The MacKenzie Legacy

Welcome back!

When last we left the MacKenzie Clan, two new bundles of joy had just entered the househould.  Liam and Jamie were thrilled, though Jamie seemed to suffer a little more with this pregnancy than the previous.  The couple attributed this to the multiple birth, where as Alec had of course only been one baby.

The family was bustling and getting used to a new schedule.  Little Alec seemed to be getting along very well.  He was already walking around and going to the potty all by himself.

“Liam!” Jamie called as she was tugging Brian’s shoes, “Darling, can you help Alec to the potty? He’s doing that pee pee wiggle again!”

“Aye Jamie,” Liam called back to her.   “Here ya wee mongrel!” Liam pulled up Alec by the back of his jumper and flew him Superman style toward the bathroom.

“Weeeee!!” the toddler shrieked with delight as he flew through the air.

“Thas the way wee ladie,” Liam encouraged his son as he learned to use the potty.  Alec beamed.

The twins as they were affectionately being called at home were as different as night and day.  Little Breannan would spend hours gazing around the room from his crib.  Brian on the other hand seemed to cry at the slightest annoyances.  Breannan actually seemed to enjoy the time when Brian was out of the nursery being bathed the most.  He would roll around in his crib seemingly content to keep himself occupied.  Brian on the other hand couldn’t seem to be placated.  He seemed content to find fault with everything.

Alec seemed to especially enjoy when his younger brothers were wet or hungry.  He would actually play with his peg board in the nursery smiling and humming to himself.  The more miserable his small brothers were, the more happy he seemed to be.

“I’m actually glad to be returning to work,” Jamie confessed to Liam one night in bed.  “I miss the girls on the floor and talking in the staff lounge.”

Liam chuckled and drew his wife closer so her head was resting on his chest.  “Ya getting tired of th wheels on the bus” song are you Jamie?” he asked while twirling one lock of her golden hair around his finger. 

“This will mean hiring a sitter more full time Liam,” She picked her head up and looked into his emerald eyes.  “I’m a little concerned about that.  Alec seems to be going through his terrible twos right now, I’m worried how he’ll react to a stranger.”

“Relax love, we’ll make shar we hire someone through the babysitting service that Hank uses for his kids.  Hank’s bairnes seem ta like their sittar.”  This made sense to Jamie and she was willing to give it a try. 

The next day she interviewed the service that Hank’s family used and seemed very satisfied that the teenagers were all well trained in emergency procedures and the latest first aid classes.  The service sent over young Martin Javlin and while Jamie wasn’t thrilled with his long haired appearance, figured as long as he was good with the boys she would let it slide.

In between their work schedules, Martin was there helping out with the boys.  It was a tremendous help to Liam and Jamie.  With three young boys in the house, Liam and Jamie spent as many hours as they could with the boys.  If one was dry, the other was wet, if one needed a nap the other needed time for play.  If both the twins were alseep in their cribs, that was when Alec was hungry and needed to be fed.

In addition to reading to Alec, Jamie also started working with him very young at speaking.  She would sound out words and have him repeat them back to her.  He loved this game and seemed to catch on rather quickly.  Before long he was having conversations with both of his parents.  Liam especially enjoyed coming in from a long day and hearing all about his son’s day.

“Alec, tell Daddy what you learned today!” Jamie encouraged her small son.

“Da!” Alec said pointing to Liam.  “Da!” he repeated happily.

“Ya Alec, I’m your Da!” Liam said holding Alec to his chest.  He rested his chin on top of his sons small auburn head and smiled at his wife with tears in his eyes.

Time seemed to be passing so quickly for the MacKenzie’s.  Liam was doing so well in his career that he barely noticed when another birthday rolled around.  He supposed he looked a bit older, but he felt the same as he did the day before.

“Happy Birthday Darling!” Jamie promised to show him his gift privately soon as it wasn’t necessarily appropriate for the boys to see.

Not long after Liam’s birthday the twins had a birthday too.  Brian born fifteen minutes before his brother seemed to want to blow out the candles first on the cake.  Brian also seemed to feel grumpy that Liam and Jamie didn’t make Breannan wait the entire 15 mins before blowing out his candles.

Brian was looking more and more like his Momma with the bright blonde hair.  Breannan didn’t have much hair but it seemed the little fuzz he had may be favoring Liam’s auburn.

The twins found that playing with Alec’s toys was so much fun.  Breannan especially seemed to really enjoy the toy xylophone, or at least chewing on the striker.

As if Jamie wasn’t planning enough parties, less than a month after the twins became toddlers, little Alec was having a birthday too.  He was really becoming quite a handsome boy!

“I cannae believe he’s off to school so soon,” Liam said as Alec boarded the school bus for the first time.  Their little boy was growing up so fast.  He didn’t seem to mind riding the big school bus though and had already made a friend by the time he returned home that day.  He was already doing so well in school.  So smart he seemed to actually have fun doing homework!

“Our Alec seems to take after usLiam,” Jamie mused looking over his homework.  “All of the answers are correct.  Quite the little genius I think.” she finished proudly.

With so much going on in the household, it didn’t seem like Liam and Jamie got much time together.  They were either rushing off to work, playing with their boys or trying to catch some sleep whenever they could.  Jamie knew that she would just have to put the two of them back on the schedule in order to maintain a healthy relationship.  Liam was more than thrilled to find out what Jamie’s idea of recreation was that evening.  She finally had an opportunity to model his birthday gift for him.

The twins were progressing great and Liam and Jamie were spending lots of time with each of them teaching them to walk and use the potty by themselves. 

