Chapter 76
Pandora yawned, feeling her eyes roll closed. “I think it is time to go back to your room,” Benjamin told her cautiously.
“What? No, I am fine. Besides, my father hasn’t gotten here yet.”
Benjamin looked at her and sighed. “I’ll see how close he is.” He jumped up, pulling out his cell as he walked to the door.
“Hi, Mrs. Parks,” someone greeted and Pandora frowned, looking at them. “You are Mrs. Parks, right? Jack and Micheal’s mother?”
She chuckled but nodded at the man speaking to her. Should she have found it strange being called that for the first time, or be alarmed that she didn’t find it as bizarre as she did being called Preston?
“I’m the neonatologist in charge of caring for your sons while they are here in the NICU. He offered her his hand and she shook it. “I thought if you had a moment, I could go through everything with you about the boys?”
“Can you wait for a few minutes? Benjamin, their father, just stepped out,” she asked, looking toward the door in hopes he was on his way back.
“Sure, I’ll look them over while we wait.” He didn’t wait for Pandora to reply but got to work examining Jack first. Her eyes bounce between watching the doctor and checking the door for Benjamin’s return.
Just as the neonatologist moved from Jack to Micheal, Benjamin came back in, making his way to them as fast as he could.
“Sorry, I made you wait,” he said with a smile as he reached out to shake the doctor’s hand.
“These are your babies, Benjamin?” the other asked with his head tilted to the side.
“They are and this is my beautiful wife Pandora. Pandora, love, this is Freddy, he’s the best neonatologist in the country.”
“We’ve met, Benjamin; I just didn’t know she was your wife,” Freddy smiled, and then went back to examining Micheal. Both boys are doing very well,” Freddy started off. ‘Jack is doing a little better than Micheal, but considering their premature and traumatic birth, they are both doing remarkably well. Tomorrow, if Jack is still doing well, I would like to lower the oxygen level and move him to a nasal cannula.”
Pandora frowned, unsure of what that meant. Benjamin clasped her hand, making her turn to him.
“That means he will have a pair of small prongs to deliver extra oxygen through the nostrils. This is a good thing. It means he doesn’t need the extra pressure to keep his lungs open, but still needs a little extra oxygen to maintain sufficient oxygen levels in his bloodstream.”
She let out a breath, nodded at him, and turned back to Freddy. That’s right. His lungs are not causing me any concern. But tomorrow and over the next few days, I would like to perform a range of tests that will include examining his sight and hearing as well as running an EKG and drawing blood work. Don’t worry, Pandora, for a preemie he’s doing great, a star pupil.”
Pandora felt herself smile, but Freddy’s face changed a little. ‘I would also like to do the same for Micheal as he has me a little more worried than I am about Jack.
She tightened her grip on Benjamin’s hand, hoping her little guy would be alright. “For now, he still needs full support to help him breathe. Also, his heart rate is a little slower than what it should be, so we will continue to monitor his pulse.”
‘He’s… he’s… is he going to be okay?” she asked shakily.
“He’s a fighter, and I am sure it has more to do with the delivery and being early than anything more serious. I have faith in his strength. To tell you the truth, if anyone else had been with you, he would have died en route to the hospital, but Benjamin did the right thing to help him. I’m sure I will know more in the next few days. For right now, he’ll get all the support he needs to help him, and don’t fear because he’s a fighter. Freddy stopped for a few seconds before he started to go through everything the nurse had already told her regarding the incubators and monitors,
“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” Freddy commented, standing up and moving away from her.
“Sweetheart, Benjamin whispered softly and she turned to him to see that he was holding back his own tears.
“He’s gonna make it; he’s a Parks. Remember you said that Parks are fighters? Just look at Maisey,” she assured him.
I know you’re right,” he replied, kissing her head.
Is it okay to come in? Pandora’s father asked, standing a little away from Benjamin and het.
“Yeah, come on in and meet your grandsons, Pandora chirped and her father moved slowly to them.
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Chapter 76
“Oh, they are beautiful, just like their momma,” her dad cooed.
“Dad, this is Benjamin,” she introduced him softly.
“Yes, we’ve met,” he replied shortly. Pandora gulped but her father shook his head. “I don’t want to know the ins and outs, but you are married to him, right?”
Pandora nodded as her dad hissed. “Yes!” He looked at Benjamin, grinning at him. “Can I just say that I told her you were a great guy?”
She rolled her eyes but Benjamin simply chuckled.
“Get her off to bed. She looks exhausted. Nina and I will come back tomorrow. If you can give me your parents‘ number, I can call them so we can all take turns being here with the boys and Pandora.”
“Of course.” Benjamin took a piece of paper from his lab coat pocket and jotted down the numbers. He handed her father the paper along with a key.
“Son, we’re okay at a hotel.”
“No, sorry- you’re my wife’s father, and that means you stay at our home.”
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