My husband and I had been trying for a child for over two years. I had an ectopic pregnancy that almost killed me, a miscarriage nine months later, and a rash of tragedies and losses that sent my husband and me reeling towards each other.

Then, I got pregnant and it "stuck."

After 40 hours of active labor and a Caesarian section that took two hours, I got to hold my daughter for the first time right around midnight.

She was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, but that is so cliché.

My heart filled with wonder at this tiny little person who had grown inside me and was now reliant on me for everything. She was a miracle, a new chapter in our lives, a breathing being ready to be showered with love. My eyes brimmed with tears, but for the first time in a long time, they were tears of absolute joy and fulfillment that I did not know were possible.

I wasn't scared, or nervous. I wasn't tired, although I was exhausted. I was in awe. I was thankful. I was ready for everything that lay ahead.

Charlene