Thankful…for several reasons

It’s day 29 with the belly and I’m counting the hours until I take it off on Sunday. Make no mistake: this baby is going full-term, but no longer. And that's just another way in which my experience differs greatly from that of a true expectant mom. I know when this will be over because I get to choose the time. For moms, nature is in control unless it’s a scheduled c-section, which is no walk in the park. Fortunately, there’s tremendous joy after all the hard work.

It's been an interesting journey, which I’ll reflect more on in subsequent posts. For now, I'd like to thank a few people: namely, my family and, in particular, my wife Michele. The spouse is the person second most affected by pregnancy. And even though I am not really pregnant, Michele has had to deal with the very real side effects. Like having to help me put on the pregnancy suit daily as well as assisting me in preparing for my night’s sleep — often after she had already settled into bed. And though she never mentioned it, I am sure I have woken her up many, many times with my tossing and turning and the crackling of the Velcro that holds this thing attached to my body. Of course, we've had our fun with it, too. Michele, thank you for your support, helpfulness, and insight during this project. You are the person that binds our family together, the mom our children love, and the woman I love. Happy Mother's Day. (And FYI, your present is better than just a peaceful night's sleep).