Island Fever 5: Family Ch. 08

"You want to see Mommy? Mommy is sleeping, but I'm sure she would love to be woke up for you."

"Everyone is coming to visit you soon," Lindsay told Kristanna. "None of us care what anyone thinks about us or our family. All we care about right now is you and Ariel, and we ALL want to see you. They will be here in an hour." Lindsay took a step back and peered around the corner of the doorway. "Also, I have a surprise for you. Come on in."

"KADEN!" Kristanna cried out at the sight of her son, our first-born child, who immediately rushed over to the bed and literally jumped toward his mother. Lindsay was able to catch him in mid-air, though, and then eased him onto the bed.

"Mommy is not feeling good," Lindsay told him. "Be nice with her, be gentle, no jumping or horsing around."

"Oh Kaden, I love you!" Kristanna exclaimed, hugging and kissing on our son as often - and as much - as she wanted. His mere presence was probably a good outlet for Kristanna to release some of her frustration and angst over Ariel. "I've missed you so much! Oh, you're my baby boy!"

With the ruckus and movement in bed, Pamela woke up and immediately extended her arms toward Piper. What ensued was another happy reunion between mother and child. Pamela had not seen Piper in over 24 hours herself. Lindsay and the other ladies had been looking after Kaden and Piper while Pamela, Devon and I stayed at the hospital with Kristanna.

"What did we talk about in the car coming over here, Kaden?" Lindsay asked the 19-month-old. "Are you gonna tell Mommy? You have a new baby sister. Don't you? What's her name? Ariel? Can you say ... Ariel?" Lindsay smiled at Kristanna. "When Kaden saw a picture of you holding Ariel on my phone, he kissed it. He kissed the phone."

"Awwwww!" Kristanna whined.

"Where's Mommy's big belly?" Pamela asked Kaden. "She no longer has that big belly, does she? Big belly went bye bye!"

"Bye bye!" Kaden chirped, waving his hand at his mother's stomach. Oh, both he and Piper were a sight for sore eyes...

"You want to see Ariel, your baby sister?" Kristanna asked Kaden, who nodded his head in response. "Oh, you will, honey. You will. The doctors are fixing her up and she will be with us soon. The doctors are making sure Ariel is all well."

"All well!" Pamela squealed, grinning.

"Good God, Jeremy," Lindsay observed. "You look like you are about ready to fall over. Why don't you go home and get some sleep? Better yet, I can drive you home, and you get some sleep. You and Krissy won't be allowed to see Ariel again until later tonight, right? Get some sleep until then."

"No," I told her. "I'm not leaving Kristanna."

"You need to!" Kristanna advised me. "Lindsay is right. Go home, Jeremy, and get some rest. I will be fine here. Pamela is here, Lindsay is here, others are apparently on their way. My mom and dad will be back soon. I'll be fine. Go home and get some rest."

"I'm not leaving, and I don't need any sleep."

Lindsay glared at me, frustrated, but then switched her focus to Kristanna. She went over and gave her a very long, drawn-out hug. "Oh, I was so relieved at the news of your baby, Krissy. Scarlett said with the bili light treatment, there is nothing to worry about. No long-term ramifications or side effects at all. It will cure her completely."

"Where's your little baby at?"

"Trish is bringing Kaylee and Jackson with her to the hospital," Lindsay told Kristanna. "She will be here soon, as will Amy, Scarlett and Dani Grace. Devon is still home sleeping, and Alison is playing video games."

Lindsay pulled away from Kristanna and shook her head, a tear falling down her cheek. "I cannot imagine what it was like for you, to have Ariel taken away ... so quickly." Lindsay began shedding even more tears. "You are stronger th-than me. I ... I would have thrown a fit if, immediately after Kaylee was born, they took her away, and would not let me see her." Lindsay became emotional at the mere idea. "I could not ... I would not be ... be able to han-handle ... it."

"It's been rough," Kristanna sniffed. "I just want to see my baby daughter. I want to hold her." Kristanna perked up, though, and embraced Kaden. "But at least I get to hug and kiss on the wild man. Oh, I love you, Kaden!"

"How is Alison doing?" Pamela wondered. "Was there any fallout between her and Scarlett over ... what happened?" Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about Alison with all of this intense hospital drama. I had sex with Alison, Lindsay's younger, 19-year-old sister, the very same night I married Scarlett.

"None whatsoever," Lindsay answered. "Scarlett may not have been happy at first, but I think she realizes the nature of our relationship, our family, and the fact that all of us - even Scarlett herself - wants Alison to be a part of it. Besides, Scarlett has not even been thinking about that, Pamela. She has just been worried, like the rest of us, about Krissy and Ariel, and Jeremy too. All of us have been hoping and praying that everything would turn out okay. I prayed all night for Ariel."

Kristanna smiled and brought a hand to Lindsay's face. "You're such a special girl. I love you so much."

"Oh, I love you too."

"I just want to go home with Ariel!" Kristanna complained.

