Page 73 of Resolution
We each take turns holding the babies, and several cameras have made an appearance to capture the moment. I send a picture of Sam and me holding the kids to Maddie, as well as my sister and brother. It’s too late to video chat since it’s nearly one in the morning when Ma and Pops decide to call it a night.
A lactation specialist comes in right as my parents are leaving and introduces herself as Piper. She assists Sam in getting the kids to nurse. To my relief, Samantha’s well at ease with someone grabbing her breast and positioning it into Loren’s mouth. Piper is up close and personal, and I’ve never seen anything like it.
“Before you know it, you’ll be walking around the house, a kid on each breast and still managing to get things done,” Piper teases. “You’re a natural at this, Samantha.” Do people really do that?
“Ha… I don’t think I’d go that far, but I distinctly remember reading manuscripts and binge-watching TV series with my previous children.”
One thing I’m coming to learn is there’s an entire vocabulary set I haven’t been privy to before having children. Words like lactation, latching on, unhooking, football position, and much more are discussed between Piper and Samantha.
I decide to make the most of my time by acquainting myself with Raine in the rocker. She’s wide awake and ready to conquer the world. I undo the swaddle of blankets so that her hands are free and I can touch them. They are unbelievably tiny. Wondering what her feet look like, I un-swaddle her entirely. I can’t believe her feet are smaller than my thumb. When I brush my fingertips against her toes, she kicks at me and makes a cooing sound. She’s still curled up like she’s been in her Mama’s womb and it’s incredible to see the miracle of life up close and personal.
Suddenly, Raine straightens her body as stiff as a board and her face turns fire-engine-red. Did I break her? What the hell’s happening. “Uh… Sam… What’s going on?”
Both the lactation specialist and Sam stop immediately to see what’s going on. Each are frozen in place as Raine makes a grunting sound. I immediately stand and walk to them. “What do I do? Is she okay?”
Before either of them can say anything, I feel a rumble in her diaper. She grunts again and again. My hand feels more movement in her diaper and suddenly, there’s a loud farting noise that has me scared to check what’s coming from that precious girl of mine.
“Um… Not it.” Samantha laughs.
“Did she really just do what I think she did?” I ask in disbelief. There’s no way this precious angel can sound like that.
“Let me see.” I bring Raine over to her and she pulls back the top of the diaper. “Yep. You’re in luck. The meconium ones are the nastiest.”
I blanch at the thought. “What the hell is meconium?”
With a straight face, Samantha simply states, “It’s the babies first poop and it’s usually tar black and stickier than all get out to get off. They will usually only have one or two, then it will pass, and it will turn a liquid, yellowish color.”
I take Raine over to the changing table, and holy shit. Sam’s right. This stuff sticks to her butt like glue. It also has a sandpaper texture, so I do my best to clean her up without causing her too much fuss. My sweet girl screams like she’s cursing me out the entire time. Thankfully, I’m a pro at diaper changing, so I’m able to get her settled quickly.
“Bring her to me. It’s her turn to eat,” Samantha directs as she gets Loren ready for a handoff. “You’ll need to burp him.”
Once I get Loren and Samantha settled with Raine, I move to the rocker and glide back and forth as I pat his back. Soon, a loud burp erupts in my ear, followed by a series of toots. “I see how you’re going to be,” I tease Loren. Samantha giggles at my response.
“Well, I’m sure he’s not to be outdone by his sister.” Samantha’s sass is back in full swing. It warms my heart to see her at her best.
Within minutes, Loren does his best, but Raine’s still the champion. I clean him up just as the lactation specialist leaves the room. Raine’s nearly asleep. I offer to take her and lay her in the clear-walled bassinet next to Samantha. Samantha’s awake, but it’s evident she needs some rest.
“Why don’t you try to get some sleep, Sam? I’ll take our looky-lou here and hang with him until he falls asleep. You’ve had quite a day and could use the rest.”
“So have you, mister.” She eyes me suspiciously. “But I’m fading, and they will need to be fed before I know it.” She pushes a button to make the bed recline.
I walk over and kiss her lightly on the lips. “Thank you, Samantha. You have made me the happiest man alive today. I love you all so much.”
She yawns and reaches her hand out to push the hair off Loren’s face. “We make beautiful babies.”
“We sure do, beautiful. Now get some rest.” She closes her eyes and I walk to the rocking chair. I maneuver it with one hand, so that my legs can prop on the bench-like couch next to me.
Since the lights are dim, I grab the u-shaped pillow Samantha called a Boppy and place it on my lap. I let Loren settle down on it, so that he’s facing me and I do the only thing I can think of. I tell him the story of how his mother and I met.
“One day, I came home from leave. I wanted to surprise Pops, so I went to his job site. That’s the day I met and fell in love with your ma. I didn’t know it then, but that one decision was the best I’ve ever made in my life…”
As I talk, Loren listens intently. His tiny hands wrap around my index finger and we have story time until his eyes grow heavy. When I think he’ll fall asleep, I stealthily maneuver him to the bassinet and lay him inside next to his sister. I can’t wait until they meet their brother and sisters. I know Maddie, Declan, and Frankie will be over the moon when they come tomorrow to meet their new brother and sister.
Not wanting to disturb either of them, I stare at my sleeping family and think to myself, life can’t get any better than this.
Epilogue
Samantha
