December 26.
Jessica was so nervous. Her stomach was in knots. All she could think of was her baby.
Danny was terrified as well but he hid it as best as he could just to make Jessica feel a little more at ease.
"How are you feeling today, baby?" Danny asks.
"Guilty."
"Jessica, please-"
"The past few weeks I've complained about my weight..
And when I thought I was pregnant, I was so mad! I didn't want a baby.. God is punishing me by making our child have heart problems."
"No, Jessie. He's not, baby. Whatever it is.. it's God's will.. and he would never give us something we couldn't handle."
"I just want it to be okay. This pregnancy is going to be filled with worry." Jessica says as she throws herself forward on him and cries.
Danny kisses the top of her head and rubs her back.
"I love you."
"I love you too.."
**
After a long wait they were finally called back.
Jessica changed into a gown just in case they needed to do a vaginal scan. Danny stood right by her side holding her hand.
He looked down at her small bump poking straight up.
"Look at this beautiful little belly." He smiled and placed his hand on her stomach.
"It's pretty out there, huh?"
"Yup! A big strong baby." He smiles.
Jessica gives him a small smile then looks down to her stomach. Danny places a soft kiss on it then kisses her forehead.
Just then the ultrasound tech comes in. She greets them and lets them know exactly what's going to be happening.
"Usually we don't run these types of tests on baby's this small, but since your doctor requested it we are going to try our very best to find answers! Now, the scan will take a while so lay back and relax. Go to sleep if you want!"
"Alright." Jessica chuckles softly.
Once the scan starts, both Danny and Jessica smiled at the sight of their baby.
"You have one active little baby, momma!" The woman chuckled at the little ones movements.
"Look at that, baby! We've got a squirmy little worm!" Danny says lightly squeezing her hand.
Jessica giggles. "So cute."
Danny never once let go of her hand as the woman pressed into her stomach to get a better view.
As a clear view of the baby's heartbeat appeared tears fell down Jessica's face.
She hurt so badly for the baby. It was so small and so innocent. She prayed everything would turn out okay.
**
After an hour the scan was over and Jessica was able to change. The specialist wanted to speak with them right away which of course made them very nervous.
They sat in the doctor's office for about ten minutes before he came in.
"Hello! So sorry for the wait!"
"No problem. Is my baby okay?" Jessica asked.
The doctor sighs and pulls out a few pictures from the ultrasound, "Mr. and Mrs. Huston, what we found is that your baby's heart valves are switched. Meaning he or she will need to have open heart surgery immediately after birth."
Jessica instantly broke down in tears.
"My baby.."
"It is very serious, but also very common. I've done hundreds of these surgeries and I promise you your baby will be in the best hands."
"Is the baby okay while still the womb?"
"Yes! That's why I really need you to take it easy. You want to keep this baby safe inside of you for as long as possible. The closer we get to delivery, the more we'll talk about everything that will happen, but for now Absolutely No Stressing!"
Jessica nodded softly.
"Not only is it important for your baby's health, but yours as well. Today your blood pressure was a little high so I need you to make sure it goes back to normal. We need mommy healthy in order to have baby healthy."
"Okay.."
Hearing the news of their baby broke their hearts. None of their kids have ever had surgery, now this little baby is going to have to be taken straight from his momma's warm womb and put under the knife in a matter of minutes. This is by far the scariest thing they've ever had to face.
**
New years came and went. Jessica is now sixteen weeks pregnant. It is now extremely hard to hide her growing belly, but she's trying her very best. Jessica wore a black over sized top to Hopefully camouflage the baby for just a teensy bit longer.
"Mommy?" Nova looked up to her mother.
"Yes, baby?"
"Maybe.. maybe if you want.. you can go in a diet?"
Jessica laughed. "What?! Are you saying I'm fat?!"
"No! I just think that... well um.. when I hugged you I felt your tummy and I didn't used to, so I thought you'd wanna lose weight.."
"I'm okay, thank you though." She laughed.
That evening was one of their weekly family dinners. Danny and Jessica were planning on telling the kids tonight.
Since she wasn't sure of how her older ones would react, she decided to tell them separately from her younger ones.
"Kids, come over here with dad and I." Jessica said sitting beside Danny.
