Remembering the joy that we felt as we held little Leo in our arms for the first time as well as the relief that our worries were over… this is the letter I sent out to family and friends announcing the birth of our son and the miracle that we were blessed with.  I look with great anticipation to his birthday coming in just a little over a month now!

On May 8th, at 39 weeks of pregnancy, we had our sweet little man via c-section.  Leonidas Alexander was born weighing 8 lbs 7 oz.  The doctors were amazed at how uncomplicated his birth was and how things were completely healed inside of me.  All the worries that we had for 9 months proved to be unfounded.  The doctors scratched their heads and couldn’t provide us a reason why.  I could though… faith and healing; God provided us a miracle.  I know that there are some out there who would tell me that my body just healed on its own but given what we were told by the doctors at Jake’s birth I highly doubt that my body could have healed so well and so completely without God’s intervention.

We know, without a doubt, that God made it possible to bring this baby into the world.  There should have been no way that I could carry a baby to term.  The doctors were very deliberate in repeating to us over and over again that my uterus was so damaged that it would never hold another baby again; that if I tried to carry a baby the baby would die and more than likely I would too.  My uterus was in pieces… “it was like putting a jigsaw puzzle back together”.   I know the body is an amazing creation but how can one go from never being able to carry a baby to carrying one for a full term pregnancy and finding the uterus to be completely healed if not for God’s help?

Through the years I have said that I know we are blessed far beyond what we ever deserve.  Little Leo has proved to us once again that God often gives to those who don’t deserve His blessings.  As I hold him in my arms I wonder what I did to find such favor with God.  I am such a sinner.  I have such huge flaws.  I am a terrible mother at times.  Why does God trust me with such amazing little people?  I have yet to find the answer to this question.  I pray though, every single day, that He will provide me with the patience, the love, and the understanding to raise these children for His glory… to be beacons of light in a world full of darkness.

It’s amazing how much love you can have for something so small.  It never ceases to astound me that each time we have another child my heart grows by leaps and bounds.  How can that be?  Shouldn’t it be that each time you have a child that you have to divide your love?  No, God doesn’t work that way.  Each time you have another child He multiplies the love that you have.  That is a gift in itself!  Love that just keeps growing and multiplying… you couldn’t ask for anything more!

I know that one day we will move past this phase in our lives.  I thought we were past it when we were told we should never have more children after Jake.  Shoot, I thought we were past it when I was told after Garrett (#2) was born that I had too many female problems and that I would never have any more children.  I hope that I will be at peace with the day when it comes but right now I’m still enjoying having a newborn and being open to new life as God sees fit to bless us.

As a child I always said I hoped for 9 kids (all boys!).  To be honest, I never believe that I would be granted that wish.  I never thought that anyone would want to marry me let alone have babies with me, but still I hoped.  I am so thankful for my life… the good times, the bad, the chaos, the rare quiet, the laughter and the tears.  God knows what He’s doing and I trust Him completely.