It’s a cool thing to look back on my run as a mother from the very beginning until now. Having had my first child rather early, most people said I was a baby having a baby; but I knew what I wanted. I married at 18 and became pregnant with my first child six months later. I was 19 when my first of three daughters was born. They are 21 months apart. My son finished off my quartet exactly two years after daughter number three arrived. I can honestly say that each pregnancy, delivery, and child personality is different. 

My first pregnancy was difficult. Morning sickness was my plague. I kept soda crackers and Emetrol everywhere. I never rose from bed without a Cracker in my mouth. Towards the end of my pregnancy, Braxton hicks contractions started and created a problem. I was way too early but they kept coming back. Eventually, I was on medicine and bedrest for three weeks from gestation week 33-36. At one point my “morning sickness” took over for 24 hours straight. NOTHING stayed down. The doctor ordered IV bags for four days done at home to try and fluff me back up. My blood pressure went up too. Finally, at 36 weeks my doctor called at 6pm to tell me my ultrasound showed low fluid around my baby girl. He encouraged an induction so I went. At seven the next morning my water was broken, pitosin started, and later my pain meds began futilely. I delivered with only a numb leg and felt everything else. She had the cord wrapped around her neck and was born purple and limp. She spent four days in neonatal. I remember holding her on day two when I finally got to feed her. “Ok kid, I’ve never done this before so we are going to learn together.” 

My oldest daughter has her own baby and birth story now. She didn’t plan on using the doctor who delivered her but since he was on call that night, the story came full circle and my doctor cared for the child he delivered twenty years ago. It’s a precious story to me and I can’t tell you how my heart over flows. As new unions are formed and new children are born I will know my heart will stretch and expand and over flow. My four children have been the meaning and focus of my life for twenty years and now my grandchildren will broaden that focus to wonderful limits I can only giggle and imagine. Still have to say that the only thing as sweet as holding my new grandson was the picture of my mama holding him. Strange how I almost cry when I see the picture of that moment. 

I am so blessed.