Last Saturday, I had the amazing opportunity to have breakfast with my two biggest inspirations. As I sat watching the two of them interact together, I was once again amazed that the two of them are even here, able to eat, talk, and laugh together. I began to think back to that awful year…
About two years after I went from 231 pounds to about 180 on the liquid diet, I found out I was pregnant. Now many people may think this was an “accident.” Actually, we had always wanted three children, but it was just very difficult for us to conceive. It was, however, such a surprise that for three months I thought I had back-to-back viruses until two of my colleagues finally pointed out that maybe I could be expecting. This saved me from appearing on an episode of “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant.”
From the beginning it was not an easy pregnancy. At nine weeks I was sure I was once again having a miscarriage. The doctor basically told me to go home and let nature take its course, but an amazing ultrasound technician told me not to give up hope. She gave me a print of the ultrasound and told me the baby’s heartbeat was strong, and that I might want to do everything I could to give it a chance. It makes me cry, even now, to think how close I came to losing Eoin that day.
One of the most memorable days of my pregnancy was when my family piled into the doctor’s office to see the ultrasound of their future sibling and inadvertently discovered his sex, which we had hoped to keep a surprise. Niall, almost 17, and Siobhan, 11, both sat nervously awaiting their first real view of the new baby. Eoin, true to character, showed off for his siblings, including a perfect shot of all parts that would prove he was definitely of the male persuasion.
On the way home I knew there was one person that should hear the exciting news first…my best friend. I called and called and was surprised that she did not answer. This day was to become memorable for another reason. The next morning I found out that my friend had been in a horrific accident with a semi-truck. She was in the hospital clinging to life in a medically induced coma where doctors had little hope for her recovery.
The next weeks were probably the most stressful of my entire life. Between going to the hospital and visiting my friend, I had many bouts with preterm labor that threatened my precious little baby’s existence. Every Sunday I went to church and prayed that He would spare the lives of my two precious angels. Every week the news that came back seemed more and more hopeless, but for some reason, in my heart, I knew differently. I knew that beyond all reason they would both survive.
Miraculously, after 8 weeks in a coma, my dear friend finally woke up. It has been a long road for her since then, but her quality of life is amazing. For me, just a few months later, and after a month on bed rest, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy…17 years and one day after the birth of my oldest child. One of my biggest joys was watching my friend hold Eoin for the first time. Every time I see them together I thank God for every day that He has given us to spend with these two precious miracles. And on those days when life seems particularly difficult, I think back to the struggles my two angels endured, and it reminds me that nothing I am going through will ever be as challenging as what they endured.
About two years after I went from 231 pounds to about 180 on the liquid diet, I found out I was pregnant. Now many people may think this was an “accident.” Actually, we had always wanted three children, but it was just very difficult for us to conceive. It was, however, such a surprise that for three months I thought I had back-to-back viruses until two of my colleagues finally pointed out that maybe I could be expecting. This saved me from appearing on an episode of “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant.”
From the beginning it was not an easy pregnancy. At nine weeks I was sure I was once again having a miscarriage. The doctor basically told me to go home and let nature take its course, but an amazing ultrasound technician told me not to give up hope. She gave me a print of the ultrasound and told me the baby’s heartbeat was strong, and that I might want to do everything I could to give it a chance. It makes me cry, even now, to think how close I came to losing Eoin that day.
One of the most memorable days of my pregnancy was when my family piled into the doctor’s office to see the ultrasound of their future sibling and inadvertently discovered his sex, which we had hoped to keep a surprise. Niall, almost 17, and Siobhan, 11, both sat nervously awaiting their first real view of the new baby. Eoin, true to character, showed off for his siblings, including a perfect shot of all parts that would prove he was definitely of the male persuasion.
On the way home I knew there was one person that should hear the exciting news first…my best friend. I called and called and was surprised that she did not answer. This day was to become memorable for another reason. The next morning I found out that my friend had been in a horrific accident with a semi-truck. She was in the hospital clinging to life in a medically induced coma where doctors had little hope for her recovery.
The next weeks were probably the most stressful of my entire life. Between going to the hospital and visiting my friend, I had many bouts with preterm labor that threatened my precious little baby’s existence. Every Sunday I went to church and prayed that He would spare the lives of my two precious angels. Every week the news that came back seemed more and more hopeless, but for some reason, in my heart, I knew differently. I knew that beyond all reason they would both survive.
Miraculously, after 8 weeks in a coma, my dear friend finally woke up. It has been a long road for her since then, but her quality of life is amazing. For me, just a few months later, and after a month on bed rest, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy…17 years and one day after the birth of my oldest child. One of my biggest joys was watching my friend hold Eoin for the first time. Every time I see them together I thank God for every day that He has given us to spend with these two precious miracles. And on those days when life seems particularly difficult, I think back to the struggles my two angels endured, and it reminds me that nothing I am going through will ever be as challenging as what they endured.
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