Keegan
One year later
THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN AMAZING. It took us a little bit to get into a routine, but once we found one that worked for us, there was no stopping us. Rage has been the overprotective dad I knew he was going to be. There’s been a few times that I told him to go out with the guys or I was going to go out with the girls with all the kids. He left for a while so that he wasn’t hovering. I didn’t necessarily want him to leave, but he needed to get out with some grown-ups.
I love that he wants to spend time with his children to see them learn and grow every day, but we both need to get out of the house too. That’s been another challenge to overcome. Rage trusts everyone in the club with his life, but he’s hesitant to leaving Lyric and Tyler with anyone. He’d rather be there for everything than have help. I’ve helped him see that we need time away with our friends and time away together.
Today is the twin’s birthday. Rage is out getting the last-minute things we need while I help the girls decorate the pond. Jameson and Anthony are helping us keep and eye on the kids while we get everything set up. Grim and Tank are with us making sure the grill is ready to go so they can start cooking soon.
“Dada! Dada!” I hear Tyler call out.
Looking up from blowing up the kids floaties, I fall more in love with my husband. He’s carrying the cakes we ordered over to the tables while paying attention to Tyler. He’s been followed by the twins as they’re curious about every little thing around them. Once he sets the cakes down, he lifts them both up in his arms and lets them see their cake. Lyric starts clapping her hands and laughing. Tyler is trying to get closer to his cake almost throwing his dad off balance. He’s definitely got Rage’s stubborn streak.
Rage and our children find ways every day to make me love them more and drive me crazy all at the same time. I wouldn’t change my life in any way though. I have a wonderful and crazy family, including the extended family members, I get closer to the girls every day, and Sami and Whitney are becoming as close to me as cousins should be. My life turned out better than I ever dreamed possible.
Rage
I wouldn’t change the last year for anything in the world. It’s been crazy and hectic at times, Keegan has kicked me out of the house once or twice, and Kasey is teaching her brother and sister everything she knows. I’m in trouble for sure. Especially when all three of them gang up on me and pull out the pouty lips and puppy dog eyes. I can’t tell them no.
After eating lunch, Tyler and Lyric couldn’t wait any longer to get their cake. We stripped them down and, after singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to them, we let them have at it. I’ve never seen such little faces covered in so much icing and cake. Both of them basically smashed their face directly into their piece of cake before picking up the parts that weren’t already stuck to their faces with their little fists. I have a ton of pictures of them and I know Keegan does too. Some of them will definitely be getting hung on the walls of the house!
It’s time for the kids to open their gifts and we call them over from playing so they can sit in the shaded area by the pond. Keegan sits behind Lyric to help her out while I help Tyler. It’s amazing to see the excitement on their little faces as they open every new thing. Sometimes they’d rather play with the boxes, but we set them aside and move on to the next present.
“Before we all go back to swimmin’ and playin’ games, Keegan and I have one more announcement to make,” I tell everyone after the last gift is opened.
“We’re gonna have another baby,” she tells everyone.
For a minute there’s stunned silence. I’m sure they weren’t expecting to hear that we were adding to our tribe so soon after the twins were born. We couldn’t be happier though. Kasey is so excited and already planning the next nursery. She’s got plans for a girl or a boy. I’m sure we’ll implement some of them, but we’ll figure that out when we get to that point.
The club did vote to buy the two houses I wasn’t sure about. We decided that we would get more information about working with animals for disabled children and those would be the houses used for that. The women are ecstatic about being able to help in that way. They’ve even said they’ll take any, and all, classes that may be needed to help the most.
Looking around the pond, I take in what has become my life. I have an amazing woman by my side. She’s the rock that holds our family together, the calm to my storm, and the light to my dark. Our children are learning and growing so fast. I want to capture each and every moment with them. Before we know it, they’re going to be grown and out on their own. The rest of my family is growing and becoming closer daily. We’re growing the club and finding new ways to help people all the time.