he finally a father, but he had a son. It was too much for him, he reached a crossed my body and held me and our new baby gently, his head falling to my shoulder as he cried happy tears. I felt his body shake as he cried, I moved my head to kiss his temple sweetly. He looked up and kissed my lips reverently, whispering between kisses against my lips "Thank you, baby. You are so amazing. Thank you so much for giving me this gift."

And with each birth afterward, my labor was shorter and less complicated. It didn't change the fact that each time our children were born, Travis was a complete basket case of happy tears. However, I held onto hope for a daughter each time. And each time a son arrived I watched in renewed "annoyance" as Travis pumped his fists with excitement at having yet another son. I really thought our last child was going to be the long hoped for girl.

So we tried again...my pregnancy was uneventful, normal...almost boring. But I noticed early on that I wasn't as big as I had been at 5 months as I had been with the last three. All the boys were within a few ounces of each other when they were born...Jacob being the biggest. But this pregnancy I was noticeably smaller. When we went for my first ultrasound, it was everything I could do NOT to ask about the baby's sex. Travis even said if I really wanted to know we could peek this time. I told him no, we will keep our tradition and keep it a surprise.

"But GOD I hope it a girl." I moaned as I laid my head back in frustration, "I live in the testosterone ocean in our house." Travis laughed and kissed my head in response. "I know baby girl, I hope we have a daughter as well. Who looks just like you."

And here she was...my Tiger Lily, just like in Peter Pan. And she did look like me with pale blonde hair, crystal blue eyes, and sweet pert little mouth. And boy, did she have some lungs...screeching like a banshee. She was a lot smaller than the boys, only 6.10 lbs, which made the delivery go relatively fast...only 3 hours. Soon after her birth, I watched through hooded eyes as I rested, as Travis held her, swaying softly with Lily in the crook of his arm.

"Oh my God...you are going to be so much trouble. I can already tell....you are going to be the prettiest, toughest, smartest girl in school. Just like your Mommy." I smiled as I listened to Travis.

"Wait 'til you meet your brothers, Jacob and Alex and Michael...and your cousins, Wy and Ellie and Benny...they are going to love you so much, pretty girl." Travis whispered and kissed his new daughter.

The next morning, it was time for me and Lily to be discharged. Travis decided to bring the boys with him because they really missed me and wanted to meet their new sister. As I packed up the remainder of our stuff, the room door flew open with the 7 yr old Jacob and 6 yr old Alex running in first. Travis was fast behind them, holding 4.5 yr old Michael who seemed concerned by his surroundings.

"Boys, boys! Easy, quietly, people are resting around here. Remember what we talked about." Travis spoke softly, easing Michael to stand next to him. The boys were in their winter coats, hats and looked properly bundled up. I smiled at Travis and looked at my sweet boys.

"Come over here and give your Mommy a hug!" I encouraged as I knelt down with my arms spread wide to receive all three of them. They rushed to me throwing themselves into my arms and proceeded to wrap my arms around them all.

"Oh I love you guys so much! I missed you!" I said as I kissed them each on the cheek, pinching them here and there to make them laugh out loud. Travis walked forward, and I stood to greet him with a sweet kiss.

"Hey baby girl" Travis spoke softly, placing his hand on my hip. Michael looked on curiously at the exchange.

"She's not a baby, Daddy....she's Mommy. That's the baby girl." Michael corrected, pointing to the sleeping Lily in the small bassinet next to the bed that all three boys were peering into curiously. I wrapped my arm around Travis' waist, and he reciprocated by putting his arm around my shoulder.

"You're right Michael. But Mommy will always be MY baby girl." Travis stated as he kissed my cheek. Michael shrugged his shoulders and continued to look at the new sibling, each boy commenting softly.

"She's so small."

"Why is she looks all wrinkly."

"Maybe she came out too soon."

"She just needs to air out to get rid of the wrinkles."

"She sure is pink. Too much pink. Yuck."

"She looks like Mommy."

"Wonder how big she'll get?"

"Do thinks her poops will stink? Remember Michael's poops?"

"Can we return her if we don't like her?"

"I don't know if I like this girl stuff."

Travis and I watch as the boys ask questions that go unanswered. Lily decided to move a bit and boys gasped.

"It's alive!" Jacob called out with a monster face. Travis' brows furrowed in warning, which Jacob stopped immediately. I move forward to settle Lily again, she shouldn't be hungry...probably was all the commotion.

The nurse informed us that we were discharged and gave me all the paperwork. Now we would run the paparazzi gauntlet out of the hospital. As always, I would carry the baby out, Travis grabbed our bags, Jacob took one the baby's bag from his father to assist. Our security team was ready. We had the boys zip up their coats and they knew the drill. They were such hams in front of the photographers. They didn't care and we didn't make it a big deal, they just knew to keep a safe distance away and don't look at the flashes. Michael held his father's hand as he walked with me holding Lily. Jacob and Alex walked together in front of us toward the large SUV waiting with Drew and several other security guards.

They were my little men...my little soldiers...already willing to take the lead and walk in front of us. We were so proud of them. Our family was everything I ever wanted it to be and it was only getting better.