Sisters.
I had always had that dream.
Growing up I wanted a sister so badly. As each new little brother joined my family (I have six in all!), and while I love them very much, I still prayed for a sister.
Well, God never answered that prayer. I never had a sister, although I had a best friend who was just like a sister to me. We were so close….we dressed alike and everything. (Love you Sarah!)
In 2003, my husband and I were blessed with our first child. I was ecstatic…we had a GIRL!! Although I had a rough pregnancy and she was born with complex heart defects (basically half of a heart) that required open heart surgery soon after birth and then two more as she grew older, I had held on to a hope for my little daughter. I hoped one day for a sister. God never willed it for me and I hoped it for her.
In 2005, we found out we were expecting a boy! But this pregnancy was extremely complicated and ended in the premature birth of our son at 28 weeks. After that I had many doctors, even a leading perinatologist at a well known hospital tell me we should never have any more children. They all agreed it was just too risky for me and for any future babies. Even though I was overjoyed at my two beautiful children, it seemed that with the birth of my son came the death of a dream…a dream for many children, to one day have a healthy baby, and perhaps a sister for my daughter.
Fast forward 3 1/2 years and were were seeing two lines on a stick! I was scared and had so much fear. But even after a rough start to the pregnancy, it ended with a healthy baby boy who never has seen a NICU and we brought home at 2 days old. It was amazing!
While my daughter absolutely loves her brothers and especially adores her baby brother, she was still holding out hope for a sister. After our youngest son’s birth, she continued to pray daily for one. When she would cry about it and wonder why God hadn’t answered her prayer yet, it broke my heart….I saw myself as a little girl, shedding the same tears many years before. I completely understood how she felt and her request for a sister became mine as well.
In early 2011 we were seeing those two lines again! Lydia was so emphatic that this was a girl. No doubt whatsoever. She just knew that this was her sister and I was suddenly scared to hope. I wondered how she would take it if the Lord decided that another little brother was best for her.
But you all know the end of this story. Just two months ago, my little girl got her baby sister. =)