{Almost} Eight…

Eight years ago I looked like this…

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No, this is not a Biggest Loser “Where Are They Now” Segment.

That’s me with 3 placentas inside of me taking up every bit of rib cavity and pelvic floor space possible. YEOW.  {My final days pictures are unpublishable. Just picture anguish, swelling, and a whale all mixed together in one hot mess.}

It’s one week from the Fantastic Four’s 8 year old birthday. It seems like both a lifetime and just a breath ago. The week leading up to their birthday I’m always struck by a variety of emotions. Excitement to celebrate their mega-holiday with them, a little sadness over another year older and the less they need of me, an anticipation of things to come, but mostly I get very nostalgic of reliving those last pregnant days.

I can still smell the bleach of my sheets after they had been changed during my 10 minute allowed daily shower.

I can still hear their heartbeats and shuffling on the monitors. 

I can still remember the homesickness I had for my own bed and just being in the comforts of my own home for over a month. 

I can still hear Dr. Sumner’s dress shoes walking into my room in the early mornings and wondering if that would be delivery day.

I can still taste the blueberry pancakes I ate as my last full meal before delivery (when I could no longer fit my belly in a booth)

I can still remember how much I hated not sleeping with Brad and how he slept on the floor for over 30 nights so he didn’t have to leave me. 

I can still see the evidence of my body that was recked and put back together from the war I fought to get them here. 

I can still see the calendar that hung in my hospital room marking off each milestone and day completed. 

Most of all I’m still in AWE of how the Lord spared all of our lives and has continued to allow us to enjoy their lives here on earth.  There’s just no way to describe the gratitude we have for these past 8 years of our journey.

If you’ve never read our Birth Story series, perhaps you’ll feel nostalgic along with me this week and go back and take a read. So thankful for those of you who have joined us somewhere in this 8 year blog chronicles.  Sharing our story and God’s grace with you all has been a pleasure.

Just for fun this week, will you leave a comment on when you started following our story and how you found us? I would love to share it with the boys as I don’t think they’ve ever grasped this community of support that we’ve appreciated so much these past years.