A Tribute to my Daughter - Happy Mother's Day

I wish I had words to describe my love and admiration for my daughter. I try -- but come up short. I have watched her survive much trauma in her young life and she never complains. She was a little girl when her father was in a serious car accident, leaving him disabled. She did everything she could to help me, encourage me and make me laugh. She was strong and a wealth of support for her mom. She has lost friends to cancer and suicide but is always the first one to console those around her.  She has lost much and endured immeasurable pain.  She is always first to offer a helping hand.  She lost her brother when he chose to walk away from our family four years ago and broke our hearts.

My daughter on the left.  Her daughter on the right.

I now watch her as a young mother and am overcome with emotion as she is a pillar of strength. She was born to be a mother. Almost losing her little son at birth, she stayed strong in her faith and he survived miraculously. But before he was a year old he contracted a very rare bacterial infection, had to undergo surgery only a handful have ever survived.  Shortly thereafter, the load was almost unbearable when she lost her second baby in utereo, yet she managed to be a source of strength for her family. Then her little girl had to fight an uphill battle to come into the world.

I watch her raise her children with a love and strength only a mother who has endured much heartache could comprehend. I consistently hear comments from friends, associates and even strangers who say they rarely see such incredible, polite, kind and gentle children. They have a mom who teaches them beyond their years.  Even though her son is only four years old, he has learned how to respect his parents, teachers, and peers.  He adores his baby sister, never tires of taking care of her and helps his mom in any way he is capable. 

When I need a friend.  When I need advice.  She has a unique perception and ability to see situations with resolution.  Every. Time.

She is my rock.

It is the strong women, the ones who give of themselves until they have nothing left to give – these are the women we need to applaud.  These are the women we need to rally around and cheer, returning the strength and love they so freely give to others. 

My beloved daughter – a mother who stands head and shoulders above – in any crowd.  

Can You Solve Any of These 9 Mysteries?

PLEASE.  HELP.  I need answers and possibly you have the right ones!  Most of us wonder about 'stuff' and never really get a proper answer.  I am hoping you can help me answer some of the things I have not been able to figure out.

1.  Why do people have those "Baby on Board" stickers on the rear window of their car?  One argument for the sign is that in case of an accident, paramedics would be alerted that there is a child in the car.  Another one is to warn drivers not to drive too closely to the vehicle with a child inside.

Poppycock!  First of all, if the paramedics are depending on a sticker on the rear window to tell them whether or not there is a child on board, that is pathetic.  What if the sticker is there but the child stayed home?  Will they keep looking until they find the child?

Secondly, it has been proven that bumper stickers of any type cause people to drive closer to the car in front of them so they can READ the sticker.

Return the Child - He Is Not Yours to Keep

I stood there...exhausted.  Staring at nothing in particular and everything in general.  It was all a blur; fuzzy, like my thoughts.

Shock does that.  Moments earlier I held my infant son in my arms, cradling him, cuddling him.  Now my arms were empty.  The ache in my heart was like none I had ever experienced.  It only exaggerated the pain in my empty arms. No one could ever take that pain away except my son - back where he belonged.

If it's Not a Sister, Put it Back, Mommy

"Mommy, if you have a boy instead of a sister for me, send it back."  

Daughter Rochelle was having her monthly pre-natal exam when three-year-old William made it exquisitely clear he only wants a sister.  Looking closely at mommy's belly button during the exam he asked the doctor, "Is that the baby's penis coming out?"

So, the pressure is on to produce one baby of the female gender. Last month, several of you put in your guess for gender, date of birth and weight.  Here is the newest ultrasound picture.  The contest is still running.  Rochelle is due in February.  Please tell me what you think......gender, date and weight.