Kara also began working with a psychologist specializing in posttraumatic stress syndrome, Mitch also began going to the same psychologists. His name was Doctor Marcus and he seemed to be a very capable psychologists. Both Kara and Mitch began to improve, Kara who had dealt with it not as long seem to improve quicker. Charles remarked that Mitch had fewer nightmares and was beginning to smile more. I wonder if that was because I saw him with MC so often, perhaps between Doctor Marcus and MC, Mitch’s life would become happier.
After Kathryn’s Obstetrician had done some adjustment, Kathryn and Misty both have due dates of March 21st. Kathryn and I both know that foresight is seldom 20/20, so in March 1st came and went without Kathryn or Misty going into labor we were not too concerned. On twentieth March, a storm front moved through, and it brought snow again, Kathryn was in no mood to build snowmen this time. She complained of a backache, her mother noticed Amanda had turned. Helen called her sister’s to explain, “We need to stay near Kathryn if possible, I believe Amanda will me making an appearance shortly.”
When Misty came over with Marshall, she too complained of a backache, and Helen’s eyes lit up seeing how the baby had turned for Misty as well.
Of course, I felt every twinge Kathryn had. Fortunately, for me my pain threshold is quite high, with a little concentration I could pull most of Kathryn’s pain away from her. Helen figured it out in a heartbeat, she told me angrily, “JJ, Kathryn needs that pain, and it is how her body prepares itself to deliver Amanda. If you take too much of it away her labor will be very long and even more difficult.”
I look at Helen as another contraction starts, there nearly twenty minutes apart. I can understand what she means. I am taking nearly all of Kathryn’s pain and not allowing her to fill the discomfort that racks my own body. Kathryn overhears, she comes in punches me in the arm trying to break my concentration. With a little anger to her voice Kathryn says, “Do not take this away from me, JJ. This experience is what makes a woman a woman.”
Helen says, “Kathryn, I think JJ is going to give you what you wish for. Remember that when you get angry at him for getting you pregnant.”
Kathryn’s eyes go wide as I release more of the pain back to her, she knows better than complain because I will simply take it away again. Looking at her I say, “I was probably the first husband in history that could do what all other husbands have wished they could do, take the pain away that you have giving us children.”
Kathryn places her hands on her back, arching it to stretch which only makes her belly look that much bigger. Over the last month, I swear Kathryn has gotten so large, I know it was to give Amanda room to finish growing. Kathryn still swims daily, although it is a little more difficult for her now, and she is quite a bit slower. The time in the pool helps, her feet does not swell as much when she spends time there. The days Kathryn does not get to swim her feet swell, and I do my best to massage her feet those days.
Sam and Crystal sees their mother’s discomfort, and the two girls come asking if there is anything they can do for her. Kathryn giggles and says, “No it is just your baby sister letting me know she is coming soon.”
The girls’ eyes light up at the news, more than at the snow that has kept me home today.
Misty giggles and says, “I guess Junior is letting me know he is coming too.”
Marshall tells me, “We been packed since the first, just in case the Doctor is wrong.”
Looking at Marshall I explain, “Premonitions are like weather forecasts, little things can change and alter what was going to occur. Remember back on the first was not a very good time, we just had Sylvia’s funeral.”
Marshall says, “Then I am glad our kids were not in a hurry to be born. They would never understood why we were a little sad on their birthdays.”
Kara comes in dropping snow from her coat. Daniel on Kara’s heels is carrying a bundled up Cindy, when he sets Cindy down she sheds her coat and runs to me. Jumping into my arms she says, “Uncle JJ you need to take Aunt Kathryn to the hospital now. You too Uncle Marshall, you need to take Aunt Misty.”
I am a little confused therefore, I ask, “Cindy, why do I need to take her now?”
There is a look of certainty in Cindy’s eyes as she says, “I had a nightmare, the roads are getting really bad and if you do not leave now, you may not get to the hospital in time.” Sam and Crystal run to get their and their mothers bags. That is their job on our hospital plan.
Daniel says, “It has already come over the news that only emergency vehicles, and those with four-wheel-drive should attempt being on the road today, and the sheriff has asked that everyone remain home if possible.”
I look at Cindy, have learned to listen when one of our children have a message from their deceased parents. Sam’s Angel Mommy delivers very accurate warnings. Looking at Cindy I say, “Thank you for the warning Cindy, will leave right now.”
