screams fell on deaf ears, so she continued on.
By nine oâclock that night the girls were finally lying in their crib. She had only bought one, because they would be moving to a new apartment soon. She just prayed she had done a good enough job and that the thing wouldnât fall apart in the night, sending the girls crashing to the floor.
When they get their own room, Iâll have another crib to put together , she thought.
Once Jennifer finally got to bed that night, she was beyond exhausted. She was also sore, and sad, but that didnât stop her from falling into a deep sleep immediately.
âWhere am I?â She sat up abruptly from her sleep. One of the babies was crying, and she realized she had been asleep for quite some time.
The pain from her incision quickly reminded her of where she was. The clock indicated Jennifer had been asleep for two hours, and Karen and Krista were hungry again. Nelson was lying next to her.
When she tried to stand, the pain from her cut intensified. But without a word to Nelson, she went to the refrigerator and made another two bottles of formula.
She took turns feeding and burping them both and went back to sleep.
An hour later, she was awake again. They wanted more food.
For the next twenty-four hours she would wake only to feed and change her babies. She did it all without any help from Nelson.
20
The application to Newfoundland and Labrador Housing had already been approved.
In a few weeks the family would be moving to a housing unit where the girls would finally have their own bedroom. Both Jennifer and Nelson were looking forward to having their own space, but Jennifer was hoping that the move would also lighten the bills. Lately it seemed the money was running out too quickly after payday. She didnât see the welfare cheques. They belonged to Nelson. On payday he would pick up groceries and pay the bills, and Jennifer was glad that was one less chore she had to worry about. The only time Jennifer saw cash was when she would get her family allowance cheque.
âNelson! I need money for diapers,â Jennifer called out. She could hear him getting up off the couch and rustling through the closet. She was down to two diapers and Nelson was headed out, for God knew where, or how long.
âI donât have any money,â he said.
âWhat do you mean? We just got our cheque! What did you do with it?â
Nelson was going to the bar more often these days. She wasnât sure if he was alone or with his mother, but she suspected he was spending more time playing the slots, a habit for which their meagre income from social services didnât make room.
âWell? I need diapers, so figure something out,â she snapped.
Nelson left and came back soon after with diapers. âI borrowed the money from Mom,â he said. âBut these girls are getting too expensive. If I gets that settlement from insurance, I wonât have to worry anymore.â
Discussions had already begun between lawyers and the insurance company on a settlement from the car accident, and Nelson was anxious for his hearing.
âIâm sick of trying to buy everything,â Jennifer pleaded. âYouâre not giving me enough money to pay for the things I need for the girls. This is going to have to change, and I canât wait for you to get a settlement that you donât even know youâll win yet.â
Jennifer was well on her way to recovering from the operation, and the girls were now two months old.
She was getting a little more sleep at night, thanks to a change in the girlsâ diets. Though her family doctor didnât approve, Jennifer was convinced the infant formula wasnât agreeing with the babiesâ bellies, so she took things into her own hands. One morning, after a particularly restless night, she washed the formula down the drain.
âThis formula just isnât satisfying them,â Jennifer said. âIf I
By nine oâclock that night the girls were finally lying in their crib. She had only bought one, because they would be moving to a new apartment soon. She just prayed she had done a good enough job and that the thing wouldnât fall apart in the night, sending the girls crashing to the floor.
When they get their own room, Iâll have another crib to put together , she thought.
Once Jennifer finally got to bed that night, she was beyond exhausted. She was also sore, and sad, but that didnât stop her from falling into a deep sleep immediately.
âWhere am I?â She sat up abruptly from her sleep. One of the babies was crying, and she realized she had been asleep for quite some time.
The pain from her incision quickly reminded her of where she was. The clock indicated Jennifer had been asleep for two hours, and Karen and Krista were hungry again. Nelson was lying next to her.
When she tried to stand, the pain from her cut intensified. But without a word to Nelson, she went to the refrigerator and made another two bottles of formula.
She took turns feeding and burping them both and went back to sleep.
An hour later, she was awake again. They wanted more food.
For the next twenty-four hours she would wake only to feed and change her babies. She did it all without any help from Nelson.
20
The application to Newfoundland and Labrador Housing had already been approved.
In a few weeks the family would be moving to a housing unit where the girls would finally have their own bedroom. Both Jennifer and Nelson were looking forward to having their own space, but Jennifer was hoping that the move would also lighten the bills. Lately it seemed the money was running out too quickly after payday. She didnât see the welfare cheques. They belonged to Nelson. On payday he would pick up groceries and pay the bills, and Jennifer was glad that was one less chore she had to worry about. The only time Jennifer saw cash was when she would get her family allowance cheque.
âNelson! I need money for diapers,â Jennifer called out. She could hear him getting up off the couch and rustling through the closet. She was down to two diapers and Nelson was headed out, for God knew where, or how long.
âI donât have any money,â he said.
âWhat do you mean? We just got our cheque! What did you do with it?â
Nelson was going to the bar more often these days. She wasnât sure if he was alone or with his mother, but she suspected he was spending more time playing the slots, a habit for which their meagre income from social services didnât make room.
âWell? I need diapers, so figure something out,â she snapped.
Nelson left and came back soon after with diapers. âI borrowed the money from Mom,â he said. âBut these girls are getting too expensive. If I gets that settlement from insurance, I wonât have to worry anymore.â
Discussions had already begun between lawyers and the insurance company on a settlement from the car accident, and Nelson was anxious for his hearing.
âIâm sick of trying to buy everything,â Jennifer pleaded. âYouâre not giving me enough money to pay for the things I need for the girls. This is going to have to change, and I canât wait for you to get a settlement that you donât even know youâll win yet.â
Jennifer was well on her way to recovering from the operation, and the girls were now two months old.
She was getting a little more sleep at night, thanks to a change in the girlsâ diets. Though her family doctor didnât approve, Jennifer was convinced the infant formula wasnât agreeing with the babiesâ bellies, so she took things into her own hands. One morning, after a particularly restless night, she washed the formula down the drain.
âThis formula just isnât satisfying them,â Jennifer said. âIf I
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