July.

"Alright, I have diaper bags, snacks, extra clothes for the babies, And You! I have some toys, sippy cups, sunscreen, three little sun hats, sunglasses, I have swim diapers.." Jessica takes a deep breath and asks, "Anything else?"

"Yes, a bottle of vodka."

Jessica chuckles. "You have the other stuff packed in the van already?"

"Yes, we're ready to go!"

"Okay let's go, kids."

"Mom we can't leave yet."

"Why Sof?"

"Joshua's pooped."

"Joshy, mommy just changed you!"

"Well he's done it again!" Sofia says walking over holding him as far from her body as possible.

"I yuck!" Joshua giggles.

"Yeah you're yuck! Get over here, smelly boy." Jessica grabs him and kisses his chubby cheek.

**

Jessica and Danny took the kids to a water park not too far from their house.
As expected it was a little hectic.  But that was just their lives now, and they loved it.

"Joe don't eat the sand!" Jessica shouts just as Danny scoops in up and dusts his tongue off.

Jessica laughs. "Honey, if you're hungry then tell mommy."

"No food!"

"You sure?"

"Ya!"

Jessica chuckles.

"Momma, can we go swimming?"

"Yes, daddy's gonna take you and your brother. Please be careful."

"We will!"

"Are you sure you're okay with the three of them?"

"Yeah we're fine.  Just watch the kids, please."

"Okay."

"Daniel."

"What?" Danny turns around sounding a bit annoyed.

"Keep an eye on them!"

"I will, babe!" He laughs.

Jessica sighs and relaxes back onto the chair.  Jessica was always paranoid when her kids were around water.
Even though they both knew how to swim, it still scared her.

"Ma!  Play da sand?" Arabella asks kicking her legs and reaching for the sand.

"You wanna play now?"

"Yesh!"

"Okay." Jessica gets her out of the stroller and sits her with the twins.

"You three play nice.. and no eating the sand!"

Joshua looks at her and giggles.

"Ma!"

"What Princess?"

"Ma!"

"What!" Jessica laughs.

Arabella giggles and Jessica rubs her back.

"Bella Boo, can you say, Mama?"

"Mhm! *Nods* Mama."

"Good girl!  Can you say Mommy?"

"Yesh!  Mommy!"

"Well okay!" Jessica laughs.

"I've never heard you say that before!"

"You Ma!" Arabella points and narrows her brows.

"Yes I'm Ma!" Jessica chuckles.

**

Jessica was sitting in the sand with the babies. Joshua has already tried running off once, Joseph and Arabella were fighting, and Jessica is just plain exhausted.

"Oh honey! Triplets? You've got your hands full!"

Jessica chuckles and says, "Yep!  I do." She didn't correct the woman. Figuring it would start a long conversation she just smiled and kept quiet.

"Mama, dada?" Joshua asks.

"Daddy will be back soon."

"Want dada.." His eyes water.

"Baby, it's okay. Don't cry!"

"DADAAAAA!" Joshua sobs.

"Oh my goodness!  Joshy, you're fine!"

"My dada gone!" Joshua's face was red.  He waved his hand the direction Danny had left and looked at Jessica with tears just pouring down his face.

"Oh my little honey!" Jessica picks him up and stands him in front of her.  She hugs him tight and Joshua lays on her shoulder.

"Sweetie, daddy will be right back."

"Be back?"

"Yes, he just took your brother and sister to swim in the big kid pool for a little while."

"Want dada!"

"I know you do.  Sh, sh, sh.. it's okay." Jessica softly rocks back and forth.

Jessica suddenly sees Danny and the kids walking towards them.

"Baby look, daddy's back."

"Dada?" Joshua turns around and gets excited when he sees Danny.

"Dada!" He giggles and runs to him.

Joshua stumbles in the sand and falls forward.

Jessica laughs and Danny picks him up.

"Uh oh!  You went for a little trip, didn't you, buddy?"

"Haha!  Daddy!" He smiles and hugs him tight.

**

"Damn.  Babe, you are looking great in that swimsuit."

"Oh stop!" Jessica laughs.

"You do!  Why didn't you wear a bikini though?"

"HaHa!  Are ya kidding?"

"What?"

"I've had five kids in there!  Three in the last couple of years.  No more bikinis for me, thanks."

"Oh Jess, your body's beautiful.  Don't talk that way!"

