Tougher Than The Rest

72 Hours Earlier

Kim groaned as she sorted the dirty laundry that seemed to accumulate over the course of the day. Three children under the age of six and one husband made for mountains of laundry, though to be fair Adam was by far the worst offender. He was known to go through three or four pair of socks before finding just the right pair not to mention the shirts he always managed to spill something on.

It was infuriating.

The boys had their own issues when it came to clothes, Jason hated for his clothes to get wet. The tiniest splash of liquid on his clothes was enough to send him into a tailspin. He would have to change, which wouldn't be so bad but he insisted on a complete wardrobe change right down to his socks. Didn't matter if it was his shirt that had gotten wet the pants had to go as well and vice versa.

Julian would then insist on changing, because Jason had. The boys were Ruzeks through and through and Kim had learned early on that some things weren't worth fighting them on.

At least she had Harlow, that girl would wear the same outfit for days on end if she had her way. The latest outfit was the shirt Trudy and Randy had given her, it was from Cash's travel ice hockey team's fundraiser. It was without a doubt the cutest thing Kim had ever witnessed, she was glowing when Cash had given it to her. She wore it proudly and told everyone her big 'cousin' Cash gave it to her and he was the best hockey player in the world.

Cash was clearly Harlow's first crush, Kim wasn't sure what was cuter. Was it Harlow's crush on Cash or Adam's reaction to it? He was going to be a ton of fun when Harlow was old enough to date.

She leaned over the hamper and rubbed her lower back, at just under seven months pregnant she was really beginning to get fed up with being pregnant. The heat wave wasn't helping matters, it had been over a week of temperatures well over ninety degrees. She was overjoyed that Adam had insisted on updating the heating and air conditioning system in the house last year.

That had been her saving grace, though Adam often whined that he was 'freezing my balls off' she would roll her eyes and tell him to grab a sweatshirt. The kids were often found huddled up under blankets as they played or watched television.

To say she had been a bit surprised when she realized she was pregnant again was an understatement of epic proportions. It was just that fact that she was on birth control and had taken it religiously, but as her doctor reminded her only abstinence was one hundred percent effective.

Clearly she was the exception to the rule, it had taken some getting used to but she and Adam couldn't be happier. In fact Adam had whooped with joy when they learned the baby she was now carrying was a boy, he had told anyone who would listen that one daughter was plenty for him. He was pleased that his little girl would have three brothers to look out for her, wether she wanted it or not.

"Bang! Bang!" Jason shouted as he rounded the corner, it was his favorite word as of late. They didn't say much that could be understood, but what they did have came through loud and clear. His hand formed into a gun, "Bang! Mommy! Me shooted you."

"Jason Tyler Ruzek!" She furrowed her brow, "What did mommy say about guns?"

Jason looked at his feet, "Not in house?"

"That's right. We also don't shoot people. We don't shoot our friends." Kim waddled over to him, bending over as best as she could in her current state, "How about we cuddle on the couch and watch a movie with Ju-Ju and Harlow?"