Struggles (6)

CHAPTER 6: HOME1

Angela was only 3 days old, but we were allowed to go home! Well...my parents' home...in which I had had no time and was unable to set up a nursery yet, but at the time, I was only thinking about the health of my unborn child. That day, that we got to go home, she was dressed in her cutest little one piece pajamas and wrapped in a bundle of pink ducky blankets. She stared up at me with a sweet little smile, and her eyes knowing and trusing.2

They wheeled us out of the hospital, Angela in my arms and I in the wheelchair. I handed the baby to my sister, who tucked her safely into a cute little car seat, that I had not seen ever before. Meanwhile, my father helped me up and into the car and then helped buckle me in next to Angela. Kelsey sat on the other side of me, while my parents rode shot gun. I was so excited to get away from the hospital and those BEDS and to be able to finally be alone with Angela at home. But about halfway home, in the middle of playing and making noise at Angela, I paused realizing that Angela had no where to stay. "Um...What about Angela?" I asked breaking the almost complete silence.3

“What do you mean, honey?” My mother asked, appearing naïve.4

“Where is she going to stay? We haven’t bought a crib or ANYTHING for her. She doesn’t have a place to stay at home…”5

“She’ll always have somewhere to go.” Kelsey chirped in.6

“But…”7

“But nothing.” The final word had been said, I just needed to drop it.8

‘What will I do if she had nowhere to sleep?’ I thought, ‘She might even have to sleep in my dresser drawer or…with me!…But what if I crush her?! She’ll suffocate! But maybe I won’t move so much in knowing she’s there…no…I can’t. She’ll just have to -’9

“We’re home! Home sweet home.” My father chimed, cutting through my thoughts. “Let’s get you two inside and then we can settle this living space thing…”10

Mother took Angela out of her car seat as Kelsey helped me not fall out of the car.. Mother brought Angela around to me, so I was able to carry her into our home. Kelsey held my waist, afraid that I might have fallen because I was still in quite a bit of pain and refused all pain meds and guided me into the house.11

“Can’t sit down yet!” Kelsey said as I went to sit on the couch, “We need to go find a place for Angela to sleep.” She looked at me with a glint in her eyes and then searched lazily around us, as if she were ACTUALLY thinking about her sleeping in the living room.12

“No, it’s fine. She can sleep with me.” I replied.13

“Let’s just TRY and search the house…and if we don’t find anything suitable for her that you like…THEN she can sleep with you…how about it?” Mom always seemed so good at making deals.14

“Ok…sure…” I was still completely oblivious, as my family opened and closed doors, looking for a good room, that they had something planned. And then my mom opened the door that is right next to my room and actually has an adjoined door to my room. It was…is so beautiful. You couldn’t imagine a sweeter room. Everything is in baby pink and baby green. There are angels all around the border of the room. The crib, changing table, rocking chair all in their own perfect little places. My family bought TONS of stuffed animals. And my daddy even built a beautiful little bookshelf that now contains tons of tiny little books and some toys.15

“Are you kidding?! Are we at the right house? How’d you get this done so fast?!” I wanted to now EVERYTHING then and there.16

“Don’t worry about all the details, everything is done and this is all for my baby and HER baby. Congratulations sweetheart.” Mom’s eyes began to water as she turned around and clung to daddy, but still watched Angela and me.17

“Oh mom…Dad…Kels…you are the most wonderful family anyone could ever ask for! You see all this Angels? Your grammy and grampy and even your Auntie Kelsey set this up ALL for you. You like it sweetheart?”18

Angela just laid in my arms, her eyes wide and wandering. She was seemingly as amazed as I was. She let out a couple fits of giggles and coos in reaction to the room. ‘She DOES always have a place to stay!’ I stared in amazement and awe at the beautiful nursery.19

“Go and sit, Kay!” Kelsey instructed excitedly.20

I carried Angela over to the rocking chair and slowly lowered myself into it, while trying not to squeeze Angela. When I was situated,  I placed my finger on Ang’s lips, so she could on it if she wanted to. My eyes, wandering, finally found my parents still at the door, hugging. “Thank you. This means so much to me.”21

“Anything for our baby.” Daddy smiled.22

“AND our grand-baby!” Mom added as I let out a tiny, inaudible giggle escape my lips.23