Happy Mother's Day to all moms

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's I know. Last year, when I was surfing the web for some preemie mom support I found something I wanted to share.

According to Erma this is how preemie moms are chosen. I believe her.

The Special Mother
-Adapted from
Erma Bombeck
Motherhood The Second Oldest Profession

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year thousands of mothers will give birth to a premature baby. Did you ever wonder how mothers of preemies are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

“Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron saint, Matthew.
“Forest, Majorie, daughter. Patron saint, Ceceila.
“Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron saint... give her Gerard. He’s used to profanity.

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, “Give her a premature baby.”
The angel is curious. “Why this one, God? She’s so happy.”

“Exactly, “ smiles God. “Could I give a premature baby a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel.”

“But does she have patience?” asks the angel.
“I don’t want her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she’ll handle it.

“I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence that are so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I’m going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world and that’s not going to be easy.”

“But, Lord, I don’t think she even believes in you.”
God smiles, “No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness.”

The angel gasps, “Selfishness? Is that a virtue?”
God nods. “If she can’t separate herself from the child occasionally, she’ll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child who comes in a less than perfect way. She doesn’t realize it yet, but she is to be envied.

“She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says ‘Mommy’ for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. When her child sees green grass or fall colors with perfect vision she will know that it is nothing less than amazing. When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations.

“I will permit her to see clearly the things I see - ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.”

“And what about her patron saint?” asks the angel, the pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles. “A mirror will suffice.”

Enjoy this day and every day on this note:

There are two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is.
-Albert Einstein (fellow preemie)

East coast trip & Much more

Arrival of spring has brought many new experiences our way including more play dates,bike rides, trips to the beach, and travel. Eric has been making friends and now has a frequent flyer number.

Eric is full of energy - he is running, not walking, from room to room chasing his BA (short for balloon) as we speak.

Here is in the park enjoying tunes & a paddle boat ride.





Speaking of speaking, we were told at Eric's follow-up clinic this past march that he was speech-delayed. We have zero concern over this because he understands everything including the Spanish Maria speaks to him in. His first word was bye, accompanied by a wave. His second word was baby. He now says bu (short for bus), and eeeze (for cheese). I am pretty sure he said all done yesterday.

Once April came we didn't waste a second and headed east to Boston visit the DelloIacono family where Eric got to visit with his Great Papa (94) and Great Nana (90), Great Auntie J and his cousins. Grandpa Ralph & Gram Jeannie also made the trip to Bean-town to celebrate Grandpa Ralph's b-day with the family.



An outing at our local China Beach


Biking in Golden Gate Park


Other news, Mom (me) had her first overnights away from the boys. Work took me all the way to New York City where I made sure to have some fun and see good friends. Dad & Eric did well with the help of Maria and kept myself so busy that I barely had time to miss them.


What is good about all of this? It is all normal, which means that everyone is healthy and doing well. These trips have now been added the list of "big steps" for all if us.

With all this going on you may now understand why it has been so long since our lasting posting.