"Are we getting another dog?" Grayson asked.
"No!" Jessica chuckled.
"What is something that little miss Nova has wanted for a little while now?" Jessica asks.
"Hmm.. Well yesterday I asked daddy for a kitty." Nova cutely says.
"Not a kitty, silly!"
"Then I don't know!" She lifts her hands.
"Well why don't we help you out? Here, open these." Danny says handing them each a gift.
Nova gasps. "MORE PRESENTS!"
"Yeah! What is it, Nova?"
"It's a shirt! I got a pink one and Gray's got a blue one!"
"Grayson, what does it say?"
"I'm going to be a big brother again." Grayson's eyes immediately go wide making his parents laugh.
"What does mine say?! Someone read it to me!" Nova jumps.
"Nova, yours says, "I'm going to be a big sister!"
Nova giggles but still doesn't understand.
"Nova, do you know what that means?" Danny asks.
"I do!" Grayson says making them laugh once again.
He then walks over to Jessica with tears in his eyes and hugs her tightly. "I'm so happy! Thank you, momma!"
"Aw baby boy!"
"Guys, what's going on? I don't understand!" Nova shouts.
"Nova, what does your shirt say?" Grayson asks.
"It says I'm going to be a big sister! *Gasp* WAIT!" Her eyes widen.
"I'm what?!"
"I don't know, you tell us!" Danny laughs.
"I'm gonna be.. AM I?!"
"Yep!" Jessica nods.
"I'm gonna be a big sister! There's a baby in your tummy?!"
"Yeah!"
"Right now?! It's in there Right Now?!"
"It's in there, babe! It's growing so big already!" Jessica places her hand on her stomach.
Nova screams with excitement.
"I'm so happy!" She cries.
"Thank you!" She says joining in on the hug.
Grayson places his hand on her stomach and says, "Woah! It's big already!"
"I knew your tummy was big!" Nova says.
"Yeah, you did! We waited a while to tell you, the baby is already sixteen weeks."
"Is it a girl or a boy?" Grayson asks.
"We don't know yet. Do you think we should wait till it's born to find out?"
"No way! I wanna know now!" Nova shouts.
Jessica chuckles, then becomes serious. "Kids, there's a reason we waited so long to tell you."
"Yeah. This is serious stuff, so listen, okay?" Danny says.
"What's wrong?" Grayson asks.
"The baby.. the baby has a heart problem."
"What's wrong?" Nova asks.
"Their little heart is sick, so as soon as he or she comes out of my tummy, they'll need to have surgery to fix it."
"Surgery?" Nova's eyes widen.
"But mom, the baby's too little!" Grayson says with worry.
"They'll be in great hands.. everything will be okay.. we just have to pray and ask God to watch over the baby, right?"
"Mommy, I'm so scared for the baby!" Nova cried.
"Oh honey, I know it's scary.. but it'll be okay."
Nova laid on Jessica's belly and cried softly and she hugged her as tight as she could. Grayson laid on her arm as Danny watched them.
"Tonight your brothers and their families are coming over. We have to keep it a secret until mom or dad say something about the baby, okay?"
"Yes ma'am." They both respond.
**
*Dinner*
"I'm calling it now, your mom is pregnant." Caroline says to James.
"No, I already asked Danny. She's just going through menopause."
"Really? Cause she looks pregnant to me. Really pregnant!"
"Well going through the change I'm sure makes you put on a couple pounds."
"Look at her from the side though. That's a belly!"
"No, probably just blubber."
"Alriiiight!" She hums.
**
"Kids.. you mom and I have something we need to tell you." Danny says placing his hand in Jessica's.
"Yes.. um.. so I know this is going to be quite shocking because it was very shocking to us. Believe me, this was not planned! But um.. I'm pregnant."
Everyone was completely silent but Caroline.
"I knew it! I told you, James!"
"Hah! Yeah right! Nice prank mom, but dad told us you were going through menopause! That means you're too old to have a baby!" Sam says.
"Sam, I'm serious. The doctor told us that's what is was, but he was wrong. I'm sixteen weeks."
"Wowza! That far along already?!" Zachary asks.
"Yeah, we wanted to wait a while to tell you all."
