Michaela stood looking out her bedroom window at the morning sun. Michaela placed her hand where her unborn children were growing. At just two months pregnant she had not yet began to show. But she was tired all the time, and she sometimes got dizzy and felt faint. Michaela looked over to at the bed where her husband was asleep. She was so thankful for two more little precious lives. She couldn't wait for them to be born.
Sully woke up just after the sun had come out. He noticed that Michaela was not beside him. He saw her over by the window. He got out of bed and went up behind her and put his hand on her still flat abdomen. Michaela put her hand ontop of his.
"Morning. How did you all sleep?"
"We slept very well. You?"
"Oh I slept like a baby knowing the most beautiful woman in the world was sleeping right next to me."
Michaela turned around and gave him a good morning kiss to start off the day. He kissed her back with more passion. The kiss lasted for several seconds. They pulled back out of breath but yet fulfilled in a way of love. All of a sudden the moment was ruined when six month old Alex started crying.
"She must be hungry.",Michaela's motherly instinct took over.
"I'll go make a bottle.",replied Sully.
Over the last two weeks they had been weaning Alex to a bottle. Now she only nursed once a day at night from her mother's breast. Sully left the room. Michaela went over to her crib and picked up the child. She began rocking her back and forth.
A few minutes later Sully came in with the bottle he handed it to his wife. Michaela placed the nipple by the child's mouth. Alex's natural sucking instinct took over and she began to drink hungrily from the bottle.
"You know we get to do this all over again with two more little ones in a few months. You think your up to twins this time?"
"Yeah. I mean I know it's gonna be hard with two babies, and three young children but as long as we give them all love I know we can make it."
Michaela smiled at a thought.
"What?",Sully asked her curiously.
"I was just remembering when we thought I might not be able to have children and now we have three born and two more on the way."
"Have I told you lately how beautiful you are?"
"I don't believe you have."
"Well you are and so is this little girl.",he replied gently touching her head. She had gotten so big in the last six months. She was already trying to crawl. He loved his children so much.
"Yeah she is. She looks so much like you Sully."
"Yeah but she is just like her Ma."
"I suppose she does get her stubborness from me."
"Sully you are such a wonderful father to our children, and I know that you will be a wonderful Papa to these two little ones."
"And you are a wonderful wife and mother."
He leaned in and kissed her lips tenderly. She kissed him back with equal passion. Michaela never knew that when she came to Colorado Springs she would be married and have children with a man she loved. But she was glad her life had turned out the way it had. She wouldn't change a thing.
Two weeks passed by. Life for Michaela was beginning to become hectic. She first had morning sickness. Then she had to dress her three small children, get herself ready and then make breakfast for her family.
They all sat at the breakfast table that morning. Brian and Sully exchanged worried looks. Michaela was sitting at the other end of the table eating very small bites of her breakfast. She looked very tired and just drained of all her strength. Sully was very worried about his wife. His thoughts were interupted when Alex began to cry.
Michaela jumped a little. She got up out of her chair and began to lift her daughter from her high chair. All of a sudden Michaela felt dizzy. She set Alex back down. Sully ran to her and helped her sit down.
"Michaela, are you alright?",he asked her worriedly.
"Oh yes I'm fine, I must have gotten up to quickly as all."
"Brian will you take Katie and John outside and wait in the wagon, I need a few minutes alone with your Ma."
"Alright Pa.",he replied as he picked up his little brother and took his sister's hand. He led them outside to wait on the porch for their father.
"Michaela I'm really worried about you, I am gonna start taking care of the children in the morning. I don't want you wearing yourself out. It's not good for you or the babies."
Michaela nodded her head in agreement. To tired to put up a fight. She knew that with one baby she would be able to do all of these things for a few more months, but with two babies it was almost impossible to do it all without tiring herself out.
"Sully your right I am pushing myself too hard. I'm only three months pregnant and already I am exhausted."
"Your body is just telling you to slow down and to get some rest. Right now you need to worry about getting plenty of rest and taking care of yourself. You leave the kids to me and Brian, Now lets get going into town."
"Alright. I love you."
"And I love you.",he replied giving her a loving kiss.
