Chapter Five • Family Over Everything

Aphrodite had been eagerly anticipating her latest doctor's appointment, as she was now well into her second trimester of a high-risk quadruplet pregnancy.

At nearly 17 weeks along, she was finally at the point where she could discover the genders of their four babies.

Of course, Jonathan, Trinity, and Joshua - were all desperate to accompany her to the appointment and find out the news firsthand.

However, Aphrodite knew that with her sister Ariadne being the one planning a grand gender reveal party, it would be best to keep the appointment more intimate.

So Aphrodite opted to only bring Ariadne along, much to the disappointment of the three. Little did they know, Jonathan had already struck a deal with Ariadne to reveal the genders to him privately ahead of the party.

But true to form, Aphrodite was one step ahead - she made Ariadne promise not to divulge the information to Jonathan, insisting that he would have to wait and find out along with everyone else.

Aphrodite hadn't had an ultrasound in nearly two weeks, and she was anxious to see how her quadruplets were progressing.

When the nurse began the routine intake questions, Aphrodite reported a mix of good and bad symptoms.

While the persistent nausea was improving slightly, she was still relying on medication to manage it. Sleep had become increasingly elusive, and the tightness and pressure in her abdomen were growing more pronounced by the day.

However, Aphrodite did note that the babies had undergone a significant growth spurt in the past week, evidenced by her rapidly expanding belly, voracious appetite, and intensifying discomfort.

Along with the physical changes, Aphrodite was also dealing with a whole host of other pregnancy-related woes - from head-to-toe aches and pains to constant fatigue.

The nurse assured her that these were all normal side effects as her body worked overtime to support the quadruplets. She explained that Aphrodite may soon start feeling fetal movement, and cautioned her to expect additional challenges like round ligament pain, congestion, and heartburn in the coming weeks.

After the nurse completed her assessment and drew some blood for testing, Aphrodite's obstetrician arrived to perform the highly anticipated ultrasound.

Throughout the 50-minute procedure, the doctor meticulously examined each of the four babies, taking measurements, checking their spinal development, monitoring their heartbeats, and observing their movements.

To Aphrodite's delight, all four were progressing beautifully, with fully formed limbs, fingers, toes, and even distinct facial features visible in the 2D images.

And in a moment of both excitement and trepidation, the doctor was able to determine the genders - information that Aphrodite's sister Ariadne discreetly jotted down on her phone, per Aphrodite's request to keep it from Jonathan for the time being.

With the reassurance that her pregnancy was on track, Aphrodite left the appointment armed with printed ultrasound photos, ready to head to Joshua's house for the rest of the day.

But not before voicing her usual protests about being babysat, insisting that she was perfectly capable of being on her own - a claim that Joshua, of course, knew to be only partially true.

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solibecker let's play some tennis 🎾
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Solielle's lighthearted tennis outing with her sisters quickly took an unexpected turn, as the carefree activity became a barrage of invasive questions and unsolicited advice about her intimate relationship with her husband, Isayah.

Rather than simply enjoying the game, Solielle found herself bombarded by her sisters' prying inquiries, as they pressed her for details about the physical aspects of her marriage.

Molisa, Undine, and Galina seemed intent on pushing Solielle to be more sexually active, even going so far as to suggest she seduce Isayah in lingerie to consummate their union.

Solielle, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken, tried to firmly shut down their meddling, explaining that she and Isayah had not yet discussed being intimate and that she wanted to ensure the foundation of their marriage was solid before complicating things with sex.

Galina shook her head. "You both agreed to stay married. What's the harm in having sex with him? When was the last time you had sex, Soli?" Galina asked as she ran across the court.

Solielle bit her lip. "Umm, the last time I had sex was when I lost my virginity to Aaron," Solielle answered.

Her three sisters gasped. "That long! Oh hell no, it must have been trash for you to never have sex again," Undine said.

"I just wasn't into it. And I probably won't be into it with Isayah either," Solielle said.

However, her sisters remained undeterred, expressing shock and dismay that Solielle had only been intimate once before, with her previous partner Aaron.

Galina in particular seemed perplexed, as her own active sex life with her husband Joe stood in stark contrast to Solielle's more reserved approach.

Despite Solielle's protestations, her sisters continued to press her, urging her to let Isayah break her back and not hold back on physical intimacy.

Solielle gasped. "It's been two weeks since he got here," Solielle said.

"But technically y'all been married for nearly five months now," Galina said.

Overwhelmed by the unsolicited advice and probing questions, Solielle could only shake her head in exasperation, lamenting that her sisters were serving as bad influences and derailing what was meant to be a fun, sisterly outing.

