Found

Last Friday, I woke up to an awful stench in my kitchen. We had recently put out mouse poison, so I knew that a mouse most likely "given up the ghost" somewhere in one of the cabinets. After doing the never pleasant sniff test, I figured out which cabinet it was--my card/junk cabinet. I didn't have any time to go through and find the thing, as I was busy from the time I got up until the time I got home at 8:30 p.m., so I left it for Saturday.
Saturday morning, the smell was even more nauseating, so I set to work on finding it early. I took out a couple of boxes and there it was. My oldest daughter, who runs her own "Mouse Disposal Service: $1 per mouse" business, wasn't home, so I paid my second daughter to dispose of it. (Why do it myself if my kids will do it for money?!) Upon picking up the mouse with a plastic bag over her hand, we discovered that it had a baby mouse laying beside it! Great! How many more of the nasty things had died under there?? It turns out that the baby was the only one and it wasn't dead yet. I knew it couldn't survive, but if I thought it had a fighting chance, I would have tried to save it. I'm just that way--I can't stand to see a little thing die!!! I also couldn't bear to kill it, so I waited for my husband to come home and do the job. While we were waiting, my kids sat around looking at it and feeling sorry for it, too. I'm surprised they didn't cry when my dh killed it.
Later that day, I started looking through the boxes of cards I had taken out of the cabinet and in one of them I found my ultrasound picture of Mercy. It was in a card from an acquaintance who'd had 5 miscarriages of her own. My husband and daughter were in the kitchen with me, so I nonchalantly walked out, card in hand, to go to the bathroom and cry. When I was better, I put the card and the u/s photo in my Bible. I haven't looked at it again, but it's there when I want to.
That night, we built a fire in our yard, roasted marshmallows, and made S'Mores. For the first time in a long time, I thought about how things would have been if Mercy wouldn't have died. I would have been freaked out when my little almost 2 year old got near the fire or when he/she got out of the firelight range into the darkness. I didn't cry, but I was quiet and pensive all day and night.
I'm glad I found the picture and am glad that I'll see Mercy again, full of life.
Paula

The Race Was Won

I was introduced to blogging when Amy, the 26 year old daughter of a friend, was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2006. Her family set up a blog for her as a source of information for her family and friends, as well as a place for posting prayer requests. Amy lost her battle with cancer yesterday, but won the prize of eternal life. I've been praying for her and my heart breaks for her family. Her Mom was especially helpful to me when my nephew died almost 9 years ago. Her Mom and I were both close to my sister-in-law and it hurts to know she has to endure the pain of losing a child, the kind of pain we didn't understand (and I still don't).
To read of Amy's struggle and her incredible testimony of the grace of God, visit: wilhoite.blogspot.com
Once again reminded of my gratefulness for eternal life,
Paula

Baby Barrage

I love babies and I've ALWAYS loved babies. When I was little (7, 8, 9 or so), I was the one asking my babysitter if I could change the babies' diapers for her. Many times she would let me, so by the time I had a babysitting job, I could change them pretty well--even cloth ones. Once, a Mom of one of the babies told my babysitter not to let me carry her baby around. I was crushed. I look back now and I certainly would have said the same. I was VERY particular about who held my babies.
This past week, I had the opportunity to hold 2 babies on separate occasions. The first, the newborn from my last post. The other, a 7 month old whose birth I wrote about in February. I truly enjoyed holding them. There's something so wonderful about holding a little someone. I felt the joy that I used to feel before I had kids--the happiness of holding someone else's baby and being able to give him back. It was a little different because now I can't look forward to having my own, but it was joy nonetheless. Every little victory is noteworthy.
Also, this week, I found out that another one of my nieces is expecting. One told me she was a few weeks ago, but she has been spotting. Her hcg levels are going up, but the spotting continues. She will have an ultrasound on the 13th to check on the baby. The one I found about this week is suppose to be a secret, but my mother-in-law told me anyway. I'm anxious and nervous to see how my sister-in-law will tell me. This is the same sister-in-law I've had issues with since my miscarriages. I really felt that I was healing in this area and I really tried to become close to her again, but this feels like a set back for me. I just hope that she doesn't use the cop out way of telling me by just letting the news trickle down to me. I come from a family that knows everything about everybody and I like it that way, but my dh comes from a family that really doesn't tell anyone anything, which aggrevates me to no end! I have to admit that the day I found out she is expecting, I was sad, depressed, and cried several times. I'm thinking maybe I might be hormonal. I never know for sure since I don't have a period anymore, but it's a good excuse. Everyone who doesn't read this blog (my family), seems to think I'm great when it comes to babies. I wish they understood it's not that simple.
I have thought about my feelings a lot since finding out and I think, "Am I really any better 2 1/2 years later?" I think I am, but then I feel really bad again. I don't know if how I feel is normal or not. I don't know anyone in my situation--lost 2 babies and can't have more. It's frustrating.
The only big decision I regret in my life is not trying to have a baby again. I think I'll rue that until the day I die.
Probably hormonal and always missing my babies,
Paula