Soon the entire Sully family gathered into the wagon. They rode into town quietly. Soon they pulled up in front of the clinic. Brian jumped off of the wagon and ran off to school. Sully helped Michaela and the children down.
"I'll take Katie to school, you stay here and sit down until I come back.",Sully told his wife.
Michaela brought John and Alex into the clinic while Sully brought his daughter to school. He kissed her on the cheek and gave her a hug. Then she ran into the school. Sully walked back to the clinic.
He walked in. He found Michaela laying Alex in her crib and John sitting on a blanket on the floor playing with his toys. He went up behind his wife. He put his arm around her belly. She had a more rounded shape in her third month. She was just beginning to show.
"I can't believe Alex is no longer the baby of the family."
"Me neither. I love being pregnant, but I just want it to be all over. Then I think about the labor. I think of how much pain I'll be in, and if something goes wron...."
Sully put his finger to her lips. She immediatly stopped talking as he looked into her eyes. With so much love for her and his family.
"You will do fine. Don't think bad thoughts. Only good ones. Besides you've been through this before, I'll be right beside you. I love you so much Michaela more that life itself."
"Oh Sully, I love you too."
Sully pulled her close to him. Close to his heart. Where all of his love for her and their family was. He knew that the months ahead would be hard, but her knew that they could get through it as long as they were together. And that was all that mattered. That they were together loving each other.
A few days later Michaela sat at her desk in the clinic. She finished her work for the day. All of a sudden she felt a pain in her abdomen. Michaela put her arms on her unborn children. She thought to herself this can't be happening again. Soon the pain subsided. Michaela decided that it was nothing and went about her day as normal.
Later on she brought Alex and John with her to the Cafe to eat some lunch. Michaela was in the middle of eating when another pain hit her. She gasped a painful breath. She put her arms around her belly as if she could protect her unborn children. It took longer to go away this time, but it did finally go away.
Grace came over to the table and noticed how pale and tired Michaela looked. She put her hand ontop of Michaela's.
"It isn't easy being pregnant is it?"
"No it's not especially with three small children to look after."
"Why don't you go over to the clinic and take a nap, and I will watch the little ones."
"Thank you Grace, that sounds like just what I need."
Michaela left the Cafe. Just as she got into the clinic. Another pain hit her. This time more painful. She managed to make upstairs to bed. She soon fell asleep.
"Michaela."
Michaela opened her eyes to the firmiliar face of her husband. She noticed that it was late in the evening and the sun was starting to go down.
"Grace said you weren't feeling good and you were taking a nap."
"Yes morning sickness seems to be one of those things in this pregnancy that I will probably get frequently."
All of a sudden another pain hit her. Sully noticed her flinch. He immediatly went over to the bed.
"Michaela what is it?",he asked her with fear in his voice.
She tried to hide it from him,"It was nothing."
"Michaela don't lie to me. Please tell what's wrong?"
"I have been having some pain in my abdomen since about noon."
Sully looked at her with more fear.
"I thought if I just acted like it wasn't there it would go away. Oh Sully I can't be loosing our babies. Not again. I can't bear to loose another pregnancy."
"I am getting the doctor.",he replied quickly leaving the room.
Soon Dr. Williams arrived. He was the new doctor who ran the clinic at the Cheatue. He began a thorough examination of Michaela.
"Have you had any bleeding a long with the pain?",he asked her as he gently applied pressure to her abdomen. She flinched as he touched a certain spot.
"No."
"Well the pain could indicate a miscarriage, but no bleeding means that you have not miscarried. I believe the fetuses our in good health. I think the pain is being caused by something else."
"By what Dr. Williams?",Michaela asked fearfully.
"By a tumor that is located in your ovary on the left side. You know that there are several different procedures of removing it. Some doctors only remove the tumor, other doctors remove the ovary for precautionary reasons, and other doctors believe in removing the uterus. I believe that maybe for health reasons you may want to consider removing the ovary. I may have to excapate your uterus, if the tumor is to large to remove from the ovary."
"I don't want that. I want you to remove the tumor, but nothing else."
Sully asked his wife and Dr. Williams,"Is the operation risky for the babies."
