Life Can Do Terrible Things // Ben Bruce

33. I'll Look After You

~ 7 MONTHS LATER ~

~ May 16th ~

Placing my swollen feet up on the coffee table, I stretched upwards, closing my eyes. This pregnancy was much easier than the first in the size department. I wasn't nearly as large as I was with Noah. Maternity leave was my saviour at the moment. All I wanted to do was sleep. Before I could nap, I had to go to the fridge and get my jar of olives and my needle. When I returned back to the couch, I shoved an olive in my mouth before sticking my lower hip with the needle. I pressed the plunger to release the insulin into my system. I put the needle back into the fridge and went back to the couch, shovelling olives into my mouth. Noah was at day care and Ben was at the studio which meant I had free reign of the TV and peace so I could sleep. I flipped the TV to Dr Phil and started to doze on and off. Gestational diabetes will do that to you.

This pregnancy, health wise, had been very risky and still is. Ben and I were so happy that this one held on, but we didn't know how much strain this put on my health. I had gestational diabetes which means that I have type two diabetes but only during my pregnancy, so I have to inject myself with insulin twice a day. Our baby is breech at the moment and refuses to turn head first to come out. Even though I am seven months pregnant, there's still a high chance that I could have a still born or go into an early labour. I didn't want anything bad to happen to my baby so I tired to be as inactive as possible. When Ben went on tour for three months at the most critical time in my pregnancy, I had Brandi move in with me to help look after Noah. I just wanted to deliver this baby safely, even if it was breech. We don't know the gender either which will be a shock when I go into labour. Everyone thinks a boy but Ben, Monique and I think it's a girl. I was tired all the time and I could sleep fitfully, I couldn't do that with Noah. I craved all the same things that I did with Noah too. We started to set up the other guest room as the new baby's nursery. The walls are white, the furniture is dark brown and the linen and decorations are caramel. We going to add feminine or masculine touches when we have the baby.

My phone ringing brought me out of my dreamless nap. I realised I had been sleeping for an hour when I answered the phone.

I- Hello?

B- Hey baby. How are you?

I- Hey honey, yeah I'm okay.

B- Good because I'm on my way home now with Noah.

I- Ooh, the baby likes that, she kicked really hard.

B- I'll be home in a few okay?

I- Okay. Love you.

B- Love you too.

I sat myself up and returned the phone to the coffee table. I got up and walked around on my swollen feet, pulling my largely stretched tank top over my bump. Suddenly, a sharp pain overtook me. I gripped onto the bench for support as the pain ripped through me. I breathed deeply for the full thirty seconds until the pain subsided. I knew what this was. I could not be going into labour now. No way. It was eight weeks too early. That's too early for a baby to be out. I couldn't be going into labour. I sat back down on the couch in waiting for my boys to arrive. I disregarded the "contraction", it was probably just Braxton Hicks anyway.

Ten minutes after Ben called, he waltzed through the door with Noah at his side.

"Mummy!" My son exclaimed, running over and jumping on my lap.

"Hey buddy!" I beamed, cuddling him close to me.

Ben leaned down and kissed my lips. "Tell Mummy what you did at school today."