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aphroditejoyce It's truly remarkable how the divine hand of God can so effortlessly disrupt our carefully laid plans, guiding us instead toward unexpected blessings that end up surpassing our wildest imaginings. As this family has experienced firsthand, the Lord's ways are infinitely higher than our own, and His sovereign will often lead us down paths we never could have envisioned for ourselves. The news that this household is now welcoming not one, not two, but four precious new lives all at once is a testament to the unpredictable yet profoundly meaningful workings of the Almighty. Though the sheer logistics of caring for quadruplets may seem daunting, even bordering on the verge of the miraculous, there is an undeniable sense of wonder, gratitude, and pure excitement pulsing through every member of this expanding family. They are in awe of how God has chosen to bless them so abundantly, showering them with a bounty that goes far beyond what they had hoped or asked for. Indeed, the Lord is full of surprises, disrupting our limited human plans to grant us the very gifts we didn't even know to pray for - gifts that will undoubtedly transform this household in beautiful and unexpected ways in the time to come. It is a humbling, exhilarating, and deeply meaningful journey that this family has been invited to embark upon, and they eagerly await with open hearts and minds to see how the divine Author of life will continue to masterfully rewrite the story unfolding before them.
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📌aphroditejoyce Sorry for my worldly post but I'm just reflecting on how much God has changed my life and all the amazing things to come in the new year for me and my family.
solibecker Girl, you make me want to have a baby, you're carrying so well 🥹😍❤️
aphroditejoyce @solibecker 🥹🫣Hey, don't blame me when he sees your comment 🤭🫶🏽
solibecker @aphroditejoyce 😭🤭🫣😐

Ariadne's highly anticipated gender reveal party for Aphrodite was a joyous celebration filled with vibrant colors, delectable treats, and the palpable excitement of close friends and family.

The outdoor space at her home was meticulously adorned with an array of pink and blue balloons, creating a whimsical atmosphere that set the stage for the big reveal.

Lush floral arrangements featuring the popular fast-food chain Raising Cane provided a fresh, natural touch, complementing the array of savory sides, refreshing drinks, and crisp salads that tantalized the guests' palates.

However, the true centerpiece of the event was the two impressive multi-layer cakes from the beloved Publix bakery, its tiers adorned in a stunning pink and blue design that hinted at the gender secrets soon to be unveiled.

As the anticipation reached a fever pitch, Aphrodite, Trinity, Joshua, and Jonathan - gathered together, exchanging eager glances and playful banter.

"Okay, so one of us will have two girls, right?" Joshua asked, to which Jonathan replied with a nod and a warm embrace, "I think it's you, uce."

The countdown began, and with a burst of vibrant powder, the joyous reveal unfolded - Aphrodite was carrying three girls and a boy, much to the delight of the cheering children and their beaming parents.

The air was filled with laughter, tears of happiness, and the palpable sense of a new chapter about to unfold for this tight-knit group.

Ariadne carefully unfolded the doctor's note that Aphrodite had given her, reading the details with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

The note revealed the genders of the babies that the twins, Jonathan and Joshua, would be welcomed into the world.

Ariadne learned that Jonathan would be the father of both a girl and a boy, while Joshua was destined to have two little girls.

The revelation that the brothers would each have a matching set of one son and one daughter was met with an impressed exclamation from Joe. "So you each are gonna have two girls and two boys," Joe said, marveling at how the twins had managed to perfectly replicate each other's family makeup.

Trinity could scarcely believe the serendipitous nature of it all - the idea that the two brothers would end up with the same gender balance in their children was almost too perfect to be true.

As she re-read the doctor's detailed notes, Ariadne couldn't help but wonder about the deeper cosmic significance behind this uncanny symmetry.

The news had left everyone in awe of the remarkable way the twins' families were taking shape.

The backyard was alive with laughter and playful banter. Everyone eagerly took turns on the microphone she had set up, either sharing heartfelt messages or cracking jokes to entertain the crowd.

But it was Jacob who truly stirred up the excitement when he decided to play the role of instigator.

Grabbing the mic, he began reading the comments from Aphrodite's latest Instagram post, reveling in the juicy gossip.

As he read aloud Solielle's comment, "Girl, you make me want to have a baby, you're carrying so well," the poor woman nearly choked on her soda, mortified that her comment had been exposed for all to hear.

Jacob couldn't contain his laughter as he turned to Isayah, Solielle's husband, and teased, "Hey, uce, your wife wants a baby."

The crowd erupted in hysterics, and Solielle didn't waste a moment, hurling her empty cup directly at Jacob's head.

"Don't worry, he'll give you one, Soli," Jacob continued to tease, dodging the projectile as Solielle took off after him, determined to catch the mischievous prankster.

Isayah watched the comical scene unfold, a smile spreading across his face as he encouraged his wife, "Get him, Soli!"

The backyard was a flurry of laughter, playful banter, and good-natured chaos - the perfect setting for a gender reveal celebration filled with love, excitement, and a healthy dose of sibling-like teasing.