My Baby is FOUR!

(Erin Miller Photography) Lila Hope, age 4

I once heard Colin Cowherd say about raising children, “the days are long but the years are short”…this is so so so very true.  I can’t believe my first born is four today!  The time has flown by.

Lila Hope is truly a miracle.  She was conceived via In-Vitro Fertilization after trying to have a baby on and off for 7 years.  I was dead set against doing IVF because of my fear of needles.  I seriously used to pass out every time I had to give blood!

Lila just minutes after she was born.

My wonderful doctor, Ellen Wood (South Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine), wasn’t hopeful the procedure would work after only making 4 viable eggs, and implanting just 1 embryo at the transfer.  But all it took was one good one egg…and the result is the sweetest, most sensitive, determined child I’ve ever met!

Lila in the NICU with her billy blanket–our little firefly!

Lila was born 5 weeks early after an emergency induction.  I had pregnancy induced hypertension, and the baby needed to come….fast!

Unfortunately she spent some time in the NICU, but was able to come home after a week stay.

She has been my greatest teacher.  I have learned so much love, kindness, and patience.  Well still working on the patience thing.   But because of Lila — I now want to be the best person I possibly can.  Our children learn by example, not by what we say…and she makes me better and stronger every single day.

Except for last night when she asked me “why can’t cats laugh?”  My response “go to sleep!”