Sunday, September 19, 2010

Due

September 19th, 2010.  Today was Ruth's due date. 

This date gave us a countdown many times this past year.  Around 40 weeks ago her little life sparked and we found out shortly after we were due.  Around 20 weeks ago, we found out we were expecting our 5th little girl, and she would be facing the challenge of spina bifida.  Around 16 weeks ago, Ruth and myself underwent a very risky fetal surgery as part of the MOMS trial in San Francisco, to close the lesion on her back.  Around 9 weeks ago, I went into early labor and Ruth made an early appearance in this world.  Around 5 weeks ago, Ruth and I flew together on an airplane back to Texas, back home, and Ruth met her sisters for the first time.  This past week has been a lot of reflection for me.  My other four girls were born around 39 weeks gestation.  This week would have been a lot different had things been different.  But this week was extraordinarily ordinary!  Ruth fits into our family like she has always been part of it, and we feel complete with her.