The New Daddy Chronicles

We’re getting close to that day of the year where husbands everywhere are called to action.  On this day, we are obligated to make our ladies feel appreciated, loved and maybe even pampered.  This year, I am trying to be proactive in my Valentine’s day planning in attempts to avoid the usual last minute scramble.  As I think about how best to demonstrate my appreciation, I find myself reflecting on how truly special my wife is to me, and how blessed I am to have her in my life.

My wife and I have been together for almost nine years now and have been married for two and a half.  Throughout those years, we have made many changes, but have grown together into the man and woman we are today.  My wife has stood patiently by my side since day one and has been with me through many major milestones in my life.  If I were to go over every amazing moment for which I am grateful, this post would go on for longer than would interest any of you, but I will share the most recent reason for which I am most blessed.

The road to beginning our family was a very rocky one.  My wife and I have endured disappointment after disappointment as so many of our previous attempts were unsuccessful.  Not only did we have the frustration of failed attempts, but we also had the misfortune of experiencing loss on multiple occasions.  Going through four miscarriages is enough to make anyone want to throw in the towel, but my wife was always persistent in being a mom.  She would research all of our options and make them the topic of almost every dinnertime conversation.  As a husband sorting through his own feelings on the matter, this was often times frustrating to me.  But she never gave up, she never backed down.

Finally came the day when we found out that we were pregnant… again.  We were excited and scared to go through this all over again.  There was a glimmer of fear each day that this would end up like the rest, but my wife did everything on her end to nourish herself properly and do everything according to medical recommendation.  At our first ultrasound we were shocked to find out that there were three heartbeats.  Triplets! We were thrilled and terrified all at once.  At that moment, my wife and I realized that our lives would never be the same again.  My wife’s dedication to making this pregnancy work never faltered, she was never thrown off course.

My wife persevered through the first 10 weeks of morning sickness when we found out that we had lost one of our triplets.  The feelings of devastation returned, and we found ourselves losing hope, thinking that we would lose the rest in a matter of time.  But my wife, after taking a moment to mourn, got right back into the zone, making sure she was doing everything possible to keep our two remaining babies safe.

Fast forward another 13 weeks… with our twins at 23 weeks gestation, my wife began to experience contractions that were too frequent for comfort.  We were told that night at Labor & Delivery that she was going into preterm labor and that our babies’ chance at survival was 10%.  My wife and I were terrified, but we held onto our faith.  After calming down her uterus enough to get things under control, she was placed on hospital bedrest.  My wife did everything she could to fight for the lives of our children, often times having to argue with doctors and nurses alike and advocating for the safety of our twins, but always being a ray of inspiration to all those she came into contact with.

My wife spent 3 grueling months on hospital bedrest, pushing her own body to the brink of deterioration in order that our children might have a chance at a healthy life.  We would pray every night, and be thankful for each new day.  She brought out the best in every person she would meet, from cleaning staff and nutrition staff, to medical staff and nursing staff and all else in between.  Throughout this experience, she was a beacon of inspiration not only to me, but to the world around her. She was able to hold on until our babies reached 34 weeks gestation.  Our son and daughter had a brief 2 week stay at the NICU with barely any issues other than learning how to eat.  They truly are our miracle babies!

As I look at my children sleeping soundly and think back at how we got here, I am reminded of the great physical and emotional sacrifices that my wife made in order to keep up the fight.  She has reminded me that as parents we must do all that we can to ensure the safety and well being of our children.  To make their lives better than our own.  It will be very easy for me on this coming Valentine’s Day, to express to her the deep gratitude and love that I have for her.  No matter what plans I make, or gifts I may give, it will never compare to the gift that she’s given me… these beautiful children of ours, and the way in which my life has been enriched as a result of becoming a Dad.