"Well with all operations there are risks, but yes there are risks for the fetuses, but if we don't remove the tumor, your wife and unborn children will not make it through the year. So we must act quickly."
"Do what you have to do to. Just save them. Please.",Sully replied to him.
"I will.",replied the doctor as he prepared for the operation.
Sully held Michaela's hand as Dr. Williams made the first cut. Michaela's blood was soon all over the young doctor. Sully was afraid as he saw so much blood of his beloved all over the place.
Dr. Williams made a small incision into the ovary. He saw the tumor. He smiled to himself when he saw that it wasn't too large to remove. He pulled the incision open more. Soon he removed the tumor and closed the wound.
Sully asked her nervously,"Did she loose the babies?"
Dr. Williams spoke quietly,"From the amount of blood loss, I can't be sure. We will know as soon as she wakes up. But I don't believe that she did, due to no complications during surgery."
Sully sat beside Michaela waiting for her to wake up. He held her hand close to his heart. Where he had so much love for her, that he could hardly put his feelings into words. Dr. Willims finished cleaning up, then left the room.
Sully spoke to his wife,"Michaela, no matter what happens I will always love you. I have loved you since the first time I saw you. We will get through this, and I will never love any less. My vow is forever. I meant it when I said until death do us part and so much more. I will never be seperated from you. You are a part of me, as I am a part of you. Our love is something I can't even describe. I love you Michaela."
Matthew, Brian, and their younger brother and sisters sat outside of the clinic. Waiting for new on their mother. Matthew was trying to stay strong and not cry, for his siblings sake. He knew if he started to cry he wouldn't be able to stop. All of a sudden the clinic door opened and the doctor walked out.
"The operation was successful. Dr. Quinn is expected to make a full recovery."
"Thank you Dr. Williams. I don't know what we would if you hadn't been here. You have our families thanks.",replied Matthew.
Sully soon fell asleep. He dreamt of Michaela holding two little babies. She looked up at his with a smile. Then she looked back down at the two little bundles of joys in her arms. All of a sudden he felt a hand on his. He woke up to find Michaela awake.
"Sully..."
"Michaela I am so glad to see you awake."
"Did everything go well?"
"Yes everything went fine. Don't go away, I'll be right back."
He ran out of the room and downstairs. He notified Dr. Williams that Michaela was awake and talking. They both went upstairs to the recovery room where Michaela was lying in bed.
"Dr. Quinn I am gonna do an examination, just to make sure everything is alright."
"Alright."
He started his examination. He put a little pressure to her abdomen. Then he did a more thorough examination.
"After doing an examination, I have concluded that the operation was a success, and you did not miscarry. But I want you too stay here for at least a week to make sure that everything in your pregnancy is going well."
"Thank you for everything Dr. Williams."
"Your welcome."
A month later Michaela was at home cleaning. Since she had returned home three weeks ago she had gone on a cleaning. Sully and Brian kept trying to make her stop and rest. After the operation everything was going smoothly. Michaela hadn't had any problems in her pregnancy beside the usual.
Sully came inside after feeding the animals. He didn't find Michaela downstairs. So he went upstairs. He found her in Katie's room putting new sheets and blankets on her bed. Sully went up behind her and put his arms around her and rested his hand on her now very extended stomach.
"Michaela you have to stop and rest. This can't be good for you or the babies. Your gonna wear yourself at the rate your going. You get up and go to the clinic. Then come home and work in your garden, and then clean for a few hours and by supper time your fast asleep."
"Sully no matter what I do I can't seem to get this house clean enough. That's why I have been cleaning so much. As for being at the clinic it is my job, and if I don't work in the garden we won't have fresh vegetables and the plants for my medicine."
"Alright you win. But you know as you get further along in your pregnancy it's gonna get harder and harder to do all of those things."
"I'll make a deal with you. Let me keep doing what I am doing until I am two months from my due date, then I will slow down all you want me too. Deal?"
"Deal. I love you so much Michaela. Your the most beautiful long brown hair I ever saw."
"Oh Sully you make me so happy. I love you too.",she replied and then leaned in to give him a kiss to show him her love."
