they

 He:

4 days upstairs. Days of rest, grateful rest, holding and smelling you and Kaleb–

Kaleb did everything.

Good morning Kaleb.

He is bringing me breakfast in bed.

He is refilling my water bottles many times, daily.

He is bringing my journal and books from the downstairs couch.

He is helping our toddler, with everything.

Friends take him in the afternoon, to play, and we both crash, and nap,

And he is bringing me snacks for the night,

Putting our son to bed, changing diapers and burping the baby, he is the reason I can rest.

Good night Kaleb,

I love you.

Good morning Kaleb,

He is smiling as he lays out the breakfast option in a funny accent

And kisses me

And asks if he can get me

Anything else, Sweet Anna. 

Smiling gently, with happy eyes.

She:

Sarah, our midwife.

There almost too late.

Normally she wears an orange dress and a shawl, her orange hair and large birth-body-part earrings,

Her art in that office is all women and flowers and green plants and so I think about doing birth-art.

She talks a lot, when she’s on a subject.

But i like her. She’s got that nose ring and freckles and her daughter, who’s 9, and she cleaned up wonderfully after the birth, clean up our mess and did laundry, and pineapple, enough that I think I’d pay that $6,000 just for that, so I wouldn’t have to worry about it and could just snuggle you, baby, and rest –

This book the Fourth Trimester is worth more than all the pediatric and post-partum visits –

Your first doctor’s visit was a “missed opportunity” – all they did was measure you and ask about vaccines and tests, it seems.

But Sarah – we like Sarah

Sarah helps. and knows a lot, and offers.

I trust her, and her orange hair, and her shawl, and her large earrings, and her Sacred Wild Midwifery. She held you and crooned.