Month and a half later. April.
Her.
I am 37 weeks pregnant - almost the end of my 8th month. My baby bump is very big and round, though, I weight only 56 kilograms. The grand nursery is awaiting the arrival of our quadruplets, hospital bag is ready for all of us and we are buzzing with excitement.
We celebrated triplets' 9th birthday in March in Barcelona and Tini's 15th birthday in April in Rime. Then we spent 2 weeks in Morocco: tanning, swimming, shopping, sightseeing and simply enjoying family time. Today we are back home and have just landed.
"Yay!"- chirped bambinos, hopping down the stairs of our private jet.
Just as I was about to take a step, I whimpered, holding onto the railing.
"What's wrong, bambina?"- asked in concern Leo, wrapping his muscular, strong arm around my frame, keeping me steady.
"We really need to go to the hospital."- I spoke as calmly as I could, rubbing my belly in big circled to ease the feeling.
He kissed my cheek and attempted to gently, factiously walk down the stairs by my side, but I whimpered again, shaking my head.
"I can't."- I said surely, feeling how much my back hurts all of a sudden.
"Come on, principessa."- stated warmly Leonardo, very tenderly and effortlessly scooping me in his powerful, rugged arms.
He carried me down the stairs and to the car as bambinos obediently got in the car, understanding everything on their own. They sat their little siblings in car seats, being such sweet helpers.
"Oh God."- I almost whispered, my back hurting like hell.
"Shh, everything will be alright, amore mio."- soothed Leo, holding my hand securely, kissing it tenderly, keeping me sane.
"You are very strong, mamma."- spoke so sweetly Adriano as Tini gently rubbed my shoulder, making me smile.
God, they are my little angels.
I did my best to keep myself together and in some 10 minutes we reached the hospital. Doctor lead us to the room right away and bambinos settled on the sofa, being very kind, understanding, calm and patient. Max is on Adri's lap, Angie is on Teo's lap and Ari is on Tini's lap.
Leo helped me to change out of my clothes - leggings, crop-top and sneakers - and I did my best to answer doctor's questions clearly.
"Lei partorirà oggi, onorevole Russo, ma è troppo presto per iniziare adesso."- stated doctor and I sighed, hugging Leo tightly, as he is holding me close, massaging my back, easing the pain more than I can describe. (You will give birth today, Mrs Russo, but it is too early to start right now.)
"I quadrupli non sono completamente pronti a lasciare l'utero. Ti controllerò ogni 30 minuti e una volta che sarà sicuro iniziare, inizieremo la procedura."- stated doctor with reassuring smile and we nodded. (Quadruplets are not fully ready to leave the womb. I will check on you every 30 minutes and once it will be safe to start, we will begin the procedure.)
She left us alone and I took a deep breath, rubbing my belly, focusing on positive things: we will meet our 4 little cookies soon, we will get to hold them and kiss their cute little cheeks.
"I came here as soon as I got your text."- said in rush Ignazio, holding the suitcase with necessary items for quadruplets and us.
"Grazie."- I mumbled in my husband's strapping chest, breathing in his spicy, tantalising fragrance to stay calm.
"You can put it here."- said Leo, never stopping massaging my back, which I am so grateful for.
No words can describe how glad I am that he handled everything himself, taking care of everything. Ignazio will take kids home for now since this can take a long while. Our relatives are out of Italy, so it will be a long while before they come back.
"We love you very much, mamma and papá."- stated profoundly our little ones, hugging us.
"We love you so-so much, ragazzi."- we replied genuinely and meaningfully.
Once everyone left, I clung to Leo, desperately keeping myself together.
This is by far the most painful labor I have ever had and all because my back hurts so much.
Him.
Camila is so fucking strong. I am in awe of her and I am thankful for what she is doing. She in incredible.
"Shh, angel. I am right here, you are going to be okay."- I cooed her softly, rubbing her dainty back tenderly, seeing how much it helps her.
"Mhm, don't stop."- spoke Cami as I massaged her lower back and I gladly kept it up, my touch is gentle, cautious, but firm enough to give the relieving sensation.
I kissed the top of her pretty head, supporting her posture, while she is caressing her gorgeous belly in big circles.
Time went by, soon it was 3 hours. Doctor kept checking on my beloved, keeping an eye on our babies heartbeat.
"Leo, I can't anymore."- spoke pleadingly Camila, blinking away a few tears that I kissed away.
Just on that doctor came in with nurses, saying that it is time.
I helped my wife to lay down, making it as comfortable for her as possible, and she held my hand securely as I stayed by her side.
Doctor numbed her lower body and I kissed her forehead, whispering comforting things to her. Cami gently squeezed my hand, being so damn amazing, and I tended to her lovingly, keeping an eye on everything the doctor and nurses did to make sure our babies and my wife are safe and well.
I smiled, my eyes watering, as baby cried filled the room. One by one, our sweet little ones appeared in the world. I took off my T-shirt and held our sons, who were born first, and doctor gave Camila our daughters since she wasn't drugged for the C-section.