Michaela sat in bed late one night looking at a book of names. She had picked out a few that she liked. Soon Sully came into the bedroom and got ready for bed then joined her in bed.
"Sully you know we are going to need two girls names and two boys names."
"Do you have any in mind."
"Well for a boy I really like the name David, and why don't we use Daniel for the other boys name."
"I don't know if I want to name my son after you fiancee'."
"Sully he was part of my past and I thinking that he was gone brought me here to you. Otherwise I would have married him."
"Okay. Now about using Daniel's name. He might now like that too much."
"Sully he is your best friend and he came out west with you. In a way he had a hand in bringing us together too."
"Alright."
"Why don't you choose the middle names?"
"Um. Well since your Irish why don't we use and irish name for a middle name.?",suggested Sully
"That is not a bad idea. Any suggestions?",Michaela asked.
"Well I don't like the name Colm to much. What about Patrick?",replied Sully.
"So David Patrick Sully is one name. Now we need another boys middle name.",said Michaela
"What about your father's name?"
"Daniel Josef Sully. It sounds good. Alright now girls names.",Michaela replied.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"How would you feel about naming them after Abagail and Hannah?"
"I appreciate the thought, but no thanks."
"Okay what about Dana Caitlen Sully?"
"That's pretty. We need one more girls name. Have any ideas?"
"No. How about you?"
"What about the feminen version of Daniel. Danielle Christina Sully."
"I like that. We are all set to go on names. Now we need to get the baby clothes and the cribs done."
"Well we have plenty of baby cloths from Katie, John, and Alex yet."
"I love you so much Sully. You are everything to me."
"I love you too."
Michaela sat in bed now eight months pregnant. The children were all downstairs setting the table for the thanksgiving feast. Matthew had come in from Denver. Andrew and Colleen came from Boston, and Daniel and Cloud Dancing came from town to eat with them.
Sully finished cutting the rest of the firewood and went inside to warm by the fire. As he climbed the stairs and was about to go inside when he turned around and looked at the beautiful site from the porch. He had built this house for Michaela. She had decorated it and put her own touchs on it. But together they made it a home for their family. One more month and the two little one would finally be here.
Everyone gathered around the table. They all held hands and bowed their heads in respect. They all gathered together as more then friends but as family. Cloud Dancing said a blessing.
"To the spirit, for giving us this food to replenish our bodies. For bringing us all together as one people who care so much about each other. Bless all who sit before you and keep them safe from harm, and bless the two spirits who are not yet among us, but we are thinking of them. Bless Michaela in her last month and let no harm come to her or the babies as they make their way into the world."
Michaela and Sully shared a glance and hoped that his blessings would be fulfilled. Soon everyone was eating and talking about their lives and past memories of thanksgiving.
When everyone was done eating the children all gathered around Cloud Dancing who told them stories of when he lived with his people the cheyenne. He told them about the great cheif Black Kettle and how he fought to keep peace.
Michaela sat in the rocking chair holding one year old Alex in her lap. She had gotten so big in the last few months. Soon Alex was fast asleep on her mother's lap. Sully went over and picked up their daughter and gave Michaela a kiss on the cheek then went upstairs to put Alex to bed in her crib.
Sully returned a few minutes later. Another hour passed and Katie and John's eyes were beginning to droop. As Cloud Dancing finished his last story both of them were fast asleep on the floor. Sully picked up Katie and Michaela picked up John. They brought them into the bedroom that they shared. Michaela placed John on his bed gently and pulled the covers over him. Sully did the same with Katie. Then they left the room. Michaela left the door open slightly. Then they went into their own room to get ready for bed.
A few days later after Matthew returned to Denver and Andrew and Colleen to Boston. The Sully's to a picnic in the meadow. It was actually warm for early December.
Michaela and Sully sat on a blanket watching the children play from a little distance. Sully put his hand ontop of Michaela's very extended stomach.
"You know Sully they could come at any time now. With twins most women don't carry to full term. I am lucky I made it to the ninth month. But I believe if they are born now they should be alright."
"I can't believe they are almost here. I hope we can survive to more little ones without pulling out our hair.",replied Sully laughing.
