MAX POINT OF VIEW
I sat in the doctor's office, my heart pounding in my chest. My mind was racing with thoughts of what could be wrong with me. The doctor's words echoed in my head: "There's something in your stomach, Max."
My stomach churned as I waited for the doctor to explain further. Was it cancer? A tumor? I had heard so many horror stories about people being diagnosed with serious illnesses, and I couldn't shake the fear that I might be one of them.
The doctor's voice brought me back to reality. "We need to run some tests to determine what it is," she said. "It could be something minor, but we need to be sure."
I nodded, barely able to speak. Fear had taken hold of me, and I felt completely out of control. I couldn't bear the thought of being sick, of having to go through treatments and surgeries.
As I left the doctor's office, I felt like I was in a daze. Everything around me seemed hazy and distorted, and I couldn't focus on anything except my fear. I tried to call my partner, but my hands were shaking so badly that I couldn't even dial the number.
For the next few days, I waited anxiously for the test results to come back. Every moment felt like an eternity as I imagined all the worst-case scenarios. I couldn't eat or sleep, and I was constantly on edge.
Finally, the day arrived when the doctor called me with the results. I took a deep breath and went to her clinic.
She was grinning at me, and I was so confused.
"You don't have to worry anymore, Max," she smiled at me.
"Oh! Thank God. Am I just over reacting, doc? I'm not really sick, right?" I aks nervously.
"No, you're not," she chuckled, "You went to the wrong doctor, max. I think you need to go to an ob gynecologist," she said, smiling.
"Why?" I ask confused, not yet processing what an ob gynecologist means due to my nervousness.
I immediately dialed Red's number, "Babe, the doctor told me to go to an ob, meet me here," I said, I heard a laugh on the other line and it ended.
Feeling confused and a bit embarrassed, I asked the doctor to explain what an ob gynecologist was. She patiently explained that an OB-GYN is a doctor who specializes in women's reproductive health.
I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I realized that my worries were misplaced. I couldn't believe I had gone to the wrong doctor, but I was grateful that the issue was not as serious as I had feared.
Red arrived a few minutes later, and I explained everything to him. He laughed and hugged me, relieved that I wasn't seriously ill. We left the clinic, feeling grateful for the peace of mind we had gained.
We went straight to an ob gyne our previous doctor recommended, and when we arrived there, I saw pregnant women waiting for their turn, I turn around at Red, and he was laughing at me.
"Am I pregnant?" I ask him, a smile forming on my face.
"Maybe," he chuckled.
"Oh my gosh. Why didn't I think about it? I thought I have a tumor on my stomach already," I let a sigh and laughed along with Red.
I was beaming with excitement, waiting for my turn at the doctor's clinic. I can't wait to be a mom, I said in my thoughts.
As I sat in the OB-GYN's office, I couldn't believe how relieved and excited I felt all at once. The doctor confirmed that I was indeed pregnant, and my heart leaped with joy.
Red and I hugged each other tightly, tears of joy streaming down our faces. We couldn't believe that we were going to be parents.
Over the next few months, we went through a rollercoaster of emotions. We experienced everything from the excitement of hearing our baby's heartbeat for the first time to the fear and anxiety of potential complications during pregnancy.
But through it all, we stayed strong together. We read books, attended classes, and talked to other parents to prepare ourselves for this new chapter in our lives.
Finally, the day arrived when our baby was born. We held our little bundle of joy in our arms, tears streaming down our faces once again. It was the most magical moment of our lives, and we knew that our lives would never be the same again.
As we left the hospital with our newborn baby, I couldn't help but feel grateful for everything. I was grateful for the scare that led me to the OB-GYN and for the joy and love that our baby had brought into our lives.
Looking back, I realized that fear can sometimes cloud our judgment and make us overlook simple solutions. But in the end, everything worked out for the best. I learned that it's important to trust our instincts but also to seek help and advice from the right people.
As we walked out into the sunshine, Red and I knew that we were embarking on a new adventure filled with love.
We brought our baby home, and our lives changed in the best way possible. We were now a family of three, and we were filled with so much love and joy.
The early days of parenting were filled with sleepless nights and constant diaper changes, but we were happy to do it all for our little one. As our babies grew, we watched in awe as they learned to crawl, walk, and talk.
We also experienced new challenges and worries, like when our baby got sick or had trouble sleeping. But we learned to rely on each other and to seek help from trusted medical professionals.
As our baby grew into a toddler and then a preschooler, we experienced so many wonderful moments as a family. We went on adventures, celebrated milestones, and laughed together.
But we also faced new challenges, like when our child started school and we had to navigate new social dynamics and academic expectations.
Through it, all, Red and I continued to support each other and put our family first. We learned that parenting is a never-ending journey, filled with ups and downs, but also with so much love and joy.
"Babe, Iris, and Felix will visit us today," I said, as we were watching the television.
"Okay, tell them to bring Lily," Red said. He has been so fond of that little girl. I hope I can give him a baby girl too. I chuckled to myself.
When they arrived, Lily immediately went to Leo to play with him. They treated each other like siblings, and I was so happy to see them playing with each other.
Felix sat next to Red, "My girl says she already has a boyfriend in school," I laughed when I heard Felix say that.
"She's not getting a boyfriend until she's thirty," Felix said, jokingly, which makes us all laugh.
Red chimed in, "Well, we have a baby now, so we better start preparing ourselves for the teenage years."
We all laughed again, knowing that parenting would come with its own set of challenges as our children grow up. But for now, we were content with enjoying the precious moments with our little ones.
As we sat there, basking in the glow of parenthood, we talked about the future. We dreamed about all the things we wanted to do with our children, the places we wanted to travel, and the memories we wanted to create.
Felix talked about taking his daughter to Disneyland, and Red and I talked about visiting our families in different parts of the world. We made plans to start a family tradition of going on a camping trip every summer.
"I want a baby boy," Iris pouted, as I saw her look at Leo. I smiled at her.
"I want a baby girl," I said, chuckling. Red took his guitar and started strumming. He just release a new song dedicated to our son, and it was the best thing I ever heard. I am in tears when I heard it for the first time.
As Red started playing, we all sat back and listened. His voice filled the room, and his fingers danced across the strings. The song was about how much he loved our son and how grateful he was for him. It was a beautiful tribute to the love that we shared as a family.
As the song came to an end, we all clapped and cheered. Red looked at us with a big smile on his face. "Thanks, guys," he said. "I couldn't have done it without you."
We spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing, enjoying each other's company. It was a perfect night, and I felt so blessed to have these people in my life.
As we chatted, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the support and love of my friends. We may have started out as just a group of high school buddies, but we had become so much more than that. We were now a group of parents, navigating the joys and challenges of raising our children together.
As we said our goodbyes and hugged each other, I knew that I had everything I ever wanted. A loving husband, an adorable son, and amazing friends who I know will always be there for me.
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, but I had learned that every experience, good or bad, was a part of the journey. And as long as I had my loved ones by my side, I knew that I could face anything that came my way.
I smiled to myself as I walked through the front door, feeling grateful for the beautiful life I had created with Red.