36
Avery
As expected, our Christmas was very different than any other year, but it was wonderful in its own way. Kellan’s grandfather drove up to Devil Springs Christmas morning to spend the day with us. With my parents already staying at my house, we both had all of our family under one roof, with the exception of the newest member.
After watching Riley and Braxton open hundreds of gifts and wondering where in the hell I was going to put them, we had lunch and headed to the hospital to visit Sienna. I knew my mother was heartbroken that she couldn’t go, but she hid it well, and my dad opted to stay home with her in case she needed anything. She was able to get up and down to the bathroom with her walker, but that was the extent of her mobility.
Mack offered to drive us in his truck. I couldn’t wait to be able to drive again. I hated having to rely on other people to take care of basic needs. It wouldn’t have been an issue if Kellan was able to drive, but with both of us on restricted activity, we didn’t have a choice but to rely on others for a few weeks.
The NICU only allowed two people to visit at a time, so Kellan and I went back first. We found our little girl resting quietly with what looked like a handmade Santa’s hat on her head and a matching stocking covering her body. “Oh, how cute!” I squealed and immediately reached for my phone to take several pictures.
“Where did that come from?” I wondered out loud.
“One of our volunteers makes them for the babies. She makes pink and blue ones for the rest of the year, but she brings in the Christmas ones on the first day of December every year,” one of the nurses shared.
“Please thank her for me. This was such a wonderful surprise. How’s our girl this morning?”
She frowned. “I don’t have Sienna today, but let me get her nurse for you.”
A few minutes later, our favorite nurse, Karen, came over with an update. “Miss Sienna is doing great. She’s steadily gaining weight and her lab work looks good. She’s still requiring some oxygen support, but that’s completely normal. Later this week, we’ll start trying to feed her some of the breast milk you saved and see how she does. All in all, she’s on track to go home in the next few weeks.”
I exhaled a sigh of relief. Every time we asked for an update, I subconsciously held my breath and waited for bad news. “Thank you,” I breathed. “I can’t wait to bring her home, but I want her to be ready.”
“We won’t send her home before we’re sure she’s ready,” Karen promised. “I’ll leave you two to visit, but call me if you need anything.”
Kellan chuckled. “Isn’t it funny how she’s so small, yet she looks like she’s grown so much?”
“I know. I was a little scared to hold her the first time because she was so small. Neither Riley nor Braxton were little babies and she seemed so fragile compared to them,” I confessed.
“She’s definitely a strong girl. Isn’t that right, peanut?”
“My dad calls me that,” I said softly.
“I know. I’ve heard him and I like it. Is it okay if I call her that?” he asked sincerely, causing my heart to swoon.
“I love you,” I said and kissed his cheek.
“I love you, too, lil’ mama,” he replied and pulled me close.
We stayed for a little longer before rotating out so everyone had a chance to visit with Sienna. Mack was happy to take Riley back, and Braxton wanted to go with Kellan. He’d become quite attached to Kellan over the last few weeks, which had me slightly concerned. Both Riley and Braxton had already been through a significant loss at a young age, and I didn’t want them going through something like that again if things didn’t work out between Kellan and me. But, Kellan was going to be a part of our lives in some way or another because he was Sienna’s father, and I truly didn’t think he was the kind of person who would snub my children if our relationship failed.
“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” Kellan rumbled from beside me causing me to startle.
“Just how much my kids adore you,” I hedged.
He cocked his head to the side for a moment before a knowing look washed over his face. “We’ve got to get to the clubhouse, but we’ll talk about this later,” he said.
Crap. He was far too good at reading my body language.
* * *
We arrivedat the clubhouse for Christmas dinner. According to Savior, it was something they had been doing every year since the club started. I wasn’t used to eating Christmas dinner somewhere other than my own house, but I was extremely thrilled not to have to cook for once.
When we walked inside, I gasped in surprise. “Mom! What are you doing here?”
She smiled. “When we finally got you out of the house, a few of these fine young men came over to help transport me here so we could enjoy Christmas dinner together.”
I turned to face Kellan’s friends. “Thank you.”
