Chapter 24: Growing

Captain's Log -

All too soon, time rolled forward.  Our triplets grew to toddlers. And their individual personalities began to truly shine through.

 Muriel was excitable, and could sleep through all the commotion in the house.  She even slept through her sisters' screams.  She ended up inheriting my amber eyes, but Cordela's strawberry blond hair.

 Little Muriel . . . so quiet compared to her siblings.  She seemed naturally born with discipline.  She loved being read to.  She had my dark hair and my mother's green eyes.

 And then little Ursula, she was the bravest.  She was the first to crawl, to walk, to explore.  And Ursula was the first to figure out her peg box.  I do believe she is above average.  She is the spitting image of her mother as a baby.

 It will be interesting to see if her likeness to Cordelia will continue.

 Right now, life is beyond busy for all of us.  Una has made a great turn-around.  She has been a help to us with the triplets.  She works hard in her school studies, earning mostly A's in her report cards.  I am very impressed with her.
The triplets seem to eat all the time, we feed one then another is hungry and the process repeats itself.  Dirty diapers . . . I've seen more than my share.
Potty training is near.  Muriel and Mairin are so close to walking, little Ursula just runs everywhere.
They seem to learn a new word every day, they are in to everything from trash to toilet water.
Outside of raising our children, Cordelia has gone back to work at the office, she's striving to climb the corporate latter, but the mutual hate she has with her boss is holding her back.
I've had a quick succession of raises and promotions, but the price to pay for that is time away from my loved ones and working many graveyard shifts and non-traditional hours.
But when all is said and done, when I come home from work on those nights, I love the sound of peace in the house.

I know all is right in the world when I look in on my sleeping babes and witness their tranquil slumber.

~Tom Calico

Chapter 23: Long Nights, Warm Hearts

Captain's Log -

Labor pains started in the middle of the night.
 With a disarmingly gentle touch, Cordelia squeezed my shoulder gently to wake me.  I was surprised that the lamp was already on.  When I looked at her with sleep-blurred eyes, I could see the beaded sweat on her brow and above her lip.
"They're coming," she whispered to me.

We both got out of the bed, Cordelia taking her time between contractions.

 She was so brave.  Hardly crying out when the pain came, but she made the oddest faces while concentrating on her breathing.

 We grabbed our bag for the hospital and headed into town together.

 Once situated in the hospital, nurses attended Cordelia while I encouraged her with gentle words and praise. Strangely, once in the hospital, time passed quickly and it felt like mere heartbeats later, our daughters came.
We named them Mairin, Ursula and Muriel.
After a few days in the hospital, the doctor deemed Delia and the babies healthy to go home.

Once home, we laid the girls in their cribs.

That first night home was the beginning of lost sleep, long nights, dirty clothes, messy home, warm hearts, and a happy home.
The past was truly forgotten and the future worth living for.

~Tom Calico

Chapter 22: Countdown

Captain's Log -

Cordelia's doing so well.  To battle near-constant exhaustion, Cordelia naps every day and makes a point to do some stretches and only a little exercise. She's nearly through with the pregnancy, the doctor said she wouldn't go full-term so any day could be the day.

 With the nursery in order, Cordelia has used her maternity leave from the office to catch up on reading.  Most of her reading consists of baby-know-how.  She is getting nervous for the day but her excitement is palpable.
Una has warmed up a little to having siblings.  Her fits have lessened and she has settled to the fact that she will not be our one and only.  She has also kept herself busy with her playmate Carey Verona.  Verona as in Juliette Verona's son.  Juliette herself has settled into married life and having a family.  It's ironic to me that the woman I used to be with has a son who now plays (and is friends with) my daughter.
Needless to say, I'm glad Una has a good friend.  I think once the triplets are here that she'll be in need of a friend.  Delia and I will be so busy with the babies I fear that Una will think we've forgotten her despite our words of warning of late to her that it wouldn't happen.
I don't share too much of my worries to Cordelia, she is preoccupied with her impending labor and I know that eventually all things will turn out right.

 Soon, our babies will be here.  The days are winding down, and the moment is almost nigh.  I must attend to Cordelia, for she has need of me in these last days.

~Tom Calico

Chapter 21: Bringing Up Baby(ies)

Captain's Log -

Cordelia has mentioned her desire to have a baby.  Although this entry may mark the first word of it, it isn't the first time she's ever said anything. It is the first time that I've actually started giving thought to having another child in the home - especially knowing now that Cordelia is pregnant.  We never bothered with protection, knowing that the outcome would likely be to have another child.  Honestly, I'm a little surprised she wasn't pregnant sooner.
So yes, my Delia is going to have a baby.  Our baby.  And it's been a long time since feeling this distinct excitement.  I have no real trepidation in the future, because I know history will not repeat itself.  Cordelia is a wonderful mother to Una, I have no doubt in her ability to be a mother to a newborn.
I am however, worried about Una.  She has been flourishing and growing under the guidance of Cordelia and me.  She has been (dare I say) given much love and has not wanted.  I fear in giving so much to Una, she has become accustomed to being an only child.  She has made it clear through her more frequent tantrums that she isn't interested in having a sibling to share affections with.  Time will tell if her feelings will change on the matter.
Yesterday, I took Cordelia to the doctor so we could be sure her pregnancy was progressing well.  She is nearly out of her first trimester.
Imagine my surprise when the doctor confirmed to us that Cordelia wasn't just pregnant with one child, but with three.
Triplets.
And in about five to six months they would be here.
Cordelia laughed, the doctor smiled, and I broke out into a nervous sweat.  Three, really?
"Well, Calico," Cordelia reached over to touch my shoulder.  She kept her perch on the examination table, I was in a waiting chair at her side, "Well, we've been waiting out for some time to see when I'd get pregnant.  All good things come to those who wait, right?"
"And apparently, they seem to come in three's." I replied.
We laughed together.


~Tom Calico