"Congratulazioni, onorevoli e russo! I tuoi quadrupli sono molto sani."- stated doctor as we couldn't tear our eyes off our kids. (Congratulations, Mrs and Mr Russo! Your quadruplets are very healthy.)
"They are perfect."- I spoke with bright, delighted smile that my wife mirrored.
I helped to clean our babies, doctor cut the cord and weighted them and ran a few quick general tests, confirming that our newborns are very healthy as for multiples. Once our babies were wrapped in blankets, we cuddled them, giving the skin-to-skin contact immediately.
Fuck, I am a dad once again.
I am so fucking overjoyed.
"Grazie mille, amore mio. You made me the happiest man ever."- I spoke from the bottom of my heart, blinking away a tear.
"I love you so much, baby."- said softly Cami with glossy, teary eyes.
"I love you more than life itself, bambina."- I replied sincerely, kissing her fondly.
As it was high time to feed them, we had to figure this whole process out. Cami took our son and our daughter, feeding them together; then the same procedure was done with our other son and daughter.
I am holding our 2 babies, smiling while admiring the sight of my wife taking acre of our newborns, looking so fucking stunning and heartwarming.
Lorenzo Tomasso Russo.
Federico Giorgio Russo.
Luisa Mia Russo.
Eloisa Laura Russo.
Born on April 19th at 20:34.
All of them got their gorgeous mum's light blonde hair and cute, small button nose. Boys have my eyes and lips; girls got Cami's eyes and lips.
They are perfect, indescribably perfect.
Once Camila fed all of them, I very tenderly laid them in their temporary crib, being extra careful because of how tiny they are. My one hand covers their sizes just fine. They fell asleep quickly as I rocked the crib lightly, tucking them in comfily.
"We should call bambinos."- said softly Cami with dazzling smile and I nodded, taking my phone on my way to her.
I sat next to her and she nuzzled into my side as I held her in my embrace, being gentle and cautious with my touch. I opened FaceTime and we grinned at how quickly kids answered, not letting it ring even for a second.
"Have little cookies arrived already?"- asked quietly in excitement bambinos, grinning so cutely.
"Sì, ragazzi. You can come and meet them."- we replied happily and that was all they needed to dash out of the playroom.
I put my phone aside and kissed my sublime wife, smiling as she pulled me closer, kissing me so lovingly and devotedly.
"Grazie, Cami. For everything: your love, our bambino, your devotion, your kindness and all that you do for me and our family."- I told her sincerely, wanting her to know how much this means to me, how much she means to me.
"I wouldn't have done it all without you, Leo. You are the most perfect husband and father to our kids."- she spoke meaningfully, kissing me tenderly, as sporks exploded in me.
My heavenly wife.
In a few minutes the door peered open and our little ones peered inside in thrill, quietly walking in.
"Ciao, ragazzi. How are you?"- we wondered happily as they hugged us, being gentle with their mum, knowing that she is tired and was operated on.
"Very excited to meet our little cookies."- said adorably girls, smiling radiantly.
"Where are they?"- asked merrily Lucas as Cami fixed his midnight black hair gently.
"Come on."- I said, getting up as they hopped off the big bed and followed me to the crib.
"They are so cute."- whispered Martina winsomely, all of us grinning in joy.
"Meet your siblings, guys. Lorenzo Tomasso, Federico Giorgio, Luisa Mia and Eloisa Laura Russo."- I stated in pride, my heart soaring and fluttering in love, ecstasy and excitement.
"They are so beautiful."- whispered Emilio as his siblings nodded in agreement.
Since new members of our family are sleeping peacefully, we cuddled and told them about their siblings: who was born first and last, how long we will stay in hospital and other things, answering their questions calmly.
After some time Camila happened to fall asleep with our daughters, so boys and I relocated to the sofa. I hugged my sons, smiling as they nuzzled into me, being genuinely happy, safe and sound.
"Proteggeremo sempre le nostre sorelle, papà. Saremo ottimi fratelli, lo promettiamo."- said Adriano as his brothers confirmed it, making my heart skip a beat. (We will always protect our sisters, dad. We will be very good brothers, we promise.)
As a father, this means to me more than I can describe: that I raise my sons to treasure their family, keep their sisters safe at all times, be strong and unafraid to show emotions, stay together no matter what life may bring, watch over one another. I am indescribably proud of my sons in sense of how strong, reliable, brave, intelligent, kindhearted, loving, thoutfll and helpful they are. I know that my daughters will be safe and well with such incredible brothers by their side.
"Lo so, i miei tesori. Vi amo così tanto, ragazzi."- I replied honestly, kissing tops of their heads. (I know, my treasures. I love you so much, boys.)
"Ti vogliamo molto bene, papà."- responded my sons, hugging me tightly. (We love you very much, daddy.)
My family.
I am so fucking proud to call such perfect woman my wife and such incredible kids mine.