Against All Odds

Chapter Twenty-Five

Being on bed rest is worse than I imagined it would be.

At first, it isn't so bad. Someone is always with me, keeping me company. But after the first two weeks pass, I am on my own. Television gets boring after I finish three different shows, and even reading doesn't catch my attention anymore.

Ollie was being supportive, drawing me baths and cooking whenever he is home, but when he is gone, the boredom just comes back. Add in the fact that my body just aches all the time now, and I am at my wit's end. There is nothing Ollie can do to relieve the soreness in my pecs from my milk coming in, or the pinching of nerves in my lower back from all the extra weight of carrying twins.

Thank god I get to be out of the house today. Dr. Romero had insisted on having appointments every week now, instead of every month. She stated that she wants to be able to monitor us more closely, preventing my cervix from dilating if it started to again. It has to be caught early on, since they cannot give me the same medication as before to stop the contractions. Too much of it is dangerous for the babies. The next step would be to sew my cervix shut with a small stitch, preventing it from dilating any further until the stitch was cut.

The whole thing just sounds way too painful, and I am already sore in that part of my body. The thought of a needle touching me there has me mentally cringing.

Suffice to say, I have been diligent in remaining in bed, only getting up to go to the bathroom or grab a quick bite of food. Emmie follows me everywhere, meowing if I am up for too long. Somehow, even she knows that walking around too much is dangerous for the babies.

At twenty-eight weeks, I feel completely swollen, but my stomach hasn't even grown as much as I expected. Dr. Romero said that the babies are actually measuring a little small, something she told me not to worry about as long as they continue to grow. But, I can't help but feel guilty about the impact this divorce has had on my children.

I just keep hoping that they stay inside me for at least a little longer. Every day spent pregnant- no matter the boredom and back pains that ensue- is one more day that they are safe and healthy.

Looking at the clock on the nightstand, I see that it is nearing half-past twelve. Virginia will be here soon to take me to my doctor's appointment, Ollie unable to take the day off. Ever since I went to the hospital over a month ago, Ollie has gone to every doctor's appointment with me. I know he is just as worried about the babies as I am. He was upset when we found out this was the only time Dr. Romero was available this week, but we purposefully scheduled ahead my next appointment, not wanting to risk Ollie not being able to come again.

Emmie follows me as I walk over to the closet, slipping on a pair of comfortable stretchy pants, along with a loose t-shirt. She meows after I wince when I step wrong, putting pressure on a nerve in my lower back.

Luckily, Virginia arrive just on time, making it so that I can just walk to her car instead of sitting down to wait and having to pull myself up again.

"How are my grandsons?" she asks once we are all situated in the car. The warmth inside contrasts with the cold wind blowing outside. Despite it being April, it is still cold most days than not.

"Active as ever," I say, smiling as I smooth my hand over where one of the babies is pressing his foot. It's a familiar gesture, one that comforts me when I worry about them. "There new favorite thing is to fall asleep on my bladder."

Virginia laughs, turning on the windshield wipers as it starts to sprinkle outside. "I remember Morgan complaining about the same thing when pregnant with Ollie's Apa." She pauses, face getting a faraway look. "Both of them loved with all their heart, you know. I think that's why Cameron was never able to recover when his husband died. And then seeing Ollie was a constant reminder." A sad smile twists on her face. "I know how it feels, seeing your soul mate in your child, the ache of their loss coming back every time you lay eyes on them.