Maxerica

A Big Surprise

It took awhile, but we finally did it.
How do I know? Well, the morning sickness was the first hint. The ultrasound confirms it.
I am carrying Maxon's fifth child.
I sit up and immediately receive a hug from the love of my life.
"We did it," he says softly in my ear.
"We're having another baby," I smile.
He moves back and looks at me.
I can't stop myself from giggling at that goofy grin of his.
He kisses me with so much passion I feel my own heart melt.
The doctor clears his throat and we move back blushing.
"I'll give this to you," the doctor says while holding out a copy of the ultrasound.
Maxon takes it and thanks him.
He helps me up and leads me down the hall.
He looks at the picture of the ultrasound with one hand and holds my hand with the other.
"I can't believe it," he starts. "Baby number five is on the way."
"Well believe it. We're pregnant!"
"We have to tell the kids. And your family. And of course the country, just not yet."
"Right."
"Not until the three month mark."
"But don't we wait so that they don't get scared and start thinking we can't conceive any children?"
"That's a big part of it, yes."
"What's the other part?"
"If something were to happen the entire nation would be upset."
"But they deserve to know."
"You're right. But maybe we should wait, just to be safe."
"That's fine."
He kisses my cheek.
"I'm just happy to be able to say we're pregnant."
"As am I."

"This is weird," Ahren states, looking at us suspicious.
"Yeah. Why are we here?" Eadlyn asks.
We brought the kids to the living room and had the three oldest sit on the couch.
I'm holding Osten.
"We have a surprise for you," Maxon explains.
"A big surprise," I add.
"Is it a good surprise?" Ahren questions.
"I guess you'll have to just wait and see," I answer.
He makes a face.
Maxon goes into the hallway. He comes back with three boxes, each with a bow on top.
"Don't open them yet," I instruct while Maxon puts the boxes in front of them.
"When I say go, you all can open them at the same time," Maxon tells them.
They nod excited.
"Ready....go!"
They all quickly open their boxes.
They each pull out journals with a copy of the ultrasound taped to the front.
They look at us.
"Surprise," I say.
"Are you pregnant?" Eadlyn asks.
"I am," I respond with a smile.
She squeals. She bolts over and hugs me. Ahren and Kaden follow and do the same.
I put one arm around them and keep holding Osten with the other.
They move back.
Ahren grabs Kaden's arms.
"You're going to be a big brother!" he yells excited.
"Yay!" Kaden giggles while jumping up and down.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Eadlyn asks me.
"We don't know yet."
"I really hope it's a girl."
"Your daddy wants a girl too."
She looks at him.
"It's true," he says.
She smiles. "What are the journals for?"
"Oh right. They're for you guys to write in. You can write to your new baby brother or sister. And you can draw it pictures."
"What are we supposed to write in it and draw?"
"Whatever you want."
They smile at each other excited.
"Ok," Maxon starts. "We have one more surprise."
"What is it?" Ahren asks.
"Sit on the couch."
They rush over and sit.
"You can come in now!" Maxon yells to the door.
The door opens and the kids gasp.