Rose 14: Oh no. Not again!

     Pedro and I always make good use of our alone time. 

    Speaking of making good alone time, the mayor's wife had a son named Vasyl, and it might actually be his.

    We have over a few visitors since they have a problem called 'stuck aging'. This is Antonio Monty. The other one that needs a little nudge is Carlo "Mr. Evil" Mancini.

   Here's both of them once their little problem has been solved. Fiona looks less than thrilled.

    My paintings really sell nicely at the consignment shop, and I get a promotion! Also, with the promotion, I get a bonus of $1,500. I immediately take it to the bank. We still have 4k left on our loan. I want it gone so I can get started on that study below Fiona's room.

   As Christmas draws closer, I have to suddenly leave the dishes I'd been washing and run to the bathroom.

    Oh no. Not again! So soon? Enough is enough. I can't believe I'm pregnant again. This house is starting to feel too small.

    Too tired and sick to throw a party, we have a little family celebration for Donovan's birthday.
    Um....

    Then he gets a quick makeover. I never thought I'd have a redheaded child! This is neat! He has Pedro's grey eyes like Fiona does.

     It is so nice to have a child that plays normally. I keep trying to take away the other two's dolls, but they keep magically appearing with them.

    I feel a little kick inside of me after Pedro works on Donovan's potty training.

    "I knew it wasn't the stomach bug!" I turn and say to Pedro.
    He looks a little freaked out. I can't say I blame him. "That's... great... Rose."
    Buzz killer. "I'm trying to be happy about this."
    He quickly apologizes for his lack of enthusiasm. Then he tells me how this means he can't quit his job at the science facility just yet because we need the dependable, steady income. Oh boy. It's going to be three babies at home again for a little while before Link's birthday rolls around.

    Donovan loves to be rocked. As I rock him, I think about how I haven't thrown a party in a while. With Christmas coming and Pedro and Fiona having the day off, I decide I want to throw a party. My morning sickness is getting a little more under control.

     Something stinks. I look down at Donovan. He has messed his diaper! I thought Pedro had just sat him on the potty! I sigh and get up to change him.

    We all go out as a family since it's easier to go out with toddlers, and we know our days for doing this are numbered. Plus, Pedro and I want a family picture.
     Fiona pulls out her doll, and Donovan starts screaming at it, terrified. Fiona turns and looks at him like he's crazy, but I can't say I blame the kid. Donovan crawls up and hits Fiona's doll.
     "Mommy, did you see what he did?!" she yells up to me.
     "Yes. Put that thing away, he's afraid of it." I answer. I am too.
     "But Mommy!" she whines to me. Then she turns to her brother to say, "Donny, we don't hit!" Donovan starts crying. Pedro and I gather our herd and usher everyone into the photo booth before we make everyone in the park start worrying with the way Donovan is carrying on.

   Fiona almost crowds out her brothers.

    As we start getting ready for our party, Pedro pulls me to him before I can leave the nursery.
    "I know we're still in over our heads, but I have to say I'm glad that we're having all these children so close together in age. I'm sorry I reacted so bad to you telling me the other day." he says.
     "You don't have to apologize, silly. I'm a little freaked out." I say before I get the 'you're a wonderful wife' speech again. I think he just does this to see me blush.

     Just before our guests arrive, Link says his first word. I think Pedro gets a little bummed out that it's not football (soccer!).

     Our guests arrive, and I've created a little thing to help remember who's who.

    Fiona makes friends easily, I guess, because many kids we invite decide to come. I finally get to meet the mayor's son. Those Monty brothers are cute! That Galen is a sweet kid, and so is Kermit -- even though he doesn't look it in the picture. Poor Glen is such a klutz! I feel so worried that he'll fall and hurt himself and his parents, that I've never met, will be mad at me. Angela and Crystal act like they're best friends, and I wonder if that's why they wear their hair the same. I get so busy with all the kids that come over, I never get much of a chance to talk to the adults that come. Tiana acts like she's really nice.

    I wonder if I'm imagining it, but I feel a sense of animosity coming from Santos. Has someone really shared the lies with him about his dad and me? To a child? Really? Geez!

    Poor Camillo's wife died recently. He tries not to ruin the party, but he's a wreck. Giacomo tries to lift his spirits as best as he is able. Speaking of him -- his girlfriend/live-in partner/baby mama is suspiciously absent this evening. Why didn't he bring her? She was invited.

    Camillo feels a little better by the time everyone gathers around to open gifts. I'd moved our table and chairs out of the way so that we could have room, and we all get seated when the Monty brothers finally show up. I guess this is why I noticed them more. That, and I remember 'helping' Antonio age up.

    Many of the children's gifts from the magical present pile end up being bicycles. I say magical because I have no idea how something so large could fit into such a small box. There must be some kind of time/space continuum thing going on.
     Fiona doesn't get a bicycle, and I'm glad. She doesn't need one with her broom and all. She squeals with delight when she opens her present to find a dollhouse! I get another easel (yay! I'd wanted to get another one so I could work on more than one project at a time), and Pedro gets another guitar.

    Pedro and I set up *cough* I mean Santa sets up a nice little spread for the kids. I've put away our loveseat to let the activity table stay in the living room for the three of them to use (and new baby when he/she gets here). Fiona gets a rocking horse, Link gets a toy truck (you can barely see it, but it's next to the bear under the tree), and Donovan gets a stuffed bear.

    I must say yet again how nice it is to have a child that plays with a normal toy. However, I start to notice that Donovan is a little too normal.

    He's such a stark contrast to his older brother Link, who, when he plays with his truck, figures out that he can make it vanish like Fiona used to do with her dinosaur.

     Speaking of Fiona, she loves her new rocking horse.

     Later on, I work with Donovan and his talking. Don't let my sour expression fool you, I'm actually a little tickled at his first word. The child picks up on things much faster than the other two did.

    I guess my body is stretched out a little more since this is my fourth pregnancy because I look and feel huge! Pedro keeps telling me to take a trip to the spa when he gets home, but I don't want to spend the money, and there's always so much that needs doing!

    Just like when the nausea hit the first time with this pregnancy, I'm standing in the kitchen at a crucial moment. My contractions have started!

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..... and then my computer crashes.

I think the last save was right after they'd opened their gifts at the gift-giving party.

Sorry for the cliffhanger! I was literally going to stop playing once the baby was born, but I have to go back in and wonder some more about what I'm going to get. I gave Pedro the fertility treatment because I guess I want to torture myself. That, and I rolled for five kids and twins would close the baby-making up nicely. If not, they'll be at it again!