Baby Makes 5

My son was born 6 weeks premature and had a difficult time starting out. He took a big gulp of amniotic fluid and it took him a week before we were able to bring him home. It did not get any easier for him when we brought him home and welcomed him into our family. And so begins our family drama, Day 1.

The flood waters.

At that time we were living in a "garden level" apartment. It was February and the warm days had melted the snow that had accumulated weeks before. Evidently there was a crack in the foundation of our building and water was literally pouring into our apartment. We had moved all of our living room furniture and computer desk into an area more fit for a throw rug than living space. Very cramped needless to say. When we called the landlord his response was, "What do you want me to do about it?" When I mentioned I had a newborn in the home he changed his tune. Lucky for him I kept my hormones in check!

A helping hand.

My sister was married 2 days before the baby came. My parents were watching her child and stayed in town so they could help with the baby. As you can imagine with the cramped living room adding 3 more people was not something we were excited about. 8 people, 4 of them under the age of 4 in a 3-bedroom, flooded, garden level apartment was a bit much for anyone to take. This post-partum mom was at her wits end and was looking for a way out. At this point it would have to be a raft, the flood waters were rising.

3 A.M. wake up call.

Like all newborns my little guy got up every couple of hours for his feeding. I chose to breastfeed, as I did with my first two, only this time around I had an audience. "Why are you putting your booby in his mouth? What is he doing?" Ugh! It's 3 a.m.!! Can't we play 20 questions in the morning over Blues Clues and Cheerios?? And then the 2 year old comes in and throws up at the foot of my bed. My tears began to flow...I have never wanted to jump off a bridge like I did at that exact moment. My mother took my sick child and cleaned her up while I sat there crying,feeding my baby as my four year old stared from the foot of the bed. Was this really happening to me?

Day 2 through present day

Over the next 7 years I have on a daily basis been pulled in numerous different directions. I have committed myself to housework, schoolwork, charities, school function, sports, work, church functions and if my husband is lucky a little one on one time with him too. I make lists, and by the time I am finished I start all over again. My work here is never done...and it all began with day 1. I believe that day the good Lord was preparing me for my chosen vocation. It takes a special woman to be a mother of 3, and I am thankful to be blessed and busy everyday.