Hit Hard

“One last push for me honey on the count of three. . . 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . PUSH!” The nurse called. “Good job, honey.” She smiled as she handed Charlene her third child. “Another boy!” Claude was holding their first son, John Matthew. Their second and third we're resting on Charlene’s chest. They had twins.

“Hayden and Spencer.” Charlene smiled.

“Three under two years.” Claude said as he moved closer to Charlene in her bed. “How do you feel?”

“Awful.” She smiled. “Also really really happy. I’ve got all my boys.” The nurse took Hayden and Spencer away to be cleaned and swaddled. “How am I going to manage three boys under two when you’re away?”

“Are you kidding me?” Claude laughed. “You’re superwoman. Three baby boys are nothing.”

“I still want a girl.”

“Let’s focus on these three for now.” Claude laughed. “Then maybe you can get your girl in the form of a nanny.”
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“Yes, honey, we’re meeting daddy inside.” Charlene said as she picked up her baby bag. “Along with all the other hockey players and their kids too.” Charlene picked up their youngest child, James. “John Matthew, can you hold Hayden and Spencer’s hands? Tyler, take mommy’s hand.” She took the hand of her second youngest and walked into the ice rink. “I’m here to skate with my husband and the Flyers.” Charlene looked up at the woman behind the desk and smiled. The woman looked alarmed by all of her children, but she helped them get skates and a place to sit.

Charlene sat her kids down on a bench and stated lacing up their skates, just as claude walked over wearing jeans, his jersey, and his skates. “Hi, honey.” He gave Charlene a kiss as he kneeled down and started lacing skates. “Hi, kids.”

“Hi, daddy!” Sounded the chorus of children’s voices. Once they we're all laced up, the kids went out onto the ice. John Matthew, Hayden and Tyler could all skate well on their own, but Tyler needed help, he was only two, and James couldn’t skate at all. Claude held him as they skated with the other families. Charlene skated off to talk to Lisa Hartnell, another player’s wife.

“Charlene, I can not believe that you’re pregnant again!” She smiled.

“Neither can I!” Charlene laughed.

“How far along?”

“Six months, but having another kid is totally worth it now!” Charlene smiled. “I’m finally getting my girl!”

Notes