"Oh Sully we will love these little ones. They are a part of you and a part of me, and that makes them special because they were created from our love."
Sully leaned into kiss his wife on the lips. The kiss only lasted a few seconds when Michaela pulled back with pain on her face. Sully felt fear run through his entire body.
"Michaela what's wrong?"
"I think it's time."
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"Well it isn't too bad, but I believe it is going to get worse within a few hours."
Dr. Williams was doing an examination of Michaela. Michaela looked at the wall impatiently waiting for a diagnosis. Sully was at Michaela's head holding her hand also waiting to hear what the young doctor had to say. Katie, John, and Alex were outside with Brian also waiting.
Finally the doctor said,"Hum."
"What's that mean?"
"Dr. Quinn have you ever experienced false labor before with your other pregnancies?"
"No.",she replied.
"Well you are with this one it appears. I want you to go home and get some rest. I don't think we will being seeing any action from these two little ones tonight."
Sully and Michaela drove the wagon home with the children riding in the back. Michaela touched her hand to her abdomen. She was thrilled about being pregnant and giving Sully two more children, but she just wanted it all to be over. But yet she knew because of her age this would probably be the last time she ever felt her child inside of her moving and growing. It made her a little sad to think she would never feel such a wonderful thing after these two little ones were born.
Soon they reached the homestead. Michaela was going to make dinner, but Brian and Sully made her go upstairs to bed. She was lying in bed when Sully came upstairs with a cup of tea for her.
"Thank you.",she told him.
Sully sat down beside her and put his hand to her abdomen to feel the babies kicking.
"They are quite active."
"Yes, I don't think I will be able to get any sleep tonight if they don't sleep."
"Well your still going to stay in bed and rest your body. You need to be strong for when they come."
"Your right."
During the last few weeks Michaela had thought she had gone into labor two more times but they turned out to be false. Dr. Williams was amazed that she was going almost full term with twins. She was one week away from her due date.
Michaela and Sully sat in the wingback chairs while the children played with their toys in front of the fireplace. Brian was sitting at the table finishing up an article for the Gazette.
Michaela and Sully shared a smile and a glance. Sully began to tell the children a story of their first christmas together. Michaela began to remember when he had come in covered in snow to bring them all gifts. She smiled to herself.
The weather outside was beginning to get worse. It was snowing harder and harder. Sully knew the animals would be safe in the warm barn, but the fire was beginning to die down. So he went outside and got a large arm full. When he came back inside Katie and John screamed.
Sully was covered from head to toe in snow. He looked like a snowman. Sully brushed the snow off.
"Hey kids it's just me your papa."
Katie and John were reasurred when they saw his firmiliar face. Katie went up to her father and said,"You scared me papa. I thought you were gonna eat me. I'm glad it is you papa. I luv you."
"I love you too sweatheart."
After the children were put to bed Michaela and Sully sat quietly in their bedroom. They were both reading when Michaela felt a pain in her abdomen.
"Sully this is it."
"What is it?",he said not looking up from his book and not getting what she meant.
"This is it! The twins are coming now!"
It was snowing bad outside. It was almost impossible for anyone to go out and get the doctor. Sully was helping his wife the best that he could.
Michaela was sitting on the bed screaming as another contraction hit her. Sully knew that if the weather didn't let up he would have to deliver the babies. He had only done it once before with Katie, and he didn't know what to do without his wife's medical assistance.
Michaela took a long breath as she got through another contraction. She looked over at Sully. She knew that they would have to deliver the twins on their own without another doctor.
"Sully everything is progressing normally. We can do this. I know we can. We've done it before. Remember?"
"How could I forget when you were digging your hands into my cheeks and wouldn't let go."
Michaela smiled as she remembered,"I guess I wanted you to be in pain too."
Michaela's smiled left as another pain gripped her. She screamed even more as the contraction were coming more often and more painful. Sully watch as his wife was in so much pain. It was almost too much for him to see. But he knew he had to be her strength in her time of need.
Brian heard his mother scream. He ran to his parents bedroom and went flying in. He saw that his mother was in labor.
"Pa she's having them right now? In this weather? All by yourselves?",Brian rolled off his tongue nervously.
