Saturday, March 14th, 2020

Janiyah's POV

We received so many gifts that Jacee has two bedrooms - one on the first and second floor. And, Graeme is getting on my nerves, peeking in Jacee's room every five minutes.

In two more days, Jacee will be born. But, she could come any minute now.

"Graeme, stop bothering me!! You will know if my water broke! Now, help me put this stuff away. Or, put together some of the toys that you, Liam, and my dad bought."

"I can't help it."

Jacee has a dollhouse and a mini BMW car that she can sit in and drive around in the back yard when she gets older, of course. Graeme had the car custom-built. See what I mean about spoiled.

Shane sent me a text that Bliss came out of her coma this morning. I am so happy for Bliss. Now, she has a long recovery road. We are definitely going to visit her after Jacee is born. Shane is coming for a visit this week.

"I hear a knock on the door. Do me a favor and answer it?" While Graeme went to answer the door, I went to the kitchen for something to eat.

Marsha and my mom entered the kitchen. "Janiyah, honey, have a seat. We brought food for you and Graeme to eat."

"Before we eat, are y'all going to stare at me like Graeme has been doing so far today?"

My mom answered, "Of course not."

"Okay, everyone can stay." Graeme and the guys joined us for lunch.

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Monday, March 16th, 2020

5:00 pm

I have been having contractions for most of the afternoon. Shane and Graeme are at the house with me.

"Thanks for coming, Shane. I am so happy about Bliss. Graeme and I sent her some flowers, and I also sent her a text yesterday. Bliss's sister, Andrea, replied back. As soon as I can travel, we are going to take Jacee for her first plane ride to New York."

"You're welcome, Janiyah. Bliss will love that. When you come, you are welcome to stay at my penthouse."

"Thanks, bro. I just felt another contraction. Your niece is ready to come out. Oh, brother." This one hurt too. I started rubbing my belly.

"Griffin and Sophia are coming tomorrow. Niko and Tatianna are coming tomorrow too. Cris can't make it. He apologized, but I told him it was okay. I'm hungry."

"What would you like? I'll get it."

"Since it's close to dinner, I'll just have a snack. I want a roast beef sandwich with lettuce, tomato, pickles, swiss cheese, and mayo."

"I'll be right back." Shane got off the couch and went to the kitchen.

Uh-oh, I believe my water just broke. "Graeme! Shane! It's time to go to the hospital!!" I struggled to try to stand up. Graeme and Shane both ran into the living room.

"Ouch! Little girl, just wait a minute!" I grabbed my bag and walked straight outside to my Escalade. Graeme is driving, so I unlocked the door and sat on the passenger side.

Graeme and Shane came out of the house. "Shane is also driving." I already put the keys in the ignition, so Graeme got in the driver's seat, and we drove off to the hospital.

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5:30 pm

Graeme's POV

I parked in the closest spot I could find to the entrance. Shane was able to park next to me. Janiyah was already on her way inside the hospital by the time I went to the passenger door. I locked my truck and walked inside.

One of the nurses brought a wheelchair over to Janiyah. Janiyah gave her name and her doctor's name.

"Follow me," the nurse said to Shane and me as she wheeled Janiyah to the elevator. We took a short ride to the maternity floor.

"I'll call your parents and tell them to come to the waiting room, Graeme."

"Thanks, Shane."

"Oh, my goodness!!! Jacee Ariella Harrison!!" Janiyah screamed as the nurse wheeled Janiyah into her room. The nurse quickly walked to a closet and grabbed a gown.

"Mrs. Harrison, here is a gown for you to put on. Also, many moms wear nothing under the gown in the delivery room. So, feel free to be in your 'birthday suit.' Your doctor is on the way. Let me know once you have your gown on so I can attach the monitor to you. It will let the doctor know when you are at ten centimeters."

The nurse left the room. "Don't pretend to be shy. You're staying in here. And where is my mother?" Janiyah stripped down to her 'birthday suit' and then put on the gown. She is way calmer than I thought she would be, but I can tell she is irritated.

"Shane called them, so she is on the way." My father and Steven have given me pointers on not saying anything to annoy a wife that is in pain and about to deliver a child.

