Today's Battles Are Tomorrow's Triumphs: The Jacob Noah "Jake" Ingalls Story

Joy Amid Chaos

After a thorough examination, it is revealed that Caroline is three weeks pregnant and is due in October. Charles said, "Caroline and the baby? They're alright?" "There's no need for you two to worry, but I must tell you that this pregnancy won't be easy." Caroline teared up. "Oh, Darling, don't cry," said Charles, comforting a tear-dimmed-eyed Caroline. Caroline wrapped her arms around Charles.

"Now, Charles, I want you and the girls to take Caroline home and don't let her go to sleep. Because if she goes to sleep, she could wind up in a coma," Dr. Baker explained. Charles swallowed hard and nodded. Once back home to their little house on the prairie, Charles swiftly unbounded from the wagon; and walked around the side to help the girls out of the wagon. Charles said, "You girls take Grace inside while I get your ma out of the wagon." "Yes, Pa," Hannah, Mary, Laura, and Carrie replied. "Gotcha," said Charles, cautiously lifting a semi-conscious Caroline out of the wagon and into his arms. Once inside the house, Charles carefully lowered Caroline into the rocking chair. "Mary, Laura, will you girls give me a hand with supper," asked Hannah. Mary and Laura nodded. Charles said, "I'm gonna go put the horses in the barn. I'll be right back." "Okay," replied Caroline. After the horses were taken to the barn, Charles walked back into the house— only to find Caroline half asleep. "Caroline, Darling," Charles hastily said, rushing over to the rocker, "you can't go to sleep." Caroline said, "I'm so tired." "I know you are," Charles retorted, slightly shaking Caroline's jaws, "but you heard what Dr. Baker said, you can't go to sleep because if you do, you could slip into a coma. I just can't lose you or our baby." "Ma's having a baby," exclaimed four shocked little girls.

"That's right, Girls, your ma's having a baby," Charles replied with a broad smile on his face. Caroline started to get up from the rocker when the room suddenly started to spin. "Charles," Caroline squeaked out, crumbling to the ground. "Whoa," said Charles, falling to the ground next to Caroline and holding her close to him. After supper, Caroline commented, "Supper was delicious. My compliments to the chefs." Hannah, Mary, and Laura smiled. Charles, cupping the side of Caroline's head and face, asked, "How you feelin'?" "Pretty good," Caroline retorted, but as she stood up from the table to go to her chair; a wave of nausea overpowered her. "Charles, I'm gonna be sick," said Caroline. Charles escorted her over to the sink. Charles' heart rose up to his throat as he held his beloved and beautiful Caroline's hair back as she became violently ill. "Are Ma and the baby gonna be alright, Pa," inquired a worrisome Mary. Charles replied, "They're gonna be fine, My love. It's just that this pregnancy is gonna be a bit harder on her this time around and then you add a head injury on top of that." After her nausea spell had passed, Caroline slowly made her way back to her chair. "How are you feeling now, Darling," a concerned Charles asked, kneeling by Caroline's side and caressing her hair and her hand. "Like I've been hit by a train," a weary Caroline replied.

Later as Charles played "Brahms' Lullaby" on his fiddle, Caroline began to nod off. Charles paused abruptly as Baby Grace tapped on his hand. "What is it, Sweetheart," questioned Charles. One year old Grace, sensing something was wrong, pointed to her mother. Charles went over to the rocker by Caroline, stroked her hair, and said, "Caroline, wake up." Caroline groaned as she came to. "Come on. You gotta wake up," said Charles, tapping Caroline's cheek. Again, Caroline groaned. "Up," Charles said, straining as he placed his arms under Caroline's to lift her up out of the chair. "Charles, my eyes. Are my pupils dilated," said Caroline. Charles replied, cupping Caroline's face and looking into her ocean-blue eyes, "Looks like— a little, but it's gonna be okay. Let's talk about something to keep your mind off of it. Come on, anything you want." "What's there to talk about," questioned a still weary Caroline. Charles answered, "Ummm, let's see. Oh, I know. How about what would you say has been the greatest day of your life?" "I have multiple— the day I married you, when our girls were born, the day we adopted Hannah, and today, when we learned about our new bundle of joy," Caroline replied.