I was thinking that 7 years ago my wife and I were expecting our first child. As mother's day grew closer, I really took stock of my life and who I was and the Father I hoped to be to this child. Emily was so wonderful during the pregnancy. She took such good care of herself. I remember buying classical music for her to play to the baby in the womb. They say it stimulates brain activity and calms the baby. She played it everynight. I remember watching Emily laying on the couch with the headsets on her stomach while the baby listened. I also remember talking to the baby myself and telling her just how important she was and how much she would be loved by her parents and grandparents. We had a tape of the ultrasound of the baby that really brought home the reality of being a parent and the responsibility that came with it.

Well, during this time, Emily's grandfather was growing weaker and weaker and we knew his time with us was short. We just did not know how short it was. I also remember thinking how important it was to me that he saw our child before he went home to be with the Lord. We were in touch with Emily's Aunt Linda in Virginia and she let me know that time was running out. So, I had a copy of the ultrasound made and sent to Virginia. I remember riding home with Emily after having dinner or seeing a movie on a Saturday evening. As we approached the exit, I just knew that this was the night Granddad was going home. I didn't say anything and we went home for the night. The next day was Sunday and I came around into the kitchen to find Emily in tears. But, she still had the composure to be taking the vitamins to keep the baby healthy. So, I called some of her friends and they came over to comfort her as we prepared to make the trip to Virginia for Granddad's funeral. When we arrived, I asked Aunt Linda if she had gotten the tape and did he see his great grandchild. What she told me was beyond amazing. On the night of his death, she played for him the video of the ultrasound. He could barely hold his eyes open so Aunt Linda sat with him and held his eyes open so he could see our baby. He would pass a few ours later. I don't know how much he actually saw and it really does not matter. The point was that we know he saw something of this wonderful creation God had given us and I truly believe he saw the baby moving and knew what was going on. On July 19th, our baby girl was born to the most beautiful and wonderful mother she could have hoped for.

Then, I have a second memory of our other child. We found out that Emily has a blood cloting disorder that could cause problems and even a miscarriage. So, Emily had to give herself shots to prevent the clots from forming. I remember watching my wife give herself the shots and how she bruised and thinking how I admired her and the desire she had to have this second child. Since we had found out that there were issues with us getting pregnant, we realized just how much of a miracle our first child was. So, we had to use a fertility clinic for the second. I won't get into specifics but Emily called me from Charleston where she was on a Beta club trip and told me the pregnancy test was faint but positive. So, we went to the clinic and long story short, we were told there was only a 10% chance Emily would be able to carry this baby. I spoke personally with the nurse and she told me that it could be several things, a tubal pregnancy, twins with one in the tubes and the other ok but either way I needed to be prepared to comfort Emily because we were going to lose this child. Wendy, the nurse, was very open and honest with us and we greatly appreciated that. She told us that we would be able to try again, so I prepared for the worst. But, my wife prepared to carry this baby to full term. Well, we were getting ready to go to Virginia for Easter or some holiday I can't remember which but Wendy said she would do an ultrasound for us before we left and even told Emily that she could miscarry the baby herself just to be prepared for extra bleeding and if we needed to that we were to go to the hospital in Virginia. Then, she started the ultrasound. As she made her way towards the womb, I will never forget when she said, "well, it's not in the tubes." Then she told us not to be upset if we didn't see a heartbeating. But, as we sat there and the ultrasound found the baby, we saw the most amazing thing. That little heart was beating as fast as it could. Wendy and I cried but Emily said she knew all along that she would be able to carry this baby. I guess, a mother just knows thses things. Even after the ultrasound Wendy prepared us for the worst. Well, on October 28th, Emily gave birth to our second child. A perfectly healthy second baby girl who is now 3 and will turn 4 this October.

The stories of my children are very different as are with all children but they are mine and while this illness has taken some of my memory and caused me confusion it has not taken away the miracle of  the two lives I have been charged with caring for and the love and sacrifice of the woman who carried them and never doubted God would provide and give us healthy children.

Now, life is filled with baths, ball games, church, trips to Virginia, and other normal things that parents do with their children but most of all, our lives are filled with love and great joy that my wife never doubted and always put her children before anything else. The final thing I will say on this post is I remember Emily looking at me as got close to giving birth to our first child and told me that if things got rough and I had to make a decision I was to chose the child not her. I just give thanks to God that I never had to make that decision because honestly I don't think I could have.

Well, now you know the story of how our two little one's came to be in our lives and the love of a mother who was willing to give herself shots and play music and take vitamins just so her children would be given every opportunity to be as healthy as possible. For that, I am forever grateful that this woman shares my life and loves her children with all her heart. She is the very example of what a true mother is.

Happy Mother's day,

t