Twenty minutes later, I got a text and saw that it was from Janiyah's mom. "Niyah, Sophia is at the hospital and on her way to the room now." I checked the monitor, and Janiyah is now 6 centimeters.

Sure enough, there was a knock on the door, and Sophia entered. "I'm here, Janiyah."

"Good. Now, where is my epidural?!!!"

Dr. Michaelson entered the room with a nurse right behind her. "Janiyah, hun, the nurse is going to give you your epidural. Once you have reached 10 centimeters, it will be time to deliver your baby. I'll be back to check on you in an hour."

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10:30 pm

Sophia and I have been updating the family in the waiting room. Janiyah is now at eight and a half centimeters.

"Ugh!!! When is that monitor going to show ten centimeters?!!! Jacee, stop playing with me!!!"

"Janiyah, take a few deep breaths. Just think, Jacee will be here soon. Any pain you are experiencing will be in the past. Hang in there, sweetie," Sophia tells her.

Janiyah began sweating, so I went to the bathroom, grabbed a few towels, and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

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Tuesday, March 17th, 2020

2:00 am

The monitor started beeping, meaning Janiyah is now ten centimeters. Dr. Michaelson and several nurses entered the room.

"It's time to make it to the delivery room. Mr. Harrison and mom, please follow us." The two nurses wheeled Janiyah into the delivery room, which is on the same floor as the maternity ward. Janiyah squeezed my hand to death until we reached the delivery room.

Dr. Michaelson didn't have to tell Janiyah anything because she already had her legs in position to push out Jacee. Sophia and I each stood beside the bed.

"Janiyah, hun, take a few deep breaths, then I want you to push," Dr. Michaelson said.

"Okay."

Janiyah took three deep breaths then pushed.

"AH!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOSH!!!!!!! THAT DARN HURTS!!!!!"

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5:30 am

"Mama, one more push, and Jacee will be here. Take a deep breath, Janiyah, and push," Dr. Michaelson says.

"Okay."

Janiyah took three deep breaths then pushed.

"AAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

After ten more minutes, we heard the sweet cries of our baby girl.

"WAAH!!! WAAH!!!"

Jacee was immediately taken to be cleaned, as Janiyah collapsed on her pillow. "You did it, sweetheart. I am so proud of you."

"Thanks, mom."

"You too, Graeme. Steven passed out in the delivery room after I gave birth to Janiyah."

"Thanks, Sophia." The nurse brought Jacee back over, wrapped in a blanket, and handed her to Janiyah. I cried, watching Janiyah cradle Jacee.

Janiyah's POV

"Hi, pretty girl. Welcome to the world, Jacee Ariella Harrison. No more kicking inside my belly. Now, it will be waking up in the middle of the night to rock you to sleep. Your grandma is here. And, your daddy is here too. Graeme, can you take her now?"

Graeme took Jacee from me, and I rested my head back on my pillow.

"Mr. & Mrs. Harrison, I can go ahead and start your daughter's birth certificate. Or, would you like to wait until later? My name is Stacie, and I'll be your nurse for today."

"Stacey, we can take care of it now."

"Okay. I'll take your daughter and get her vitals for the certificate." Graeme handed Jacee to Stacie.

"While Stacie is getting your baby's vitals, I'll go ahead and stitch you up. Then, I'll have some nurses wheel you back to your room."

"On that note, I am going back to the room."

"Janiyah, I'm going to the waiting room to tell everyone Jacee is here."

"Thanks, mom." Graeme and my mom left the room.

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6:00 am

By the time I reached my room, Graeme was fast asleep on the other bed.

About 5 minutes later, Stacie brought Jacee in a hospital bassinet. Stacie picked Jacee out of the bassinet and placed her in my arms.

"I see Mr. Harrison is asleep. Should I come back?"

"I think that would be best. Sorry about that."

"It's okay. If you need anything, there is a remote right near the bed. You would just press the red button, and I'll come to see what you need. There is also a supply of bottles for your daughter in the mini-fridge in the room. I'll get a bottle for you."

"Thank you, Stacie." Stacie went to get a bottle for Jacee. She handed me the bottle, then left the room.

Jacee doesn't have a lot of hair. But when she grows up, I bet she will have just as much as me. I am not looking forward to combing her hair. She has Graeme's nose and my dad's eyes. I heard a knock on the door. My mom then entered.

