The Heartbreak Factor - Part Four

Chapter Seventy-Five.

Sitting down on the chair in the waiting room at the hospital, I looked across the room to see Katy smiling at me as she played with the toy cars with another little boy. She seemed to get along with him so well and they didn’t even know each other. I just hoped she would be the exact same when the twins came along. I couldn’t see her being jealous of them getting the attention. She seemed really understanding of the situation and that she wouldn’t be the only child anymore. It was going to be a huge change for her but she seemed like she couldn’t wait to meet her little brothers or sisters or brother and sister. 

George’s hand was tightly grasped around mine on the arm of the chair. I couldn’t help but gently squeeze his hand with mine every time a nurse or receptionist waltzed into the room. Every time I thought it was for us and every time I was wrong. 

“It’ll be us soon,” George whispered, trying to reassure me as my nerves went into overdrive. “Stop worrying.”

I nodded to keep him at bay but that didn’t stop me from worrying. I was worrying about everything. I don’t suppose you could blame me though. I hadn’t had a great track record with pregnancies so far. 

“Mummy,” Katy beamed as she ran over to me, holding out a plastic brick in my direction. 

“What?” I smiled, picking her up - struggling at first but I still managed to pick her up and prop her back down on my lap in the end. 

“Baby gift,” she replied, putting the brick on my bump that was now showing to the world, regardless of how much I tried to hide it or disguise it beneath my clothes. 

“But Katy, how many babies are there?” George asked. 

Katy looked at her fingers and held up two fingers for George and I to see - something George’s mum had taught her when she attempted to kickstart Katy’s number knowledge. “Two.”

“And how many bricks are there?” George continued. 

Katy put her two fingers down before holding up one finger on its own, grinning a huge grin across her face as we proudly looked at her. “One.”

“Good girl,” I giggled, kissing her hair as I held her as close to me as the bump would allow. 

“Sammy?” the receptionist called. “Sammy Shelley.”

“That’s me,” I replied as George stood up and picked Katy up off my lap. 

“Your midwife will see you now,” the receptionist explained. “Down the hall and..”

“Through the double doors then third door on the right?” I asked. 

“You’ve done this before,” the receptionist laughed, following her laugh with a nod. “Yes.”

“Thank-you,” I smiled as George held out his hand for me to take as I struggled to get back out of the chair. 

As George carried Katy down the corridor, strolling through the maternity wards and passed all the newborn babies, I waddled along behind them. It wasn’t much of a walk but I was exhausted by the time I reached the end of the corridor and went through the double doors at. George and Katy watched as I caught up with them, nearly out of breath. 

“This is the last time I am ever getting pregnant, Shelley,” I cautioned. “It’s draining. So draining.”

“It’ll be worth it in the end though,” he grinned. 

I couldn’t lie though. I was so excited to see the final product of my nine month of struggling, sweating, aching, sleepless nights, being constantly uncomfortable, not being able to use certain cosmetics, not being allowed to eat certain foods, morning sickness, stiffness, vomiting at some of my favourite smells, mood swings, anxiety, hot flushes, having no clothes that actually fit me, no alcohol, no late nights, no late mornings, wanting to just shrivel up and cry, hormones, more throwing up, more aching, less sleeping, more chocolate, weight gain, feeling like an elephant.. The list could go on, but I had no energy to list anymore side effects to growing two little humans in you. There was too many.