CHAPTER 23

            So Min slowly opened her eyes.  She looked around the room and for a minute was not sure where she was.  Then she realized she was still in her private room at the hospital.  She tried to move a little a bit and felt how sore her body was.  Giving birth to her twin babies took a lot from her.  Her arms and legs were particularly sore.

            The room was full of flower arrangements with all kinds of adorable stuffed animals.  There were plenty of fruit baskets as well.  There were so many of them that she already knew she will have to give them out later to the hospital staff.  She knew she will be writing a ton of thank you cards to family and friends for congratulating them for the birth of their babies.

            She felt very thirsty but nobody was in the room except her.  However, she could tell that her husband had been camping out in her room.  She saw the neatly piled pillow and blanket on the couch.  She looked at the table near her bed and she saw a note from Hyun Joong, which read:  “Hello Sweetheart.  I’m with your Mom and Dad having lunch in the cafeteria.  Please call my cell when you wake up.  I love you.”

            So Min immediately dialed Hyun Joong’s number.

            “Hey, you’re up!  How are you feeling?” Hyun Joong asked.

            “I’m fine except that I’m quite sore and still tired,” So Min replied.

            “Don’t move too much.  We’ll be there soon.”

            “Oh, can you please get me a glass of ice water.  I’m really thirsty,” So Min said.

            “You got it.  I’ll bring it over,” Hyun Joong responded.

            Minutes later Hyun Joong and Mr. and Mrs. Jung were in the room with So Min. 

           “Oh So Min my dear, how are you feeling?” asked So Min’s mother while giving her a warm, big hug.

            “I’m okay Mom.  Feeling sore and tired, but I’m fine.”

            So Min then looked at her father.  Her father approached her and held her hand and gave her a kiss on her forehead.  “Your babies are beautiful, dear.  They’re so adorable,” her father said with a big smile on his face.

            Then it was Hyun Joong’s turn.  He held So Min’s hand and squeezed it tightly.  No need for words.  She could feel Hyun Joong’s love by just holding his hand.

            “So how are the babies doing?” So Min asked.

            “They are doing great.  They are in the nursery right now.  We can call the nurses’ station and ask them to bring the babies in,” Hyun Joong said excitedly.

            “I’d love that,” So Min replied.  Just the thought of seeing her babies again made So Min feel all warm and fuzzy.

            Minutes later the nurses brought the twins in So Min’s room.  They looked adorable swaddled up in their tiny, cute blanket and bonnets.  Blue for their baby boy and pink for their baby girl.  So Min felt emotional again seeing the twins.

            One of the nurses handed the baby girl to So Min and the other one handed the baby boy to Hyun Joong.  So Min held their baby girl.

            “Hello there.  How are you my baby?” So Min said softly to her baby girl.  “Look at you, you’re so cute with your rosy cheeks and cute as a button nose,” So Min said while caressing her daughter’s little fingers.

            “Hello there buddy.  It’s nice to finally meet you,” Hyun Joong said to his son looking very proud.  “You and I will be spending a lot of time playing soccer, do you know that?”  Hyun Joong reached in his pocket and came up with a miniature soccer ball.  “See, this ball son?  We will be playing with this a lot.”

            “Oh, no.  He’s barely two days old you are making plans for him already,” So Min said laughing.

            “Well, as they say, we need to start early,” Hyun Joong responded jokingly.  “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten our baby girl.”  Hyun Joong reached in his pocket again and handed So Min a miniature pair of pink ballet shoes.

           “Oh these are cute, Hyun Joong.”  So Min put the ballet shoes next to her daughter’s fingers.  “Look what Daddy got you.  Isn’t he sweet?  Don’t worry Mommy will be busy teaching you how to dance while Daddy and your brother are playing soccer.”

            So Min’s parents couldn’t help but laugh. 

            So Min looked up and saw her parents were both teary eyed.  “Here Mom and Dad, why don’t you hold your grandchildren?”  So Min handed their daughter to her mother while Hyun Joong handed their son to his father-in-law.

            “Oh my goodness I’m not sure if I can still do this,” So Min’s father said nervously.

            “Don’t worry Dad, you can do it.  It’s like riding a bike, you’ll never forget.  Just like you held me when I was a baby,” So Min assured her father.

            Hyun Joong reached for So Min’s hand and they both watched So Min’s parents dote on their grandchildren.  They looked so happy now that they were finally able to hold their precious grandchildren. 

            “Have you thought about names yet?” Mrs. Jung asked.

            “Hhhmmm…So Min and I agreed we will call our baby boy So Hyun and Hyun Mina for our baby girl,” Hyun Joong responded.

            “So Hyun and Hyun Mina.  Those are beautiful names.  I like the names.  I like them a lot!” So Min’s father said.

            “Thanks Dad,” So Min said.  “I’m glad you liked the names.  Actually it was Hyun Joong who came up with them.  He was so good convincing me that I just said yes.”

            Hyun Joong gave a hearty laugh and gave his wife a kiss on her cheek.  “I’m actually glad that it didn’t have to be a long discussion.  And thank you for agreeing with me,” Hyun Joong said while looking at his wife.

