Thursday, August 20, 2015

Day by day

So, it seems pretty weird to be writing about how hard my life is now that I have 3 babies. When I started writing this I was trying for just one and would have been ecstatic to know that I would have these precious little souls to raise. But that doesn't negate the fact that it is hard. It's 11 at night and Abe is in the swing and Reagan is in a wrap on my chest and I'm tired. I sleep a couple of hours a night if I'm lucky. Tonight was supposed to be the first night we put Abe in his own bed in a bedroom with J. He seems to know what is up so he is ready to party. He is so sweet. Every time he catches my gaze he smiles so wide. I just love him so much.
It's next to impossible for me to even stay caught up on my housework. It takes me 2 hours to get everyone fed and changed and happy in the morning. And that doesn't include a shower for me and sometimes, a bra.
A couple of nights ago after a particularly harrowing afternoon, my husband called. I was on my way from picking up my son from lacrosse practice and Trav asked what was for dinner. Is he serious? My afternoon was nonstop babies and kids. But I did find time to dictate to my daughter what to make for dinner. Nice girl that she is she made dinner. I made green beans with the help of my boys.
I keep reminding myself that in 5 years it won't matter if my house was a mess or if my kids had toast for dinner. My babies are only little once and I don't want to miss a second of the preciousness of holding them and feeding them and even changing them. They are so special. It is amazing to me every day that I get to raise these wonderful, challenging children.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Letter to my OB

Dear Dr. Bean,
In February 2014, you were my doctor as I delivered a miscarriage at 18 weeks. This was my sixth miscarriage in a row. I wanted to let you what an impact you have made in my life since.
While in the hospital you quoted a stat for what our chances were for having a healthy baby. And I laughed. I remember you coming up by the head of my bed and assuring me that I could have a healthy baby in the future.  I wasn't ready to hear that but it stayed with me.
When I went in for my 2-week appointment with you, you said that you really thought that I should try to have another baby. My heart wasn't in it, but I kept thinking about what you said, over and over.
My husband was done with the whole process and ready to move on.
We started fostering a baby in May of 2014. Her mother became pregnant again in July of that same year. We were informed that this new baby may come to our home as well.
In August of 2014, my husband decided that he wanted to try to have a baby one more time. But if we didn't get pregnant by the end of the year, we were done and this was our final try.
As soon as I got pregnant I knew we were through trying to have another baby. Whatever the ending was, we were done. I saw you for most of my early appointments. But one appointment stands out in particular. We had received the test results from the panorama test. It was all good news but I still wasn't ready to feel optimistic. You put down the paperwork and looked at me and said, "This is going to have a happy ending. I promise."
When other people had told me that everything would be fine, I always said, how can you know? It hasn't been fine in the past. It was on the tip of my tongue to say this and then, I believed you. I feel like you were inspired that day to tell me these words. That day was the day I decided to embrace the pregnancy and prepare for our new little one. I repeated what you said and replayed the memory of that interaction often.
I didn't get to see you for many later visits. Dr. Melendez delivered our little girl, Reagan, on July 6th.
Thank you for your optimism and your kind words. Thank you for being willing to offer your words even when I didn't want to hear them. I appreciate what you do, you take care of more than the body.
In less than a month, my family will be going to the temple. We will be getting sealed to our babies that are 19 months and 5 months. They will be formally adopted the day before. In the course of a year we are adding 3 babies to our family. And we are finally done with having babies.
Thank you,
Karyn Labrum