And Baby Makes Eleven

It's not always easy to listen to the negative comments of family members when you're expecting a baby that will exceed their idealistic view of what a proper family size should be. According to the 2011 census, the average home has 1.8 children, so I suppose I met society's quota 8 children ago. However, I've learned that these opinions are just opinions. We all have them yet some express them more than others.

After having been rushed to the emergency room facing the loss of my eighth child, I promised myself (and the Lord) that I'd never allow the opinions of others to dictate my feelings about bringing forth another child. I believe a child is truly given to us by the Lord, that the fruit of the womb is His reward, and that each child is like a mighty arrow in the hands of a warrior (Psalms 127:3-5). So when I birthed my eighth baby, I did so with an abundance of joy in the face of negative comments.

Not long after, I was blessed with another blessing from the Lord. What a wonderful blessing that was to find out, eight months later, that God saw fit to give us another child. All of the children were excited and I spent most of the nine months preparing for our newest arrival this month, knowing that it would be quite busy with a toddler and a newborn in our home.

Our baby Celina was born on January 9th by my first cesarean section (ouch). She was breech and rather than risk her health by doing a more complicated breech natural birth, my husband and I opted for the c-section. Celina was born healthy, praise God, and I'm happily recovering.

When I look at the joy that these little ones have brought to our lives, I can't help but get excited. God has blessed us so much in our undeserving natural state, and I have to be thankful to Him for choosing to bless us in this way. The comments that other people make are overshadowed by the joy of knowing that God has touched our lives with nine blessings, making our family a whopping 11 people. Looking at each one of them reminds me of what's more important and I'd have to say, it's not the opinions of others but the blessings of the Lord.