“You’re in the best possible place, surrounded by all the right people.” Adam brushed the dark hair back from her face. “This is the moment you’ve been training for all your life, my love. You’ve got this.”
She frowned. “How does one train to deliver four babies at the same time?”
“I’m not sure, exactly, but if anyone has been preparing for this, you have. It’s your dream come true.”
“I dreamed for a baby, not four.”
Adam chuckled at the emphatic way she said that. “Your dream is coming true times four. What can I say? When I aim to make you happy, I go all out.”
She grimaced with discomfort as another contraction started. “You can quit that now.”
They’d been given birthing lessons bedside a few weeks ago, so Adam tried to remember what he was supposed to do when she was in pain. Focus on breathing. Right. That’s it. When he encouraged her to breathe, she glared at him, so he shut up and let her do her thing.
Izzy came rushing in ten minutes later, gowned and ready for battle. “I’m here! Let’s have some babies!”
Murphy Callahan McCarthy arrived twenty minutes later, followed shortly after by his brothers Rory, Kane and Beckett, each weighing between four and five pounds, which had been the goal.
Murphy and Rory were identical twins, as were Kane and Beckett.
The nurses applied the colored armbands Abby had read about on a multiples Instagram account to help them keep the babies straight.
“Are they okay?” Abby asked over the cacophony of four babies crying at the same time.
“They’re great,” the neonatal specialist said. “They scored eight or above on all their Apgar tests, and they’re breathing well on their own. Well done, Mom.”
Adam released a sigh of relief at the same time Abby did. Their eyes met, and they smiled as he kissed her. “Well done, indeed, my love.”
“I can’t believe they’re finally here.”
“The noise is a pretty good indication that they’ve arrived.”
“I suppose we need to get used to that.”
“Probably so. How’re you feeling?”
“Like I got run over by a tractor-trailer, but so, so relieved that they’re here, they’re healthy, and I can finally get out of this freaking bed.”
“Should we announce their arrival?”
“We need a picture.”
They waited until the doctors had brought them all four babies and posed one set of twins with Adam and the other with Abby so a nurse could take the picture for them. Thankfully, the babies had stopped crying for the moment. Then the nurse held two of the babies so Adam could send the text to their family and friends:
Help us welcome two sets of identical twins, all of them with Callahan as their middle name: Murphy and Rory (with Abby), Kane and Beckett McCarthy. They’re each at least four and a half pounds and measuring between sixteen and eighteen inches. They’re breathing on their own and scored well on the Apgar, which is a huge relief to Mom and Dad. Mom was a trouper through delivery and is looking forward to being OUT OF BED for the first time in almost nine weeks! She’s a superstar, and I’m so proud of her. Much love to all of you!
After he sent the text, he took the babies back from the nurse as the medical personnel filed out of the room to give them time to get to know their new sons.
“What now?” Abby asked when they were alone with the babies.
“Um, well, I think we’re expected to raise them into men we can be proud of.”
“By ourselves?”
He knew that laughing wouldn’t be recommended. “Much of the time, yes, but with lots and lots of help from grandparents, family and friends.”
“There’s another one, you know,” she said, sounding slightly frantic.
“I heard something about that. I think his name is Liam?”
