Before kids, my image of motherhood looked something like this… big pregnant belly, tiny fingers and toes, early mornings, sleepless nights, birthday parties, trips to the zoo, and wrapping paper scattered on Christmas morning. Not being completely unrealistic, I also envisioned more sleepless nights, a few skinned knees, broken hearts and maybe a broken bone or two… you get the picture. Three kids later all of those things did indeed come to pass. And I don’t take any of it for granted…Ever. But when life happens “unexpectedly,” as if often does, it can be downright scary.
Looking out over Forest Park as I write–just a few hours before we are to be released, I am humbled by the experience of motherhood. I take nothing for granted and am grateful for this big job, and for my little people. The staff at St. Louis Children’s Hospital are gentle angels who do an amazing job caring for, and about the children here. Our experience at Children’s has been comforting and heartwarming. And my heart goes out to the parents who will remain here. Especially for those who could walk these halls blindfolded. Because for them, their daily “reality” consists of a stream of medications, needles, x-rays, and not knowing from one day to the next whether their kids will ever go home again.