A Family Crisis

[Shy-Diapers]

Lillian was glad her daughter was getting better and they'd be closer to home. She held the little girl's

[justagirl4fun]

"Hey!" Sean scooped Ava up and headed for the door. "I have some good news for you!" he said as he carried her to the car.

[Shy-Diapers]

"You comin' home?!" Ava asked hopefully, hoping today

[justagirl4fun]

"I am! Scarlet is being moved to the hospital right here in town. Mommy and I will still have to take turns staying with her, but one of us will be home every night. And you'll be able to visit Scarlet at the hospital."

[Shy-Diapers]

Ava squealed in delight and tightened her grip on Sean. She was thrilled that her parents would be coming back home. "Sissy getting better?"

[justagirl4fun]

"Well...she's still pretty sick. She probably won't be able to play with you for a while, but the doctors are helping her."

[Shy-Diapers]

Ava frowned. She didn't understand the severity of her sister's condition, but felt bad that she couldn't play or be at home. "I hope she get better."

[justagirl4fun]

"She will, Princess. It's just gonna take some time. Now, where would you like to go for lunch?" Sean asked as he put Ava in the car.

[Shy-Diapers]

"Friendly's!" Ava squealed. She loved to eat out and friendlys always had the coolest and yummiest kids meals.

[justagirl4fun]

"Friendly's it is." Sean drove to the restaurant and carried Ava inside. They were taken to a booth almost immediately. "So, would you like to go see sissy this afternoon?" he asked as he waited for a waitress to bring their menus.

[Shy-Diapers]

"Uh huh!" Ava said happily. "I miss her lots!" She looked over the menu when it arrived and eventually decided on a mini chicken sandwich with fries.

[justagirl4fun]

"I bet she misses you, too."

At the hospital there was a flurry of activity as Scarlett was admitted and evaluated by doctors and therapists.

[Shy-Diapers]

Lillian was very nervous. She was relieved her baby was doing better though. She hoped she'd made the right decision in transferring her.

[justagirl4fun]

Sean ordered the food when the waitress returned. "How about when you're done we go pick out a get-well present for sissy, then we'll call mommy and see if they're ready for us to visit."

Scarlett tolerated the evaluations, but by the end was getting pretty cranky. Finally as the last therapist was examining her she reached out to Lillian with her left hand and called out "mama" before dissolving in a fit of sobs.

[Shy-Diapers]

"Uh huh!" Ava said happily. "I wanna get her a BIIIG teddy!" She beamed.

"Oh honey." Lillian said stroking her daughter's hair. "I'm sorry. It's been really hard for her. She'd dtill so little."

[justagirl4fun]

"Well, I'm not sure how big her room at the hospital is. Maybe we can settle for a medium teddy instead? And a couple of new books?" Sean bargained.

"Oh, it's fine," the therapist assured Lillian. "It's all so overwhelming, especially for the little ones. They don't understand what's going on, and don't have the words to explain how they're feeling. Okay sweet pea, we're all done. You can see mommy now," she cooed as she passed the toddler to Lillian.

[Shy-Diapers]

Ava thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay Daddy." She really wanted her baby sister to feel better so she could come back home and play some more.

[justagirl4fun]

Scarlett settled down, her thumb eventually making its way to her mouth.

[Shy-Diapers]

"Uh huh! Looks good!" Ava mimicked her father. She quickly started to dip her waffle fries in the cheese and take big bites of her sandwich, getting some mayonnaise on her face. Ava always had a big appetite and was never one to shy away from new foods.

[justagirl4fun]

Sean finished his meal and wiped his face. "Well, did you leave room for dessert?"

[Shy-Diapers]

"Uh huh!" Ava chirped, wiping her face with her arm. "I wanna 'nana Split!"

[justagirl4fun]

"You got it." He ordered it, and a hot fudge sundae for himself, and felt bad that Scarlett, who loved ice cream more than anything, probably wouldn't be eating any for a while.

[Shy-Diapers]

Ava happily dug into her ice cream when it came to the table, eventually clearing her bowl and leaning back, sticking her stomach out. "I full daddy."

[justagirl4fun]

Sean laughed and grabbed a napkin to wipe Ava's face. "I bet you are, after eating all that. Now, let's go potty and then we'll go find something for sissy."

[Shy-Diapers]

"But I don't gotta go daddy." Ava said climbing off the booth. She didn't feel like she had to use the bathroom and just wanted to get her sister a present.