One afternoon Liam received a call from the dispatcher at the station.  He was to call Jamie’s work immediatly.

“Hello, this is Liam MacKenzie.  Jamie MacKenzie is my wife.  I was told ta call,”  Liam spoke urgently when he reached the floor where Jamie worked.

“Hold please, Dr Geoffrey Landgraab needs to speak with you Mr. MacKenzie” the pleasant voice on the phone replied.

“Hello Liam? This is Geoffrey.  I wanted to let you know that Jamie is ok, but she has fainted here at work.  She’s resting comfortably now but I do think you should come as soon as you can.” the Doctor finished.

Liam made his way immediately to the hospital and found Jamie’s room.  She was in a hospital gown and hooked up to an IV.  She looked relatively normal though maybe a little pale.

“Hi you,” Jamie smiled.  “I have some news…”  she trailed off. 

Liam grabbed her hand and held it close to his heart.  Jamie could feel his strong steady heartbeat below her finger tips.

“Liam, I’m pregnant again.  Geoffrey is worried about my health and that of our baby,” she explained calmly.

“What is th dangar to you Jamie?” Liam questioned his heart quickening.

“Well, Liam, I don’t think there is a lot of danger, I’ll need additional vitamins and to stay off my feet almost the entire pregnancy, but we both should be just fine,” she reassured him.

“Liam, may I see you in the hall a moment?” Dr Geoffrey Landgraab appeared at the edge of the hospital room door.  Liam quickly stepped out and closed the door behind him.

Dr. Geoffrey greeted Liam with a dark look on his face.  “Liam, I’m worried about what her last two pregnancies have done to her body.  I’m concerned she may be in real trouble if she doesn’t follow my advice to the letter.” he explained gravely.  “This baby could take a real toll on her heart and internal organs.”

“Aye, she’s explained the risks Geoffrey.  I will make certain that she doesn’t over do it and gets all the rest her body and the baby need.” Liam promised.

Liam heard the Doctor’s warning and understood the danger to Jamie and their unborn child, he was normally so brave, but the thought of anything happening to his wife caused panic to well up in his chest.

Jamie absolutely would not hear any doubts.  There was only one option and it included her successfully giving birth to the couple’s next child.

Liam was extremely worried but was certain that Jamie knew her body.  She was a doctor as well and a peer of Dr. Geoffrey Landgraab.  He would just make sure that stress was very low, she got lots of rest and plenty of massages throughout the coming pregnancy.  He loved his wife and his family and knew he needed to trust his wife on this matter.

Jamie kept complaining that she was gaining so much weight this pregnancy.  Her inability to do light exercise as she’d done with the other two pregnancies made her feel slow and sluggish.  She found it harder to get around the house and was very grateful that Liam had taken over all of the cooking and cleaning chores.   He was also true to his word about the massages too.  ‘

“Ugh, Liam don’t look at me!” she complained one afternoon.  “My ankles look like grapefruit!”

He held her ankle up and licked it delicately.  “Much sweetar than any grapefruit though!” he teased her.  Jamie’s lower back ached nearly constantly and she felt like she was living in the bathroom.  Her morning sickness continued well into the pregnancy and she would never admit to Liam, but she was getting more than a little concerned.  Constant kicking felt as if her insides were bruised.

Jamie was sitting in the living room with her feet propped up when she felt the first major contraction rip through her midsection. 

She screamed for Liam and felt as if she were going to pass out from the pain of the contraction.  He quickly phoned the babysitter who was on call for this event.  When the babysitter arrived he carried Jamie into the police car and for the second time rushed his dear wife to the hospital in the squad car with the siren wailing and the lights flashing.

Liam held Jamie’s hand as she pushed and sweated through the delivery.  He heard things tearing and saw Dr. Geoffrey’s face pale from behind the drape sheet.  He heard people being being called in Stat! and felt as helpless as a child just encouraging his wife to breathe and panting along side her. 

Minutes stretched into hours when he heard a new born cry.  “It’s a girl!” Dr. Geoffrey announced.  Jamie cried out as another spasm wracked her petite frame.  The Doctor called for everyone to resume their places as he passed off the baby girl to a nurse.  “Wait! We have twins!” he called out as Jamie was forced to go through another round of labor.  Twelve minutes later another girl came into the world.  The doctor passed her off as well and assembled the team for a third round.  Seven more minutes passed and the cry of “Triplets!” was heard!  Liam could hardly believe it.  Jamie layed back completely spent.  The nurses were attempting to bring her around but she had fainted from the trauma of three deliveries.

Dr. Geoffrey took Liam aside amid the commotion and said very seriously.  “Liam, she cannot go through this again.  Another round of deliveries like this one could end her life and I know you don’t want that.  We need to talk about making an appointment for you.”  Liam nodded his head solemnly.  He would do whatever he needed to do to ensure Jamie’s safety.

The nurses were able to rouse Jamie and she smiled every so softly at Liam.  “Three Liam?  Do we have three daughters?” 

“Aye Jamie.  Aye my love.  Ya did fantastic.  What shall we name our bonnie lassies Jamie?” he questioned with tears pouring down his face.  How close had he really come to losing the love of his life?  He knew Dr. Geoffrey was right and that Jamie’s life was in danger through this pregnancy and delivery.  This must never happen again.

“I like Caitir,” Jamie said, her eyes barely able to remain open.  “That’s bonnie love.  Liam whispered hoarsley as he watched his wife close her eyes.  “Aye, the other two will keep.  Rest yer head love.”

The End Chapter 6

On to Chapter 7!

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