            “Oh, this is such a happy occasion.  I can’t wait until the babies are home and I can help take care of them,” So Min’s mother said.

            “Believe me Mom, I will be needing a lot of your help when we get home.”

            “By the way, Song Kang Yi, the nurse who will help take care of the babies will be starting as soon as you get home.  She said she’s excited to see the babies and to work with you,” Mrs. Jung said.

          “Thank you Mom for taking care of that.  Yes, I really liked her a lot when I interviewed her.”

            “I know.  We are really lucky.  She came highly recommended and it worked out that she’s available right now to work for us.”

            Their conversation was interrupted when one of the nurses went inside the room.

            “I’m sorry to interrupt but it’s feeding time for the twins.”

            “Okay, we better leave you alone,” Hyun Joong said. 

            “Your Dad and I will be heading home for now dear.  We’ll be back tomorrow,” Mrs. Jung said.

            “Thank you Mom and Dad for visiting.  I’ll see you again tomorrow.

With that Hyun Joong and So Min’s parents left the room to give So Min and the babies some privacy.

            So Min decided early on that she would feed her babies.  She was not sure how it would work out.  She read that it could be challenging at times especially in the early days but she was determined to do her best. 

            The nurse gave So Min some instructions and she listened carefully.  It was awkward in the beginning but she felt comfortable in no time. 

            “You are doing good, Mrs. Kim,” the nurse said.

            “Thank you for your patience,” So Min said.  “I know it will get easier later on.”

            After feeding the babies So Min felt exhausted again.  The nurse returned the twins to the nursery and So Min took a much needed nap.

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            Two hours later So Min woke up and she saw Hyun Joong taking a nap also on the couch.  So Min didn’t bother to wake him up.  She just quietly watched her husband while sleeping.  He must be exhausted too, she thought.

            Later a nurse walked in her room to check if she was awake.  The nurse informed So Min that Seung Ah was in the lobby and would like to know if she was accepting visitors.

            “Yes, of course please send her in,” So Min replied.

            Minutes later Seung Ah showed up in her room.  So Min pointed toward the couch where Hyun Joong was still sound asleep.  Seung Ah got the message and tried not to make noise as she approached So Min.  Seung Ah gave So Min a warm, big hug.

            “I saw your babies, they are adorable!” Seung Ah said trying to contain her excitement.  “They’re so cute I want to take them home.”

            So Min laughed.  “Thank you.  You can visit them and you can babysit, but you can’t take them home.”

            “I know.  Too bad.  So how are you feeling?” Seung Ah asked.

            “A little bit sore and still tired but I’m getting better.”

            “Everyone was asking about you.  Students and staff.  They are sending their regards and everyone is excited for you and Hyun Joong.  They would like to see the twins soon.  So Min, I’m so jealous.  You have a wonderful, handsome husband, and now you have adorable children.  I’m dying of envy!”

            “Don’t worry, I’m sure your time will come too,” So Min assured Seung Ah.  “By the way how are things in the office?”

            “Everything is fine.  We are starting to implement the new programs you and I discussed before you went on maternity leave.  So far the response was very positive so we are all excited.”

            “Thanks again.  With the twins I’m not sure how much time I can devote to running the studio so I will be relying a lot on you.”

            “Don’t worry about it.  I’m happy to help.  Just focus your energy for now with your twins.  I will consult with you once in a while but I’ll try not to bother you as much as possible.”

            “Promise me you will not hesitate to ask for my help and if we need to hire someone to assist you at work, let me know also, okay?”

            “Yes, boss,” Seung Ah replied.

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            After a few more days, So Min and the twins were ready to go home.  She dressed up the twins in matching coming home outfit that her mother specifically picked out for them.  So Min couldn’t help but admire how adorable they looked.  So Min and Hyun Joong thanked the hospital staff as they were leaving the hospital.

Hyun Joong parked their brand new SUV in front of the hospital and carefully placed the twins in their car seats. 

“Wow you look like a pro,” said So Min.

“Of course, I’ve been practicing for the last couple of days.  Safety first, especially when it comes to our kids.”

The twins seemed to like the car ride and didn’t make a fuss.  Hyun Mina was awake for the most part of the trip while So Hyun slept the entire time.

“So, are you going to miss driving your sports cars?” So Min teased Hyun Joong.

“Of course not.  I’d rather drive with my family than alone in my sports cars.  Besides, I can still use them when I have to travel alone.”

“That’s why I love you.  Do you know that?” So Min said to her husband.

“I know, I love you too.”

Soon they reached home. 

“Here we go kids.  We’re home,” Hyun Joong announced.  They immediately went upstairs to the nursery.

So Min opened the door and was surprised with what she saw.

“Oh Hyun Joong this is wonderful!”

TO BE CONTINUED

Author’s Note:

Hello readers!  I’m back.  Sorry it took me a while to get back to my writing.  After a long, wonderful vacation it was quite difficult to find the time to write as there was a whole lot of catching up to do with work.  Family life too was really busy with lots of family commitments to attend to.  It took a while to finish Chapter 23 but I did it just like Noah’s snail!  Now the story of our beloved couple continues.  Enjoy!