"Yes Brian to all of your questions. I need you to go in the nursery and keep an eye on the children, and comfort them if they get scared. Can you do that Son?"
"Sure Pa.",he replied as he left the room.
A few minutes later Michaela asked Sully to check how far she was dialated. He showed her. Seven centimeters about. She knew that this was going to be a fast delivery. Almost too fast for her.
Another hour passed. Michaela knew she had to start pushing. Her body was telling her to push.
"Sully I am gonna start pushing."
Sully went to the end of the bed. Michaela boar down with all of her strength. Then she took a few seconds to catch her breath and started to push again.
After a few more pushes Sully cried out,"Oh Michaela I see the head. It's coming. Push."
Michaela let out another push with more force. The head moved further down the birth canal until it was finally delivered.
"The head's out Michaela."
Michaela took a few more minutes to catch her breath. Her body felt like it was about to give out. But Michaela seemed to find more strength to give another good push.
With one more push the baby was born and it's small body slid into it's father's arms. Michaela heard the baby cry out.
Sully cried as he looked down at the child he had created with his wife. Nothing looked more beautiful in his life then his child in his arms alive and healthy.
"Michaela it's a boy. We got another son.",Sully told his wife with tears in his eyes.
Sully went to the side of the bed and placed the baby in her arms. Michaela felt tears of joy well up in her eyes.
"He's really here and he's fine and healthy. When I had the operation to remove the tumor I thought I would never get to hold him in my arms. But here he is safe in my arms."
"Why don't I get him cleaned up. So you can rest your body. Remember we have one more to go."
"Alright."
Within a few minutes Sully had his son cleaned up and put into clean clothes and a soft blanket. All of a sudden Michaela felt another contraction coming on.
"Sully it's time!"
Sully put the baby into the cradle on the floor. Then he went to the end of the bed. He encouraged her to push. Michaela began to push once again. She pushed a few more times and the head was beginning to come down the birth canal.
Soon the baby's head was delivered. Michaela felt like she had no energy at all left to keep pushing. Her body was so exhausted from pushing and not getting enough rest.
"Michaela come on one more push. That's all I need. One more big push and then the baby will be here."
Michaela pushed one last time with all of her might and energy she had. Finally the baby slid into it's father's waiting arms. Michaela fell back against her pillow. She couldn't stay awake anymore.
Sully noticed the baby wasn't breathing. He saw that the baby was blue all over.
"Michaela the baby isn't breathing."
Michaela took the baby from Sully and began to breath small puffs of air into the nose and mouth. After a few seconds it wasn't having any effect. Michaela began to rub the wind pipe. She blew a few more puffs into the baby. Sully watched helplessly as he feared yet another of his children would die without ever giving to have life. Soon the baby's chest began to move up and down. A loud scream soon came out of the small infant.
Sully cried out with joy as he saw the lifeless body of their child began to move and live. He prayed to the spirits for not taking the little one's spirit from them.
"Would you like to see your daughter."
"We have another little girl."
Soon their son started to cry. Sully picked him up. He handed him to his wife while he got his daughter cleaned up.
Soon he rejoined his wife. He held his daughter and she held their son.
"What do you think we should name them?"
"Well I want to name her Danielle Christina Sully. I think it fits her."
"Alright, then I want to use David Patrick Sully."
"Happy Birthday Danielle and David."
"Oh Sully I can't believe they are really here."
"Me neither."
Soon all four of them fell asleep on the bed.
The next afternoon Michaela woke up feeling refreshed and more energized than she had in months. She noticed Sully sitting and watching her with David asleep on her chest and Danielle asleep next to her. Michaela gently placed David on the bed where she had been laying. Then she went to the end of the bed by her husband and looked at them asleep peacefully on their bed.
Michaela sat on her husbands lap. They looked at the two children that they had created out of love. That they had loved before they were born and even before they were conceived. Michaela and Sully had never felt so much love for all of their children as they did at that moment. Their family wasn't better now, but it was more full. Over the nine months that they were growing and changing their love mattered most of all for each other and for their family, and they were thankful for all of the blessings that they had been given. They were truly blessed with love and a family.