Lindsay turned and pointed a finger at me. "Your rule sucks. From now on, no one is keeping me away if one of my wives is in the hospital again. It worked for the first few pregnancies, because they were routine and there was little risk. But this pregnancy, this childbirth. was different."

"Jeremy doesn't want six or seven women, not to mention any parents or children, overwhelming someone all at once if they are in the hospital, sick, not feeling well. He does not want a big congregation in here."

"I don't care," Lindsay told Pamela, defiant. "The whole concept sucks. Everyone agreed with me back home. That is why everyone - minus Devon and Alison - is on their way here now. When Devon wakes up, she is bringing Alison here, too. Even Alison deserves to be here to show her support."

"Jeremy doesn't want people getting any ideas about us, either," Pamela reminded her. "We want to keep our lifestyle, our family and its structure, a secret."

"I don't care," Lindsay reiterated. "You're not the one who had to sit home all day and all night while Krissy was in the hospital, Pamela." Steadfast, Lindsay shook her head. "Never again. No one is stopping me ever again."

"I have an idea," Kristanna offered, looking at me. "When Scarlett gets here, let me visit with her for a bit, then why don't you go home with her, Jeremy, and take a nap? It would be good for you and Scarlett to have a little alone time together after what happened between you and Alison. Have a little time to talk and sort things out? Trust me, I will be fine. I'll have plenty of company and support. You really need to get some sleep, Jeremy. You don't look well at all."

"Yeah," Pamela agreed. "You can come back later tonight, go with Krissy and visit Ariel in the NICU."

As much as it pained me to agree to it, Kristanna had a valid point. I was concerned for Kristanna and wanted to be with her, but she would have plenty of love and support if I were to step away for a couple of hours. Really, I doubt I would make it until noon before passing out.

At the same time, however, Kristanna was not my only wife. Nor was she the only wife with a major problem. I married Scarlett two nights ago and to say our blessed union got off to a unique start would be quite the understatement. I really needed some time alone with Scarlett where we could hopefully smooth things over and resolve any lingering issues stemming from my unexpected tryst in the bedroom with Alison. We had a good, long talk yesterday morning, but did not get to finish it because Kristanna needed to be rushed to the hospital.

Ariel seemed to be doing just fine now, but she was not in the clear quite yet - there could certainly be a complication or two that popped up before it was time for her to go home. Then, outside of the hospital's supervision and care, would Ariel become ill and need to be brought right back here? All premature babies come with an increased risk of everything.

In any event, I had been brought down to my knees in humility over the past 24 hours. The birth of Ariel - and what ensued afterward (her being whisked away and Kristanna's emotional outbursts stemming from it, then getting a few precious moments to visit Ariel in the NICU inbetween hours of wait and agony) - had given me a new perspective on life.

The birth of a child is supposed to be a time of happiness and celebration. For parents of premature babies, however, it is often a time of fear and uncertainty. One is not supposed to feel fear when a baby is born. Am I right?

My appreciation for Dr. Reitan, Dr. Eriksen and the rest of the amazing staff at the university hospital was immense. I was grateful for them and their hard work, knowing full well that they not only most likely saved my daughter's life, but perhaps Kristanna's as well. This whole experience taught me to never take any of my children for granted, nor their health. It reinforced how important my family was to me.

It took a very long time, but I now finally understood why Scarlett insisted on keeping her job as a nurse here at the hospital. For many months, I asked Scarlett to quit, telling her that there was no reason for her to keep this job. Yet, she refused to listen to me. I never understood why until now.

Every day at her job, Scarlett had the opportunity to touch so many lives and guide them toward a better place, a better spot. Scarlett had helped deliver hundreds of newborn babies, aided in their care and treatment, all the while tending to the mother and her needs. How many ex-patients viewed Scarlett the same way I now looked at Dr. Reitan and Dr. Eriksen?

Wasn't that how we all originally met Scarlett? She was the primary nurse - our angel of mercy - when Kristanna gave birth to Kaden on July 29, 2014.

Kristanna was sick now - overly emotional (and rightfully so) - but she would agree with me wholeheartedly concerning this entire experience in due time. A mother's greatest treasure is her daughter. I learned that just by seeing the look upon Kristanna's face when she got to hold Ariel in the NICU. Those two minutes may have been the happiest two minutes of Kristanna's life thus far. Nothing may ever exceed them. She was simply glowing while Ariel was in her arms.

Many couples who have a premature child, the result of it, are much less fortunate than Kristanna and I were with Ariel. I understood this already. Eventually, Kristanna would too. And she would appreciate the hard and often thankless efforts of the doctors, the nurses and everyone else at the hospital.

I was looking forward to (hopefully) bringing Ariel home with us later in the week and incorporating her into our everyday lives, our routine. A new life is one of God's greatest gifts, and I am going to cherish Ariel - as well as the rest of my children - for as long as I shall live.

I already had visions of one day, Ariel getting married and then giving birth to a child of her own. Me, a grandpa? The mere thought warmed my senses and brought forth my first smile in several hours. Ariel, I knew, was going to be fine.

--- End of Chapter 8 ---

To Be Continued...