Aubrey
Finger guns and Ice kings.
~ Three Weeks Later / Mid-April ~
Today is the day!
Today’s the day we find out what is hiding in my belly. Shane is leaving work early to come with me to our appointment. I tried to get one after half past three, but all they had available was half past two, which is not too bad, and he said it wouldn’t be a problem.
The team finally made it into the playoffs and have their first game in two days for the start of round one. Shane and the boys were ecstatic. They weren’t saying much about it, but we could all tell how stressed they were that they still hadn’t secured a spot. But with their last wins, it was enough to bring them in as a wildcard.
“I’m here! I’m here!” Shane yells from somewhere in the house before skidding to a stop in the kitchen, where I was in the middle of snacking on some Twizzlers with Marianne. Well, I was doing the eating, she was just commenting about how bad they are for my health.
I frown, biting off the end of my licorice and look at the time on the wall, then turn back to him. He’s breathing hard like he ran all the way here from the driveway. “You’re five minutes early.”
“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” He beams and finger-guns me.
I nearly choke on my candy and Marianne quickly pats my back. “Oh God! Shane! Do not ever do that again. It was like watching an old person trying to be cool. That never works!” I laugh uncontrollably, folding in half.
“She’s right, dear, that was even old for me.” I hear her giggle at my side. “I thought they said dating someone younger was supposed to keep you young. Yet he’s been using these ancient quotes more and more.”
“He really has, hasn’t he?” Now we’re both laughing harder.
“Are you both done? I’m right here, you know?”
I finally manage to straighten myself and look at Shane, only to find him tapping his foot with his hands on his hips. “What are you doing?” I point a hand out toward him as my giggles return. “What is happening with you?”
“I’m happy, sweetheart. I’m so happy.” He comes in, lifting me off the ground and spinning us in a circle as I wrap my armsaround his neck laughing. “I’m so excited, Angel. I barely got any work done today. All I wanted was to come home to you and finally see what we got in here.”
He scoots me higher in his arms until my belly is directly in front of his face and kisses it. I’m awkwardly bent over him before he sets me back down, quickly shaking out his shoulder, then kneels down to hold my rounding stomach.
I’m now nineteen weeks along, almost halfway through. I’m not huge, but you can clearly see my belly. Shane has become obsessed with it to a very strange degree.
I found him sending pictures of my belly to everyone… including Randy and Paul. We did have a little talk about that after, where I told him it wasn’t exactly appropriate and made me uncomfortable knowing other men had pictures of my stomach in their phones. He apologized afterwards, told them all to delete the pictures immediately, and then begged for my forgiveness with orgasms.
It was a wonderful night.
“Hey, Little Star. Mommy and Daddy are so excited to finally get to see you today.” He presses his forehead to my belly, and these small little wave-like movements happen in my tummy. It happens every time Shane talks to our baby, it’s as if he or she can hear or feel him.
“On the screen, not in person. You stay in there a little while longer, little one.” I smile, caressing my man’s hair.
“Oh, yes, good point. Listen to your mommy, she’s really smart.” He kisses my stomach then stands, wrapping his arms around my neck and kissing the top of my head. “I love you so much, Aubrey. Thank you for making me the happiest man and dad in the world,” he whispers into my hair.
“Oh, Shane…” Tears well in my eyes. “I love you too, thank you for changing my life in the very best way.”
An hour later we are finally in my doctor’s office, going over a few things before the ultrasound. “How are the dizzy spells going? Are you still experiencing them frequently?” Dr. Carlson asks as she takes notes on her computer.
“Umm, they still happen, but not as often. I’ve been doing as you suggested with the multiple small meals a day and resting whenever I can, as well as drinking more water. It seems to be helping a lot,” I tell her.
“That’s good, and how is your blood pressure? Have you been keeping track of it?” She looks up at me, then at Shane.
“Yes, I have. They’ve mostly been around eighty-five over fifty-five.” I chew my lip, knowing that’s still too low.
“And is it stable? Or does it seem to vary?”
“Stable. Since we saw each other two weeks ago, my lowest was eighty-two over fifty-four. But I was a bit emotional that day, and I missed one of my meals. I did get one reading of ninety over sixty, though. I know it’s still low, but I was happy to see it go up a little.”
Dr. Carlson smiles at me. “That’s wonderful. Indeed, it is still what we consider low. But now that it seems more stable, I’m hoping it will increase within the coming weeks now that you are further along. I understand this can be causing you stress, but I want to assure you, we’re taking this very seriously.”
