In a Hot Air Balloon

Neal and Lilly were at church and Trev and I had some alone time this evening. We were lying in bed reading stories and he said his prayers. In every prayer that this sweet guy says, since the day I announced that I was pregnant, he prays that Mommy will keep the baby safe. He continues to say this and I told him that I can't keep the baby safe anymore because the baby isn't in my tummy. I asked him where did he think the baby was and his answer was "In Heaven with Jesus". How sweet is that? What a smart little guy. I told him "Yes Jesus is taking care of the baby." I asked him "How do you think the baby will get back to Mommy's belly?" He answered with two thoughts "A hot air balloon or a balloon all tied up."

Children are so sweet and innocent. I cherish everyday that I am in the presence of my children and I feel so blessed to have them in my life. I have always understood what a miracle it takes to create life and sustain a healthy child but now I KNOW how miraculous it is to become a mother.

Something we never expected

This blog has been dedicated to our family. A lot of you already know that our baby's (in utero) heart stopped beating early this January. I started having bleeding, which at the time seemed to be a normal thing women go through in early pregnancy. So we got a sonogram (the one that I posted in an earlier blog.) and we got to see our baby's beat and hear it!!! The baby was 6 weeks and 3 days on December 30th and due August 20th. We were so happy that our baby was fine. The doctor and our midwife told us that once we see and hear a fetal heart rate the chances of having a miscarriage are so slim. So, when I had another bout of bleeding my midwife told me to come in for another sonogram. She really felt that I was not having a miscarriage and she thought the baby was fine. However, she did tell me to not go to the gym in case there was a problem that could induce a miscarriage. So, Neal and I went yet again to get the sonogram. The technician wouldn't turn the screen toward me but Neal could see there was no heart beat. The technician told me "There is no heart beat. I am sorry." It was horrible. All of it.

We cried for a long time. I still haven't stopped crying. I am in a bad fog. I want to be at my best for my family.

We told the children that the baby's heart stopped beating. And we handled it in a manner where the children would know that we love the baby but this situation won't stop us from being happy. We told them that the doctor had told us that the baby's body probably didn't develop right. And that this is nature's way and God's way of helping the baby get back to Heaven so Mom and Dad can create a new body for the baby. Lilly cried and got mad. Trevor still prays every day that I will keep the baby safe and protect the baby.

I am writing this because this is a part of us. Our ups and downs. "Our roller coaster ride of a life." Miscarriages have been so taboo. Women don't speak of them. Sometimes you may go years into a relationship with a friend or acquaintance and never realize that they had a miscarriage. But if that same friend had lost a child at the age of 5, she would tell you. I think that a lot of women don't know if others could understand the loss of a child in utero, therefore they don't speak of it. A woman should not have to be alone in a time of loss.

I am so comforted by the daily phone calls and visits from our closest loved ones.

We really look froward to trying again and pray that it will all come soon. It is just taking this little spirit a little longer to get to our family.

Suggestions for New Blog Title

So I have had a few suggestions for the new blog title. I am taking a vote. As new titles come my way, I will add them to a new blog post.


Here are the newly suggested titles.



The Galloway Five 1


And Baby Makes Five 2


Our BIG Story 2


The Galloway Memoirs 1

3 X The Joy 3

Baby Galloway

In October Neal and I decided to try for a new addition to our family. We had investigated adopting and fostering but adoption is just too expensive right now. And waiting is something that I have a hard time doing. Fostering seemed to be too risky for a young family like ours. So we have decided to try later to adopt/foster to adopt. We are really looking forward to bringing that special child or young adult into our family... when the time is right.

So, we were fortunate to get pregnant quickly. Thank God, because as I stated in the previous paragraph, I have a hard time waiting. The baby is due 2 days after Lilly's birthday. August 23rd, 2010.

If you would have asked me 1, 2, 3, or 4 years ago, "Are you having anymore children?" My response would have been this, "My Mama didn't raise a fool!" Having Trevor was difficult but what happened after I had Trevor was pretty traumatic to say the least. And let me tell you, I am saying the least.

I always felt that we were meant to have 5 children in our family. I always had the feeling that I was leaving a child behind when leaving my home. Our family has felt unfinished. So, it was upsetting to me that we chose to not have any more biological children. Birth is exciting, miraculous, and empowering for me and I hated giving that up. I felt like my body was meant to help create life and bring life into this world. I felt defeated. I hate being defeated, especially by my own self!

But as the saying goes, "I'm back in the saddle again!" I am so ready for this experience. It may have taken us 4 years to decide that maybe I could do this, but 4 years is better than never. My husband and children are so excited about this new wonderful being that will be in all of our embrace in just several months!

So, the next question is the title of the blog. "Love 4 Our Family" signifies 4 people in our little family. With this latest addition I am wondering, should I change the title of our blog? Tell me what you think.

New photos posted to Flickr

The photos I am posting are during December 2009. Enjoy looking at all of them. We had fun at each event. Follow this link