A Blessed Christmas Event Chapter 3/3
By: Nectar99
Rating: PG
See chapter one for Disclaimer, Timeline, and Summary.
I just want to thank the ladies who helped again on this!! You know who you are!!
“Push 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10,” I instructed, one hand wrapped around Amanda’s body, and the other grasping her hand for support. She pushed again for another 10 long seconds before her tired body collapsed against my arm. When I saw her trembling legs, I looked over at the nurse, wondering if everything was okay. The nurse must have seen my fears and came over to pat me on the back.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Stetson, she’s doing a wonderful job,” she soothed my fears.
“Do you hear that, Amanda? You’re doing a wonderful job,” I tried to reach her.
The only sound she was able to make at that time was, “uh huh.” I leaned over the bed and kissed her forehead. I had no idea if that’s what she needed at the moment, but it certainly helped me.
Over and over she managed to push with each contraction, and when I looked into the mirror at the foot of the bed, I saw a dark crop of hair appear and quickly disappear as Amanda stopped pushing. The Doctor and nurses continued their encouragement as Amanda continued to push each time.
“Okay, it looks like the next contraction should do it,” the Doctor stated.
Excitement, anticipation, and fear coursed throughout my veins as I realized that my child was ready to be born. I mouthed, “I love you,” to Amanda before the next contraction began.
As I watched our baby’s head emerge, Amanda let out a scream. Feeling her fingers wiggling in my hand, I finally released her hand. “Oh my God, Amanda,” I hollered, as our son entered the world. I looked at the screaming baby briefly, before turning back to my beautiful wife. I gathered her into my arms, and rested my head in the crook of her neck. The tears were now flowing freely as the blessed event overwhelmed me.
“You did it, baby,” I whispered over and over again, as I kissed her.
Her breathing was still labored, but she managed to speak between breaths. “Thank you, Lee, for this precious gift,” she gasped, while caressing my cheek.
“It’s a boy, born at 12:03 a.m.” Dr. McCormick announced, after suctioning out the baby’s nose and mouth. Nothing prepared me for the next event, and I looked up to see my screaming son. His entire body was red, and his little hands and feet were all wrinkly. His limbs trembled, and his bottom lip curled as the nurses cleaned him up. The process looked so planned, as each nurse had his or her own job to do. One weighed and measured, and another checked the baby’s vital statistics. After that was completed, they cleaned the baby, and took footprints.
“5lbs, 11 oz., and 20 inches long.” Nurse Carol reported his weight and height to us all.
“That’s a very good size for twins,” Dr. McCormick told us.
Carol laid the baby in Amanda’s arms. “Lee Mathew Stetson,” Amanda announced, as a tear fell down her cheek. “Oh, Lee, he’s beautiful,” she added.
My entire body was trembling, just watching Amanda hold our child. He was beautiful, and perfect in every way. I carefully inspected his body, checking for ten finger and ten toes. I knelt down beside the bed to place a kiss on his little forehead.
When Amanda gripped the side rail to her bed I looked up to see a look of discomfort in her eyes. I nearly forgot she had to do this again. Carol took Lee, ‘God I love the sound of that,’ out of Amanda’s arms and handed him to me. My body stiffened, not really sure how to handle a small infant until the moment she laid him in my arms. Amanda had successfully quieted him the moment she held him, so my job was easy. His tiny body fit perfectly in my arms, and I never wanted to let him go. His head was covered with a blue stocking cap, covering his dark hair, and his eyes were scrunched as if the light bothered him. I leaned down and placed butterfly kisses along his little cheek, and breathed in his unique baby scent.
I was reluctant to give him back to the nurse, but quickly obliged when I saw Amanda’s breathing become labored again. I leaned over the rail conveying words of encouragement. I wondered if she was ready to choke me by that point, but she seemed to listen intently, and it made me feel wanted and needed.
“Push, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10…breathe, and again,” these words were now familiar in my vocabulary. As Amanda’s tired body pushed with every ounce of strength she had left, the Doctor instructed me to look down and see the head of our second child. This time, I lifted Amanda’s body off the bed, and sat directly behind her, so I could support her body.
“Amanda, open your eyes,” I encouraged her to see our baby entering the world.
Amanda’s sobs of happiness echoed through the room, as Jennifer Emily Stetson entered the world screaming as if there was no tomorrow.
Dr. McCormick suctioned out her mouth and nose, and cut the cord. She happily announced, “It’s a girl, and time of birth is 12:10a.m.”
As I watched my beautiful baby girl come charging into the world, I knew from that moment on that I would live the rest of my life to make sure they were safe, happy and loved. I pushed Amanda’s hair from her face, and kissed her all over. “You did it, Amanda. I can’t tell you how wonderful you’ve made me feel,” I tried to convey my feelings, but I was all choked up. I laid her back down in the bed, and stood to keep an eye on Jennifer.
