Here is a story that is way too personal for a blog. But what is a blog for, if not to share things that are way too personal for it? (Ah, now I have your interest, don't I?) This little story-that-I-promise-is-not-as-long-as-Bleak House is dedicated to all the loving friends and family members who have sincerely asked "How are you?"and to whom I have not-quite-sincerely answered, "Fine." Here it goes...
Last summer God told me to have another baby. (See? I told you this was personal.) Now, to understand this story, you have to believe that God talks to me. Not in that voice-from-the-heavens way. But, quietly, through thoughts and impressions that start out deep within and grow stronger until I am certain it's God sending a message. I imagine that most of you know what I am talking about because you've experienced it yourselves. For those of you who are skeptical, I have three words: Suspension of disbelief. (Look, if you can, for two hours, let yourself believe that the bite of a radioactive spider would improve your jumping skills, you can, for the three minutes it will take you to read this, believe that God talks to me. Otherwise you're not going to appreciate it.)
So, like I said, God told me we needed to have another baby, and sooner rather than later. How did I respond? I lay on the couch for a week in a depressed stupor. This was not good news.
You know how you have things you swear you'll never do, like get engaged really fast or start a blog? (Guilty and guilty, obviously.) Well, for many years numero uno on my list of Things I Know I Will Never Do No Matter What was having three children right in a row. Hey, I know my limits. For me, any advantages (which I had a hard time seeing) could never make up for the disadvantages. I was so adamant about this that on our second date I told Greg that I would never have a third child until my first was in school. Why we were talking about family planning (!) long before we talked about marriage remains foggy in my mind. Obviously, I had rather strong feelings on the subject if I felt the need to point them out on our second date. (Greg, thank you for continuing to date me.)
Experiencing for myself pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery from childbirth, coupled with the high-maintenance children Greg and I create (nature? nurture?) only strengthened my commitment (and Greg's) to avoiding Three Children in Four Years. After Mary was born, we were finished. Forever, as far as I was concerned--though I was willing to reconsider once (1) David was school-age and (2) the technology existed to beam babies Star-Trek style out of their mother's wombs. So when God told me to have another baby (before Mary would even be two!), I was not a happy camper.
And this is where I say "to be continued" because that sweet little girl of mine is waking up. (Do you feel the suspense?)
