The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 82 - Naming over Dinner

"Well, do you remember if you were abstinent that whole time?"

"Of course. We abstained for as long as she was bleeding plus a given period of time," Greg said.

"But was she still nursing when you resumed relations?" Susan asked.

"Why does that matter?" Greg asked.

Susan smiled an amused sort of smile. "You'll see," she said, and no matter how hard he tried, Greg couldn't get her to explain.

"I tell you what," she told him after a time. "I have to collect more milk for Melody before I go to bed. Do you want to watch? It won't answer all your questions, but it might answer some.

Greg left the bathroom while Susan finished preparing for bed, then at her invitation watched as she expressed her milk for Melody. It did answer some of his questions, but left him with a lot more.

c

Thursday morning when Greg's alarm rang, things felt a lot more routine than they had in a long time. He showered and dressed. Susan got up and prepared for breakfast for him after waking up the children so they could get ready for school. Greg ate his morning meal with her and then took the little bags of milk with him to drop off at the hospital on his way to the studio. That evening, just as he had for the past two days, Greg met Susan at the hospital after work.

"How is she today?" It was becoming the question of the day when he arrived at the end of his work day.

"According to Dr. Bower she is doing better," Susan said. "They're preparing to move her to the regular nursery day after tomorrow if she continues to improve at her current rate."

Today, Greg noted, in addition to the diaper, Melody was also wearing a little t-shirt with snaps to close it across her chest. The shirt was huge on her, but it made her look far more dressed.

"Her weight is up?" Greg guessed.

"Four pounds ten ounces today," Susan said.

"That's three ounces higher than yesterday," Greg said in an approving tone. "Only two ounces shy of her birth rate. Has she pooped?"

"No, not yet. We're still waiting," Susan said with a hint of concern.

Greg looked down at the little body lying on the bed. She seemed far too small to be having such ongoing problems.

"Then it is unlikely she will be going home on Saturday," he said with a hint of concern.

"No one has said that, but I suspect you're right," Susan said.

"When did you last feed her?"

"We just finished while we were waiting for you. Why don't you and I go out for dinner like we planned? Then I can feed her one more time before we go home," Susan said. "Maybe we can even go home a little earlier than usual tonight."

"Do you want to do that?" Greg asked in surprise.

"Melody does all right with the formula and Jessie wants to see me before bedtime. She misses us, Greg. We can't be spending all our free time with Melody, it isn't fair to the other kids. They need us too," Susan said.

Greg glanced at their tiny daughter again with a slight frown. "Let's talk about it over dinner," he suggested. "But I think you are right. If she is going to be here much longer, we need a way to balance her needs with those of the rest of the family. Also I have some concerns about how much longer we can expect your parents to stay."

"I know. I've been thinking about that too," Susan said as she got ready to go. "Something to talk about at the restaurant, I suppose."

Greg smiled. "Shall we?"