Top Ten Things Henry Taught Me...#4

10. Anything worth having is worth working for.
9.  Enjoy the little things.
8.  Every child I interact with is someone's "Henry."
7.  To be a mother is to watch your heart walk around outside your body.
6.  There truly are angels on earth.
5.  Everyone is fighting some sort of battle we know nothing about.
4.  Time is a gift.
Time is the best gift we receive. Time with others, time to ourselves, time to live life...all of this is a gift. We were gifted with nearly 7 perfect months with Henry. I could easily get angry, and be furious that we only got 7 months with him. And I do have those moments. But I prefer to look at the 7 months we did have, instead of looking at the lifetime we didn't get.

From the moment he was conceived, Henry captured the hearts of all who knew him and knew of him. After losing Brady, we had so many cheerleaders, prayer warriors and well-wishers. When we were put on bedrest, our cheerleaders cheered louder, our prayer warriors prayed harder, and our well-wishers wished more. This, along with Nana and big brother watching over us, helped us carry Henry to term and welcome him into the world. His heart stealing was just beginning. His mohawk, sweet smile, and loving personality made everyone fall in love with him, especially Tim and I! We loved being his mommy and daddy, and he brightened our lives in a way we can't even explain.

Am I sad and angry that I don't get to see Henry grow up? Of course. Do I wish every day that Henry was still here with us?  Absolutely.  But I am also thankful that Henry's seven months on earth was spent at home. We got to have a happy, "normal" family. We didn't live at the hospital, splitting our time so that one of us could work and make money and carry insurance. Would we have done that if it had meant saving Henry? In a heartbeat. But we didn't have to. We got to enjoy our sweet boy in our own home...make memories that we will always have, and now we can remember Henry as a normal baby boy. We were given the gift of time with Henry.  It will never be enough, but I am so thankful for the time that we did have, and the memories that we made.

3.  Death is not the end of a relationship.
2.  You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.
1.  Motherhood is the best job I could ever hope for.