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Unity Prime, Day 85, Part 7
RIP, Ivy.
I knew this was coming (hence making the twins premature so Ivy could meet them) but... it leaves Max and Lainey in a much different situation that they'd imagined - two babies instead of one, premature so needing extra care, no Ivy to help out...
Ivy Unity, Day 84, Part 6
A date at the beach: the perfect way to start their honeymoon.
Lainey: To us - Mr and Mrs Unity!
And then home to bed!
When I opened Max and Lainey's vacation home to play the first day of their honeymoon, the vacation timer was already on the second day! I can only imagine this is because they went to the Weiss' party on their rotation - the vacation timer must have moved on. It's also too far on for Scarlett and Osprey, who were at the party, but in the right place for the party hosts and the Three Lakes households. So no more visiting each other's vacation homes, I guess.
It was 10am when I opened the lot, so I jumped it back to 1am, sent them out on a date, and then jumped it back to 1am again when they came home at 9am. Consequently, the vaction timer hasn't moved, but it's 10am again and they've already pretty much had a whole day of vacation. I'll have to do the same for Scarlett and Osprey when I get to them.
Gah!
Just played Lainey and Max's last day of honeymoon and Fraps wasn't on!
So I'm afraid you've missed pictures of a cute date, lots of Lainey eating food, Lainey asking Max to go get her a pregnancy test, her telling him it's positive, lots of hugging (when Lainey leaps into Max's arms, her hair ends up in his mouth. She has a lot of hair) and then the two of them going home and telling Ivy, cue more hugging.
I should check Fraps is on, but it usually is so I'm not in the habit of checking.
Unity Prime, Day 87, Part 6
Tiger thinks this puppy needs a wash!
Lainey: Hello in there! Ready to come out and play with my twins?
Dale was trying to give Asher a bath, but the bathroom was occupied, so he just snuggled his baby cousin instead.
People eventually started eating. There's still plenty of leftovers in the fridge - things that Joy and Ivy made over the years.
Here's Fern! She's super cute, in her little green glasses!
Lainey: I think someone's tired out from partying! How about a nap, sweetie pie?
Asher is also very cute! I think those are Max's slightly wonky eyes. I've no doubt he'll grow into them - Max has.
There was still a highchair in the attic from when Dale was little. I think we'll get a second one to go at the other end of the table when the party's over.
Max: Do you need a wee? What a grown up boy you are!
Throwing the party made me realise how Max and Lainey are ahead of the curve in starting a family - none of their friends have children yet, even friends who are a little older than them. Jenny's pregnant, though, so Fern and Asher will have a little playmate before long. The party list was a selection of friends, as well as a couple of Max's siblings - Jack and Dawn. Max has been friends with Jack since he was a teenager, and although he's not friends with Dawn yet, she and Ad have been helping out with the twins - and also Max is friends with their son, Dale, who's not much younger than him.
Unity Prime, Day 87, Part 5
And then Asher! He was stubborn and refused to grow up for the cake, but Lainey got him there in the end.
Unity Prime, Day 87, Part 4
Fern grew up first!
Unity Prime, Day 87, Part 3
Lainey: Did you get up in the night?
Max: No. Did you?
Lainey: No. Max Unity, I think our babies just slept through the night for the first time ever!
Max: Looks like Fern's still asleep... Asher's awake, but chill. Aww, look, he's eating his foot! ... Would you mind getting him, and I'll get Fern in a bit? I need to write something in my anxiety thought record.
Lainey: Sure. I'll make us some breakfast - for about half an hour's time?
Max: Perfect! I love you.
...
Max: [writing] Situation - we woke up and realised the twins hadn't woken us up all night. Automatic thought - what if they've died in the night? Evidence for - it's all quiet. Evidence against - even though they haven't slept through before, it's more likely that that's what's happened, rather than that they've both died. Alternative thought - yes, it is quiet, but that doesn't mean they've died. I don't need to panic - I can calmly check the baby monitor, since that's what it's there for. When I did check the baby monitor, Asher was already awake and Fern was still asleep but I could see her breathing.
Max: ♫Cuz staying broken is easier than even admitting that anything is wrong. Yeah, confessing your sins is simple if you convince yourself you've got none. But how you ever gon fix your life if you hide behind a wall? How you gonna climb out if you're afraid of the fall?♫
Lainey: Sounding good, babe! Is that one of Jack's songs? Breakfast's ready, by the way!
Max: We'll get you fed, and your brother too, and then it will be party time!
Tiger got big!
Lainey's determined to get her pre-baby body back!
Unity Prime, Day 87, Part 2
Lainey: How was counselling?
Max: Good. We talked a lot about my anxiety - Brittany reckons it's a hangover from not feeling safe when I was little, so my brain's working double time trying to keep me and everyone around me safe, and I'm stuck in a cycle of worrying making me feel better temporarily, which leads to me learning that worrying keeps people safe. Which sounds like total bull when you put it like that...
Lainey: But it seems to make sense in the moment.
Max: Yeah.
Max: We looked at sound grounding techniques too - things to bring me back into the here and now when I'm spiralling. Brittany said taking Tiger for a walk when I was freaking out about chicken pox a few days ago was like grounding me, but she taught me some stuff to try when I can't leave the house - stuff I can do when I'm holding a baby, even.
Lainey: What sort of stuff? - if you want to share, of course.
Max: Like naming five things I can see, four things I can feel, three things I can hear, two things I can smell, one thing I can taste. Some breathing things... even just walking around the house barefoot and feeling the different sensations of the different flooring types. I'm going to give all of it a shot - I don't want to be so anxious all the time, I want to be able to relax and enjoy our family.
Lainey: I'm so proud of you, Max. I know this last year hasn't been easy for you-
Max: It hasn't been easy for you either. I couldn't've got through it without you supporting me. I love you, Lain.
Joy was haunting tonight, floating around and checking up on everything, but scaring nobody.
Lainey: There now, that's better, isn't it?
Lainey: I can't believe they're one tomorrow! Where has all the time gone?
Max: It's mad.
Lainey: Still up for a little party tomorrow?
Max: Yeah. Do you mind sending out a reminder text about not coming if they're ill or feel ill? I feel like people are getting fed up of me fussing.
Lainey: They're not - I'm sure they get it - but I'll message if you want.
The last few plants are dead now. All Max can do is clear the way for Spring planting. He's never been a gardener, but he's not about to let Ivy's legacy down.
Lainey: Now, please stay asleep whilst I put you down in your crib...
Max: Are they asleep?
Lainey: Yep - both down, monitors on - let's get some sleep ourselves!
Max and Lainey are finding things a bit easier with Fern and Asher these days. They cry a little less, sleep a little longer... and how can it possibly be their birthday already?!