"Well thank you, honey.  That's very nice of you to say."

"Mhm!  Am I irresistible to you?"

"Yes honey.. Now stop it before you make me take all my clothes off." Jessica says sarcastically.

"Don't act like I don't make you hot."

"You do.. hey babe, is that bird crap on your crotch?"

"Hm?  Oh Son Of A BITCH!" 

"Language. Daniel!"

"This is gross!" He shouts making Jessica and the kids laugh.

"Daddy has bird poopy on his shorts!" Sofia points as she cracks up laughing.

**

"Waler!" Arabella smiles and hits her hands on the water as she and her little brothers play in the very shallow water.

"That is water, huh baby?"

"Ya!" She nods and continues hitting the water.

Jessica giggles then turns to Danny, "Some lady thought they were triplets."

"They look like they could be, don't they?"

"Yeah..
Do you ever think about-"

"Always."

"Me too.."

"I wonder if the third baby was a boy or a girl.. brunette or blondie.. sassy or tomboy.. yeah.. I do think about that a lot."

Jessica sighs and looks off to the older two playing happily together.  A smile appears on her face as she watches them.  She was blessed with such an amazing family, but she often thought about their little angel in Heaven, and wondered how much crazier their life would be if she or he were there.

***

August.

"I can't believe I have a fifth grader and a first grader! That's so crazy!"

"I'm in the first grade!! That means I'm soooo big!" Jackson says with excitement.

"I know! That's so weird!"

"Does my hair look alright, momma?"

"Yes Sof, it looks gorgeous.  I did well!" Jessica giggles.

"It should be, you woke up an hour earlier to do it!" Danny says.

"DAD!"

"Danny."

"What?!" Danny looks to Jessica.

"Sofia wants to look hot for the booooyyys!" Jackson says shaking his butt.

"I do not!" Sofia shouts.

"Yes you do! You wanna kiss them" Jackson makes kissy noises and hugs his body.

"Jackson, stop that!" Jessica got onto him while Danny laughed.

"Daniel, don't encourage his behavior."

"Babe it's funny!"

Jessica rolls her eyes.

"But Sofia, no talking to boys.  They're yucky!"

"Dad."

"I mean it, young lady!"

"Okay!  Can we just leave, please?"

"Not without my kisses!!
You two have a great first day of school!"

"We will.  Bye, momma!"

**

"Well it's just the four of us.. what should we do?  I know!  Let's take a nap!"

"No!" Both twins shout as Arabella giggles.

"No naps!  No naps!"

Jessica stands there as all three babies run around in diapers.

"You three are a mess!"

"Ma boobies!" Arabella runs to her as she reaches for her mother.

"Bella, I thought you were done with boobies."

"No Bella not!"

Jessica chuckles at Arabella's narrowed brows and puckered lips.

"Mommy made you biscuits."

"Boobs. Now." She says pointing her finger in Jessica's face.

"Oh my goodness!  Who is this sassy little two year old and where is my sweet baby?"

"Here!" She says in a cute voice as she hits her chest.

Jessica chuckles and picks her up and kisses her cheek.

"No kiss." She pushes her away.

"Hey! *Laughs* That's mean!"

"BOOBS!"

"Oh my goodness!" Jessica chuckles and lifts her shirt.

***

October.

"Jess.. the twins are almost two.. Jax is about to be eight.  Arabella will be three before we know it, and Sofia will be eleven years old!"

"Yep."

"You know, if it were possible, you know what I'd want right now?"

"A new president?"

"No.. Well yes definitely!  But no.. A baby."

"What the hell?" Jessica looks at him like he's crazy.

"I guess it's just that the kids are growing up."

"Babe, the babies are still.. Babies!  Even if we could that would be totally crazy!"

"I know.. I mean maybe it's just like wanting something you can't have.  If you could still get pregnant then that would different.  Maybe I wouldn't want another one so bad.  It's just the knowing that it's absolutely one hundred percent impossible.. It's kinda hard."

Jessica just stared at Danny.  He didn't realize it, but what he said was so hurtful to Jessica.  This wasn't something she asked for.  It was something that needed to be done to stay alive.  Now she feels guilty for something she had absolutely no control over.

***
I promise it'll get more interesting soon.  I'm working on it!
Thank you all for your comments, you always make my day! 🖤