Kara raises an eyebrow before she asks, “You are not going to go out in weather like this, are you?”
I ask a question in return, “You think Sylvia would lie to us and put us in danger when we did not need to be? I do not think she would, and this is her warning us.”
Cindy looking at Kara says, “I told you Uncle JJ would know.”
Kara says, “JJ we were out playing in the snow until we got very cold this morning, we decided to come in. Daniel volunteered to make us some soup and sandwiches, and Cindy and I took a hot shower to warm up. We gotten dressed in pajamas and were sitting on the couch just cuddling together. We must have fallen asleep because it felt so good getting warm.”
Cindy continues for her Mom, “Daddy was being a little slow getting the sandwiches and soup. I had the dream, Angel Mommy warns the roads are going to be bad, and you will have to help other people so it is going to take a long time getting Aunt Kathryn and Aunt Misty to the hospital. If you leave soon you will get there in time.”
Kathryn says, “My contractions are about twenty minutes apart now, they usually do not want you to go in until their ten minutes apart. Under the circumstances it might be wise to listen to Angel Sylvia.”
Marshall pulls on his coat saying, “I am going after Misty’s bags, pick me up if I am not back before you leave. JJ that SUV you have is a four-wheel-drive right?”
Answering Marshall’s question I say, “Yes, Kathryn got me the four-wheel-drive model.”
Cindy says, “Do not forget to bring a few ropes, and some extra gasoline.”
It took us two and a half hours, we pulled out five cars from ditches that blocked our way, and another had run out of gas. All the gas stations remained closed due to the bad weather. Their employees could not make it in to work.
We pulled into the hospital, Kathryn’s and Misty’s contractions were barely more than eight minutes apart and lasting for quite a long time. Actually I say we, I should say the family, between the Coach, Ron, Charles, and Uncle George there were enough SUVs with four-wheel-drive to bring everyone, we even picked up a few extra bodies along the way the needed to come to the hospital. Uncle George along with Charles had volunteered to help bring anyone into the hospital because the emergency services did not have a four-wheel-drive. As soon as we arrived at the hospital, they immediately ordered out along with an EMT team. I allow them to use my SUV as well.
Helen looking at Marshall’s face east time one of Misty’s contractions start, you do not need telepathy to read his mind, but Helen asked anyway. “Marshall I bet you just want to take Misty’s pain away?”
Marshall takes a heavy breath and says, “I would give anything if Misty had no pain, I would take it in a heartbeat.”
Helen says, “JJ said something about everyman would do that for their wife if they could.” Marshall shakes his head yes reconfirming what he said.
Ron sent after the Doctor, who was stuck in a snowdrift and nearly out of fuel. Ron drove a hummer that was similar to the ones military use. There some areas in our County that allow four-wheel-drives to go mudding. Ron and Reese both seem to enjoy their outings. I have even tried it once, taking Sam and Crystal along. I really did not enjoy the clean up afterwards, must have been forty pounds of mud on my SUV.
Ron’s hummer was the best to pull a car from a snowdrift, and we just could not leave the car in the road. Ron returns nearly an hour later, he shakes his head and says, “It is so bad out there it is a good thing I was raised up north. Even places where the road is fairly clear it is really icy.”
Ron does not get more than ten minutes break, before they request Ron again to assist another person in their efforts to reach the hospital. Charles asks, “Would you like some help, Jim can shovel for you if you need someone to help dig someone out.”
Jim have been looking nervous, and the young man really needed something to do. His father having worked around young men probably knew that better than anyone did. Jim is actually happy to be helping Ron, and the hospital has provided them a shovel, which he used to clear the emergency area of snow. Fortunately, the snow had stopped falling although the wind kept it drifting, the worst of the snowstorm may have passed because it seemed calmer now.
I nervously am pacing across the floor of the waiting room, ever so often they will run me out to examine Kathryn. Other than that I am always at her side, the doctor was amazed at how well she was handling the pain from her contractions. He thought I was having sympathetic contractions; many husbands have those although mine was a little different, I simply shared her pain. I feel them placing a spinal block in Kathryn. I know this is one of the last things done before taking her to delivery.
I meet Kathryn on her way to delivery, although our hospital does not allow me to accompany her in the operating room. With a spinal block in, Kathryn is no longer having pain only some mild discomfort from her powerful contractions. Before we are separated Kathryn whispers to me, “JJ let me have this all by myself.” We do get one more kiss and a quick I love you before she disappears into the operating room.
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