One year ago tonight...

2008-














2009













I had my suitcase packed...preparing to check in to Brookwood Hospital Monday morning the week of Thanksgiving. We had been praying since July 15th for our precious miracles of life to grow healthy and survive up to the 28th week of my pregnancy. Thanksgiving Day marked the "28th week"...each Thursday was a doctor's appointment and "another week" in counting. I told a friend tonight as we were reflecting on this time one year ago, that even up to the night before I was due to arrive at the hospital for constant monitoring, I vividly remember lying in my bed thinking, "Dear God please shield these babies from danger inside of my womb" ...I remember waking up at least four to five times a night to "check for movement"...

My heart ached so badly this night one year ago for many reason. I had to leave the comforts of my own home not knowing how long I'd be gone. I had to leave my three girls who depended on me for so much each day. I had to leave my husband (my bestfriend in the entire world), to live in a hospital in hopes that we could grow these babies until the 32nd week of pregnancy. Oh I was so scared, worried, and saddened. I will probably always re-play the memories of this night each year it comes to pass. I remember the last story on the sofa with the girls thinking, "Life from now on will be different"... I remember writing the girls notes and leaving them on their bed side tables and bathroom sinks so at night they'd have a reminder of how much mommy loves them. I remember the gray jogging suit I was wearing, the scent of my cucumber melon lotion, the roly poly sandwich Rob and I shared on our way to the hospital. I look back now, and I am still in complete awe of the miraculous journey God led us through in 2008.

Tonight was much different than one year ago...

Claire started a Bible study with some of her close friends, so as we arrived home from that, I walked into pandemonium...babies fussing, toddlers running and screaming, even a big kid complaining about studying for her science test, a HUGE pile of laundry needing to be folded and put away, a kitchen without much to prepare for supper and a husband (a great one) watching some NFL football...I panned the scenes and thought, "God thank you so much for this life you have blessed me with, I do not deserve, I am forever grateful"

I think of last year, my dear friends I taught with at Oak Mt. Intermediate school, would ask me what to pray for...I always asked for everyone to pray for "safe, growing babies" and for me to be sitting in a hospital bed on Thanksgiving Day eating applesauce and listening to two heart beats on fetal monitors. Did you guys know that God answered all of your prayers....one year ago! Thank you from the bottom of my soul for the prayers you continually lifted for me and our babies...one year ago!