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It's a beautiful day. The weather, after two days of mysterious cold winds, is sunny and perfect. Hub-D pushes Gigi and Chebbles on the swings and I finish my lukewarm breakfast tea, wearing my long nightgown for the last time in a long time.

I'm auxiliary to this scene. Both girls are focused on Daddy and laughing out loud.

I can go now. I can leave for five days and undergo the surgery that will result in the birth of our third daughter, the safest passage we can create for her.

I'm running the dishwasher -- one last time. I'm running a load of diapers -- one last time. I'll be back by Saturday night, but it feels like an eternity, never having been away that long. And we'll be different when I'm home again. There will be five of us.