Amanda squeezed my hand, encouraging me back to her side. I leaned over and she wiped the tears of joy from my cheeks. “I love you, Lee,” she gasped between breaths.
“I love you too, Amanda,” I replied, caressing her cheek. I could feel her body trembling beneath the blanket, and I asked one of the nurses for another blanket. After all she had been through, Amanda deserved nothing but the best care.
Exhausted, Amanda closed her eyes while Carol was taking care of Jenny. I cautiously approached the scale to see her stats. “She’s 6lbs, 2 ounces, and she’s 19 inches long, Mr. Stetson. What’s her name?” Carol asked me.
“Jennifer Emily Stetson,” I announced, finally a proud new father.
“She’s beautiful, and healthy, as is Lee,” she happily replied.
After she was wrapped tightly in a pink blanket and matching cap, Carol handed me Jennifer. ‘My God, she is beautiful,’ I thought. She had full red lips, chubby cheeks, and when she opened her eyes, I saw Amanda in her. I carefully walked back around to Amanda’s side to show her our daughter.
“Oh, Amanda, look at her, she’s beautiful. She looks just like you,” I murmured.
Amanda mustered enough strength to lift her body slightly up to view our daughter. “Lee, she is beautiful,” Amanda responded groggily, before sinking back down into the bed.
I walked across the room, taking small steps, as if I was carrying the most fragile package in my life. After planting a kiss upon her cheek, I handed Jenny to Carol, and went back to Amanda’s bedside.
“You just relax and get some rest. I’m going to step out into the hallway and let the family know the good news,” I informed her, feeling a twinge of guilt for getting to be the one to spread the good news. Amanda had gone through those strenuous hours of labor, refusing anything for the pain, only thinking about our children. ‘Does she realize how much I love her and cherish her every day,’ I thought.
I walked through the halls, still wearing my green scrubs. Everything looked brighter, and I couldn’t do anything but smile from ear to ear. I glanced out the window to find the cars down below covered in snow. When I opened the door to the lounge, three excited faces were awaiting the news. Dotty immediately sensed my emotional state, and graciously helped me along.
“Well, what do we have Lee?” She asked, nearly shaking me to death with excitement.
“A boy and a girl, Lee and Jennifer,” I happily reported. “They are beautiful and healthy, and Amanda did a terrific job in there,” I added, trying to grasp the fact that I was actually a father.
After the hugs, and the high fives from the boys, Dotty looked into my eyes. “Congratulations Daddy, and Merry Christmas!”
From the time my parents died, Christmas had always been a day that I dreaded. A day that I would have worked, rather than celebrated. Now, it’s a day that has been changed forever. Not only do I have Amanda and our family to remind me how special the holiday season is, I also have two precious little miracles to celebrate this joyous day.
Once again, this woman brought me to tears. Just the sound of that word “Daddy,” warmed my heart. As I stumbled for words, all I could finally say was “thank you,” before pulling her in for a loving hug. I hadn’t realized it was actually Christmas day.
I whispered to Dotty. “All the gifts are hidden at home. I’d hate to have the boys go back home to an empty tree.”
“Relax Lee. I phoned Joe before we left the house. I left a key for him, and he offered to set everything up for you and Amanda.”
“You just took care of everything,” I teased. “Thanks again.”
“When do we get to see Mom and the babies?” Jamie asked.
“She just had them, worm brain! Probably not until later today,” Phillip replied.
“Do not call your brother names,” Dotty reprimanded. “I’m sure we’ll be able to see her in a little while.”
“Listen fellas, I’ll come out here and get you the moment the Doctor tells me it’s okay,” I informed them both.
When I opened the door to room 406, Amanda was resting comfortably. She wasn’t asleep, but she looked content. The nurses wheeled Lee and Jennifer to the nursery to give them a bath. I walked over to my wife’s side, and took her hands in mine. “Merry Christmas, Mommy,” I spoke softly, smiling into her warm brown eyes. “I love you, Amanda,” I added, pouring all the love and compassion from deep within my heart.
Amanda pulled me toward her awaiting lips for a kiss. “Merry Christmas to you too, Daddy” she whispered, “and I love you too, Lee.”
The sounds of those words were music to my ears. I had everything a man could ask for in life. A loving wife, a beautiful family, and a home, were only a few of the wonderful things I had attained in life. The Christmas holiday just made it even more special, and I would remember it every year on our children’s birthday. I realized at the very moment that reality wouldn’t sink in for awhile. I had nine months to absorb the fact, but nothing prepared me for the moment my children entered the world.
THE END