In November of 2006, we started trying for our first child. Over the course of a year, we lost 5 babies. Our journey to getting pregnant with Liam was a long one, filled with emotion, hardship and life lessons learned but we are grateful for all we've been through. It was through the pain and tears that we were able to grow together as husband and wife as we never knew possible. It was through the loss of our children that we are able to appreciate our son more than we would have, had he been given to us without trial.

Click here to view a slideshow about our pregnancy losses.



There are women who become mothers without effort,
without thought, without patience or loss,
And though they are good mothers and love their children,
I know that I will appriciate it more.

I will be better not because of genetics,
or money or that I have read more books,
but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited.
I have cried and prayed.
I have endured and planned over and over again.

Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation,
are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.
I will notice everything about my child.
I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover.
I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child,
knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him.
And that I am not waking to take another temperature,
pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream.
My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense: that God has given me this insight,
This special vision with which I will look upon my child,
that my friends will not see.

Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God Leads me to,
I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured.
I am a better wife, a better daughter,
neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by my own body.
I have been tried by fire and hell many never face,
yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed. I have succeeded. I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me,
I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort.
I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.

I listen.

And even though I cannot make it better,
I can make it less lonely.

I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine,
And when life is beyond hard,
I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes.

I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.

~Author Unknown