Lo, children are God's Heritage.

My Story of how the Lord filled our quiver.

When we married in December of 1985, I took with me all the hopes and dreams of a young girl who had longed to be a wife and mother. Raised a Roman Catholic, I had a high regard for human life and the blessing of children on a marriage. I was taken aback that so many Christians did not seem to receive children as a blessing from the Lord, but I also met many who considered them a heritage and welcomed them as covenant children.

As a Type 1 diabetic from the age of 10 years, who had many health dramas in my late teens and early 20s, I had been warned that having a baby would not be an easy assignment for me. I never imagined I would have any major difficulties and was overjoyed after six months or so of marriage to confirm I was pregnant!! My first Obstetrics appointment left me very shaken. I was about 9 weeks along and was asked all the usual questions. Diabetic, kidney damage, family history of renal problems and epilepsy. Why would some one like me want to have a family? I should have moved Doctors right then but he had the best reputation in town and among my friends and family. We discovered later he was a great fellow if mum had no major problems. Alas, I did not fit the profile.

My first son (A WARRIOR) was born at 28 weeks gestation with severe oedema due to my high blood sugar levels. I laboured for 3 days with the staff trying to stop the labour until they withdrew treatment for fear of loosing both of us. My son was born weighing 4lb 5oz due to the fluid. He was born crying and amazed everyone that he lived for eight days, giving us hope that perhaps he would survive. It was not to be. Click on the links to read the story of this son's birth, life and death.

A Precious Daughter!

Although we were devastated, we were desperate and determined to have a family. I realized sadly that I needed very strict diabetic control and medical supervision. Providentially, a new man arrived in town around this time. He was tough and not much liked by most of the mums and staff here but he told me what was required, and if I would co operate to the letter, I had a good "chance" of a live, healthy child.
At 36+ weeks this time and 14 months after the birth and loss of our son, God blessed us with a beautiful daughter (TRUTH)! Her pregnancy was hard! I spent almost 3 months in hospital with an occasional weekend pass. Her due date was exactly the same as my first pregnancy so every anniversary from our son was filled with anxiety. Being premmie, she spent a few days in Special Care and she gave us some panicky moments when she would stop breathing, but we took her home on day 10 and she never looked back!

A Second Precious Girl!
Around my daughter's second birthday I realised I was again pregnant. We were once again very happy but this time the pregnancy was twice the night mare! I was still grieving, I had a very energetic toddler, my husband had a job which required some away work and this time the diabetic complications set in VERY early.
At 9 weeks I spent the first week in hospital. Care for our daughter was difficult to find for more than a day here and there. I signed myself out of hospital. I began to develop very high blood pressure, high protein output, all the signs of pre eclampsia which I had developed in the other two pregnancies...but I was not yet 12 weeks along.
Back in hospital it was a crisis meeting. Tests, frowns, serious decisions for us and the medics. We asked the brethren to pray.
Praise God, he answered our prayers!!! Although I spent the next 24 weeks alternately in and out of hospital, my symptoms reduced to a manageable place and my blood sugars were some what controlled with huge doses of insulin. My two year old daughter ended up being cared for a by a very kind family day care mother during these hospital stays.
During this time we were strongly advised to have a tubal ligation at time of birth. This was a heartbreaking decision. To not know if this baby would be born healthy, to never have another child, to take away the avenue for God to bless. Then to think of my husband who was stretched to the limit with a toddler and work let alone any future pregnancies. The concern of my loved ones and friends. No one, not doctors or pastors , could make this decision and few felt able to advise. We stressed and grieved over it for weeks before the birth. in the end my husband made the decision as head of our home that I would undergo the tubal ligation.
Our beautiful second daughter (LIGHT) was born at 35 weeks. She was plump and cherubic and a perfect sweet gift from God. I was over joyed. But I cried and cried for the whole 10 days we stayed in hospital after the birth. What had I done? I was 28 years old.

The story of the filling of our quiver will continue in Hope Deferred.