"Mom, no offense but you're forty one years old! It's dangerous to have a baby now. Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Sam asks.
"Am I Sure I want to go through with this? Are you serious, Samuel? I was fourteen when I had you and your brother! Fourteen years old! Do you think I ever once thought about terminating? No! And I'm not doing it to this baby."
"But your health."
"I don't care! As long as my baby is safe.. that's all that matters."
"I'm happy for you both! Another baby in the family!" Alyssa cheered. "Another brother or sister in law!"
"Haha! Thank you, honey!
Now! There's something else we need to tell you.." Jessica sighs.
"Oh God, it's not twins is it?" James asks.
"No, James! Are you the one having this baby that you seem so bothered by it?" Jessica asks. "Because last I checked, it's in My body!"
"It's okay, stay calm, honey." Danny rubs his thumb on the back of her hand.
Caroline elbows James as Jessica starts. "The baby has a heart problem and will need to have surgery right after birth."
"Oh no!" Tiffany pouts.
"The doctor is confident, but of course there's always risks. We just need everyone to pray for this little baby.. no matter how you feel about him or her.. we need prayer. Please!"
"Of course, mom." Zachary says standing up and walking over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
"Jessie, of course we'll keep everyone in our prayers! I'm so happy for you two!" Alyssa smiles.
"Thank you, honey."
"I know the little babe will be just fine!" Caroline smiles. "I knew you were pregnant! I told James you had to be!"
"Yeah, I'm pretty big already." Jessica laughed and held her belly.
"Aw! Kikè, Welita's having a baby!" Alyssa shouts.
"Baba?"
"Yes, in her tummy!"
"No baba! I da baba!"
Jessica smiles and reaches down to pick him up and sit him in her lap. "My little buddy! You're still my baby!"
Enrique lays on her chest and sucks his thumb.
"What a little grandma's boy!" Jessica giggles and kisses the top of his head.
"Kids! You're all getting a new aunt your uncle! Grandma's pregnant!" Danny says.
"That sounds so wrong!" Jessica laughs.
"What?!" Samuel looks at Danny like he's crazy.
"Gigi's pregnant again!"
"With who's baby?"
"Mine!" Danny laughs. "We get to keep this one, bud."
"She's too old!"
"Hey!" Tiffany shouts and gives him the mom look.
"I mean, YAY!" He laughs.
"Who's having a baby?" Lyla asks.
"Gigi!" Grayson smiles.
"No way! Yay! I'm getting a new baby auntie or uncle?!"
"Yeah baby, are you excited?" Jessica smiles.
"I'm SO happy, Gigi!"
"Good!"
"Is it a boy?" Liam asks.
"We'll have to wait and see!"
"I hope it's not a girl."
"Don't say that, Liam. We'll be happy no matter what the baby is!" Caroline says.
Just then Tabitha run over, her curly blonde pigtails bouncing. "Gigi, what happened?"
"My mommy has a baby in her tummy!" Nova says with excitement.
"Why she ate it?" Tabitha lifts her hands.
"I didn't eat the baby!" Jessica laughs.
"How it in there?"
"Tabi baby, don't ask that." Sam nods.
Jessica chuckles as she softly rocks Enrique.
"Why did the little munchkins know before us?" Sam asks.
"Because that's what I wanted."
"Because she likes us better!" Grayson smiles.
"Stop it!" Jessica chuckles then looks around at her family as tears spring the her eyes.
"Why are you crying, mom?" Micheal asks.
"It's just a lot.. there are so many worries and.. a lot stress over.. Everyone knows that I said I was done.. but after finding out that this little baby was on it's way.. I instantly fell in love all over again with this new tiny little person. I love them so so much and I'll do anything and Everything to keep him or her safe. The fact that I know this baby will be born needing surgery breaks my heart in two.. I feel like it was my fault, and no matter many times Danny, or the doctor, or ANYONE tells me that it's not.. I'll always feel that way. But with your thoughts and prayers.. I know we can do this. There's so much love in this Shepard/Huston family.."
"Our love can fix the baby's broken heart, mommy." Nova said making Jessica cry even more.
"Yes, baby. Yes it can." Jessica smiles softly.