"Janiyah, honey, I'm going home to get some rest. We'll come back later in the day."

"Thank you, mom, for being in the delivery room with me."

"You're welcome, sweetheart. I was not going to miss this moment. Griffin and Sophia made it safely. They are at your house and will also come later."

My mom pulled the covers over Graeme and left the room. Jacee finished her bottle, so I grabbed a blanket and placed it over my shoulder. I placed Jacee on my shoulder and massaged her back.

"Jacee, babe, mommy is so happy that both of us are safe and that you are a healthy little one. I love you so much. Look at your daddy on the other bed. He fell asleep. He deserves it. Mommy woke him up all hours of the night so he could get me things I had a craving for, like ice cream, Chinese food, ribs, chicken, etc. Those days are gone until the next baby. But we are going to enjoy our time with you now."

Once Jacee belched, I held her in my arms. "Wait until you meet Brownie, Lexi, Tigger, and Smoky. Oh, and the beautiful room your daddy, Grandpa Liam, and Grandpa Steven made just for you."

I sang the lullaby my dad always sang to put me to sleep. It works on Jacee too. My baby girl is now asleep. I was able to press the button on the remote. Stacie entered the room.

"Can you put Jacee in the bassinet? I can't keep my eyes open another minute."

"I can do that, Mrs. Harrison. I'll take her." Stacie came over to the bed, picked Jacee from my arms, and placed her in the bassinet.

I immediately fell right to sleep.

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12:00 pm

"Jacee, babe, look who just woke up?"

I woke up to Graeme carrying Jacee around the room. "What time is it?"

"It's noon."

"Wow. I didn't hear a thing."

"That's because you were sleepy. I'm glad you and Jacee are okay."

"Me too."

"Stacie is going to come back shortly so she can take care of the birth certificate. Jacee looks just like you."

"You think so?"

"I sure do. Jacee may not have a lot of hair now, but when she grows up, she will have just as much as you."

"I was thinking the same thing."

We heard a knock on the door. Stacie then entered.

"Hi, Stacie, we can do the birth certificate now."

"Okay. I will need your daughter's full name."

"Her name will be Jacee Ariella Harrison." I spelled out Jacee's first name for Stacie.

"Okay. Jacee weighed in at 8 and 1/2 pounds and 19.4 inches. I will also need both of your full names and nationalities."

"Okay, my full name is Janiyah Alexia Harrison. I am African-American."

"And, my name is Graeme Christian Harrison. I am Caucasian."

"Thank you. I have two copies for you to sign - one is for you and one is for the hospital's records."

I signed both copies first, then Graeme handed Jacee to me so he could sign them too. "Hey, Graeme, text my mom to bring a frame for Jacee's birth certificate."

"Text your mom for what?" Graeme and I looked up to see my dad entering my room.

"Never mind. Hi, Grandpa Steven. Jacee wants to meet her grandpa."

"How are you feeling, Janiyah?" My dad came over and kissed my forehead. Then, he picked up Jacee from my arms.

"I am relieved that Jacee is born. And, boy, am I tired."

"That's to be expected. Your mom and I are going to stay in California for a month or so to let you and Graeme can get some rest. We'll take care of Jacee."

"Thank you, daddy."

"You're welcome, Janiyah."

Well, I might as well start taking advantage of that offer. I'm going back to sleep.

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Thursday, March 19th, 2020

Jacee and I are going home today as soon as Dr. Michaelson comes into the room with our release paperwork.

My mom picked out one of the many dresses that Jacee has in her closet.

"I see the media is lined up outside the hospital to get a glimpse of the newest Harrison," my dad said as he came into my room.

"Well, the media is going to wait until we are ready for Jacee to be seen in public." Dr. Michaelson came in behind my dad.

"Here are Janiyah and Jacee's release papers. I just need a signature, and they are free to go." Graeme signed both papers. Dr. Michaelson gave Graeme a copy of each one.

"I set up an appointment with Jacee's pediatrician for Monday for her first checkup. Congratulations, and enjoy the rest of the day."

"Thank you, Dr. Michaelson." I already had Jacee in my arms while sitting in a wheelchair. "Well, Mr. Harrison, let's take our baby girl home."

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Opening gif is courtesy of www.giphy.com